When their Nittany Lions played Purdue on October 9, 2004, twenty thousand students wore white as a show of strength during a rare slump for the team. The unified student section helped transform the game day atmosphere into a force that affected opposing teams. Students in white energized the stadium, disrupting and demoralizing future opponents. Within two years, Penn State had a championship team, and its fans gained national attention. Broadcasters declared, "this is the best student section in college football."