| Joe Paterno and Paul Posluszny are featured on the cover of the Nov. 28 issue of Sports Illustrated which hit newsstands Wednesday. click here for larger version |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., November 23, 2005 - The Penn State football team graces the cover the Nov. 28 issue of Sports Illustrated, highlighted by a photo of Coach Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions running onto the field at Beaver Stadium.
All-America linebacker Paul Posluszny also is featured on the SI cover and with a profile in the magazine, which is available on newsstands.
Penn State has made 12 appearances on the cover of Sports Illustrated during Paterno's legendary career, which includes being pictured for his selection as SI's Sportsman of the Year in 1986.
The Nittany Lions have graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in relation to the nation's top ranking seven times, including Freddie Scott (1994), Joe Jurevicius (1997) and LaVar Arrington (1999) during the Big Ten era.
Among the other Penn State SI covers in relation to No. 1 were quarterback Chuck Fusina in 1978 and wide receiver Gregg Garrity, pictured after his diving touchdown catch in the 1983 Sugar Bowl that lifted Penn State to its first national championship.
Among the other Penn State personalities that have been featured on Sports Illustrated's cover are defensive back Darren Perry after the 1990 defeat of No. 1 Notre Dame and quarterback Todd Blackledge after a dramatic victory over Nebraska in en route to the 1982 national championship.
In addition, former Nittany Lion standout Franco Harris was a Sports Illustrated cover subject four times during his Hall of Fame career with the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers.
Fans can purchase an 11 x 14" reproduction of this week's SI cover and other covers featuring Penn State HERE.
Penn State (10-1) captured the Big Ten Championship and is awaiting its bowl destination and opponent. The Big Ten title was the fifth this fall for Penn State, a conference record for the fall season.
The Nittany Lions are No. 3 in the Bowl Championship Series rankings No. 4 in this week's Associated Press, USA Today/Coaches and Harris Interactive polls.