Spring Football Game Highlights Blue-White Weekend Presented by PHEAASpring Football Game Highlights Blue-White Weekend Presented by PHEAA

Spring Football Game Highlights Blue-White Weekend Presented by PHEAA



Deon Butler signs items for fans at the 2006 Blue-White Game autograph session.


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., April 19, 2007 ?C One of the highlights of the Penn State sports calendar, Blue-White Weekend, gets underway Friday with the Blue-White football game as the centerpiece for numerous activities.

Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. in Beaver Stadium. As in previous years, there will be no admission or parking fee for the Blue-White game.

The Blue-White Game is one of the nation??s most popular spring football contests. More than 40,000 loyal and enthusiastic Penn State fans have attended the game in eight of the past 11 years, with rainy conditions during the other three contests.

Numerous events will be held during Blue-White Weekend Presented by PHEAA to celebrate Penn State Football, including the popular pre-game autograph session with the players at 12:30 p.m. A carnival, children??s games, food vendors, game worn football apparel booth and the student entertainment stage will be open Friday from 6:00-10:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

The Blue-White Game can be heard on nearly 25 Penn State Sports Network radio affiliates across the Commonwealth and metropolitan New York City, with Steve Jones and Joe Paterno calling the action. The contest also can be seen and heard at GoPSUsports.com, the official website of Penn State Athletics. Go to GoPSUsports for a complete listing of the Penn State Sports Network affiliates.

Among the myriad of activities this weekend:

  • The finals of a University-wide rap contest will be held Friday at 6:00 p.m. at the student stage, followed by the band, ??Lost in Paris.?? On Saturday, the Lionettes (12:45 p.m.), Blue Band and cheerleaders (1:00 p.m.) and local musical group, ??J.R. & Natalie?? (4:00 p.m.) are among the events at the student stage.
  • On Saturday at 10:00 a.m., a set of away football jerseys from the 2006 will go on sale. At 11:30 a.m., live and silent auction items will be available, including: several items signed by Coach Joe Paterno, including game balls from the 2006 Orange and 2007 Outback Bowls; a complete Paul Posluszny uniform, including shoes; Tony Hunt??s uniform from last year??s Ohio State game and the old ??S?? from the Penn State Football locker room. The silent auction will end at 1:30 p.m.
  • During the game, the spring football award winners and recipients of the PNC Bank "Player of the Game" from the 2006 season will be announced.
  • The annual Nittany Lion Club Lunch is sold out, but arena seats to watch the program in the Bryce Jordan Center are on sale at the Jordan Ticket Center today and Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. Seating will be available in Section 105 of the Bryce Jordan Center.
  • Joe Paterno will speak and the 2007 Nittany Lion football seniors will attend the event. Tim Curley, Director of Athletics, and Joe Battista, Executive Director of the Nittany Lion Club, also will speak.

Arena seats are for $15.00. Doors to the Jordan Center will open at 9:30 a.m. and the program begins at 10:30 a.m.

  • The Penn State baseball team will be hosting Northwestern during Blue-White Weekend and fireworks are planned following Friday??s 6:35 p.m. single game and Saturday??s 4:35 p.m. doubleheader. The series concludes with a single game at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday, April 22. The Nittany Lions are playing their first season in the magnificent Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, located across the street from Beaver Stadium.
  • The Penn State All-Sports Museum will have extended hours of operation during Blue-White Weekend. The Museum will be open on Friday, April 20 from 10 a.m-8 p.m. and Sunday, April 22 from 10 a.m-4 p.m. The museum will be closed on Saturday as it is during the season.

In his 42nd season as head coach, Paterno??s squad returns 33 letterwinners and 15 starters from last year??s 9-4 squad, that posted a 20-10 win over No. 17 Tennessee in the Outback Bowl. The Nittany Lions have won 22 of their last 27 contests and were ranked No. 24 in the final Associated Press poll and No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches poll, earning their 32nd Top 25 finish under Paterno.

Season tickets and Club seats are available for the 2007 season, which will feature seven home games. For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can call 1-800-648-8269 (1-800-NITTANY). For additional information on club seats, call 863-3143 in the Centre Region and ask for Bob White.

In addition to the Blue-White Game, several other Penn State teams are competing at home during this weekend:

Friday, April 20 Men??s tennis vs. Ohio State, 3:00 p.m.
Baseball vs. Northwestern, 6:35 p.m. (Fireworks after game)
Women??s lacrosse vs. Ohio State, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 21 Football - Blue-White Game, 2:00 p.m. (autograph session at 12:30)
Baseball vs. Northwestern, 4:35 p.m. (DH ?C Fireworks after second game)

Sunday, April 22 Men??s tennis vs. Indiana, 12:00 p.m.
Baseball vs. Northwestern, 1:05 p.m.