August 11, 2007
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Coach Joe Paterno and the 2007 Nittany Lions met the media today as the squad continues its opening week of pre-season practice. The season opener with Florida International is three weeks away, on Sept 1. at 12:00 p.m. in sold out Beaver Stadium.
After a five-day acclimation period, the Nittany Lions began two-a-days today. The vast majority of the players have one week of classes and finals remaining before being able to devote all of their attention on football until the fall semester begins.
Deon Butler at the 2007 Penn State football media day activities. |
Among the subjects Paterno addressed during Media Day was the Big Ten Network, which will debut on August 30. A minimum of three Penn State football games will air on the Big Ten Network this season, including the opener with FIU and the Sept. 15 game with Buffalo (12:00 p.m.).
"I think the exposure will be great; I'm just hoping they can get the coverage worked out," Paterno said. "I would hope that our fans would get involved and contact the people (cable companies) who could carry it. One of the benefits of the Big Ten Network is that they want to give exposure to all sports and that there will be an equal number of women's sports."
Paterno's 42nd Penn State team returns 32 letterwinners and 15 starters for the 2007 season. The Nittany Lions' blockbuster home schedule is sold out and includes five bowl teams from 2006: Notre Dame, (Sept. 8, 6:00 p.m., ESPN), Iowa (Oct. 6), Wisconsin (Oct. 13- Homecoming, 3:30 p.m., ABC), Ohio State (Oct. 27, 8:00 p.m., ABC/ESPN/ESPN2) and Purdue for Senior Day (Nov. 3).
--NITTANY LIONS--