Nov. 9, 2007
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Penn State will look to continue its momentum from last week's win over Purdue when it visits Temple in the final non-conference game of the regular season. The No. 25 Nittany Lions will be playing in Philadelphia for the first time since 1994.
A sellout crowd approaching 70,000 is expected at Lincoln Financial Field for the 12:00 p.m. kickoff. ESPNU will televise the contest, which also will air on the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com, the official website of Penn State Athletics.
Lincoln Financial Field will be the 64th different facility Joe Paterno has coached in during his 42 years as head coach of the Nittany Lions.
The Nittany Lions (7-3) and Owls (3-6) are meeting for the 37th time, with Penn State owning a 32-3-1 series lead. The teams met last year in State College, with Penn State winning 47-0. The series began in 1931, with Temple winning the first contest, 12-0. The Owls won three of the initial four meetings from 1931-41, but since then, the Lions are 31-0-1 against their intrastate rivals, winning the last 24 meetings since a 7-7 tie in 1950.
The Temple game will mark the first time that Paterno has coached against one of his former players as a head coach. The Owls are led by second year head coach Al Golden, who has directed Temple to its most wins since 2002. Golden was a two-year starter at tight end at Penn State, earning letters from 1989-91, and was a team co-captain in 1991, graduating the same year. Golden was the Nittany Lions' linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator in 2000 and was defensive coordinator at Virginia from 2001-05 before being named Temple's 24th head coach.
In addition to Golden, two other former Nittany Lion players are members of the Owls' coaching staff:
- Defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio played linebacker for the Nittany Lions from 1988-91 and was a teammate of Golden's. He led Penn State in tackles as a junior with 71 and was a co-captain as a senior in 1991, despite missing six games with an injury. He recorded 15 career sacks. D'Onofrio graduated from Penn State in 1992.
- Quarterbacks coach/recruiting coordinator Matt Rhule was a linebacker for the Lions from 1994-97. Also a State College native, Rhule was selected Academic All-Big Ten in 1997, graduating from Penn State the same year.
Penn State receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Mike McQueary and Rhule were teammates at State College Area High School and Penn State.
Sixteen Nittany Lions hail from metropolitan Philadelphia: WR Tyler Ahrenhold (Blue Bell); WR Brett Brackett (Lawrenceville, N.J.); TB Brent Carter (Pottstown); LB Dan Connor (Wallingford); QB Pat Devlin (Downingtown); G Lou Eliades (Ocean, N.J.); PK Joe Hughes (Downingtown); PK Kevin Kelly (Langhorne); T Dennis Landolt (Burlington, N.J.); DE Eric Latimore (Middletown, Del.); KS/LB Chris Mauriello (Lansdale); DT Tom McEowen (Feasterville); Saf Anthony Scirrotto (West Deptford, N.J.); TE Andrew Szczerba (Wilmington, Del.); T Joe Toriello (Lansdowne); T Johnnie Troutman (Browns Mills, N.J.).
The Nittany Lion defense again is emerging as one of the nation's best, ranking in the top 12 nationally in four of the primary categories.
The Nittany Lions recorded four sacks vs. Purdue and lead the nation with 40. Penn State is No. 9 in rushing defense (90.6 ypg), No. 12 in total defense (301.2 ypg) and No. 11 in scoring defense (17.6 ppg). Penn State is No. 30 in pass efficiency defense (113.7 rating).
Penn State is No. 2 in the Big Ten in three categories and is tied for the lead in sacks.
Following the Temple game, Penn State will conclude the regular season at Michigan State on Nov. 17 in the battle for the Land Grant Trophy. The battle with the Spartans will kick at 3:30 p.m. ET and air on ABC on a regional basis, with other markets across the nation receiving the game on ESPN.