April 14, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., April 14, 2008 -- Head coach Joe Paterno and his staff welcomed nearly 800 coaches for Penn State's Annual Football Coaches Clinic this past weekend.
Penn State's annual spring gathering is one of the nation's most popular clinics, traditionally drawing approximately 800 high school and youth league coaches from all parts of the country and beyond the United States border.
The clinic featured lectures and demonstrations by Paterno and the entire Nittany Lions' staff, who have guided Penn State to 31 wins in its last 40 games, including victories in the 2006 FedEx Orange Bowl, the 2007 Outback Bowl and the 2007 Valero Alamo Bowl.
The clinic also featured on-field demonstrations with members of the Nittany Lions' squad. Clinic attendees had an opportunity to observe practice on Friday and Saturday.
In addition, the clinic included a presentation by Penn State's strength and conditioning staff and special session on speed and movement with the Nittany Lions' speed coach.
Pat Flaherty, offensive line coach for the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, was the guest speaker at the clinic. A native of McSherrystown, Pa., Flaherty was a member of the Nittany Lions' coaching staff in 1982 and '83, serving as a part-time assistant coaching the offensive line under Dick Anderson. He helped Penn State win the 1982 National Championship with a Sugar Bowl victory over No. 1 Georgia. Flaherty coached in the college ranks until joining the Washington Redskins' staff in 2000. Flaherty was tight ends coach with the Chicago Bears (2001-03) before joining the Giants' staff in 2004 as offensive line coach.
Penn State will host five different camp opportunities on the University Park campus in June during its 34th annual summer football camps. Close to 3,000 high school players from across the nation annually attend the camps.
Penn State Football camp information, including registration forms, can be found by visiting: www.pennstatefootballcamps.com or by contacting the Penn State sports camps office at 814-865-0561.
In his 43rd season as head coach, Paterno's squad returns 16 starters (8 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists) from last year's 9-4 squad that defeated Texas A&M in the Valero Alamo Bowl. The Nittany Lions were ranked No. 25 in the final USA Today Coaches poll, earning their 33rd Top 25 finish under Paterno.
The Nittany Lions conclude spring drills on Saturday, April 19 with the highly-anticipated Blue-White Game. As in previous years, there is no admission or parking fee for the Blue-White Game. Activities will begin on Friday at 6 p.m. with a carnival outside Beaver Stadium. On Saturday, stadium parking lots will open at 8 a.m. Stadium gates A, B and C will open at 12:00 p.m., with the popular autograph session starting at 12:30 p.m. and kickoff at 2:00 p.m. The carnival will run throughout Saturday.
The Blue-White Game will air live on the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com. The contest also will be televised on the Big Ten Network on Monday, April 21 at 8:00 p.m. ET.