Sept. 5, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The first of five bowl teams from 2007 that are playing in Beaver Stadium this season should provide a stiff test on Saturday, as Penn State hosts Oregon State in the first meeting between the schools.
The sold out contest is an ABC regional telecast, with ESPN2 airing outside the ABC coverage area. The Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com also will air the clash.
Oregon State is the 153rd different opponent to face the Nittany Lions in the program's 122nd season. The Beavers are the 82nd different foe Joe Paterno has faced as head coach and the only Pacific-10 Conference team Penn State has not faced on the gridiron.
The Nittany Lions have an all-time record of 22-11 vs. current members of the Pac-10, having played Southern California the most of any Pac-10 team (4-4 record). The 2000 Kickoff Classic contest against the Trojans is Penn State's last game against an opponent from the conference. The Nittany Lions are 17-9 in regular season games against Pac-10 opponents and 5-2 in bowl games.
Since starting Big Ten play in 1993, Penn State owns a 5-1 mark vs. Pac-10 squads, defeating USC in 1993, `94 and the 1996 Kickoff Classic and falling to the Trojans in the 2000 Kickoff Classic. The Nittany Lions defeated Oregon in the 1995 Rose Bowl and Arizona in the 1999 Pigskin Classic.
Oregon State sophomore linebacker Keith Pankey and freshman tight end Kevin Pankey are the twin sons of former Nittany Lion standout Irv Pankey. Keith Pankey is a starting outside linebacker for the Beavers.
The elder Pankey was a three-year letterman, earning second team All-America honors at tackle as a senior in 1979. From Aberdeen, Md., Pankey was the Lions' starting tight end in 1978 and had 10 catches. The team's offensive captain in 1979, Pankey was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He played with the Rams from 1980-90 and with the Indianapolis Colts in 1991 and `92.
Pankey was a graduate assistant coach at Penn State in 1996. He has been a teacher and assistant football coach at the College of the Sequoias since 1998.
The Nittany Lions have won 21 of their last 23 games in Beaver Stadium, dating to a 37-13 win over Michigan State on Senior Day on Nov. 20, 2004.
At halftime, Penn State's undefeated 1973 squad will be honored. Led by Heisman Trophy winning running back John Cappelletti and a staunch defense, the Nittany Lions became the first team in college football history to earn a 12-0 record.
Following the Oregon State clash, Penn State visits Syracuse on Sept. 13 for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff in the Carrier Dome. The old rivals will be playing for the first time since 1990.