Nov. 19, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - The Big Ten Network's Friday Night Tailgate and Big Ten Football Saturday: Pre-Game Show will originate from Penn State this weekend in anticipation of Saturday's Michigan State-Penn State showdown in Beaver Stadium.
The No. 8 Nittany Lions (10-1, 6-1) host the No. 15 Spartans (9-2, 6-1) at 3:30 p.m., with the winner claiming at least a share of the Big Ten Championship. Should Penn State win the game, it will be the Big Ten's automatic qualifier into the Bowl Championship Series.
Friday Night Tailgate correspondents Jordan Klepper and Steve Waltien will tape several segments from Rec Hall Friday from 7-9 p.m. The undefeated and No. 1 ranked Penn State women's volleyball team hosts Northwestern at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall and with a victory, would clinch its sixth consecutive outright Big Ten Championship.
Following the women's volleyball match, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Coach Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lion football team will arrive in Rec Hall for the "Rally In The Valley," in anticipation of Saturday's clash. Seventeen Penn State seniors will be introduced before the game.
Friday Night Tailgate will debut Friday at 11 p.m., with several re-airs on Saturday morning on the Big Ten Network.
On Saturday, the Big Ten Football Saturday: Pre-Game Show will air from 11 a.m-12 p.m. The show will originate from in front of the Byrce Jordan Center, near Curtin Road, and fans are encouraged to attend. Brent Stover is the host and former Illinois linebacker J Leman will be the analyst for the program.
The Big Ten Network is available in approximately 70 million homes nationwide. Three Nittany Lion football games aired on the Network this season. Approximately 65-70 Penn State events will air on the Network in 2008-09, including more than 20 basketball games.
Tickets for the women's volleyball match are $5 for adults, $3 for youth and $2 per person for groups of 10 or more. Penn State students are free with their PSU ID. The top-ranked Nittany Lions conclude regular season home competition on Saturday, hosting Wisconsin at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets for both matches will be available at the door until capacity is reached.
The Penn State-Michigan State game will be regionally televised on ABC, with coverage on ESPN elsewhere in the nation. The contest also will air on the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com, the official website of Penn State Athletics.
Also on Friday, ESPN Radio's popular "The Herd" program, with host Colin Cowherd, will originate from Penn State in anticipation of the Michigan State at Penn State football game. "The Herd" will broadcast from the HUB-Robeson Center on the University Park campus. The public is invited to attend.
"The Herd" airs live on ESPN Radio affiliates from 9:00 a.m-1:00 p.m. State College's ESPN Radio 1450 airs the program live from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., with the final hour airing from 3-4 p.m. The program also is simulcast on ESPNU from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.