June 12, 2009
STATE COLLEGE, Pa.; - There is nothing quite like game day. The Penn State Football fanatics who are realizing their dreams of being a Nittany Lion player this week will highlight their unique experience when they run out at Beaver Stadium to play ball on Saturday, June 13.
The 26 members of the Fourth Annual Penn State Football Fantasy Camp, which kicked off on Wednesday, will line up in either blue or white Penn State game jerseys to contest a semi-contact flag football game and showcase the skills they have acquired during their time in State College.
The popular series of college football fantasy camps offers Nittany Lions fans a chance to experience football where legends have gone before them - in the locker room, on the practice fields and on the hallowed field of Beaver Stadium.
Having been put through their paces and taught technique and a series of plays by Penn State Fantasy Camp coaches, the players - whose ages range from 24 to 75 - will meet on the field with bragging rights at stake.
"Their intensity steps up a level once they run out of the tunnel at Beaver Stadium and hear their names called and see their faces on the big screen scoreboard," said organizer Patrick Steenberge of Global Football. "They are here to enjoy themselves and to take in the whole Penn State football experience, but come game day, they develop a competitive nature."
| Mark Koshko |
Big Ten Network personality Mike Hall is among the participants and will chart his progress at the fantasy camp for a unique television feature.
The members of the 2009 Penn State Football Fantasy Camp were given instruction on the practice field by Nittany Lion coaches Kermit Buggs, Larry Johnson, Bill Kenney and Jay Paterno and by former players Blair Thomas, Kenny Jackson and Rick Sayles. The coaches also enter into the competitive spirit, with Paterno, Buggs and Jackson coaching the White Team and Johnson, Kenny and Sayles taking responsibility for the Blue Team.
"The Penn State coaches and former players do a fantastic job here for us every year," added Steenberge. "They completely embrace the opportunity to make the dreams of these super-fans of Penn State football come true and then they get a real kick out of coaching to win on Saturday."
Penn State head coach Joe Paterno met with the fantasy campers earlier in the week with some words of wisdom and inspiration for the 26 Nittany Lions devotees in camp. The 2009 camp features 5 returning juniors, 6 returning sophomores and 15 freshmen from Pennsylvania, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Texas and
For information please contact Patrick Steenberge: 817-219-7274 / Patrick@GlobalFootball.com or go to: www.PennStateFantasyCamp.com.
2009 Penn State Football Fantasy Camp Game Rosters
WHITE TEAM
Freshman
Chris Bartnik #2
Alan Bigelow #16
Dave Dell #12
Gary Golaszewski #22
Mike Hall #32
Mark Koshko #68
Rob Tribeck #2
Sophomore
Doug Baxter #84
Jim Conroy #33
Alan Farquharson #20
Junior
Dan Hall #22
Eric Ratner #22
William M. Roberge #74
Coaching Staff
Jay Paterno
Kermit Buggs
Ken Jackson
BLUE TEAM
Freshman
James Betlyon #2
Michael Burke #34
Scott Jones #25
Bob Kilareski #18
Kenneth Kirkpatrick #24
Dion Rumsey #1
Paul Yoder #6
Timothy Yoder #20
Sophomore
Stephen Black #54
E.G. Hamill #21
Ray Kowalczyk #21
Junior
Bob Kowalczyk #22
Doug Stewart #43
Coaching StaffLarry Johnson
Bill Kenney
Rick Sayles