Sept. 4, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - - Penn State will kick off the 2009 campaign with "Penn State Football Eve" on Friday, September 4. The sixth annual event starts the new season with a festival-like atmosphere surrounding Beaver Stadium followed by a celebration inside the stadium with the team and Coach Joe Paterno. The "night before" activities outside the stadium include festival food and fun along Curtin Road, which will become a fan promenade at 6:00 p.m. Kids games, food, surprises and music will all be part of the promenade.
Stadium gates open at 7:00 p.m. for fans who wish to be seated early with a showing of 2008 football highlights. The program inside the stadium starts at 7:30 p.m. featuring the Blue Band, cheerleaders, dance team and videos. The seniors will be introduced and after Coach Paterno's address to the crowd a new stadium video will be unveiled, as will 2008 on the listing of Penn State undefeated and championship teams on the facing of the East side suites.
Also, former Nittany Lion All-America tailback Curt Warner will be introduced at Football Eve. Warner will be inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in December.
Admission and parking are free for "Penn State Football Eve." The Nittany Lions' 123rd season opener is against Akron the following day at 12:00 p.m.
"Penn State Football Eve," which launches the first weekend of the football season, has attracted approximately 25,000 fans in each of its initial four events. The 2006 event was cancelled due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto.
Fans attending "Penn State Football Eve" can warm-up for the event at the Nittany Lion field hockey team's home opener against Lock Haven, which begins Sept. 4 at 6:00 p.m. There is no admission or parking fee for the contest featuring the 2008 Big Ten Champion Nittany Lions. At 7:00 p.m. on Sept. 4, the No. 1 ranked Penn State women's volleyball team opens its home slate vs. Buffalo in Rec Hall in the Nittany Lion Invitational. The 2007 and 2008 NCAA Champions host Robert Morris (10:00 a.m.) and Pittsburgh (7:00 p.m.) on Sept. 5
Four Penn State home games are sold out, with a limited number of tickets remaining for Akron, Syracuse (Sept. 12, 12:00 p.m.), Temple (Sept. 19, 12:00), and Eastern Illinois (Oct. 10), TBA. Single game tickets are on sale at www.GoPSUsports.com or by calling 800-833-5533.
Paterno's 44th Penn State team returns 37 letterwinners and 10 starters for the 2009 season. The No. 8 Nittany Lions have posted a 40-11 record since 2005, the nation's ninth-best mark over the past four seasons.
All Penn State football and basketball games can be heard on the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com.