Dec. 21, 2009
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Penn State football team resumed practice today with its first workout in Florida in preparation for its Capital One Bowl clash with No. 13 LSU.
The No. 9/11 Nittany Lions gathered here over the weekend and held their first practice since Dec. 12. Penn State students had final examinations this past week and numerous players encountered travel difficulties to Florida due to the storm that dumped nearly two feet of snow in Philadelphia and heavy snow throughout the Mid-Atlantic and New England starting on Friday.
Head coach Joe Paterno celebrated his 83rd by being serenaded with "Happy Birthday" by the squad at the end of this afternoon's practice. A birthday cake was served at the team's dinner.
The Lions will practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Daytona Beach, departing that afternoon for Orlando. Christmas Eve will include the team's traditional Christmas party with the players, coaches, staff and families, including a visit from Santa Claus.
Penn State commencement ceremonies were held Saturday in the Bryce Jordan Center. Nine members of the football team were approved graduate and four participated in commencement - linebacker Navorro Bowman (District Heights, Md.), wide receiver Brett Brackett (Lawrenceville, N.J), linebacker Josh Hull (Milheim) and and tight end Andrew Quarless (Uniondale, N.Y.) -- before departing for Florida.
The Nittany Lions (10-2) will play LSU (9-3) in the 64th Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1, 2010. The second all-time meeting between the teams will kick at 1:00 p.m. in Orlando, Fla. and air on ABC, Sports USA Radio and the Penn State Sports Network. Penn State will be playing in its fourth different New Year's bowl game in the last five years.
For ticket information for the Capital One Bowl, go to Bowl Central at www.GoPSUsports.com/gameday .
Penn State is 50-13 (79.3) since the start of the 2005 season, the nation's No. 8 winning percentage over that span. Penn State will be playing in its 36th bowl game under Paterno, who is the all-time leader in post-season appearances and victories (23-11-1 record). The Nittany Lions were No. 13 in the final Bowl Championship Series rankings.
Penn State has earned its 24th New Year's bowl bid under the Hall of Fame coach, who owns a 16-7 mark in such contests. The Nittany Lions have posted Paterno's Football Bowl Subdivision record 21st season with at least 10 victories. The Lions are playing in their fifth Capital One Bowl and first since meeting Auburn on January 1, 2003.