Dec. 22, 2009
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.; December 22, 2009 - Coach Joe Paterno met with the media today as Penn State continued its preparations for the 64th Capital One Bowl, where the Nittany Lions will clash with the LSU Tigers.
The Lions practiced twice today at Seabreeze High School under sunny, but cool, conditions. The squad will practice again here on Wednesday and Thursday before moving to Orlando. The team will hold its annual Christmas Party with the players, coaches and staff and their families on Christmas Eve, including a visit from Santa Claus. The team will have Christmas Day off.
The last several players that had been delayed by last weekend's snowstorm in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast arrived here by Monday evening.
"We wanted to come down a few days early to get used to the weather and give the kids a chance to have some fun here in Daytona Beach," Paterno said. "We didn't have the full squad here until this morning's practice."
The all-time leader in bowl appearances (36th) and victories (23), Paterno was asked about how he plans to use the practices in Daytona Beach in preparation for LSU, which has won two national titles since 2003.
"We want to get the timing down and get used to some of the things LSU does and do some conditioning," said Paterno, the FBS victories leader with 393.
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 http://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.