May 9, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., May 9, 2010 - Penn State's loyal and enthusiastic fans annually are among the nation's best in supporting the Nittany Lions during the season and once again the crowd at the Blue-White Game has earned a similar ranking.
The estimated crowd of 55,000 that converged on Beaver Stadium on April 24 for the Blue-White Game presented by AAA was among only five in the nation to reach 55,000.
More than 40,000 fans have attended the Blue-White game in 12 of the past 15 years, with rainy conditions during the other three contests. This year's game had cloudy and cool conditions. The 2009 crowd of 76,500 marked the third consecutive year the Blue-White attendance record fell, with an estimated 73,000 fans attending two years ago and 71,000 in 2007.
Penn State was joined by Alabama (91,312), Nebraska (77,936), Ohio State (65,223) and Auburn (63,217) as the only other schools across the nation to draw at least 55,000 fans to their spring football game this year.
Sports Illustrated has called Beaver Stadium on football Saturdays "The Great Show" and 856,066 fans played an active part during 2009 season, the second-highest total in school history. Among the most vociferous and passionate fans are more than 21,000 students who were rated No. 1 in the nation by ESPN the Magazine in 2008.
Nittany Lion football fans ranked second in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) football attendance during the 2009 season, for the seventh time in the past 10 years, with an average of 107,088 for eight home games. Penn State's loyal and enthusiastic fans have finished among the top four in FBS attendance for 19 consecutive years.
Penn State is 51-13 (79.7) since the start of the 2005 season, tied for the nation's No. 7 winning percentage over that span. The Nittany Lions earned their second consecutive 11-2 record last season, capped by a win over LSU in the Capital One Bowl, Penn State's fourth bowl victory in the past five seasons. Penn State posted its 23rd final Top 10 ranking under Coach Joe Paterno.
The Nittany Lions return 37 letterwinners for the 2010 season, including 13 starters (7 offense, 5 defense, 1 specialist), as well as 11 players that have starting experience. Penn State opens the season Sept. 4 vs. Youngstown State in Beaver Stadium and visits 2009 national champion Alabama on Sept. 11.