Sept. 17, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State will begin a two-game homestand on Saturday to conclude non-conference play when Kent State visits Beaver Stadium. The game, which is scheduled for a 12 p.m. kickoff, will be televised by ESPN2 and also will air on the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com.
Penn State is facing Kent State for just the third time, with the No. 22/20 Nittany Lions owning a 2-0 series advantage. The Nittany Lions won the first-ever meeting, 21-6, in 1965 in Rip Engle's final season as head coach. Penn State captured a 32-10 victory the last time the teams squared off, on Sept. 20, 2003.
Penn State will be seeking its 500th victory since Joe Paterno joined the coaching staff. The Nittany Lions have compiled a 499-178-7 (73.5) record since the Hall of Fame coach arrived in State College in 1950. Paterno followed his coach at Brown University, Engle, to Penn State as he was completing his degree at Brown. Engle compiled a 104-48-4 record from 1950-65, with Paterno being named head coach on February 19, 1966.
Penn State has a 41-5-1 record all-time against current members of the Mid-American Conference, with a 41-1 mark under Joe Paterno.
The game will be played one day from the 50th Anniversary of the first contest in Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Boston University, 20-0, on Sept. 17, 1960 in the facility's first inaugural game.
The Nittany Lions will be looking to rebound from a setback at No. 1 Alabama in their 2010 road opener last weekend.
Kent State fell to 1-1 with a 26-13 road loss to Boston College last weekend. The Golden Flashes trailed just 6-3 at halftime but surrendered two touchdowns and two field goals in the second half. Sophomore quarterback Spencer Keith passed for 201 yards on 23-of-36 passing with one touchdown and two interceptions but KSU mustered just four net yards rushing on 17 attempts.
Led by linebacker Cobrani Mixon, who had game-high 15 tackles versus Boston College, safety Brian Lainhart, and nose tackle Roosevelt Nix, the Kent State defense is ranked No. 1 in the nation against the run. The Flashes have allowed just 22 net rushing yards in their first two games on 62 attempts for a paltry 0.4 yards per carry.
Following the Kent State game, Penn State will host Mid-American Conference favorite Temple on Sept. 25. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Beaver Stadium and will be televised by the Big Ten Network. Temple (1-1) hosts Connecticut on Saturday.
Tickets remain for the clash with the Owls and can be purchased at www.GoPSUsports.com or by calling 814-865-5555 weekdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Penn State Athletics is on Twitter (www.gopsusports.com/ot/twitter.html) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/pennstatenittanylions).