Dec. 19, 2010
CLEARWATER, Fla.; December 19, 2010 - The Penn State football team resumed practice today with its first workout in Florida in preparation for its Outback Bowl clash against Florida on New Year's Day.
The Nittany Lions gathered here Saturday and Sunday and held their first practice since Dec. 11 under mostly cloudy, breezy conditions, with temperatures in the mid-50's. Penn State students had final examinations this past week, ending Friday night. Head coach Joe Paterno, the football coaches and staff arrived Saturday afternoon.
Penn State is practicing this week at the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, the spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Nittany Lions will practice Monday through Friday at the Carpenter Complex, departing Friday afternoon for Tampa. 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. Eight members of the football team were approved graduate and four participated in commencement - defensive end Kevion Latham (Greensboro, N.C.), cornerback Shelton McCullough (Randallstown, Md.), tight end Jonathan Stewart (Irwin) and guard Stefen Wisniewski (Bridgeville) - before departing for Florida. Wisniewski was a first-team AFCA All-American and is a three-time ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-American®.
Penn State will clash with Florida in the 25th Outback Bowl at 1:00 p.m. on January 1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The contest will air on ABC and the Penn State Sports Network. The Nittany Lions and Gators rank among the nation's top 10 in winning percentage since 2005. Paterno's squad will be seeking its fifth bowl victory over the past six seasons, with three wins in New Year's Day post-season games.
The Nittany Lions will be making their 37th post-season trip under Paterno, who is the all-time leader in bowl wins (24) and appearances. Paterno is taking a team to a 25th New Year's bowl game, having compiled a superlative 17-7 mark. Penn State is 3-0 in the Outback Bowl, beating Tennessee in the 2007 contest in its last appearance.
The Outback Bowl is the only 2010-11 bowl game featuring two head coaches who have won a national championship, with Paterno and Florida's Urban Meyer both earning two national titles.
For Outback Bowl ticket information, go to www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets. Tickets also are available by calling 814-865-5555 weekdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Penn State Athletics is on Twitter (http://www.gopsusports.com/ot/twitter.html) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/pennstatenittanylions).