Sep 3, 2013
PENN STATE vs. EASTERN MICHIGAN
sATURDAY, SEPT. 7, 2013, Noon ET • BTN
Beaver Stadium (106,572) • University Park, Pa.
Penn State Game Notes | Eastern Michigan Game Notes
GAME INFORMATION
TELEVISION: BTN
Scott Graham (p-by-p) and Chuck Long (analyst).
TV APPEARANCES: The Nittany Lions are appearing on television for the 230th time in their last 232 games.
RADIO: Penn State Sports Network (60 stations):
Steve Jones (p-by-p), Jack Ham (analyst), Loren Crispell (sideline).
Sirius: Ch. 137; XM Ch. 205
Local: 93.7 FM & 1450 AM.
EMU Radio Network: Matt Shepard (p-by-p), Rob Rubick (analyst).
WEB: GameTracker, Live Video and Audio available at GoPSUsports.com
SERIES: Penn State and Eastern Michigan have met twice before on the gridiron, with the Nittany Lions posting wins in 1992 and 2011 at Beaver Stadium.
COACHES
Bill O'Brien
PENN STATE RECORD: 9-4, 2nd year
OVERALL RECORD: Same
VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN: First Meeting
NOTABLE: Named Penn State's 15th head football coach on Jan. 6, 2012...Former New England Patriots offensive coordinator under Bill Belichick...Coached NFL MVP Tom Brady from 2009-11...Won first career game vs. Navy on Sept. 15, 2012...2012 Big Ten-Dave McClain Coach of the Year...2012 Bear Bryant, Maxwell Football Club and ESPN National Coach of the Year.
RON ENGLISH
EASTERN MICHIGAN RECORD: 11-38, 4th year
OVERALL RECORD: Same
VS. PENN STATE: 0-1
AT A GLANCE
After claiming a season opening victory over Syracuse, 23-17, Penn State plays its home opener against Eastern Michigan, who enters the contest after winning their opener over Howard, 34-24.
The programs have played twice before inside Beaver Stadium, with Penn State winning, 52-7, in 1992 before collecting a 34-6 on-field victory in 2011. More than 50 members of Penn State's undefeated (12-0) 1973 team will be honored at halftime. The returnees include running back John Cappelletti, the 1973 Heisman Trophy winner and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Christian Hackenberg became the just the third true freshman since 1910 to start a season opener at quarterback for Penn State and threw a pair of touchdown passes. He completed 22 of 31 passes for 278 yards, the third highest yardage total for a freshman quarterback in school history, and earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Hackenberg connected with Allen Robinson (51 yds) and Eugene Lewis (54 yds) on second half touchdown passes.
Senior defensive tackle DaQuan Jones and senior safety Stephen Obeng-Agyapong both had a career days against the Orange. Jones made nine tackles, adding three tackles-for-loss and one sack, while Obeng-Agyapong amassed eight stops, one interception, one sack and he also forced and recovered a fumble.
Placekicker Sam Ficken was 3 of 3 on field goals, incl. a 46-yarder, to earn Big Ten Specialist honors.
Eastern Michigan rallied from a 24-13 deficit late in the third quarter to win its season opener vs. Howard. Bronson Hill rushed for 101 yards and two scores and Tyler Benz threw two touchdown passes.