Oct. 13, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -Penn State junior Jesse James has been named to the Mid-season Watch List for the 2014 John Mackey Award, an honor presented annually to the nation's best collegiate tight end.
The Glassport, Pa. native has started all six games this season for Coach James Franklin's Nittany Lions and all 18 contests over the past two seasons. The 6-7, 271-pound James is tied for third on the team with 18 receptions, good for 203 yards (11.3 avg.). He has a long catch of 44 yards and his two touchdown catches from Christian Hackenberg lead the team. The former South Allegheny High School standout delivered both touchdown catches, including a 44-yard catch and run, in the win over Akron.
The Mackey Award honors Pro Football Hall of Fame member John Mackey. In 10 NFL seasons with the Baltimore Colts (1963-71) and the San Diego Chargers (1972), Mackey revolutionized the tight end position. He twice compiled season averages of more than 20 yards a catch, and his 10-year career average of 15.8 is considered remarkable for a tight end. Mackey also was the first president of the NFLPA.
The award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and the 2014 award winner will be announced on Dec. 10 and presented live on Dec. 11 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU. The Mackey Award semifinalists and finalists will be announced in late November.
Penn State (4-2, 1-2) is starting its second bye week. The Nittany Lions return to action on Oct. 25, hosting No. 13 Ohio State in a Big Ten East Division clash. The contest is a Penn State White Out, with all fans encouraged to wear white for the 8 p.m. kickoff in sold out Beaver Stadium. The game will air on ABC, the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com.
Penn State fans have pushed the home attendance up an average of 7,110 fans (7.2%) per game during the first three games of this season in comparison to the initial three home contests in 2013. The Beaver Stadium crowd of 102,910 for the Sept. 27 game vs. Northwestern was the largest for a Penn State home day game since the 2011 season.
Ticket sales for home games against Ohio State (sold out) and Maryland (Nov. 1) have already surpassed 100,000.
Tickets are available for Penn State's final three home games of the season: Nov. 1 vs. Maryland (All-University Day and THON Day); Nov. 15 vs. Temple (Military Appreciation Day/Seats For Soldiers) and the Nov. 29 Senior Day clash with Michigan State. The kick times for all three games are to be determined.
More than 4,600 tickets have been purchased by Penn State fans to be donated to active duty and veteran military personnel and their families through the "Seats for Soldiers" program at the Military Appreciation Day contest with Temple. ROTC elite, active duty, Wounded Warriors and veterans will be honored for their service to our country during halftime. "Seats for Soldiers" tickets are $35 and on sale by calling 1-800-NITTANY, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
More than 6,000 new Penn State football season tickets, 1,200 partial season and 72,000 single game and group sale tickets have been sold for this season. Ticket purchases and information are available at PSUnrivaled.com, by calling 1-800-NITTANY (weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) or visiting the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office (weekdays, 10 a.m-6 p.m.).
For gameday sales, the Beaver Stadium ticket office near Gate E opens four hours before every game.
Pre-paid single game parking passes for the general parking lots ($10) are also available at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets.