Athletics

Stagg-Paterno Trophy unveiled at Big Ten Mobile Tour launch

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Approximately 100 elementary school students from Louis Armstrong Public School in Chicago helped launch the Big Ten's "Honoring Legends. Building Leaders. Mobile Tour" at the Big Ten office in Park Ridge, Ill., on Wednesday.

Part of the Big Ten's SCORE program, the students were the first to participate in the mobile tour's activities and to have their pictures taken with the Stagg-Paterno Championship Trophy, which made its first public appearance Wednesday morning.

"The Big Ten Conference would like to thank Louis Armstrong Public School for its participation in today's event," Big Ten Chief Communications Officer Diane Dietz said. "We value our partnership with the students and faculty, and were thrilled to have them join us at our tailgate party."

"The Big Ten Conference has been extremely gracious to us over the years," Armstrong principal Demetrius Bunch said. "We have estimated that over 2,500 students have been serviced by the Big Ten over the years, and we would like to thank the Big Ten Conference for their continued support and efforts."

The mobile tour will stop at a different campus each week, from Thursday through game day on Saturday, and will contain interactive activities, including the opportunity for fans to have their picture taken with the Stagg-Paterno Championship Trophy. The tour will also feature television sets on site for fans to keep up with other games around the conference.

The mobile tour will visit Penn State Nov. 10-12 for the Nittany Lions' Senior Day clash with Nebraska.

The mobile tour will entertain and educate fans about the new era of Big Ten football and the exciting road ahead - two divisions, the championship weekend in Indianapolis, 18 new trophies and the path to the Rose Bowl or BCS National Championship Game.

The Big Ten will conduct its first football championship game on December 3, 2011 and the winning team will be presented the Stagg-Paterno Championship Trophy. The trophy pays homage to Penn State's Joe Paterno, the all-time wins leader among FBS coaches with a 401-135-3 record, and Amos Alonzo Stagg, who won 199 games at University of Chicago when the Maroons were Big Ten members. Paterno already ranks fifth among Big Ten coaches all-time with 154 wins since the Nittany Lions began conference play in 1993. Stagg's win total is second-highest total in Big Ten history. Stagg (578) and Paterno (539) rank 1-2 in all-time games on the sideline among major college coaches.

Visit the Big Ten Mobile Tour Blog (www.bigten.org/blog/mobile-tour), Twitter page (@B1GMobileTour) and YouTube page (www.YouTube.com/B1GMobileTour) to keep track of the mobile tour. In his 46th season as head coach, Paterno's squad returns 43 letterwinners and 15 starters, as well as 16 players that have starting experience. No. 25 Penn State opens its 125th season vs. Indiana State Sept. 3 at noonon the Big Ten Network, Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com. No. 2 Alabama visits Beaver Stadium on Sept. 10 for a 3:30 p.m. kick and all Penn State fans are encouraged to wear white. Penn State Football Eve launches the season on Friday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Beaver Stadium. The event and parking are free.

Credit: The Stagg-Paterno Championship TrophyAll Rights Reserved.

Last Updated September 2, 2011

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