University Park, Pa. -- Penn State football fans who want to guarantee their seats for Penn State's clashes with Alabama, new Big Ten member Nebraska, the Homecoming game and all seven home opponents still can do so for a limited time.
Starting last winter, numerous Penn State alumni and fans have secured season football tickets for the first time in anticipation of the Nittany Lions' blockbuster home schedule. In addition to Alabama's first visit to Beaver Stadium since 1989 (Sept. 10), new Big Ten rival Nebraska will travel to Happy Valley for Senior Day on Nov. 12 in the first of what will be highly anticipated annual conference clashes between the Nittany Lions and Cornhuskers.
Big Ten foes Iowa (Oct. 8), Purdue (Oct. 15-Homecoming) and Illinois (Oct. 29) also will travel to State College, as Penn State celebrates its 125th season on the gridiron. The Boilermakers and Fighting Illini are in the Big Ten Leaders Division with Penn State, Indiana, Ohio State and Wisconsin.
Season tickets are available in all seating zones of Beaver Stadium. Penn State alumni who have not already applied for 2011 season tickets can get information or apply online at http://www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets or by calling Penn State Athletics Customer Relations at 800-NITTANY (648-8269) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Penn State fans also will have the opportunity to purchase single-game tickets for the upcoming football season starting on Friday, July 29. The sale will begin at 10 a.m. at http://www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets online. Fans also can purchase single-game tickets by calling 814-865-5555 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. All tickets made available will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis until the supply is exhausted.
Coach Joe Paterno is entering his 46th season as head coach of the Nittany Lions. Penn State returns 41 letter-winners and 15 starters, as well as 17 players that have starting experience.
The highly-anticipated 2011 campaign begins Labor Day weekend, when fans get their first view of the team in a Sept. 3 matchup with Indiana State. Old rival Alabama returns to Happy Valley for an all-stadium Whitehouse that will kick at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 10. Penn State fans will be wearing their favorite Nittany Lion jersey to the Sept. 24 contest with Eastern Michigan on Jersey Day.
Iowa will visit for Penn State's Big Ten home opener on Oct. 8 and one week later, Purdue visits for the Nittany Lions' 92nd Homecoming game at noon. Penn State's championship teams and individuals from 2010-11 will be honored during the Illinois game (Oct. 29), and Nebraska visits for Senior Day on Nov. 12 in the Cornhuskers' first contest in Beaver Stadium since 2002. The Nittany Lions lead the series with the Huskers, 7-6.
Beaver Stadium is the nation's second-largest college football venue. The Nittany Lions have finished in the top four in the nation in attendance every year since 1991, drawing 15 of the top 20 crowds in Beaver Stadium history since 2005.
The Nittany Lions have won 38 of their last 44 home games and are 58-19 (75.3) overall since the start of the 2005 season to rank in the top 10 percent nationally in winning percentage. Over the past six years, Penn State has won two Big Ten Championships, won four bowl games and played in five New Year's or Bowl Championship Series (BCS) games, the nation's third-highest total.
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