When more than 100,000 Penn State fans converge on Happy Valley for the start of college football season Saturday, they’ll find students from the College of Communications holding three high-visibility roles inside Beaver Stadium.
Students from the College of Communications represent Penn State as the football team’s starting quarterback, the Nittany Lion mascot and the Penn State Blue Band’s featured twirler.
“Scores of our students represent the University in any number of laudable ways,” said Dean Doug Anderson. “Having three serve in those high-profile roles, though, certainly adds sparkle to an already lengthy list.”
Quarterback Daryll Clark, a senior from Youngstown, Ohio, is a telecommunications major. He was named Tuesday as the starting quarterback for the team’s season-opening game against Coastal Carolina. Last season, Clark played in eight games, with his most notable experience coming during the team’s Alamo Bowl victory against Texas A&M as he helped the Nittany Lions rally from an initial 14-0 deficit before winning, 24-17.
Twirler PJ Maierhofer, a senior from Altoona, is a public relations major. She has been the featured twirler, Blue Sapphire, for the Penn State Blue Band since she arrived on campus as a freshman. The 2007 Grand National Collegiate Twirling Champion, Maierhofer has earned academic scholarships from the College of Communications the past two years. Along with her Blue Band and classroom commitments, Maierhofer works with the Pride of the Lions Pep Band and participates in the Penn State Dance Marathon. She also competes in individual twirling competitions and teaches twirling lessons throughout the year.
Mascot James Sheep, a senior from Chambersburg, is a broadcast journalism major. He beat out five other contenders during a tryout and took over duties as the Nittany Lion mascot with his debut during the Blue-White Game in April 2007. Those responsibilities include hundreds of appearances each year, a routine Sheep appreciates after nearly 18 months in the position. He works out four or five times a week and eats as much as possible to maintain his weight. “Your weight can drop quickly because you’re sweating so much,” Sheep said. “Going up and down steps, from event to event and just being in the suit for up for 12 hours on a given weekend takes a lot of endurance.”