University Park, Pa. -- Penn State will kick off the 2007 campaign with "Penn State Football Eve presented by Sheetz" on Friday, Aug. 31. The fourth year event starts the new season with a festival-like atmosphere surrounding Beaver Stadium followed by a celebration inside the stadium with the team and Coach Joe Paterno.
The "night before" activities outside the stadium include a barbecue, festival food and fun along Curtin Road, which will become a fan promenade at 6 p.m. Stadium gates open at 7 p.m. for fans who wish to be seated early with a showing of 2006 football highlights. The program inside the stadium starts at 7:45 p.m. featuring the Blue Band, cheerleaders, dance team and videos. The seniors will be introduced and after Coach Paterno's address to the crowd a new stadium video will be unveiled.
"Penn State Football Eve presented by Sheetz," which launches the first weekend of the football season, attracted approximately 25,000 fans in each of its first two events. Last year's event was canceled due to heavy rain. The Nittany Lions' 121st season opener is against Florida International on Sept. 1 at noon. Admission and parking are free for "Penn State Football Eve presented by Sheetz."
"We're proud to help continue this tradition at Penn State through our support of Football Eve. We see this event getting bigger and better each year," said Louie Sheetz, executive vice president, marketing, Sheetz.
Anticipation is running at an all time high for the new season among Penn State fans, with a record 99 percent renewal rate for 2007 season tickets. A record total of 93,500-plus season tickets have been sold, including more than 21,000 student season tickets that sold out in 59 minutes. Membership in the Nittany Lion Club has grown by 20 percent over the past two years to nearly 23,000.
Four games are sold out, with a limited number of tickets remaining only for Florida International, Buffalo (Sept. 15, noon) and possibly the Senior Day clash with Purdue (Nov. 3). Any remaining single game tickets will go on sale at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 27, exclusively at http://www.GoPSUsports.com online, the official Web site of Penn State Athletics.
"Football Eve" will be a part of the freshman "Welcome Week," with their orientation continuing in the stadium, where freshmen will gain an understanding of student traditions during the football games. FSN Pittsburgh will have a "Who Wants to be an Announcer?" station outside the All-Sports Museum for aspiring sports broadcasters. Kids games, a barbecue, festival food, surprises and an oldies band will all be part of the promenade along Curtin Road.
Paterno's 42nd Penn State team returns 32 letterwinners and 15 starters for the 2007 season. The Nittany Lions have a blockbuster 2007 home schedule that includes five bowl teams from 2006: Notre Dame, (6 p.m. Sept. 8, ESPN), Iowa (Oct. 6), Wisconsin (3:30 p.m. Oct. 13 - Homecoming, ABC), Ohio State (8 p.m. Oct. 27, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2) and Purdue.
The Florida International and Buffalo games will air on the Big Ten Network, launching on Aug. 30, as will at least one of the Nittany Lions' Big Ten contests. To get the Big Ten Network, fans should visit http://www.BigTenNetwork.com and enter your ZIP code, which will then provide a link to the cable providers in your area, as well as DirecTV and Dish Network, to make a request for them to carry the Big Ten Network.
All Penn State football and basketball games can be heard on the Penn State Sports Network and http://www.GoPSUsports.com online.
A limited number of rooms still are available for the weekend of the Florida International game at The Nittany Lion Inn and the Penn Stater. For information or reservations, call (800) 233-7505.