UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Head coach Bill O’Brien and the Penn State Football staff will welcome high school players from across the nation to the Nittany Lions’ 39th annual summer football camps, which get under way Saturday, June 1.
In his first season as head coach, O’Brien was selected the 2012 Bear Bryant, Maxwell Football Club and ESPN Coach of the Year and the Big Ten-Dave McClain Coach of the Year. He led the Nittany Lions to an 8-4 overall record (6-2, Big Ten).Penn State will offer five football camp opportunities in June, including two Advanced Skills camps (June 1 and 22), and Underclass Advanced Skills (June 8), Youth (June 9) and Position (June 27-29) camps. The Nittany Lions’ coaching staff will be joined by some of the nation’s best high school and college coaches to provide professional instruction during the camps.More than 1,000 players annually attend Penn State Football Camps, making it one of the most successful high school football camp operations in the country. The instructional sessions are held at Penn State’s expansive grass and artificial turf fields, or in case of inclement weather, in the Nittany Lions’ indoor facilities, including Holuba Hall.Penn State Football camp information, including online registration forms, can be found by visitingwww.pennstatefootballcamps.com or GoPSUsports.com/camps. Interested individuals can also contact the Penn State Sports Camp office at 814-865-0561, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.The Advanced Skills Camps will be held June 1 and 22 and are open to students entering grades 10-12 this fall. The camp is designed for more advanced high school players who want to elevate their skills in preparation for their upcoming season and playing football beyond high school. The camp’s primary focus is on position-specific skill and technique development.The Penn State Underclass Advanced Skills Camp is Saturday, June 8, and is open to students who are entering grades 9-11 in the fall. This physically demanding and competitive camp is specifically designed for more advanced players who are serious about raising their skills in preparation for playing football beyond high school. Enrollment is limited, so early registration is encouraged. The Penn State Youth Camp will be held June 9 and is open to students entering grades 4-7 this fall. The camp is designed to teach basic fundamentals in all positions creating a strong foundation as an athlete progresses in his football career. Besides both offensive and defensive fundamentals, agility, balance, movement, speed enhancement, conditioning, hydration and sportsmanship will be highlighted.The Penn State Position Camp is set for June 27-29 and is for students entering grades 8-12 this fall. This camp is designed to give players the opportunity to enhance basic football related skills, while also learning individual football techniques and fundamentals. In addition to O’Brien and the Penn State staff, high school and college coaches from across the country will provide instruction. Through lectures, demonstrations and drill sessions, camp participants will receive position-specific skill and technique development.2013 Penn State Football Camps:June 1 – Advanced Skills Camp June 8 – Underclass Advanced Skills CampJune 9 – Youth CampJune 22 – Advanced Skills Camp IIJune 27-29 – Position Camp In O’Brien’s first season as head coach, the Nittany Lions won eight of their final 10 games, beating eventual Big Ten champion Wisconsin on Senior Day. O’Brien’s eight wins were the most by a first-year Penn State coach in the 126 years of the program.Penn State returns 16 starters and 38 letterwinners for this fall. Season tickets are available for the 2013 campaign. The Nittany Lions will host five bowl teams from 2012, including three teams that finished in the BCS Top 25: Michigan (Oct. 12-Homecoming), Nebraska (Nov. 23) and Kent State (Sept. 21). Purdue, Illinois, UCF and Eastern Michigan also will visit Beaver Stadium this fall.Penn State opens the season Aug. 31 vs. Syracuse in MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Nittany Lion Club members can order tickets for the Syracuse game starting at 10 a.m. May 3 by calling 800-NITTANY.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.GoPSUsports.com or call 800-NITTANY from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.Penn State Athletics is on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pennstatenittanylions) and Twitter (http://www.gopsusports.com/ot/socialmedia.html).