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Nittany Lion fans keep Beaver Stadium among nation's top draws

12/21/12

Penn State fans continue to prove why they are regarded as the best in the nation as they flocked to Beaver Stadium during Bill O'Brien's first season as head coach.

For the 22nd consecutive season, Penn State's passionate and enthusiastic fans ranked among the Top Five in the nation in average home attendance. Led by an electric sellout throng of 107,818 for the primetime clash with Ohio State, the Nittany Lions averaged 96,730 fans during the 2012 campaign.

Penn State ranked fifth in average home attendance among the nation's 120 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams, according to the NCAA.

Quarterback Tyler Ferguson signs letter of intent

12/21/12

Quarterback Tyler Ferguson (Bakersfield, Calif.) has signed a national letter of intent to play football at Penn State and plans to enroll in the University in January. He will be eligible to play during the 2013 season.

The 6-foot, 4-inch, 210-pound Ferguson threw for 2,614 yards, with 199 completions and 22 touchdowns in 10 games during the 2012 season at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif. He completed better than 55 percent of his passes and was the second-leading passer in the California Community College Athletic Association's Central Valley Conference.

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O'Brien named Maxwell Football Club Collegiate Coach of the Year

12/19/12

Penn State coach Bill O'Brien has been selected the Maxwell Football Club's Collegiate Coach of the Year today (Dec. 19), earning his second national coaching honor.

O'Brien previously was named the ESPN Coach of the Year. He also is a finalist for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year and the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year. The first-year Nittany Lion mentor also was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and is among six candidates for the Dapper Dan Sportsman of the Year.

"Coach O'Brien has engineered a tremendous season for the Penn State football program while overcoming obstacles that many considered to be insurmountable," stated Mark Wolpert, Maxwell Football Club executive director. "The team's 8-4 record is a great testament to the hard work of Coach O'Brien and his staff, and also to the dedication shown by the student-athletes involved in the football program at Penn State."

Lady Lions Pink Zone to raise funds for Hershey Cancer Institute

12/19/12

At 1 p.m. Feb. 24, the Penn State Lady Lions Basketball Team will take on Michigan for the team's seventh annual Women's Basketball Coaches Association Pink Zone.

For the past six years, WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State has raised $565,317.73 for breast cancer awareness, research and patient support. Following the 2012 game, Pennsylvania Pink Zone donated $52,780 to Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute to support breast cancer research.

O'Brien a finalist for Bear Bryant Coach of the Year

12/19/12

Penn State coach Bill O'Brien has earned his fifth recognition as a finalist for a national coaching honor with his selection as one of the six candidates for the 2012 Bear Bryant Coach of the Year.

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Big Ten honors record 100 Penn State student-athletes for fall

12/18/12

A school record 100 Penn State student-athletes, representing seven fall sports, have been honored with Academic All-Big Ten awards for achievement in the classroom. The 100 honorees brings Penn State's all-time total to 4,124 in the 20th year of the program.

Penn State's 100 honorees led all conference schools. Northwestern was second with 94. The Nittany Lions' 100 honorees shattered the previous school record of 81 for the fall sports teams, set in 2007.

Trio among nominees for Dapper Dan Sportsman & Sportswoman honors

12/17/12

A trio of current and former Penn State student-athletes and coaches are among the nominees for the prestigious 2012 Dapper Dan Charities Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, presented to the figures from the Pittsburgh area who have made the most outstanding accomplishment in sports in the past year.

Nittany Lion football head coach Bill O'Brien is among six nominees for the Dapper Dan Sportsman of the Year and the only coach among the nominees. Penn State women's soccer standout Taylor Schram (Canonsburg) and former Nittany Lion women's volleyball All-American and 2012 Olympic silver medalist Christa Harmotto (Aliquippa) are among four nominees for Dapper Dan Sportswoman of the Year. Harmotto also was a nominee for the 2008 Dapper Dan Sportswoman of the Year.

Five Lions earn All-Big Ten from BTN.com, ESPN.com

12/13/12

Five Penn State football student-athletes have been named All-Big Ten as selected by ESPN.com and BigTenNetwork.com. In addition, BTN.com selected Bill O'Brien the Big Ten Coach of the Year and defensive end Deion Barnes (Philadelphia) the conference's Freshman of the Year.

Penn State-Indiana Game Notes

11/15/12

The Penn State football team returns to Beaver Stadium on Saturday (Nov. 17) to take on Indiana for the first of two home games to close out the season. The Nittany Lions and Hoosiers kick off at noon, with the contest airing on the Big Ten Network.

No. 1 women's volleyball takes on No. 17 Purdue and Indiana

10/11/12

The No. 1 Penn State women's volleyball team (16-1, 6-0 Big Ten) welcomes No. 17 Purdue and Indiana on Oct. 12-13, respectively. The Nittany Lions face the Boilermakers at 8 p.m. on Friday before facing the Hoosiers at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Penn State's match with Purdue will air live on the Big Ten Network.

Wrestling dual at Iowa moved to Feb. 1 for live BTN broadcast

10/5/12

The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team has had its road dual meets at Iowa and Illinois switched, allowing for live Big Ten Network coverage of the Nittany Lions' dual at Iowa. Penn State will now visit Iowa City to battle the Hawkeyes on Friday, Feb. 1, at 9 p.m. (Eastern)/8 p.m. (Central/Local) on Mediacom Mat at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The dual was originally scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 3, but was rescheduled to accommodate a BTN request to televise the dual.

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Bill O'Brien feature set for HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel

5/17/13

Penn State football coach Bill O'Brien, who earned three national Coach of the Year honors in 2012, will be profiled on HBO's Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel. The feature story on O'Brien will debut on Tuesday, May 21 at 10 p.m. ET and re-air several times on HBO and HBO2 through June 8. The program also will be available on HBO On Demand from May 27-June 17.

2013 Big Ten Champion Penn State Wrestling team

Penn State earns school-record 8th Big Ten Championship

5/14/13

On the heels of the women's outdoor track and field team earning its fourth Big Ten Championship in the last six years, Penn State athletic programs have won a school-record eight Big Ten titles, including a record seven regular season crowns, during a tremendous 2012-13 athletic season. Also, the Nittany Lions' 13 Big Ten titles is the most in the 2011-13 two-year span, leading all other conference schools.

Curry tabbed Academic All-EIVA

5/1/13

Redshirt-sophomore Connor Curry (Newport Beach, Calif.) earned a spot on the Academic All-EIVA Team. Curry was one of 10 men's volleyball student-athletes from six of the eight member schools to be honored.

Bill O'Brien speaks at a 2012 Coaches Caravan event

Seven head coaches joining O'Brien for Penn State Coaches Caravan

4/24/13

Building on Penn State's "One Team" inaugural year momentum, highlighting the highly successful first season under football coach Bill O'Brien and looking ahead to 2013, the Penn State Coaches Caravan tour begins another road trip April 30 with visits to 12 locations.

Lady Lions named Play 4Kay winner

4/5/13

The Penn State Lady Lions have been recognized as the 2013 Play 4Kay Division I winner for their efforts in the national effort to raise breast cancer awareness and raise funds in the fight against breast cancer. The Play 4Kay initiative is a national fundraising effort is in memory of former North Carolina State University head coach Kay Yow, who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 and battled the disease until 2009.

Annual CVC Golf Tournament set for May 31

4/4/13

The 17th Annual Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Tournament will take place Friday, May 31 at the Penn State Blue and White Golf Courses. It will be the fourth event on Coaches vs. Cancer-Penn State's 2012-13 calendar as the organization nears eclipsing $2 million in total funds raised.

Studevent, Hadlock, Winiarski, Chang, Carrier named 2013 Oswald Award winners

4/2/13

Five Penn State students in their respective areas of leadership have been honored with the 2013 John W. Oswald Award. Gizelle Studevent is the recipient in the field of athletics; John Hadlock, creative/performing arts; Kristin Winiarski, journalism; Rachel Chang, representing scholarship; and Bridgette Carrier, social services. The John W. Oswald Award, established in 1983, annually recognizes graduating seniors who have provided outstanding leadership in at least one of several areas of activity at the University. The award consists of a medallion honoring John W. Oswald, president of the University from 1970 to 1983.

Januskova, Urschel honored with 2013 McCoy Award

4/1/13

Tennis player Petra Januskova and football player John Urschel have been selected as the 2013 recipients of the Ernest B. McCoy Memorial Award. The McCoy Award is presented annually to one senior female and one senior male student-athlete who have combined successful athletic participation with academic excellence. The award is named for the longtime dean of Penn State’s College of Physical Education, who also served as the University’s athletic director.