University Park, Pa. — Penn State will kick off the 2010 campaign with "Penn State Football Eve presented by HappyValley.com" on Friday, Sept. 3. The seventh annual 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.
For a promo video, click here.
The "night before" activities outside the stadium include festival food and fun along Curtain Road, which will become a fan promenade at 6 p.m. Kids games, food, surprises and music will all be part of the promenade.
Stadium gates open at 7 p.m. for fans who wish to be seated early with a showing of 2009 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 Joe Paterno’s address to the crowd a new stadium video will be unveiled.
Also, former Nittany Lion All-America quarterback Chuck Fusina will speak at Football Eve. Fusina won the 1978 Maxwell Award as the nation’s top player after leading Penn State to consecutive 11-1 seasons in 1977 and ’78.
Admission and parking are free for "Penn State Football Eve presented by HappyValley.com." The Nittany Lions’ 124th season opener is against Youngstown State the following day at noon..
"Penn State Football Eve," which launches the first weekend of the football season, has attracted enthusiastic crowds approaching 25,000 in each of its initial five events.
Fans attending "Penn State Football Eve presented by HappyValley.com" can warm-up for the event at the No.1 ranked Nittany Lion women’s volleyball team’s home opener against Seton Hall, which begins Sept. 3 at 7:00 p.m. in Rec Hall. The three-time defending NCAA Champions host Colgate (10 a.m.) and Virginia Commonwealth (7 p.m.) on Sept. 4. Penn State will bring a 102-match winning streak into its Aug. 27 season opener at North Carolina.
The Oct. 30 Michigan game is sold out and a limited number of tickets remain for the Oct. 9 Homecoming clash with Illinois. Tickets for Youngstown State (Sept. 4, noon), Kent State (Sept. 18, noon), Temple (Sept. 25), Northwestern (Nov. 6) and the Senior Day battle with Michigan State (Nov. 27), as well as Illinois, are on sale at www.GoPSUsports.com or by calling 800-833-5533 or 814-865-5555 weekdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Paterno’s 45th Penn State team returns 36 letterwinners and 13 starters for the upcoming season. The No. 14 Nittany Lions have posted a 51-13 record since 2005, tied for the nation’s seventh-best mark over the past five seasons.