University Park, Pa. — The Nittany Lion football team will culminate spring practice with one of the highlights of the Penn State sports calendar, Blue-White Weekend presented by AAA, set for April 15-17.
Kickoff for the Blue-White Game presented by AAA is tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 16 in Beaver Stadium. The contest will air on the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com
As in previous years, there will be no admission or parking fee for the Blue-White game.
This year’s Blue-White Weekend presented by AAA will launch the celebration of 125 years of Penn State Football.
Two recent additions to the Blue-White Weekend schedule will be held the day after the football game. The Second Beaver Stadium 5K Run/Family Fun Walk to benefit Special Olympics Pennsylvania will begin at 10 a.m. Last year’s event raised more than $35,000. To register for the Beaver Stadium 5K Run/Family Fun Walk go to: www.stadiumrun.org. Also, for the first time, the carnival adjacent to Beaver Stadium will extend into Sunday, operating from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The Blue-White Game presented by AAA is one of the nation’s most popular spring football contests. The attendance record fell three consecutive years, topping 70,000 in 2007, ’08 and ’09. An estimated 55,000 Penn State fans attended the 2010 contest in cloudy and cool conditions. A record crowd of 76,500 flocked to the 2009 intra-squad scrimmage.
More than 40,000 fans have attended the Blue-White Game in 12 of the past 15 years, with rainy conditions during the other three contests.
Numerous events will be held in conjunction with the Blue-White Game presented by AAA to celebrate Penn State Football, including the popular pre-game autograph session with the players, a three-day carnival, food, pre-game parade, live entertainment and fireworks. The announcement of the spring football award winners and the recipients of the PNC Bank "Player of the Game" from last season also will be announced at the game.
Other events held in conjunction with Blue-White Weekend presented by AAA will be announced at a later date. Coach Joe Paterno’s squad will begin spring practice in late March.
The Penn State baseball, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse and women’s tennis teams also will be competing at home during Blue-White Weekend presented by AAA. The baseball team hosts Purdue on Friday (6:35 p.m.), Saturday (5 p.m., Big Ten Network) and Sunday (1:05 p.m.) at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, across the street from Beaver Stadium.
Since the start of the 2005 season, Penn State has earned a 58-19 (75.3) record, tied with Oregon for No. 12 in the nation. Over the past six years, Coach Joe Paterno’s Nittany Lions have won two Big Ten Championships, won four bowl games and played in five New Year’s or Bowl Championship Series (BCS) games, the nation’s third-highest total.
The Nittany Lions return 16 starters for the 2011 season, (7 offense, 8 defense, 1 specialist), as well as 17 players that have starting experience. Penn State opens its 125th season Sept. 3 vs. Indiana State in Beaver Stadium and Alabama visits Happy Valley on Sept. 10 for the first time since 1989.
