University Park, Pa. — Penn State’s Homecoming clash with Purdue is set for a noon kick on Oct. 15 in Beaver Stadium, the Nittany Lions’ second announced start time for the 2011 season.
The Big Ten Network, ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 will televise Penn State’s 92nd Homecoming contest, with an announcement on the televising network likely 12 days before the game.
Penn State and Purdue are in the Big Ten’s Leaders Division, along with Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State and Wisconsin, and will annually meet starting this season. The Nittany Lions and Boilermakers last met in 2008, with Penn State capturing a 20-6 win in West Lafayette, to take a 10-3-1 series advantage.
Penn State owns an all-time Homecoming record of 65-21-5, winning 39 of 45 games under Coach Joe Paterno. The Boilermakers have been the Nittany Lions’ Homecoming foe three times before, in 1996 (PSU, 31-14), 1998 (PSU, 31-13) and 2005 (PSU, 33-15).
Penn State’s annual Homecoming activities include a Friday evening parade through campus and downtown, guarding the Nittany Lion Shrine and the naming of a Homecoming King and Queen and their court.
The Nittany Lions’ Oct. 22 contest at Northwestern had previously been announced for a 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. kick that will be televised by the Big Ten Network. The kick times for Penn State’s first two games – Sept. 3 vs. Indiana State and Sept. 10 vs. Alabama — should be announced by July 1. All Penn State fans are encouraged to wear white to the highly-anticipated clash with the Crimson Tide.
The Nittany Lions return 41 letterwinners and 15 starters for the 2011 season, (7 offense, 7 defense, 1 specialist), as well as 17 players that have starting experience.
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 the 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.
Season tickets are available for the 2011 season. The Nittany Lions will face seven teams that played in bowl games last year, including four at home. Among the teams coming to Beaver Stadium this fall are: Alabama, Iowa (Oct. 8), Purdue (Oct. 15), Illinois (Oct. 29) and new Big Ten member Nebraska (Nov. 12). The Nittany Lions and Cornhuskers will annually meet starting this fall.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can call 1-800-648-8269 (1-800-NITTANY).