University Park, Pa. — Penn State will kick off the 2011 campaign with "Penn State Football Eve" on Friday, Sept. 2. The eighth 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.
The event will launch the celebration of 125 years of Penn State Football. Admission and parking are free for Penn State Football Eve. The Nittany Lions’ season opener against Indiana State is the following day at noon.
The "night before" activities outside the stadium include festival food and fun along Curtin Road, which will become a fan promenade at 6 p.m. Kids games, food and music will all be part of the promenade.
Stadium gates open at 7 p.m. and 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.
Penn State Football Eve, which launches the first weekend of the football season, annually attracts enthusiastic crowds of 20,000 or more.
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. Penn State opens its 125th season Sept. 3 vs. Indiana State in Beaver Stadium and Alabama visits Happy Valley on Sept. 10 (3:30 p.m. kick) for the first time since 1989. All Penn State fans are encouraged to wear white to the Alabama game.
Penn State Football season tickets are available. Ticket information is available online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets or fans can call Penn State Athletics Customer Relations at 1-800-NITTANY (648-8269) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m-5 p.m.
All Penn State football and basketball games can be heard on the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com.
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