UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Blue & White Society and Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics are teaming up to host the traditional "Rally in the Valley" football pep rally at 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 9, in Rec Hall. The doors will open at 7:30 p.m. on the eve of the Penn State-Alabama clash.
The Nittany Lion faithful will be pumped up and primed to get ready for the highly-anticipated Beaver Stadium Whitehouse game. All Nittany Lions fans are encouraged to wear white to the clash against the No. 2 Crimson Tide.
The "Rally in the Valley" will feature Coach Joe Paterno, the Penn State football team, Penn State cheerleaders, Lionettes dance team, the Blue Band, and the Nittany Lion. T-shirts will be given away at the pep rally.
At the Alabama game, for the first time ever, 440 Blue & White Society student members will create a new cheer section in the south end zone of Beaver Stadium called the BEAT ZONE. The BEAT ZONE will flank the S-Zone in the student section and will flash "Beat Bama" cards and lead "Beat Bama" cheers as the cheerleaders rally the crowd.
Alabama will be playing in Beaver Stadium for the first time since 1989. The Crimson Tide lead the series, 9-5, after winning last year’s game in Tuscaloosa. The No. 25 Nittany Lions will be facing the Crimson Tide in a 3:30 p.m., contest that will be televised by ABC to a national audience. The Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com also will air the clash.
Penn State opened its 125th season with a 41-7 win over Indiana State on Saturday, as Chaz Powell returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and Silas Redd ran for 104 yards and two scores. The Nittany Lion defense forced three turnovers and limited ISU to eight first downs and 170 total yards. Alabama opened the season with a 48-7 win over Kent State.
The Blue & White Society is the student membership of the Penn State Alumni Association. For more information about the pep rally and the BEAT ZONE, visit the Blue & White Society website at www.clubs.psu.edu/up/bws, or call the Penn State Alumni Association at 814-865-6516 or Penn State Athletic Communications at 814-865-1757.