University Park, Pa. – Penn State will kick off the 2006 campaign with \”Penn State Football Eve presented by Sheetz\” on Friday, Sept. 1. The third-year 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 \”night before\” activities outside the stadium include a barbeque, festival food and fun along Curtain Road, which will become a fan promenade at 6 p.m. Stadium gates open at 7 p.m. for fans who wish to be seated early with a showing of 2005 football highlights. The program inside the stadium starts at 7:45 p.m. featuring the Blue Band, cheerleaders, dance team and videos. The team captains and seniors will be introduced and after Paterno\’s address to the crowd a new stadium video will be unveiled.
\”Penn State Football Eve presented by Sheetz,\” which launches the first weekend of the football season, has attracted approximately 25,000 fans at each of its first two events. The Nittany Lions\’ season opener is against Akron, the 2005 Mid-American Conference champion, at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 2.
\”We\’re proud to help continue this tradition at Penn State through our support of Football Eve. We see this getting bigger and better each year,\” said Louie Sheetz, vice president-marketing for Sheetz.
Anticipation is running at an all-time high for the new season among Penn State fans. More than 20,000 student season tickets sold out in 13 days and more than 90,000 season tickets overall will be distributed. Five games are sold out, with a limited number of tickets remaining only for Akron and Temple (Nov. 11).
Admission and parking are free for \”Penn State Football Eve presented by Sheetz.\” Fans are encouraged to drop-in on the State College Spikes game across the street at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Freshman orientation that is being held in the Bryce Jordan Center the same evening will continue in the stadium, where the freshman will gain an understanding of student traditions during the football games. FSN Pittsburgh will have a \”Who Wants to be an Announcer?\” station outside the All-Sports Museum for aspiring sports broadcasters. Kids\’ games, a barbeque, festival food, surprises and an oldies band all will be part of the promenade along Curtain Road.
Entering his 41st season as head coach, Paterno leads a squad that\’s returning 34 letterwinners and 11 starters for this season, including returning All-Americans and 2006 co-captains Paul Posluszny and Levi Brown and 2005 All-Big Ten selections Jay Alford and Tony Hunt. Paterno recently was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame and will be inducted in December.
A limited number of tickets remain for the Akron and Temple games and are available at http://www.GoPSUsports.com online. Phone orders, counter and group sales for Akron and Temple will begin at 8 a.m. Friday, July 21. To order, call (814) 865-5555 or (800) 863-3336 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.