QUICK FACTS Location: University Park, Pa. 16802 Enrollment: 40,085 (undergraduate); 46,184 (University Park) Nickname: Nittany Lions Colors: Blue & White Stadium (Capacity): Beaver Stadium (106,572) Stadium Surface: Natural Grass Conference: Big Ten President: Dr. Rodney Erickson President-Elect: Dr. Eric Barron Athletic Director: Dr. Dave Joyner Associate Athletic Director for Finance: Rick Kaluza Football Coach: James Franklin Chief of Staff: Jemal Griffin Director of Football Operations: Michael Hazel Director of Football Administration: Kevin Threlkel Football Office Phone: (814) 865-0412 Penn State Athletics Website: GoPSUsports.com
James Franklin’s first Penn State squad returns 41 lettermen for the 2014 season.
NITTANY LION NOTEBOOK ➤ Penn State Returns 41 Lettermen Penn State returns 41 lettermen from last year’s 7-5 squad — 23 on defense, 16 on offense and two specialists. Of the 41 lettermen returning, 24 have starting experience — 13 on defense, nine on offense and the starting placekicker. The Nittany Lions have lost the services of 18 letterwinners — 12 on offense, five on defense and one specialist. ➤ Fifteen Nittany Lion Starters Return The Nittany Lions return 15 starters — seven on defense, seven on offense and placekicker Sam Ficken. Six additional defensive players and three more offensive players also have starting experience. Among the Nittany Lions’ returning starters are seven players who earned honorable-mention AllBig Ten recognition last season: safety Adrian Amos, placekicker Sam Ficken, quarterback Christian Hackenberg, tight end Jesse James, cornerback Jordan Lucas, defensive end C.J. Olaniyan and tackle Donovan Smith. ➤ Three Top 10 Squads On Schedule The Nittany Lions will play a trio of 2013 Top 10 teams, including two squads that won BCS games last year, and six squads that played in a bowl game during the 2014 campaign. Penn State opens the season Aug. 30 in the Croke Park Classic against UCF, winners of the 2014 Fiesta Bowl. The Nittany Lions will host Rose Bowl Champion Michigan State (Nov. 29), Orange Bowl participant Ohio State (Oct. 25), Northwestern (Sept. 27, Homecoming) and Maryland (Nov. 1) during their Big Ten home schedule. In addition to the trio of Top 10 teams, Penn State will face three more bowl teams this fall: Maryland (Military), Michigan (Buffalo Wild Wings) and Rutgers (Pinstripe). ➤ Season-Opener In Ireland Penn State will play its first international game since the program’s 1887 inception when it meets UCF in the Croke Park Classic on August 30 to open the 2014
season. The contest will be played in Dublin, Ireland at Croke Park, the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). Croke Park will have a capacity of 69,000 for the contest. UCF also will be playing in its first international game. The Knights were 12-1 last season, defeating Baylor in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, and finishing No. 10 in the final Associated Press poll. The Penn State-UCF contest will be the eighth American college football game held in Ireland. The last American football game hosted in Croke Park was in 1996 when Notre Dame played Navy. The Irish and Middies played in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium to open the 2012 season. Penn State will be the first Big Ten Conference team to play internationally since Michigan State and Wisconsin met in Tokyo in the 1993 regular-season finale. ➤ Penn State Among Victories Leaders Entering its 128th season of varsity football, Penn State numbers 730 victories to rank 12th in the nation. The Nittany Lions are one of just 14 programs with 700 wins and enter the 2014 season with an official all-time mark of 730-370-42.
2014 PENN STATE SCHEDULE Aug. 30 UCF (1) Sept. 6 AKRON Sept. 13 at Rutgers** Sept. 20 MASSACHUSETTS Sept. 27 NORTHWESTERN* (2) Oct. 11 at Michigan** Oct. 25 OHIO STATE** Nov. 1 MARYLAND** Nov. 8 at Indiana** Nov. 15 TEMPLE Nov. 22 at Illinois* Nov. 29 MICHIGAN STATE**
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TEAM INFORMATION 2013 Record: 7-5 2013 Big Ten Conference Record: 4-4 Lettermen Returning/Lost: 41/18 Starters Returning/Lost: 15/9 Blue-White Game: Saturday, April 12, 1:30 p.m.
HISTORY 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.
(1) Croke Park Stadium; Dublin, Ireland; (2) Homecoming; *Big Ten Conference games; **Big Ten East Division games; times Eastern.
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ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS Associate Athletic Director for Business Relations & Communications: TBA Assistant Athletic Director for Communications/ Football Contact: Jeff Nelson Secondary Football Contacts: Greg Campbell, Tony Mancuso, Kristina Petersen Associate/Assistant Directors of Athletic Communications: Stephanie Petulla, Kristina Petersen, Alissa Clendenen, Greg Campbell, Matt Caracappa, Pat Donghia, Jeremy Fallis, Tony Mancuso, Arielle Sargent Athletic Communications Assistants: Robby Hamman, Kellie O’Brien Publications Manager: Barry Jones Digital Imaging Coordinator: Mark Selders Graphic Designer: Steve Love Administrative Support Assistant: Shirley Irvin Athletic Communications Phone: (814) 865-1757 Athletic Communications Fax: (814) 863-3165 Athletic Communications Address: 101-D Bryce Jordan Center University Park, Pa. 16802
First Year of Football: 1887 All-time Record: 730-366-42, 127 seasons; 3 12th nationally in victories All-time Bowl Record: 21-15-2; 3 13th nationally in bowl victories Years in Post-season Play: 44; 3 9th in all-time bowl appearances
www.GoPSUsports.com U. Ed. No. ICA-14-3