UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State men's and women's hockey coaches Guy Gadowsky and Josh Brandwene are counting down the days until they kick off Division I competition in the fall.

Last week, both Gadowsky and Brandwene shared updates with the fans and alums about the progress of their programs and the construction of Pegula Ice Arena on the Coaches Caravan.  Gadowsky joined the Caravan for all six stops during week three, while Brandwene spoke in Pittsburgh and Buffalo.

Take a look at a video feature from the Coaches Caravan on Penn State Hockey.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State's first football game under the direction of head coach Bill O'Brien may not be for another 105 days, but the momentum for the 2012 season is already in motion.

Coach O'Brien kick-started that momentum when he embarked on a 1,968-mile, nine-day caravan beginning on April 30 with a stop in downtown Philadelphia.  For 18 stops, the leader of Nittany Lion football, along with 10 other Penn State coaches, addressed passionate and enthusiastic fans.

Coach O'Brien gave Nittany Lion fans a clear vision on the type of team he wants to field and how he plans on running the football program.  The fan reception across all 18 stops was outstanding.  All in all, the Coaches Caravan was a tremendous success for everyone involved.

In total, nearly 5,000 Penn State fans and alums attended the Coaches Caravan events in Philadelphia, Drexel Hill, Baltimore, Washington D.C, Richmond, Harrisburg, Hazleton, Lehigh Valley, Woodbridge (N.J.), New York, Hartford, Scranton, Altoona, Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Cleveland, Erie and Buffalo.

From a media perspective, Coach O'Brien conducted 61 different one-on-one interviews and 18 press conferences on 11 days from April 30-May 16, bringing the total number of Coaches Caravan media meetings to 79.

GoPSUsports.com provided written, video and photo content from all 18 stops.  Take a look below at several video features posted along the way.

Week One
Philadelphia/Drexel Hill


Baltimore/Washington D.C.


Richmond/Harrisburg



Week Two
Coaches Caravan from a Fan's Perspective


Coach O'Brien Visits New York City


Life on the Caravan Bus



Week Three
Altoona/Pittsburgh


Coaches Caravan Visits Ohio



Below is a compiled list of media coverage from the 2012 Coaches Caravan:

Stories/Columns prior to Caravan event in a city/National
Associated Press - Caravan preview
ESPN.com

Allentown Morning Call
Altoona Mirror
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Harrisburg Patriot News
Home News Tribune
Newark Star-Ledger
New York Daily News
New York Times
Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Scranton Times-Tribune/Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice
Warren Tribune Chronicle
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader

TV-Radio coverage prior to Caravan event in a city
ESPN Radio Altoona & State College
WRTA Radio - Altoona/Tyrone
WMAR-TV - Baltimore
105.7, The Fan - Baltimore
ESPN Radio 950 - Philadelphia
KYW NewsRadio - Philadelphia
ESPN Radio 970 - Pittsburgh
93.7, The Fan - Pittsburgh
Sirius XM - 2 interviews
WBRE-TV - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
WNEP-TV - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
WJAC-TV/Fox 8 - State College/Altoona/Johnstown
WTAJ-TV - State College/Altoona/Johnstown

Stories generated by Caravan event in a city/on bus
Associated Press
Sporting News
USA Today

Allentown Morning Call
Altoona Mirror
Baltimore Sun
Beaver County Times
Bergen Record
Bucks County Courier
Buffalo News
Centre Daily Times
Daily Collegian
Easton Express Times
Erie Times-News
Harrisburg Patriot News
Hartford Courant
Hazleton Standard Speaker
Home News Tribune
Lancaster Intelligencer
Newsday
Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Reading Eagle
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Scranton Times-Tribune/Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice
Washington Post
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader
York Daily Record
Youngstown Vindicator

TV-radio coverage generated by Caravan event in a city
Sports Biz, NBC Sports Network
Yahoo! Sports Radio

ESPN Radio Altoona & State College
WRTA Radio - Altoona/Tyrone
WGRZ-TV - Buffalo
WIVB/WNLO-TV - Buffalo
WKBW-TV - Buffalo
WJET/Fox 66 - Erie
WSEE/WICU-TV - Erie
Fox 43 - York/Harrisburg
WGAL-TV - Lancaster/Harrisburg
WHP-TV - Harrisburg
WHTM-TV - Harrisburg
WYLN-TV - Hazleton
TV2 - Lehigh Valley
Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia
CBS 3 - Philadelphia
Fox 29 - Philadelphia
WPVI-TV - Philadelphia
KDKA-TV - Pittsburgh
WPXI-TV/Fox53 - Pittsburgh
WTAE-TV - Pittsburgh
93.7, The Fan - Pittsburgh
CBS 6 - Richmond
NBC 12 - Richmond
WBRE-TV - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
WNEP-TV - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
WJAC-TV/Fox 8 - State College/Altoona/Johnstown
WTAJ-TV - State College/Altoona/Johnstown
Comcast SportsNet D.C.
WUSA-TV - Washington, D.C.
WILK Radio - Wilkes-Barre

Web/Social Media coverage generated by Caravan event in a city/bus
Alumni.psu.edu
BlackShoeDiaries.com
BleacherReport.com
BlueWhiteIllustrated.com
CBSSports.com
GoPSUsports.com
Fightonstate.com
Lions247.com
Live.psu.edu
Onward State
Penn State Facebook sites
Penn State and media Twitter accounts
PennStatermag.com
SI.com
SportingNews.com
StateCollege.com
VictoryBellRings.com


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Fullington Trailways driving ace Gottfried Fodor pulled up to the curb outside of the Mezzanine Entrance at the Bryce Jordan Center shortly after 1 a.m. on Thursday morning, ending a nine-day, 1,968-mile tour through seven states and 18 stops.

Life on the modified Penn State Coaches Caravan bus was an incredible experience to be a part of.  All of the coaches enjoyed conversing, sharing stories and getting to know one another for three weeks.  There were eight individuals, and Fodor, on the bus for every stop during all nine days on the road.  Several other coaches, staff members and a few media members joined the Caravan for stints along the way, and all three weeks were filled with fun on the bus.

Take a look at a video feature of what life was like on the bus with Coach O'Brien during the first caravan event of its kind in Penn State Athletics history.

Photo Gallery - Erie Stop

Photo Gallery - Buffalo Stop

ERIE and BUFFALO - After traversing through seven states and the District of Columbia during nine days, the Penn State Coaches Caravan made its final two stops on Wednesday on the Penn State Erie campus and in Buffalo.

Nearly 150 enthusiastic Nittany Lion fans and alums greeted Bill O'Brien, Guy Gadowsky and Mark Pavlik at Dobbins Gazebo at Penn State Behrend for lunch on Wednesday.  Following a 100-mile drive on I-90, the Fullington Trailways motorcoach pulled into stop No. 18 outside of Buffalo, N.Y.

Take a look through the final two stops of the Coaches Caravan.

Stop XVII - Erie
The first event of the final day was held in a superb location on Penn State's Erie campus, The Behrend College.  Outlined with windows on both arching side walls, the luncheon was held inside a beautiful enclosed gazebo.  The trio of coaches addressed an attentive crowd that asked some of the best questions during the past three weeks.

Coach O'Brien has been asked several questions by fans during the Caravan stops about working under Bill Belichick.  A fan in Erie asked him Tuesday about the three best things he learned from the leader of the New England Patriots.

Coach O'Brien's answer:
1. Coach Belichick's ability to enable the assistant coaches the freedom to coach under him.  Coach O'Brien said there were obviously parameters, but the assistant coaches had independence.

2. Coach O'Brien said he learned how to build and evaluate a team under Coach Belichick.

3. The third item he mentioned was Coach Belichick's ability to get a team ready for a game, which included a great deal of situational football.

Coach O'Brien often says that nothing really surprises him.  But one thing has really stood out to he and the other coaches on the Caravan. 

"Having never done this before, all I can tell you is how impressed I have been with the turnouts," Coach O'Brien said.

Coach Gadowsky added the following.

"I am extremely proud to be a part of you."

VIDEO: Highlights from the Stop in Erie

Stop XVIII: Buffalo
The first traveling Caravan of its kind in Penn State Athletics history began on April 30 in downtown Philadelphia, and it ended on Wednesday night outside of Buffalo.  From start to finish, Coach O'Brien and the entire roster of participating coaches contributed to make the nine-day stint on the road a resounding success.

When he took the job in January, Coach O'Brien wanted to get out on the road and meet as many Penn State fans as possible.  The Caravan provided that opportunity in 18 different locations across seven states and the District of Columbia.

It is impossible to count the number of fans the new leader of Penn State football met and shook hands with during the three-week journey, but the reception was tremendous at every stop.  The fans were engaged and enthusiastic day after day.  And Coach O'Brien went 18-for-18 delivering speeches.

On Wednesday night in Buffalo, Coaches Brandwene and Gadowsky spent time with Terry Pegula, whose $102 million donation enabled Penn State to begin Division I men's and women's hockey in the fall and build the state-of-the-art Pegula Ice Arena.  Pegula, who also owns the Buffalo Sabres, spent time with both hockey coaches and Coach O'Brien in Buffalo.

The third week was highlighted by the humor from Coach Pavlik.  During all six of his speeches, the men's volleyball leader had a clever analogy for the other coaches on stage.  Wednesday night's centered on the other three coaches being rock stars, including "The Boss", Bill O'Brien.

Like The Boss often does on the road during the last stop on his tours, Coach O'Brien told the crowd in Buffalo that he will be back on the road again next year.

"I look forward to doing something like this every year," Coach O'Brien said.  "Maybe it won't be 18 stops in 17 days, but we will figure it out.  I'm sure every year we will get out and see everybody."

After 1,968 miles of travel, 18 events on nine days and six nights in hotels, the Caravan pulled back into the Bryce Jordan Center parking lot after 1 a.m. on Thursday morning to cap off a great journey.

Thank you to all of the fans and alums who attended the Coaches Caravan at every stop.  The 18-stop trip was taxing for the crew on the bus who attended every event during all three weeks, but results exceeded expectations for everyone involved, largely because of the outstanding fan base supporting Penn State Athletics.

VIDEO: Football and Hockey Talk in Buffalo
Coach O'Brien and Coach Gadowsky talk football and hockey in Buffalo during the final stop of the Penn State Coaches Caravan in Buffalo on Wednesday.

Photo Gallery: Youngstown Stop

Photo Gallery: Cleveland Stop

YOUNGSTOWN and CLEVELAND - Following two stops in Pennsylvania, the Penn State Coaches Caravan moved into Ohio for a pair of events on Tuesday.

Nearly 100 fans and alums greeted Bill O'Brien, Coquese Washington, Guy Gadowsky and Mark Pavlik for lunch in Youngstown.  The Penn State-themed coach bus took a short drive across the Ohio Turnpike and north on Interstate 77 to Cleveland for the second stop on day eight of the nine-day caravan.

Take a look through highlights of the two Ohio stops on the final week of the Coaches Caravan.

Stop XV - Youngstown
With some audio difficulties during the introduction to stop 15, Coach O'Brien took things into his own hands with a rousing We Are...Penn State chant in the Grand Ballroom at the Holiday Inn located just south of Youngstown, kicking off a very good stop in Northeast Ohio.  Coaches Pavlik, Gadowsky and Washington, respectively, delivered candid messages to say thank you to the Penn State fans and alums in the room.

Although we keep stating it, the reception and interaction from the fans at every stop has been tremendous.  The fans have made the traveling caravan a resounding success.  The coaches repeat themselves time and time again on the importance of receiving support from the attendees in the room.  The alums and fans across the nation are a big part of the success Penn State Athletics is able to achieve on a yearly basis.  In many ways, the coaches have used the Caravan as an opportunity to remind the fans and alums of their role in the department's success and a way to say thanks for everything they do.

Coach O'Brien talks about recruiting at every stop.  One of the points he really drove home to the Youngstown crowd on the recruiting front is the importance of finding the right guys who fit into the football program.  Sure he is looking for talented athletes, but Coach O'Brien wants high integrity individuals who will work hard every day on the field and in the classroom.

Stop XVI: Cleveland
The Caravan bus rolled into downtown Cleveland shortly before 3 p.m. on a warm afternoon along Lake Erie.  Tuesday evening's event was held at the City Club of Cleveland in front of nearly 200 people.  The same cast of coaches - Bill O'Brien, Coquese Washington, Guy Gadowsky and Mark Pavlik - spoke at the evening festivities.  Tuesday's program was among the best evening events with energetic, entertaining and humorous speeches from all four individuals.

As you hear each coach speak more and more on the Caravan, it has become extremely apparent just how much the opportunity to coach at Penn State means to each of them.  Coach Pavlik, like a number of veteran coaches on the University Park campus, is a tremendous ambassador for the entire athletic department.  And while they have not been in Happy Valley quite as long as Coach Pavlik, Coaches Gadowsky and Washington are cut from the same mold.

"There are a lot of special things about Penn State and the athletic department that you don't see at other places," Coach Gadowsky said.

"It is truly an honor for us to be a part of this special community," Coach Washington said.

Coach O'Brien is exactly the same way.  His passion for Penn State oozes from every speech on the Caravan.  When he is finished with the evening PowerPoint presentation you are ready to put pads on and start playing for the University everyone in the presentation room loves.

The evening in Cleveland was another great representation of Penn State's contingent of great coaches, and it was a superb stop to cap off a day in Ohio.

Before shifting into coverage of the day nine stops in Erie and Buffalo, Coach O'Brien filled the media in Cleveland in on a number of football topics pertaining to the roster, depth chart and schedule, among other things.  Coach O'Brien was asked what he is looking forward to most about his first gameday in Beaver Stadium.

Boarding the blue buses and riding from the Lasch Football Building to Beaver Stadium and running onto the field out of the tunnel for the first time topped his list.  The countdown is on for the season-opener against Ohio on Sept. 1.  Take a look at the video below for more football talk in Cleveland.

VIDEO: Coach O'Brien Talks Football In Cleveland
Coach O'Brien talks about the team, depth chart and more during his meeting with the media in Cleveland on Tuesday.

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) weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Ticket Center.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

Photo Gallery - Altoona Caravan Stop

Photo Gallery - Pittsburgh Caravan Stop

ALTOONA and PITTSBURGH - The final leg of the 18-stop Penn State Coaches Caravan kicked off on Monday with events in Altoona and downtown Pittsburgh.

More than 190 Penn State fans and alums filled the gymnasium on the Penn State Altoona campus at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast.  From there, the Fullington coach bus moved west to Pittsburgh for a stop in Allegheny County at the Omni William Penn Hotel.

Take a look through highlights of the first two stops on the final week of the Coaches Caravan.

Stop XIII - Altoona
For the third-straight week, the Penn State Coaches Caravan pulled out of the Bryce Jordan Center at 6:30 a.m. Monday to begin a six-stop tour with head coach Bill O'Brien.  This week, men's hockey coach Guy Gadowsky and men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik boarded the bus to join Coach O'Brien for three days on the road.

Penn State's Altoona campus played host to the 13th stop on the caravan with a morning breakfast inside the Adler Athletic Complex.  Upon arrival, Coach O'Brien made the rounds from table to table throughout the gymnasium shaking hands and signing autographs with Penn State fans in the room.

He approached a table with three young boys and their fathers and asked them why they weren't in school today.  As it turned out, Monday's breakfast with the Penn State coaches was just a stop on the way to elementary school.

One of the comical moments during Monday's breakfast came with Coach O'Brien during the Q&A portion of the program.  An enthusiastic fan stepped up and said, "What percentage of the total (offensive) package will be in for the Ohio game and the season moving forward?"

Coach O'Brien's response before the room erupted into laughter, "A very big percentage."

The leader of Penn State football said that meeting with the other traveling coaches on the bus is one of the best parts about the caravan travel.  He added that working with so many head coaches is one thing he loves about working in college athletics compared to working with just one team in the NFL.

Coaches Gadowsky and Pavlik also addressed the Altoona crowd.  Coach Pavlik hails from just down the road in Derry, Pa., a small town off of U.S. 22 between Altoona and Pittsburgh.

Coach Gadowsky informed the crowd of the men's hockey program's progress as it transitions into varsity status for the 2012-'13 season.  One year later, Penn State will be a part of the six-team Big Ten men's hockey conference, and Coach Gadowsky cannot wait.

"When you come to see (Big Ten) hockey at Penn State, you're going to see the best college hockey in the country," Coach Gadowsky said.

The bus loaded up after breakfast for a short drive west to the center of Pittsburgh for the evening session on Monday.

VIDEO: Coaches Press Conference in Altoona
Head coaches Bill O'Brien Guy Gadowsky and Mark Pavlik talk about the Coaches Caravan with the media in Altoona on Monday morning.

There are nearly 27,000 Penn State alums in Allegheny County, and Monday night's crowd was terrific inside the Grand Ballroom on the 17th floor in the Omni William Penn Hotel.  More than 400 enthusiastic fans and alums greeted four Penn State coaches.  The list included women's hockey coach Josh Brandwene, who joined the caravan for the first time.  Coach Brandwene, a Penn State alum himself, delivered a passionate speech to the Nittany Lion faithful.

Fellow hockey leader, Coach Gadowsky received a rousing cheer as he kicked off his speech by showing the room renderings of what Pegula Ice Arena will look like when it opens in the fall of 2013.

Coach O'Brien's initial reception was not quite the same.

He told the crowd the last time he was in Pittsburgh was during the fall when he coached against the Steelers as the offensive coordinator of the Patriots.  Jokingly, the Steeler Nation booed Coach O'Brien on stage.

Nevertheless, Coach O'Brien again did a superb job explaining his vision for the football program through an informative PowerPoint presentation.  One piece of football news Nittany Lion fans will be interested to hear about came out during Coach O'Brien's speech.  He said on Monday that the depth chart, including the quarterback position, will be out "soon".

Collectively, all four coaches on stage kept the great crowd engaged and entertained throughout the night.  Coaches Brandwene, Gadowsky, O'Brien and Pavlik are great ambassadors for Penn State Athletics.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State football coach Bill O'Brien and the Coaches Caravan will hit the road on Monday to kick off week three of the 18-stop tour through seven states.

The first two weeks of the Coaches Caravan were a resounding success.  This week, Coach O'Brien will headline stops in Altoona (breakfast) and Pittsburgh (evening) on Monday, Youngstown (lunch) and Cleveland (evening) on Tuesday and Erie (lunch) and Buffalo (evening) on Wednesday.

In addition to Coach O'Brien, men's hockey coach Guy Gadowsky (six stops), men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik (six stops), Lady Lion head coach Coquese Washington (two stops) and women's ice hockey coach Josh Brandwene (two stops) will join the Coaches Caravan for week three.

HARTFORD, Conn. and SCRANTON, Pa. - The second leg of the three-week Penn State Coaches Caravan ended with a great stop in northeastern Pennsylvania on Thursday.

A capacity crowd of more than 930 enthusiastic fans gave the Coaches Caravan a warm reception in Genetti Manor to cap off a superb week on the road for Bill O'Brien and the traveling Penn State coaches.  The modified Fullington bus made six stops in four states and drove more than 700 miles during three days.

Take a look through highlights of the final day on week two of the Coaches Caravan.

Stop XI - Hartford
As he has done at each stop on the Coaches Caravan, Coach O'Brien sat in a small conference room inside the Farmington Marriott Hotel for a media session.  At the time he was answering questions from a local reporter and CBSSports.com national college football writer Dennis Dodd when a man appeared through the back door of the room.

Coach O'Brien stopped mid-sentence and said, "That is my uncle, John Murphy."

Murphy, a lawyer from Jamestown, R.I., surprised his nephew with a visit to the caravan stop on Thursday morning.  Clad in a blue "We Billieve" T-shirt, Murphy told the room how proud the family was of Penn State football's new leader.  Coach O'Brien attended Brown University with Murphy's daughter, Emily, and joked during his presentation that Emily had all the good stories about him from his college days.

Coach O'Brien polled the audience in Hartford to see how many New England Patriots fans were in the room on Thursday morning.  More than half of the 140 attendees raised their hand.

"As we get further north, I feel more comfortable," joked Coach O'Brien.

The first stop of the day ended shortly after 1 p.m., and the bus loaded up for a drive through mountains, across the Hudson River and Delaware River en route to Scranton for stop No. 12 on the caravan.


VIDEO: Coach O'Brien Talks About His First Four Months
While meeting with a local reporter in Connecticut, Coach O'Brien shared insight on what his first four months on the job have been like.

Hartford Photos:

Stop XII: Scranton
After talking with Scranton Area Alumni Association President Jim Elliott at the Hazleton stop earlier this week, expectations were high for a big turnout during Thursday evening's dinner at Genetti's in Dickson City.  Without question, Elliott and his staff played host to the largest event on the caravan.

More than 930 Penn State fans seated at 94 tables crammed into the ballroom at Genetti's to welcome a great group from the Penn State Athletics family.  The list of attendees included Scranton native and Penn State team physician Wayne Sebastianelli, Acting Director of Athletics Dave Joyner, the voice of the Nittany Lions Steve Jones, current Nittany Lions and Scranton-area products Matt McGloin and J.R. Refice.

Prior to dinner, Coach O'Brien signed autographs for a throng of fans that lined up more than 90 minutes prior to the program beginning.  Among the hundreds of fans in a line that snaked throughout the building was a large contingent of the McGloin family.  In all, 27 members of the senior quarterbacks family attended the event, many of which posed for a family photo with Coach O'Brien during the autograph period.

Fan after fan walked up to Coach O'Brien for an opportunity to shake hands, take photos and obtain an autograph fore more than an hour.  Some offered advice.  Some told stories. Some even gave him gifts.

Women's volleyball head coach Russ Rose, who joined the caravan for the second-straight night, received a standing ovation when he was introduced to the crowd.  Coach O'Brien received two rousing ovations, one when he was introduced and a second when he finished his presentation.

Simply put, the Scranton crowd was tremendous.

"I've got chills up my spine.  I'm ready to go play right now!" Coach O'Brien said during the middle of his speech.

"Every single day, I thank the people who hired me," Coach O'Brien said during his closing remarks.

Thursday evening's dinner was a terrific way to move into week three of the Coaches Caravan.  Coach O'Brien will hit the road on Monday morning with men's hockey head coach Guy Gadowsky and men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik for a breakfast stop in Altoona.

The final week of the caravan will also feature stops in Pittsburgh (Monday evening), Youngstown (Tuesday evening), Cleveland (Tuesday evening), Erie (Wednesday lunch) and Buffalo (Wednesday evening).  A big thank you goes out to all of the fans in attendance at the six stops on week two.  We look forward to seeing you on the road next week.


VIDEO: Coach O'Brien and Coach Rose Meet the Media In Scranton
Coaches O'Brien and Rose talk to the media in Scranton.  Coach Rose shared a story about interviewing Coach O'Brien before he was hired in January.

Scranton Photos:

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) weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Ticket Center.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

Photo Gallery - Woodbridge

Photo Gallery - New York City

Coaches Caravan Registration

NEW YORK - The Penn State Coaches Caravan rolled into New York City on Wednesday afternoon following a lunch stop in Woodbridge, N.J., which marked the ninth event on the 18-stop trek over three weeks.

Head football coach Bill O'Brien, Lady Lions coach Coquese Washington and men's golf coach Greg Nye spoke at again spoke at both events on Wednesday.  Take a look through highlights of the Coaches Caravan stops in the Woodbridge Hilton and the Sheraton New York.

Stop IX - Woodbridge
More than 140 Penn State fans and alums filled third-floor ballroom inside the Woodbridge Hilton for the midway point of the Coaches Caravan.  With the room being smaller than some of the stops, the lunch presentation had an intimate feel for the fans to be able to get up close and personal with all three coaches.

A few new topics came up in the Woodbridge presentation and media meeting with some of the New York Metro media.  Coach O'Brien told the media that his first trip to Beaver Stadium with Herb Combs, the supervisor of the athletic fields, came long after he accepted the head coaching job.  Combs turned on the Beaver Stadium at 5:30 a.m. for Coach O'Brien to visit.  He labeled the visit as one of the "wow" moments in his first four months on the job.

Coach Washington urged the crowd to grill the "rookie", Coach O'Brien, during the Q&A portion of the program in Woodbridge.  He was put on the spot by a fan asking which flavor was his favorite at the Penn State Creamery.  Coach O'Brien's answer, "Peachy Paterno."

VIDEO: Coach O'Brien Talks Recruiting in New Jersey

VIDEO FEATURE: The Coaches Caravan from a Fan Perspective

Photo Gallery - Hazleton Stop

Coaches Caravan Registration

HAZLETON and BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Week two of the Coaches Caravan kicked off on Tuesday morning when the Penn State-themed Fullington Trailways coach bus rolled out of the Bryce Jordan Center parking lot with football head coach Bill O'Brien, Lady Lions head coach Coquese Washington and men's golf coach Greg Nye aboard en route to Hazleton.

Day four included a lunch stop on the Penn State Hazleton campus and an evening program in the Lehigh Valley.  The nine-day event co-hosted by the Nittany Lion Club and the Penn State Alumni Association will continue on Wednesday and Thursday this week.  Take a look through highlights from the first day of week two on the caravan.

Stop VII - Hazleton
More than 200 Penn State fans and alums greeted the head coaches inside the gymnasium at the 1,300-student Hazleton Campus on Tuesday morning.  Coaches Nye and Washington each spoke for the first during the caravan.  Coach Nye addressed the crowd about the history of successes the men's golf program has endured during his tenure as head coach.

Coach Washington highlighted the Lady Lions' journey to a Big Ten title this spring.  She also spoke at great length about the exciting season ahead for Penn State across the athletic department.

 "It's poised to be a season for the ages for Penn State Athletics," Coach Washington said.

Coach O'Brien gave his colleague a great deal of praise during the opening portion of his speech.

"There is no better women's basketball coach in the country than Coquese Washington," Coach O'Brien said.

In addition to explaining his vision for the football program, Coach O'Brien told the crowd in Hazleton that he has spent time recently working on the future schedules for Penn State Football.  With the schedules set for the next three seasons, Coach O'Brien said that he eventually wants to add a marquee game at the beginning of each season.  Among the teams he mentioned were - Alabama, Stanford and Southern California - and possibly at neutral sites.

Take a look through some photos during the lunch in Hazleton.