Oct. 12, 2009

University Park, Pa. -

Complete Game Notes in PDF Format

Complete Penn State Stats in PDF Format

ABC/ESPN Coverage Map

When: Saturday, October 17, 2009
Where: Beaver Stadium (107,282)
Kickoff: 3:36 p.m. ET
Attendance: 108,000-plus (sold out)
Series Record: Penn State leads, 6-4
Penn State Captains:
No. 17 Daryll Clark, Sr., QB
No. 45 Sean Lee, Sr., LB

Television: The contest will be televised by ABC to national audience with Sean McDonough, Matt Millen and Holly Rowe calling the action. The game will air on ESPN outside the ABC coverage area. The Nittany Lions are appearing on television for the 184th time in their last 186 games.
Radio: Penn State Sports Network (60 stations) Radio Team (10th year)
Play-by-Play: Steve Jones; Analysis: Jack Ham
Web stream: www.GoPSUsports.com
Gopher Sports Network (Dave Lee, play-by-play; Dave Mona and Darrell Thompson, analysis). XM Radio 144; Sirius 123.

Coaches:

Joe Paterno
Penn State Record: 388-128-3 (75.0), 44th Year
Overall Record: Same
vs. Minnesota 6-4
60th year on Penn State staff...all-time leader in career wins among FBS (1-A) coaches...300 wins faster than any coach in NCAA history...College Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2007.

Tim Brewster
Minnesota Record: 12-19, 3rd Year
Overall Record: same
vs. Penn State: 0-0

The Series:
The Nittany Lions and Golden Gophers are meeting for the first time since 2006, with Penn State leading the series, 6-4. The teams are playing in Beaver Stadium for the first time since 2005.

This Week
Penn State hosts Minnesota for the Nittany Lions' 90th Homecoming game. The winner claims the Governor's Victory Bell. The Nittany Lions are coming off a 52-3 win over Eastern Illinois, while the Golden Gophers are coming off a 35-20 win over Purdue. Penn State has a 45-12 record since the start of 2005, the nation's ninth-best record over that span.

Nittany Lions Throttle Panthers
Penn State scored 38 first half points and held its fourth opponent of the season to seven points or fewer to post a 52-3 win over Eastern Illinois. The Nittany Lions won for the 31st in their last 34 games in Beaver Stadium.

The game was Penn State's 675th contest since Joe Paterno joined the coaching staff in 1950 (492-176-7 record). Eastern Illinois became the 83rd different opponent the Hall of Fame coach has faced.

Penn State scored 28 points in the final 7:27 of the second quarter to take a 38-0 halftime lead, including a 91-yard fumble return by linebacker Navorro Bowman with :05 left in the half.

Penn State has not allowed a first half touchdown this season and the defense has permitted a total of five overall.

Daryll Clark was highly effective in leading Penn State to a season-high 553 yards of offense. The Nittany Lions delivered tremendous balance with 285 rushing yards and 268 passing yards. Clark was 13 of 19 for 234 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception.

Penn State limited EIU to 59 rushing yards and 147 passing and had 11 tackles for loss.

Defensive tackle Jared Odrick led the charge with two sacks and made a career-high 3.5 tackles-for-loss (minus-17 yards). Linebacker Josh Hull made a game-high 11 tackles, the fifth straight game he has had at least 10 tackles, and the fourth straight game he has led the Nittany Lions in hits.