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Saturday, January 23, 1999 Page: 1B
Arizona opener for PSU
ABC will televise the
Pigskin Classic game in
August. It will be the first meeting between the teamsFrom Staff and Wire
Reports
Penn State’s Joe Paterno will open his 34th season as coach when the
Nittany Lions play host to Arizona in the Pigskin Classic on Aug. 28.
The Wildcats finished 12-1 and No. 4 in the final Associated Press poll
after capping their best season with a 23-20 victory over Nebraska in the
Holiday Bowl.
Penn State finished 9-3 after a victory against Kentucky in the Outback
Bowl and was No. 17 in the final AP poll.
The game, to be televised by ABC, will be played at 93,967-seat Beaver
Stadium in the first meeting between the teams.
“We are delighted to host Arizona,” said Penn State athletic director Tim
Curley. “They had an outstanding season in 1998 and, with many of last year’s
returning standouts returning, stack up as a formidable opponent.”
Arizona, coached by Dick Tomey, will be led by the quarterback duo of
Ortege Jenkins and Keith Smith, and running back Trung Canidate.
Jenkins threw for 1,732 yards and 13 touchdowns and Smith threw for 1,011
yards and five touchdowns. Canidate ran for 1,220 yards and 10 touchdowns.
“We’re excited and proud to be involved in a game with Penn State,” said
Arizona Athletic Director Jim Livengood.
Penn State returns 38 of its top 44 position players from last season,
including nine starters on both offense and defense. Among those returning are
quarterback Kevin Thompson, linebackers Brandon Short and LaVar Arrington and
defensive end Courtney Brown.
“We are pleased to be playing Arizona in the Pigskin Classic,” Paterno
said. “Dick Tomey is a good friend. Arizona did a great job this year. They
will be one of the better football teams in the country next year. They’re
going to be a big challenge for us.”
Penn State will have seven home games in a season for the first time since
1987. Ohio State, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Indiana, Minnesota and Akron also will
visit Beaver Stadium.
This will be the first appearance for either team in the Pigskin Classic.
Penn State has played in the Kickoff Classic three times, beating Georgia Tech
(1991) and USC (1996) and losing to Nebraska (1983).
Proceeds from the Pigskin Classic go to the schools, the American Football
Coaches Association and the National Association of Collegiate Athletic
Directors.
The Kickoff Classic, set for Aug. 30 at Giants Stadium, will match Ohio
State against Miami (Fla.).
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