Penn State vs. Coastal Carolina preview

Nittany Lions look to start season off right hosting Coastal Carolina

BY THE NUMBERS: #22 Penn State Hosts Coastal Carolina

Date: Saturday, August 30th
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Beaver Stadium / State College, PA

College football is here and all is well in Happy Valley as more than 107,000 fans will flock to Beaver Stadium this Saturday with high expectations for an experienced, talented football team. No more concern over the team’s offseason troubles. No more talk of Joe Paterno’s retirement. No more discussion of a quarterback controversy. This Saturday is only about the blue, the white, the lion’s roar and the chants of “we are Penn State.”

The Nittany Lions kick-off the 2008 college football season with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers this Saturday. Let’s take a closer look at the numbers:

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43 - This is the 43rd season that Joe Paterno will pace the sidelines as Penn State’s head football coach. In what could be his last season, Paterno has 372 career wins and more bowl victories (24) than any coach in college football history.

1 - Coastal Carolina is playing their first game in school history against a Division 1-FBS opponent this Saturday. The football program was established only six years ago, but the Chanticleers are a successful 39-17 under Head Coach David Bennett.

16 - Penn State returns 16 starters from last year’s 9-4 team. Offense: 8, Defense: 6, Special Teams: 2. Key returnees include: WR Deon Butler, WR Derrick Williams, LT Gerald Cadogan, C A.Q. Shipley, G Rich Ohrnberger, DE Maurice Evans, DE Josh Gaines and S Anthony Scirrotto.

4 - Penn State has suffered four losses in each of the last two seasons. If the Nittany Lions hope to decrease that number this year, they can look to five key games on their schedule: vs. Oregon State, @ Purdue, @ Wisconsin, vs. Michigan, @ Ohio State.

Prediction: Penn State 42 - Coastal Carolina 10

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by Chris Goodrich
BigTen-fans.com Penn State Correspondent

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