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12-1 Wildcats return 17 starters for Aug. 28 Beaver Stadium game Saturday, January 23, 1999 By Lori Shontz, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
Finally, absolute proof that not everything Penn State Coach Joe Paterno says is gospel.
The day after the Outback Bowl, Paterno said the Nittany Lions would probably play Georgia Tech in the Pigskin Classic. He was wrong.
The Nittany Lions instead will play host to Arizona in the Pigskin Classic at 1 p.m. Aug. 28 at Beaver Stadium, making it the earliest home opener in Penn State football history.
The game, which ABC will televise, will feature two teams that hope to be playing in the Sugar Bowl, the designated national championship game for the Bowl Championship Series next season.
The Nittany Lions have never played the Wildcats, who will return 17 starters from a team that shared the Pac-10 championship. A 23-20 victory over Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl gave Arizona a 12-1 record, its best ever, and a No. 4 ranking in both final polls.
The Nittany Lions beat Kentucky in the Outback Bowl, 26-14, to finish 9-3, No. 15 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll and No. 17 in the Associated Press media poll.
"Arizona did a great job this year," Paterno said. "They will be one of the better football teams in the country next year. They're going to be a big challenge for us."
Which is likely why the Nittany Lions are playing the early game. They foresee a national championship run, and playing Arizona will bolster their strength of schedule component in the BCS. The game also should prepare Penn State for a tough non-conference game Sept. 18 at Miami.
The Nittany Lions have never played in the Pigskin Classic, which is sponsored by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and began in 1990. They have played three times in the other game sponsored by the group, the Kickoff Classic.
Penn State will play seven home games for the first time since 1987. Other home games are against Ohio State, Michigan, Pitt, Indiana, Minnesota and Akron.
Penn State spokesman Jeff Nelson said Pigskin Classic tickets will be part of the regular-season ticket package. He was not sure how many single-game tickets would be available.
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