Penn State-Notre Dame to renew series in 2006-07

By: Sports Information
Date: July 15, 2002


STATE COLLEGE, Pa., July 15, 2002 - Penn State and Notre Dame, two of nation's most successful programs, will renew their football series in 2006-07, Nittany Lions' athletic director Tim Curley announced today.

The teams are scheduled to meet September 9, 2006 in South Bend and September 8, 2007 in Beaver Stadium.

The Nittany Lions and Fighting Irish have not met since 1992, when Notre Dame evened the series at 8-8-1 with a 17-16 win in South Bend. The two schools rank among the top five nationally in all-time victories. Notre Dame is second with 781 and Penn State is tied for fifth with 744 wins.

The schools first met on the gridiron in 1913, with the Irish winning in 1913, '26 and '28, as well as a 20-9 decision in the 1976 Gator Bowl to take a 4-0-1 series lead. In 1981, the Lions and Irish began a 12-game series and Penn State captured eight of the 12 contests to even the series. Eight clashes were decided by 11 points or less, with six by five points or fewer, from 1981-92, including each side winning a one-point game.

Among the more memorable wins for Penn State during the series was a 24-19 victory at Notre Dame Stadium in 1986 en route to a 12-0 season and the program's second national championship. In 1990, freshman kicker Craig Fayak connected on a 34-yard field goal to give the Nittany Lions a 24-21 win over the top-ranked Irish in South Bend.

Notre Dame is the latest opponent to be announced in a series of intersectional games for Penn State this decade. Among the Nittany
Lions' non-conference opponents this decade are: Miami, Fla. (2001), Southern Miss (2001), Virginia (2001-02), Nebraska (2002-03), Boston College (2003-04), Alabama (2004-05), Notre Dame (2006-07) and Syracuse (2008-09).

Joe Paterno enters his 37th season as head coach of the Nittany Lions this fall with 28 lettermen and 16 starters returning. Penn State hosts UCF on August 31 at 12:10 p.m. in the 2002 season opener, followed by a visit from Nebraska on Sept. 14 at 8:00 p.m. The Nittany Lions are entering their 10th season of competition in the Big Ten Conference

this is a great rivarly and I am glad it is being renewed.