No. 2 Penn State Icers to face tough schedule

The Penn State Icers will open the 2004-2005 campaign ranked No. 2 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

They are behind Ohio University, the team they fell to in last year's national championship game 5-4. The Icers will face the Bobcats four times this season with the first game on Oct. 29 and Oct. 30. Both games will be at Penn State's Greenberg Ice Pavilion.

The Icers will begin play against West Chester at home on Oct. 8.

Penn State has 10 teams on their schedules that are ranked in the preseason.

Kevin Jaeger will return this year after scoring 36 goals last season, tied for the fourth highest total in Icers' history.

The Icers have won four of the last five national championships since 2000.

Icers season tickets are on sale for all the home games. Visit www.pennstatehockey.com for more information.

Paterno to be featured on "Lou Dobbs Tonight"

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno is one of five head coaches being featured this week on CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight" program.

The feature on Paterno is scheduled to air on Wednesday, Sept. 29 as part of this week's "America Works: Coaches" series on the program. "Lou Dobbs Tonight" can be seen on CNN from 6 p.m.-7:00 p.m. ET, with repeat airings at 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. ET.

In his 39th season as head coach of the Nittany Lions, Paterno is the only football coach that will be featured in the series. The five mentors being profiled all coach at the high school or collegiate level.

In his 55th season as a member of the Penn State coaching staff, Paterno owns a 341-111-3 career record. He is second in all-time victories among major college coaches and fourth in wins across all four NCAA divisions. He has led Penn State to two national championships, five unbeaten and untied seasons and is the all-time leader in bowl appearances and victories.

Earlier this year, Paterno was selected the nation's best college football coach of the past 25 years by an ESPN25 expert panel. He finished No. 8 overall in the listing of college and professional coaches from all sports over the past 25 years.

Athlon preseason poll ranks Lady Lions No. 21

The Penn State women's basketball team was tabbed as No. 21 by a preseason poll released by Athlon Magazine.

The Lady Lions' first opponent of the year, Texas, debuted at the top spot, and, including the Longhorns, four of Penn State's non-conference opponents are ranked in Athlon's top 10.

Five Big Ten schools cracked the top 25, including Ohio State (No. 8), Michigan State (No. 11), Purdue (No. 16) and Minnesota (No. 18).

The Lady Lions are led by preseason Wade Trophy Player of the Year and Women's Wooden Award candidate Tanisha Wright.

Wright was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last year for the second straight season -- the only player ever to win the award twice -- and was also an All-Big Ten and honorable mention AP All-American selection.