Penn State will kick off the 2006 campaign with "Penn State Football Eve presented by Sheetz" on Friday, September 1. The third-year event starts the new season with a festival-like atmosphere surrounding Beaver Stadium followed by a celebration inside the stadium with the team and coach Joe Paterno.

The "night before" activities outside the stadium include a barbeque, festival food and fun along Curtin Road which will become a fan promenade at 6 p.m. Stadium gates open at 7:00 p.m. for fans who wish to be seated early with a showing of 2005 football highlights. The program inside the stadium starts at 7:45 p.m. featuring the Blue Band, cheerleaders, dance team and videos. The team captains and seniors will be introduced and after Coach Paterno's address to the crowd a new stadium video will be unveiled.

"Penn State Football Eve presented by Sheetz," which launches the first weekend of the football season, has attracted approximately 25,000 fans at each of its first two events. The Nittany Lions' season opener is against Akron, the 2005 Mid-American Conference champion, on Sept. 2 at 3:30 p.m.

Admission and parking are free for "Penn State Football Eve presented by Sheetz."