LB Posluszny awarded with academic honors
One of the most prestigious honors a collegiate football student-athlete can earn has been bestowed upon Penn State's Paul Posluszny.
The first team All-American and Academic All-American has been selected as one of 17 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athletes from across all NCAA and NAIA divisions. Posluszny will receive an $18,000 fellowship for post-graduate studies. He also is a finalist for the Draddy Trophy, presented to the nation's premier college football Scholar-Athlete.
The Aliquippa, Pa., standout will join his head coach, Joe Paterno, in being honored at the 49th Annual National Football Foundation Awards Dinner. Paterno will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame at the gala event and will receive the Gold Medal, the Foundation's highest honor, along with Florida State coach Bobby Bowden. Paterno, Bowden and John Gagliardi, the coach at St. John's (Minn.) will become the first three active coaches or players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The Foundation's National Scholar-Athlete Awards are awarded on an annual basis to a group of college football players in their senior year of eligibility who have demonstrated outstanding academic success, exemplary community leadership and superior football performance.
Promotions loaded for men's basketball
The Penn State Marketing department has planned a full slate of promotions for fans of Penn State men's basketball throughout the 2006-07 season. The Nittany Lions' will officially start the season on Nov. 10 with a 7:30 p.m. contest against Morehead State in the Bryce Jordan Center and fans will receive a free schedule magnet for attending.
Some of the giveaway highlights include winter hats (St. Joseph's, Nov. 25), photo frames (Morgan State, Dec. 2), Santa hats (S.E. Louisiana, Dec. 16), PSU matchbox cars (Michigan St., Jan. 20), and jerseys (Wisconsin, Feb. 7). A bobblehead in honor of Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jamelle Cornley, All-Big Ten selection Geary Claxton and a joint bobblehead with senior guards Ben Luber and David Jackson will be given away at Big Ten contests against Northwestern (Jan. 3), Purdue (Feb. 3) and Illinois (Feb. 24).
Along with giveaways, Penn State will offer special ticket promotions to area residents throughout the season including the Family Four Pack (4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 sodas for $40) for Saturday games against Indiana (Jan. 13) and Illinois (Feb. 24)and Operation Warm (VMI, Dec. 30).
Claxton in top 50 for John R. Wood Award
ESPN college basketball expert analyst Andy Katz has named Penn State junior forward Geary Claxton (West Haven, Conn.) among his top 50 candidates for the John R. Wooden Award presented yearly to the top collegiate basketball player in the nation.
Katz named Claxton, who is the leader in rebounds (7.5 rpg) and steals (1.4 spg) and second in scoring (15.2 ppg) among Big Ten returners, among four Big Ten players on his list of top pre-season candidates for the award. Ohio State freshman center Greg Oden, Wisconsin junior forward Alando Tucker and Indiana junior forward D.J. White also made Katz's list from the Big Ten. Earlier this year, Lindy's and CBS SportsLine.com both named Claxton to their pre-season All-Big Ten first-teams and he was a second-team pick by SportingNews and Athlon.
Brown, Gissendanner return as co-captains
Senior forward/center Amanda Brown (Kennett Square, Pa.) and junior guard Kam Gissendanner (Clairton, Pa.) were selected by their teammates as the Penn State women's basketball team captains. The pair also served as co-captains last season.
Brown was a second team All-Big Ten selection as she started 29 games last season.
Gissendanner earned All-Big Ten honorable mention accolades after averaging 14.8 points per game.
