Happy Saturday from a cold Beaver Stadium where low temperatures and potential snow flurries will only add to the emotion surrounding today's Senior Day clash between the Penn State Nittany Lions (7-4, 5-2) and the Wisconsin Badgers (7-4, 4-3). Bill O'Brien's first season with the Nittany Lions has been quite a journey, and he will be looking to end it on a high note. In his seventh season in charge of the Badgers' program, Bret Bielema will be searching for a victory before next week's Big Ten Championship game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Despite a poor first half that saw Penn State shoot only 16.1% from the field, the Nittany Lions played a strong second half to defeat the previously undefeated Bucknell Bison 60-57. After a rough week including a season ending injury to senior point guard Tim Frazier, it was an important victory for a team that will be challenged throughout the season.
As the final whistle sounded at Jeffrey Field, the Penn State Women's Soccer team ran through the frigid air towards midfield in celebration after defeating the Duke Blue Devils 1-0 to advance to the College Cup in San Diego, California.
While tomorrow's Senior Day clash against the Wisconsin Badgers is the main attraction in Happy Valley this weekend, there are two important Penn State athletic events taking place this afternoon and tonight as the Women's Soccer team continues their quest towards a national championship while the Men's Basketball team looks to get back on track at home.
Every program honors the seniors for their commitment and contributions to the team before the final home game, but tomorrow, at Beaver Stadium, Senior Day will be turned up a notch. Seniors along with their families will be honored before the game against Wisconsin gets underway, and head coach Bill O'Brien wants to make sure all fans are there to witness the festivities that will begin at 3 p.m.
An emotional Senior Day will be extra special tomorrow as the year "2012" will be added to the Beaver Stadium suites facade next to the year 2008 to honor a team that persevered through some of the program's darkest day.