Penn State's Morelli to play in East-West Shrine Game

-Courtesy of Penn State University

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., January 14, 2008 – Record-setting quarterback Anthony Morelli (Pittsburgh) has accepted an invitation to play in the 83rd East-West Shrine Game on Saturday, January 19.

The contest will be played at the University of Houston's John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium. The game will begin at 7:00 p.m. ET and be televised by ESPN.

Former college and NFL head coach Dick Vermeil will coach the East squad. In addition to Morelli, the other East quarterbacks are LSU’s Matt Flynn and Delaware’s Joe Flacco. Among the other Big Ten players in the game are Illinois linebacker J Leman, Wisconsin placekicker Taylor Mehlhaff and Badgers’ wideout Paul Hubbard.

The only Penn State quarterback to throw for 2,000 yards in more than one season, Morelli started all 26 games the past two seasons, leading the Nittany Lions to 18 wins, including bowl victories over Tennessee and Texas A&M, and a pair of Top 25 finishes. The former Penn Hills High School All-American finished his career leading or among the top five in numerous Penn State season and career passing lists:

• Season Passing Yardage (2nd, 2,651 in 2007)
• Career Passing Yardage (5th, 5,275)
• Most Passing Yards in a Half (231 vs. FIU in 2007)
• Most 2,000-Yard Passing Seasons (1st, 2)
• Season Pass Completions (1st, 234 in 2007; 2nd, 208 in 2006)
• Career Pass Completions (2nd, 460)
• Season Pass Attempts (1st, 402 in 2007; 2nd, 386 in 2006)
• Career Pass Attempts (3rd, 822)
• Season Touchdown Passes (T 4th, 19 in 2007)
• Career Touchdown Passes (6th, 31)
• Career 200-Yard Passing Games (T 3rd, 11)
• Season Total Offense (3rd, 2,638 in 2007)
• Career Total Offense (6th, 5,154)


Morelli completed the 2007 season with 2,651 passing yards, just 28 shy of the Penn State single season mark of 2,679 set by All-American Kerry Collins in 1994. He broke his own school season records, set in 2006, with 234 completions and 402 pass attempts.

A tri-captain, Morelli threw for 200 yards or more seven times this season (five vs. Big Ten foes) and is No. 3 in career 200-yard games with 11. This past season, he was 234 of 402 for 2,651 yards, with 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Morelli had 37 completions of 20 yards or more in 2007 and led the Lions to eight scoring drives in the final 2:00 of the first half, including six in the last seven games.

Morelli concluded his collegiate career by directing Penn State to 413 yards in a 24-17 win over Texas A&M in the Valero Alamo Bowl. He threw a 30-yard scoring strike to Deon Butler to swing the momentum of the game after the Lions fell behind, 14-0, in the first quarter.