For the first time in program history, Penn State will take its brand overseas.
The school announced on Sunday that the Nittany Lions will open up their 2014 schedule at Dublin's famed Croke Park -- home field to the Gaelic Athletic Association -- against Central Florida on August 30.
The Penn State-UCF contest will be the eighth American college
football game held in Ireland.
The last American football game hosted in Croke Park was in 1996 when
Notre Dame played Navy. The Irish and
Midshipmen played in Dublin's Aviva
Stadium to open the 2012 season.
Penn State will be the first Big Ten Conference team to play
internationally since Michigan State and Wisconsin met in Tokyo in the
1993 regular season finale.
"We've not only grown our appreciation for the games so entrenched in
the history and traditions here in Ireland, but have also confirmed
that, because of the Irish people and their hospitality, Penn State fans
are going to love their time here in late summer of 2014," said PSU athletic director Dave Joyner.
Under first-year head coach Bill O'Brien, the Nits finished the trying 2012 campaign with an 8-4 record. They open up the 2013 season on August 31 in East Rutherford, NJ against Syracuse.
"We are thrilled to announce that we will play UCF at Croke Park to open
the 2014 season, " said O'Brien, the 2012 Maxwell Football Club and Big
Ten Coach of the Year. "Our players and coaches are so excited to go to
Ireland and play a college football game in such a historic and
outstanding venue. I have great respect for Coach O'Leary and his team
and playing UCF in Ireland will be a fantastic experience for all the
players, coaches and fans."
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