STATE COLLEGE, PA -- Syracuse will renew its rivalry with the team it has played more than any other in the program's 119 years. Saturday's game at Penn State will mark the 70th time the Orange will face the Nittany Lions since the first meeting in 1922. It will also be head coach Doug Marrone's first time back to State College since playing against the Nittany Lions during his four-year tenure at Syracuse. The game will be broadcasted on the Big Ten Network at 12 p.m.

"I was fortunate as a player," said head coach Doug Marrone. "I have been part of the Penn State series. I played Penn State all four years I was here. It's a tremendous school with a tremendous coach (Joe Paterno), one who has done so much for the game of college football. I coached a lot of Penn State players in the NFL and I played with a lot of Penn State players. I've always had a lot of respect for them. I always look at them as good citizens, good people, good husbands, good fathers - I look at them a lot like all my teammates here at Syracuse University. This will be a tremendous challenge for our football team, but we're excited about going out there and playing."

The Orange enter the game having lost, 23-20, in overtime to Minnesota before 48,617 fans in the Carrier Dome, while PSU is 1-0 in 2009 with a 31-7 victory against Akron.

"They're very good all over, all 11 players," Marrone said. "They've had coaches who have been there quite a long time, starting with the head coach. I don't think you see a lot of changes in their scheme over the years. I think they're an excellent football team year-in and year-out. I don't know much about when people talk about down years. I have not been a part of football when Penn State has been down. They're a good football team."

In SU's season opener against Minnesota, 20 players made their Orange debuts in the first half, including freshman free safety Rishard Anderson, sophomore defensive end Torrey Ball, freshman linebacker E.J. Carter, freshman center Zach Chibane, sophomore running back Averin Collier, sophomore tight end Carl Cutler, junior linebacker Ryan Gillum, sophomore defensive end Chandler Jones, sophomore running back Michael Jones, freshman wide receiver Alex Lemon, freshman kicker Ryan Lichtenstein, freshman quarterback Ryan Nassib, graduate student quarterback Greg Paulus, freshman defensive end Brandon Sharpe, sophomore offensive tackle Nick Speller, sophomore tight end Thomas Trendowski, junior offensive tackle Andrew Tiller, freshman strong safety Phillip Thomas, freshman cornerback Shamarko Thomas and sophomore linebacker Dan Vaughan.

"There were some surprises in that game," Marrone said. "When you look at the defensive side of the ball, (freshmen) Brandon Sharpe, Phillip Thomas, Shamarko (Thomas) and E.J. Carter all played. The person who surprised me the most was Brandon Sharpe. From a standpoint of special teams, he did a tremendous job. Then from a standpoint of being able to rush the quarterback, we're excited about what he's shown, as well as the other young kids who were out there."

Courtesy: SU Athletics