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STATE COLLGE, PA (Wednesday, April 16) – What is it that keeps bringing them back? Quite simply, the opportunity to live out football dreams on the hallowed turf of Penn State University is too much to resist for the returning veterans of the Penn State Football Fantasy Camp.

 

A total of seven veterans – classed as sophomores and juniors – will return to the third annual Penn State Football Fantasy Camp, which will be held from June 11 to 15.

 

“The week at camp was the best of my life,” said Dan Hall from Indianapolis, IN, who lived the 2007 camp experience and will return this year as a sophomore. “Fantasy Camp went above and beyond all of my expectations. I do not know how you can make it any better.”

And the word is spreading. Already signed up as 2008 freshmen are 22 newcomers aged between 30 and 65 who will arrive in State College from as far away as California, Florida, Massachusetts and Texas.

 

The oldest 2008 Fantasy Camp participant, freshman Doug Baxter from Bethel Park, PA, signs in at 65 years young, and is one is one of eight Pennsylvania residents among those who will experience football practices based upon the Nittany Lion traditions, directed by coaches and former star players.

 

Those who have given instruction at previous camps include coaches Jay Paterno, Larry Johnson, Bill Kenney and Brian Norwood and former players Blair Thomas and Kenny Jackson. The football at the camp is non-contact, with an emphasis on skill development, learning the offensive and defensive schemes used by Penn State, and the kicking game.

 

“Being around people as intensely proud of Penn State tradition makes me once again realize what a huge responsibility I have to uphold the tradition,” said Nittany Lions assistant coach Jay Paterno. “Success with Honor is real.”

 

The popular series of college football fantasy camps, which have been run successfully since 2003 by former college quarterback Patrick Steenberge (Notre Dame ’70-’71), offer Nittany Lions fans a chance to play football where legends have gone before them – at Beaver Stadium.

 

The highlight of the camp is the Blue-White flag football game played in Beaver Stadium with complete game day action, including Varsity locker room dressing, training room use, video message board, officials, a public address announcer, audio clips soundtrack with music and cheers, and blue bus transport to the game, to make this an authentic PSU Football experience.

 

All participants will be housed in the Penn Stater Conference Center, in single rooms. Practices and the game are open to invited guests. Each night a special function will be held in a legendary setting on campus, including the Letterman’s Club, Mount Nittany Club, and the President’s Box in Beaver Stadium. Training table lunches are served in Pollock Dining Hall; breakfasts and some meals will be at the Nittany Lion Inn.

 

In 2007, the passion for the camps led to 35 alumni participating in Fantasy Bowl I, a game played between veterans of the PSU and Notre Dame Fantasy Camps before the Nittany Lions and Irish met at Beaver Stadium in September.

 

One of the stars of that game was returning Fantasy Camp junior Scott Heiser, 44, from Princeton, NJ, who scored the game’s opening touchdown in a narrow 16-15 loss to the Fighting Irish.

 

A corporate tax consultant by profession, Heiser, along with 50-year-old Eric Ratner from Blue Bell, PA, will be able to show the newcomers the ropes at PSU having attended both previous Fantasy Camps at Penn State.

 

Returning juniors:

Name	Age	Hometown	State	#
Scott Heiser	44	Princeton	NJ
Eric Ratner	50	Blue  Bell	PA	22

 

Returning sophomores:

Name	Age	Hometown	State	#
Dan Hall	46	Indianapolis	IN	22
John Barnes	35	Kensington	MD	35
Robert Kowalcyzk	50	Portage	PA	75
William Roberge	43	Springfield	VA	61
Doug Stewart	35

And the Manning father and son combination is attending Penn State Fantasy Football Camp. Not quite Archie and Peyton, but California pair Mike Manning (aged 61 from Tustin, CA) and son Mike Manning (aged 30 from San Francisco, CA) will don the colors of the Nittany Lions for the first time as freshmen.

 

Freshmen:

Name	Age	Hometown	State	#
Michael Manning	30	San Francisco	CA	0
Mike Manning	61	Tustin	CA	22
Mark Callenberger	42	Merritt Island	FL	16
Catello Battinelli	47	Somerville	MA
Jeff Jefferies	37	Boyds	MD	93
Mark Stoner	39	Columbia	MD	26
E.G. Hamill	44	Ridgewood	NJ	1
Scott Smith	41	Massillon	OH	42
Paul Allen	44	Willow Street	PA	72
Doug Baxter	65	Bethel Park	PA	84
Charles Berry	40	Garnet Valley	PA	6
Stephen Black	54	Lititz	PA	54
Jim Conroy	56	Newtown	PA	33
Ray Kowalcyzk	58	Portage	PA	21
Bob Aurand	46	Allen	TX	22
Alan Farquharson	50	Ft. Worth	TX	12
Tim Brickell	44	Alexandria	VA	26
Doug Hahm	40	Vienna	VA	45

The unique Penn State Football Fantasy Camp experience costs $4990 and is the ideal gift for that father, son or husband who has everything else!

 

For information call Patrick Steenberge, 817-219-7274, email him at Patrick@GlobalFootball.com or go online to www.PennStateFantasyCamp.com.

 

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