Bronx, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Old rivals square off at Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as the Boston College Eagles take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Boston College logged a 7-5 record this season, the second under head coach Steve Addazio, and the team went an even 4-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference play to finish fourth in the Atlantic Division. The Eagles, took down another long-time rival in Syracuse in their regular-season finale, 28-7, to stop a two-game losing streak and bring a little bit of momentum into this matchup. BC is appearing in its 24th bowl game (13-10), and this is the second straight year in which the Eagles have participated in the postseason following a three-year drought. Addazio, who led Boston College to a 7-6 record in 2013, was recently given a contract extension through the 2020 season. We are honored to be headed to New York City to play Penn State in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. This is the perfect bowl destination for us as so many of our players, their families, our alumni and fans are from the New York metropolitan area, said Brad Bates, Boston College Director of Athletics. Penn State has one of the greatest traditions in college football and there is quite a history between our two programs. New York is within driving distance of our students and supporters, so we expect a great crowd of fans cheering on the Eagles. This is a wonderful reward for our student-athletes and we could not be more excited. The fact that Penn State is even in a bowl game this year is a major accomplishment, as the NCAA decided earlier in the season to lift its postseason ban on the school after lauding the Nittany Lions for their compliance to penalties imposed as a result of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal. The 2014 campaign, the first under head coach James Franklin, started off positively enough as the team won its first four games. However, Penn State was brought back to reality as it promptly lost four in a row before stopping the bleeding with a 13-7 win at Indiana. That was followed by a 30-13 triumph over Temple, which ironically enough was coached by Addazio prior to him taking the BC job, but that was followed by consecutive defeats against Illinois and Michigan State to close things out. Still, at 6-6 (2-6 Big Ten), the Lions were offered the opportunity to play in the postseason for the 45th time (ninth-most in the FBS), winning 24 of them (fourth-best). Penn State, which last appeared in the 2012 TicketCity Bowl (a 30-14 loss to Houston) and is making its first trip to New York City since 1947, had all wins from 1998-2011 vacated by the NCAA. We are very excited and appreciative to be going to New York City to play in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Franklin said. Penn State has a long and storied bowl history and we look forward to another opportunity to keep our family together. I am so happy for our players, especially the seniors, for this chance to play together one more time. The thing that makes Penn State special is the people, and we cant wait to see our alumni and fans storming New York and filling Yankee Stadium on December 27. The series between these two northeastern schools dates back to 1949, and features 23 meetings. Penn State won 19 of the first 20, but Boston College has won the last three, the most recent of which taking place on the Eagles home field on Sept. 11, 2004 (21-7). This game features one of the nations top rushing teams (BC, 215.8 ypg) against the No. 1 rushing defense (PSU, 84.8 ypg). The tandem of QB Tyler Murphy and RB Jon Hilliman spearhead the Boston College attack, with the former not only throwing for more than 1,500 and 11 TDs, but also leading the rushing effort with 1,079 yards and 10 scores. Hilliman has churned out 712 yards and found the end zone 12 times for a team that puts up 25.9 ppg behind a typical output of 383.8 ypg. No pass catcher has more than the 26 grabs for 342 yards and three TDs belonging to Josh Bordner. The Boston College defense has had its ups and downs this season, but the units overall yield of 20.5 points and 313.5 yards per game is certainly respectable. The Eagles gave up at least 30 points three times, but held several opponents in check, including defending national champion Florida State in the penultimate game of the regular season, as the Seminoles managed just 20 points in a three-point victory. Like Penn State, BC has also stood strong against the run, permitting 95.5 ypg and only 3.1 ypc. Its effort against the pass hasnt been terrible, with foes generating 218 ypg that way, and the Eagles have logged 31 sacks while coming up with a dozen takeaways. Justin Simmons leads the club with 70 tackles and two INTs, and while no player had more than four sacks, Josh Keys was credited with 11.5 of the teams 84 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Despite throwing for a Penn State sophomore record 2,606 yards, QB Christian Hackenberg had a down year with only eight touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Despite his signal callers relative ineffectiveness, DaeSean Hamilton had a tremendous rookie campaign in reeling in 75 balls for 848 yards. He did only have one TD catch though. Eugene Lewis tallied 48 receptions for 669 yards and a score, while Jesse James found the end three times on his 35 grabs. Sophomore Akeel Lynch ran for 603 yards and four TDs, but really came on in the last three games, logging more than half of those yards (318) with three scores. Bill Belton scored six rushing TDs in amassing 518 yards for the Lions. Penn State put up just 19.8 ppg during the regular season, but allowed only 17.7 ppg. As mentioned, the teams stance against the run is the primary reason it was even competitive most times out, although the effort against the pass was certainly nothing to complain about as foes generated just 185 ypg and only eight TDs through the air. Senior Mike Hull logged a Big Ten-best 134 tackles this year, and he is just four shy of cracking the top-5 in school history for a single season. Nyeem Wartman was the closest player to Hull, but he is well off the pace set by the All-American linebacker, having logged 64 stops. Anthony Zettel and Deion Barnes have combined for 14 of the teams 30 sacks, while Zettel and Adrian Amos each have three picks. Brooklyn Nets Store . "Im very pleased to be able to add a quarterback with Adrians experience and skill set," Calgary head coach and general manager John Hufnagel said in a statement. Brooklyn Nets Shirts .com) - Top seed Klara Zakopalova reached the second round, while former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone came up a loser Tuesday at the inaugural Rio Open tennis event. https://www.cheapnetsonline.com/. - Dominika Cibulkova erased three match points in the second set Wednesday and beat Agnieszka Radwanska 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the Sony Open. Custom Brooklyn Nets Jerseys . Monta Ellis had 30 points and nine assists, Nowitzki was another of seven Dallas players in double figures with 11 points and the Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 123-104 Tuesday night. Brooklyn Nets Gear . Halak did not get the start in the Washington Capitals Tuesday night game against the St.CONCORD, N.C. -- Jimmie Johnson is hoping hes on the verge of turning around a disappointing season. The six-time Sprint Cup champion won the pole Thursday night for the Coca-Cola 600, turning a lap at 194.911 mph at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the third round of NASCARs knockout qualifying format. It was the first pole of the year for Johnson, who has yet to win a race this season. "It certainly shows that were going to be strong this weekend," Johnson said. "I dont know that it sends the same message that winning two or three races will send. But I would love to rattle off two or three wins and have people fear the No. 48 as they have in the past. I dont think a pole position does that to the garage area, but you have to start somewhere." Brad Keselowski qualified second and will start on the front row for the seventh time this season. Kasey Kahne was third, followed by Danica Patrick and Clint Bowyer. Sprint Cup points leader Jeff Gordons struggles in practice runs carried over to qualifying. He didnt make it out of the first round of qualifying and will start 27th -- one spot behind last weeks All-Star race winner, Jamie McMurray. Johnson has won six Sprint Cup races at the Charlotte, twice from the pole. He said he isnt concerned that he hasnt won a race this season, which would secure a spot in the Chase for the Cup. What has bothered him is the lack of consistency. "We have been close to some wins and been pathetic at other tracks," Johnson said. Johnson was asked if he agrees with the notion that some detractors have enjoyed the fact that he hasnt won yet. "I think there are some people getting satisfaction out of it," Johnson said. "But if I win, I win too much. If I dont win, they say you arent winning enouggh.dddddddddddd So it doesnt matter what I do, I cant win." Johnson was a non-factor in the All-Star race last week at the track in his bid for a three-peat. He said his crew changed the setup in his car this past week, borrowing some advice from teammate Kasey Kahne. "We learned some things from last week," Johnson said. Keselowski said he was bummed he got beat out for the pole -- again. It was the sixth time this season he has qualified second. "Its like kissing your sister," Keselowski said. Patrick will start in the top 10 for the third straight week. She was fast throughout the qualifying session with the top lap in the second round of 194.595. But her lap in third round was more than one second slower. Joey Logano, who is off to the best start of his young career with two wins this season, will start eighth and will be considered one of the favourites on Sunday. Logano has already won twice this season and has historically run well at Charlotte with three top-five and six top-10 finishes in 10 career Cup starts at Charlotte. Track temperatures reached 106 degrees at the start of qualifying, but cooled significantly as the sun set behind the grandstand and the speeds picked up dramatically. Drivers had problems in the first two turns early in qualifying complaining their cars were tight, and had to adjust on the clock. Under the new format all cars are allowed 25 minutes to qualify with the top 24 based advancing to 10-minute session in round two. From that group, the top 12 advanced to the final, five-minute round. "The great thing about the new qualifying sessions is there are multiple opportunities to get it right and that is a good thing," Keselowski said. "That is why it is so much fun." ' ' '