Aug. 21, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ricky Rahne has been selected for induction into the Cornell University Athletic Hall of Fame. Rahne will be honored by his alma mater as part of an 11-member class that will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame Friday, Nov. 7 in Ithaca, N.Y.
Rahne had a record-setting career as a three-year starting quarterback for the Big Red from 1999-2001. He broke 33 Cornell passing and total offense records during his standout tenure. A two-time honorable mention All-Ivy League selection, Rahne passed for a Cornell career record 7,710 yards, which remain the fourth-highest total in Ivy League history. The three-time team MVP also claimed honorable mention All-America honors by Don Hansen's Football Gazette. Among Rahne's school career records when he graduated were: passing yards, completions (678), touchdown passes (54), 200-yard games (25) and total offense (7,994). He ranks second in the above categories after the 2013 season.
Rahne graduated from Cornell in 2002 with a degree in industrial and labor relations.
The native of Morrison, Colo., is in his first season as the Nittany Lions' passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Rahne made a strong impression on new Penn State coach James Franklin when they coached together Kansas State in 2006-07 and he joined Franklin's first Vanderbilt staff as quarterbacks coach in 2011. In 2013, Rahne coached VU quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels, who completed 68.7 percent of his passes to rank No. 3 nationally. Rahne's passing attack was instrumental in helping VU wideout Jordan Matthews break SEC season and career receiving records the past two years.
Prior to his three years at Vanderbilt, Rahne spent five seasons at Kansas State, serving as the offensive graduate assistant (2006), where he worked with quarterback Josh Freeman, helping him become a first round NFL draft choice. He also served as the Wildcats' running backs (2007-08) and tight ends coach (2009-10) and helped the Wildcats earn two bowl berths. Rahne began his coaching career Holy Cross and Cornell.
The Nittany Lions are in the midst of their third week of training camp in preparation for the Aug. 30 season opener vs. UCF. The contest will kick at 8:30 a.m. ET and air on ESPN2, the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com.
More than 5,000 new Penn State football season tickets and 54,000 single game tickets have been sold for the 2014 campaign. Alumni and fans are able to purchase Penn State football season tickets and make their Nittany Lion Club donation online at GoPSUsports.com/seasontickets, while choosing their own seats by utilizing Virtual Venue. New season tickets, the four-game partial ticket plan and single game tickets also are available by calling 1-800-NITTANY, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.