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Penn State Nittany Lions football
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Cite This SourcePenn State Nittany Lions football is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the nation.
Current coaching staff
| Position | Name | Year | Alma mater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Joe Paterno | 1966 | Brown (1950) |
| Offensive coordinator/Running backs | Galen Hall | 2004 | Penn State |
| Defensive coordinator/Cornerbacks | Tom Bradley | 1979 | Penn State (1979) |
| Safeties | Kermit Buggs | 2003 | Norfolk State (1995) |
| Defensive line | Larry Johnson | 1999 | Elizabeth City State (1973) |
| Linebackers | Ron Vanderlinden | 2000 | Albion College |
| Offensive guards/centers | Dick Anderson | 1999 | Penn State (1963) |
| Offensive tackles/tight ends | Bill Kenney | 1989 | Norwich (1982) |
| Quarterbacks | Jay Paterno | 1999 | Penn State (1990) |
| Strength and conditioning | John Thomas | 1991 | Muskingum |
| Wide receivers/Recruiting Coordinator | Mike McQueary | 2003 | Penn State (1997) |
Notable seasons
National championships
Penn State has won two consensus national championships, both under Joe Paterno's tenure as coach:
Conference championships
Since joining the Big Ten Conference in 1993, Penn State has won two Big Ten championships:
Perfect seasons
Penn State has had seven undefeated, untied seasons in its history:Season-by-season records
Note: The AP poll has existed since 1936. The coaches poll, voted on by college head coaches, was published by United Press International from 1950-90, CNN/USA Today from 1991-96, ESPN/USA Today from 1997-2005, and USA Today/Gallup from 2006-present.Conference affiliations
- 1881-1992, Independent
- 1993-present, Big Ten
Charity and Awareness Efforts
The Penn State football team has worked in coordination with Uplifting Athletes, a non-profit organization, to raise awareness and funds for the Kidney Cancer Association. In 2003 the team turned their annual weight-lifting competition into a fund-raiser when a player’s father was diagnosed with Kidney Cancer. The event that is now known as Lift for Life, has raised more than $225,000 since its inception. The 6th annual Lift for Life event will be held on July 11, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at Penn State’s Holuba Hall.Coaching history
| Coach | Years | Seasons | Record | Pct. | Cnf. Record | Pct. | Cnf. Titles | Bowls | Nat. Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No coach | 1887-91 | 5 | 12-8-1 | .595 | 0 | ||||
| George Hoskins | 1892-95 | 4 | 17-4-4 | .760 | 0 | ||||
| Samuel Newton | 1896-98 | 3 | 12-14-0 | .462 | 0 | ||||
| Sam Boyle | 1899 | 1 | 4-6-1 | .409 | 0 | ||||
| Pop Golden | 1900-02 | 3 | 16-12-1 | .569 | 0 | ||||
| Daniel A. Reed | 1903 | 1 | 5-3-0 | .625 | 0 | ||||
| Tom Fennell | 1904-08 | 5 | 33-17-1 | .567 | 0 | ||||
| Bill Hollenback | 1909, 1911-14 | 5 | 28-9-4 | .732 | 0 | ||||
| Jack Hollenback | 1910 | 1 | 5-2-1 | .688 | 0 | ||||
| Dick Harlow | 1915-17 | 3 | 20-8-0 | .714 | 0 | ||||
| Hugo Bezdek | 1918-29 | 12 | 65-30-11 | .665 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Bob Higgins | 1930-48 | 19 | 91-57-11 | .607 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Joe Bedenk | 1949 | 1 | 5-4-0 | .556 | 0 | ||||
| Rip Engle | 1950-65 | 16 | 104-48-4 | .679 | 4 | 0 | |||
| Joe Paterno | 1966-present | 42 | 373-124-3 | .749 | 73-47 | .608 | 2 | 34 | 2 |
| Totals | 1887-present | 122 | 790-346-42 | .688 | 73-47 | .608 | 2 | 40 | 2 |
Bowl history
Penn State has earned invitations to 40 bowl games. The Nittany Lions have compiled a record of 27-11-2 (0.700), the highest winning percentage of any Division I FBS team, including a 15-4-1 (0.775) record in the so-called "major" bowls (Rose, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta, & Cotton).
Current coach Joe Paterno is responsible for most of these bids and victories, compiling more wins (24) and appearances (34) than any other coach in college football history en route to his bowl record of 24-9-1 (0.721). Paterno also has a record of 15-3-0 (0.833) in "major" bowls and is the only coach to have won all five major college bowls during his career.
Bowl appearances by year
| Year* | Coach | Bowl Game |
|---|---|---|
| 1923 | Hugo Bezdek | Lost Rose Bowl |
| 1948 | Bob Higgins | Tied Cotton Bowl |
| 1959 | Rip Engle | Won Liberty Bowl |
| 1960 | Rip Engle | Won Liberty Bowl |
| 1961 | Rip Engle | Won Gator Bowl |
| 1962 | Rip Engle | Lost Gator Bowl |
| 1967 | Joe Paterno | Tied Gator Bowl |
| 1969 | Joe Paterno | Won Orange Bowl |
| 1970 | Joe Paterno | Won Orange Bowl |
| 1972 | Joe Paterno | Won Cotton Bowl |
| 1972 | Joe Paterno | Won (by forfeit) Sugar Bowl |
| 1974 | Joe Paterno | Won Orange Bowl |
| 1975 | Joe Paterno | Won Cotton Bowl |
| 1976 | Joe Paterno | Lost Sugar Bowl |
| 1976 | Joe Paterno | Lost Gator Bowl |
| 1977 | Joe Paterno | Won Fiesta Bowl |
| 1979 | Joe Paterno | Lost Sugar Bowl |
| 1979 | Joe Paterno | Won Liberty Bowl |
| 1980 | Joe Paterno | Won Fiesta Bowl |
| 1982 | Joe Paterno | Won Fiesta Bowl |
| Year* | Coach | Bowl Game |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Joe Paterno | Won Sugar Bowl |
| 1983 | Joe Paterno | Won Aloha Bowl |
| 1986 | Joe Paterno | Lost Orange Bowl |
| 1987 | Joe Paterno | Won Fiesta Bowl |
| 1988 | Joe Paterno | Lost Citrus Bowl |
| 1989 | Joe Paterno | Won Holiday Bowl |
| 1990 | Joe Paterno | Lost Blockbuster Bowl |
| 1992 | Joe Paterno | Won Fiesta Bowl |
| 1993 | Joe Paterno | Lost Blockbuster Bowl |
| 1994 | Joe Paterno | Won Citrus Bowl |
| 1995 | Joe Paterno | Won Rose Bowl |
| 1996 | Joe Paterno | Won Outback Bowl |
| 1997 | Joe Paterno | Won Fiesta Bowl |
| 1998 | Joe Paterno | Lost Citrus Bowl |
| 1999 | Joe Paterno | Won Outback Bowl |
| 1999 | Joe Paterno | Won Alamo Bowl |
| 2003 | Joe Paterno | Lost Capital One Bowl |
| 2006 | Joe Paterno | Won Orange Bowl |
| 2007 | Joe Paterno | Won Outback Bowl |
| 2007 | Joe Paterno | Won Alamo Bowl |
* Year corresponds to the calendar year in which the game was played, not necessarily the football season (i.e.: the 2007 Outback Bowl was played during the 2006 season).
Bowl appearances by game
| Bowl | # | Appearances | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alamo Bowl | 2 | 1999, 2007 | 2-0 |
| Aloha Bowl | 1 | 1983 | 1-0 |
| Blockbuster Bowl | 2 | 1990, 1993 | 0-2 |
| Citrus Bowl/Capital One Bowl | 4 | 1988, 1994, 1998, 2003 | 1-3 |
| Cotton Bowl | 3 | 1948, 1972, 1975 | 2-0-1 |
| Fiesta Bowl | 6 | 1977, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997 | 6-0 |
| Gator Bowl | 4 | 1961, 1962, 1967, 1976 | 1-2-1 |
| Holiday Bowl | 1 | 1989 | 1-0 |
| Liberty Bowl | 3 | 1959, 1960, 1979 | 3-0 |
| Orange Bowl | 5 | 1969, 1970, 1974, 1986, 2006 | 4-1 |
| Outback Bowl | 3 | 1996, 1999, 2007 | 3-0 |
| Rose Bowl | 2 | 1923, 1995 | 1-1 |
| Sugar Bowl | 4 | 1972, 1976, 1979, 1983 | 2-2 |
Trophy rivalries
Penn State competes for two rivalry trophies, introduced when the Nittany Lions began Big Ten football in 1993.
- Penn State plays Minnesota for the Governor's Victory Bell. Penn State is 6-4 against the Golden Gophers in this series and all-time, and holds possession of the trophy after winning the 2006 contest.
- Penn State and Michigan State compete for the Land Grant Trophy annually. Penn State has a 11-4 record in these trophy games, with Michigan State currently holding possession of the trophy having won the 2007 contest.
Individual award winners
Players
Coaches
- Joe Paterno - 1981, 2005
- Joe Paterno - 1978, 1982, 1986
- Joe Paterno - 1972, 1994, 2005
Other awards
- Lambert Trophy - 1947, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005
College Football Hall of Fame inductees
Including current head coach Joe Paterno, 21 Nittany Lion players and coaches have been selected for the College Football Hall of Fame.
| Name | Position | Year inducted |
|---|---|---|
| Hugo Bezdek | Coach | 1954 |
| John Cappelletti | Halfback | 1993 |
| Keith Dorney | Offensive tackle | 2005 |
| Rip Engle | Coach | 1973 |
| Jack Ham | Linebacker | 1990 |
| Dick Harlow | Coach | 1954 |
| Bob Higgins | Coach | 1954 |
| Glenn Killinger | Quarterback | 1971 |
| Ted Kwalick | Tight end | 1989 |
| Richie Lucas | Quarterback | 1986 |
| Pete Mauthe | Halfback | 1957 |
| Shorty Miller | Quarterback | 1974 |
| Lydell Mitchell | Running back | 2004 |
| Dennis Onkotz | Linebacker | 1995 |
| Joe Paterno | Coach | 2007 |
| Mike Reid | Defensive tackle | 1987 |
| Glenn Ressler | Center/guard | 2001 |
| Dave Robinson | End | 1997 |
| Steve Suhey | Guard | 1985 |
| Dexter Very | End | 1976 |
| Harry Wilson | Halfback | 1973 |
Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees
Penn State is one of 11 schools with five or more inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.| Name | Position | NFL team(s) | Year inducted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Ham | Linebacker | Pittsburgh Steelers | 1988 |
| Franco Harris | Running back | Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks | 1990 |
| Mike Michalske | Guard | New York Yankees (AFL/NFL), Green Bay Packers | 1964 |
| Lenny Moore | Flanker/running back | Baltimore Colts | 1975 |
| Mike Munchak | Guard | Houston Oilers | 2001 |
Future schedules
See also
External links
References
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Last updated on Sunday July 06, 2008 at 00:09:02 PDT (GMT -0700)
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