1969 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

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1969 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Co-national champion (FACT, Sagarin)
Eastern champion
Orange Bowl champion
Orange Bowl, W 10–3 vs. Missouri
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 2
APNo. 2
Record11–0
Head coach
Offensive scheme I formation
Defensive coordinator Jim O'Hora (4th season)
Base defense 4–3
Captains
Home stadium Beaver Stadium
Seasons
←  1968
1970  →
1969 NCAA University Division independents football records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Penn State  – 11 –0 –0
No. 17 West Virginia  – 10 –1 –0
No. 12 Houston  – 9 –2 –0
No. 5 Notre Dame  – 8 –2 –1
Buffalo  – 6 –3 –0
Rutgers  – 6 –3 –0
Villanova  – 6 –3 –0
Florida State  – 6 –3 –1
Colgate  – 5 –3 –1
Air Force  – 6 –4 –0
West Texas State  – 6 –4 –0
Boston College  – 5 –4 –0
New Mexico State  – 5 –5 –0
Southern Miss  – 5 –5 –0
Syracuse  – 5 –5 –0
Army  – 4 –5 –1
VPI  – 4 –5 –1
Georgia Tech  – 4 –6 –0
Miami (FL)  – 4 –6 –0
Pittsburgh  – 4 –6 –0
Dayton  – 3 –7 –0
Marshall  – 3 –7 –0
Northern Illinois  – 3 –7 –0
Tulane  – 3 –7 –0
Utah State  – 3 –7 –0
Idaho  – 2 –8 –0
Navy  – 1 –9 –0
Xavier  – 1 –9 –0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1969 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. Despite posting its second consecutive undefeated, untied season, the Nittany Lions did not have a shot at the national championship. President Richard Nixon said that he would consider the winner of the December 6 matchup between the Texas Longhorns and the Arkansas Razorbacks, then ranked at the top of the polls, and the real voters do not seem to have differed. Paterno, at the 1973 commencement, was quoted saying, "I'd like to know how could the president know so little about Watergate in 1973 and so much about college football in 1969?" [1] Then Pennsylvania Governor Raymond P. Shafer got the White House's attention with Penn State's two-season undefeated streak. A White House assistant called Paterno to invite him and the team to the White House to receive a trophy for their accomplishment. Paterno has stated many times that he responded with, "You can tell the president to take that trophy and shove it." [2]

Contents

Penn State declined an invitation to play the Texas/Arkansas winner in the Cotton Bowl Classic,[ citation needed ] instead playing sixth-ranked Missouri in the Orange Bowl. Penn State beat Missouri 10–3, while Texas beat Notre Dame 21–17 and was recognized as the consensus national champion. [3] : 120  Penn State was selected co-national champion by FACT and Sagarin, both NCAA-designated major selectors. [3] : 111 

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 20at Navy No. 3
W 45–2228,796
September 27 Colorado No. 2
W 27–351,402
October 4at Kansas State No. 2
W 17–1437,000
October 11No. 17 West Virginia Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 5
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
W 20–052,713 [4]
October 18at Syracuse No. 5
W 15–1442,291
October 25 Ohio No. 8
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
W 42–349,069
November 1 Boston College No. 5
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
 CBS W 38–1646,652
November 15 Maryland No. 5
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
W 48–046,106 [5]
November 22at Pittsburgh No. 4
W 27–739,517
November 29at NC State No. 3
 ABC W 33–824,150 [6]
January 1, 1970vs. No. 6 Missouri No. 2
 NBC W 10–377,282
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

Pittsburgh

1234Total
•Penn State7071327
Pittsburgh07007
Scoring summary
1PSUHarris 24-yard run (Reitz kick)PSU 7-0
2PITTEsposito 6-yard run (Cramer kick)Tied 7-7
3PSUPittman 4-yard run (Reitz kick)PSU 14-7
4PSUPittman 17-yard run (Reitz kick)PSU 21-7
4PSUAbbey 18-yard run (kick failed)PSU 27-7

[7]

NC State

1234Total
• Penn St31461033
NC State00088
Scoring summary
Q1PSUReitz 27 yard field goalPSU 3–0
Q2PSUPittman 5 yard run (Reitz kick)PSU 10–0
Q2PSUMitchell 1 yard run (Reitz kick)PSU 17–0
Q3PSUPittman 5 yard run (kick failed)PSU 23–0
Q4PSUReitz 35 yard field goalPSU 26–0
Q4PSUPittman 13 yard pass from Burkhart (Reitz kick)PSU 33–0
Q4NCSTWalker 71 yard interception return (Sharp pass from Bowers)PSU 33–8

[8]

Personnel

1969 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
RB Don Abbey
WR Charlie Adams
QB Chuck Burkhart
WR Wally Cirafesi
QB 25Mike CooperJr
RB Gary Deuel
WR 88Greg EdmondsJr
RB Fran Ganter Jr
RB 34 Franco Harris So
OL Bob Holuba
OL Tom Jackson
WR Pete Johnson
C 56 Warren Koegel Jr
WR Jim McCord
RB 23 Lydell Mitchell So
TE Wayne Munson
QB, P 13 Bob Parsons So
RB 24 Charlie Pittman Sr
RB Joel Ramich
OT 78Vic SurmaJr
RB Charlie Wilson
G 60 Charlie Zapiec Jr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DE 89 John Ebersole Sr
LB 33 Jack Ham Jr
DL Gary Hull
DB Paul Johnson
LB Jim Kates
DB George Landis
LB 35 Dennis Onkotz Sr
LB David Radakovich
DL David Rakiecki
DT 68 Mike Reid Sr
DL Steve Smear
LB Mike Smith
DB Neal Smith
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Roster

Post season

NFL Draft

Eight Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1970 NFL draft.

RoundPickOverallNamePositionTeam
1st77 Mike Reid Defensive tackle Cincinnati Bengals
3rd658 Charlie Pittman Running back St. Louis Cardinals
3rd2072 Dennis Onkotz Linebacker New York Jets
4th1795 Steve Smear Defensive end/Linebacker Baltimore Colts
4th2098 John Ebersole Linebacker New York Jets
7th23179 Don Abbey Fullback Dallas Cowboys
8th17199Paul Johnson Running back Washington Redskins
12th17303 James Kates Linebacker Washington Redskins

Awards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penn State Nittany Lions football</span> American football team

The Penn State Nittany Lions team represents the Pennsylvania State University in college football. The Nittany Lions compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference, which they joined in 1993 after playing as an Independent from 1892 to 1992.

The 1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 21st-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 12–0. Penn State defeated the Miami Hurricanes, 14–10, in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl to win Paterno's second consensus national championship. The team was named national champion by AP, Billingsley, FB News, FW, Matthews, NCF, NFF, Sporting News, UPI, and USA/CNN, while named co-champion by FACT, Sagarin (ELO-Chess).

The 1968 Penn State Nittany Lions represented Pennsylvania State University in the 1968 NCAA University Division football season. The 1968 team was Paterno's first perfect season. Despite going 11–0, the Nittany Lions finished behind 10–0 Ohio State in the final AP Poll, and behind Ohio State and 9–0–1 USC in the final Coaches Poll.

The 1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University during the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. Penn State defeated the Georgia Bulldogs, 27–23, in the Sugar Bowl to win Joe Paterno's first consensus national championship. The team was selected national champion by AP, Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, FACT, FB News, Football Research, FW, Litkenhous, Matthews, NCF, NFF, The New York Times, Poling, Sagarin, Sagarin (ELO-Chess), Sporting News, UPI/coaches, and USA/CNN, while named co-champion by Helms.

The 1995 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1967 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1967 NCAA University Division football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1970 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. The team was led by fifth-year head coach Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1971 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1972 Penn State Nittany Lions represented Pennsylvania State University in the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. As a result of using ineligible players, the Oklahoma Sooners were ordered to forfeit seven wins from their 1972 season, including their on-field win over the Nittany Lions. However, Paterno and Penn State refused to accept the forfeit, and the bowl game is officially recorded as a loss.

The 1973 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. Penn State's third undefeated season under Joe Paterno was led by John Cappelletti who would become the first Penn State player to win the Heisman Trophy.

The 1977 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1978 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1979 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1980 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1981 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was selected national champion by Dunkel, an NCAA-designated major selector, while Clemson, who finished the season 12–0, was the consensus national champion.

The 1985 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1989 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1992 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1992 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. This was Penn State's final season as an Independent as they would join the Big Ten in 1993.

The 1969 NCAA University Division football season was celebrated as the centennial of college football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penn State–West Virginia football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Penn State–West Virginia football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Penn State Nittany Lions and West Virginia Mountaineers. Penn State leads the series 49–9–2.

References

  1. ↑ Anderson, Shelly (November 17, 2006). "Research shows Nixon hurt '69 Lions". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Retrieved January 31, 2007.
  2. ↑ Rudel, Neil (April 24, 1994). "Snub by Nixon helped Penn St". The Beaver County Times . Beaver, Pennsylvania. p. B15. Retrieved July 6, 2021– via Google News.
  3. 1 2 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Unbeaten Penn State blanks West Virginia". San Antonio Express/News. October 12, 1969. Retrieved January 21, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Pittman scores 3 in 48–0 win". Sunday News. November 16, 1969. Retrieved January 22, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Penn State rumbles past Wolfpack 33–8". The Roanoke Times. November 30, 1969. Retrieved January 22, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Onkotz' Run Leads Penn State Past Pitt, 27-7." Palm Beach Post. November 23, 1969
  8. ↑ "Penn State Rumbles, 33-8." Palm Beach Post. 1969 Nov 30. Retrieved 2015-Apr-30.
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