Penn State Football Team is one of the most iconic college football programs in the country. This team has produced some of the greatest players and teams in football history. Here are 6 interesting secrets about Penn State Football Team that you may not know:
1. The Nittany Lions have won three national championships
Penn State Football Team is one of the most decorated programs in college football, having won three national championships (1982, 1986 and 1994). They have also appeared in a total of seven bowl games – five Orange Bowls, one Fiesta Bowl, and one Sugar Bowl. And they have won 11 Big Ten conference titles.
2. Penn State has had the same head coach since 1966
Joe Paterno took over as head coach at Penn State in 1966 and served for 45 years until his retirement in 2011. He is credited with leading the Nittany Lions to success on the field, including two national championships and five undefeated seasons (1968, 1969, 1973, 1986 and 1994).
3. The Nittany Lion mascot was derived from a mountain lion that roamed the area
The original mascot of Penn State Football Team was a mountain lion that reportedly roamed nearby Mount Nittany. This gave rise to the name ‘Nittany Lion’, which is now used to refer to the team. The lion mascot is still featured on the logo and is part of the team’s official branding.
4. Penn State has one of the largest stadiums in college football
Penn State’s Beaver Stadium seats over 107,000 fans and is one of the largest stadiums in college football. It’s also one of only five NCAA Division I FBS stadiums with a capacity greater than 100,000 people.
5. Penn State is home to many NFL alumni
The Nittany Lions have produced some of the greatest players to ever play in the NFL, including Pro Football Hall-of-Famers Franco Harris, Jack Ham and Lenny Moore. They have also had several first round draft picks – 71 over their history – and a total of more than 600 players who have gone on to the NFL.
6. The Nittany Lions have had success against some of the best programs in college football
Penn State has an impressive record against some of the top programs in college football, including wins over Ohio State and Michigan in recent years. They also beat Alabama 24-3 in 1989, which was only their second win over an SEC team since World War II.
Overall, Penn State Football Team is one of the greatest programs in college football history. These 6 interesting secrets about them are just a glimpse into what makes this program so successful. With seven bowl appearances and 11 Big Ten titles under their belt, it’s no wonder why they remain one of the most storied programs in college football.