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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 schemeI formation
Defensive coordinatorJim O'Hora (4th season)
Base defense4–3
Captains
Home stadiumBeaver Stadium
Seasons
← 1968
1970 →
1969 NCAA University Division independents football records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   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
Virginia Tech   –   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
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]

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

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 202:00 p.m.at NavyNo. 3
W 45–2228,796[4]
September 27ColoradoNo. 2
W 27–351,342[5]
October 4at Kansas StateNo. 2
W 17–1437,000[6]
October 11No. 17 West VirginiadaggerNo. 5
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
W 20–052,713[7]
October 18at SyracuseNo. 5
W 15–1442,491[8]
October 251:30 p.m.OhioNo. 8
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
W 42–349,419[9]
November 1Boston CollegeNo. 5
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
CBSW 38–1648,532[10]
November 15MarylandNo. 5
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
W 48–046,106[11]
November 22at PittsburghNo. 4
W 27–739,517[12]
November 29at NC StateNo. 3
ABCW 33–824,150[13]
January 1, 1970vs. No. 6 MissouriNo. 2
NBCW 10–378,282[14]

[15]

Game summaries

[edit]

Pittsburgh

[edit]
Team 1 234Total
• Penn State 7 0713 27
Pittsburgh 0 700 7
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

[16]

NC State

[edit]
Team 1 234Total
• Penn St 3 14610 33
NC State 0 008 8
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

[17]

Personnel

[edit]
1969 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB Don Abbey
WR Charlie Adams
QB Chuck Burkhart
WR Wally Cirafesi
QB 25 Mike Cooper Jr
RB Gary Deuel
WR 88 Greg Edmonds Jr
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 78 Vic Surma Jr
RB Charlie Wilson
G 60 Charlie Zapiec Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
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. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

Awards

[edit]

NFL draft

[edit]

Eight Nittany Lions were selected in the 1970 NFL draft.

Round Pick Overall Name Position Team
1st 7 7 Mike Reid Defensive tackle Cincinnati Bengals
3rd 6 58 Charlie Pittman Running back St. Louis Cardinals
3rd 20 72 Dennis Onkotz Linebacker New York Jets
4th 17 95 Steve Smear Defensive end/Linebacker Baltimore Colts
4th 20 98 John Ebersole Linebacker New York Jets
7th 23 179 Don Abbey Fullback Dallas Cowboys
8th 17 199 Paul Johnson Running back Washington Redskins
12th 17 303 James Kates Linebacker Washington Redskins

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Anderson, Shelly (November 17, 2006). "Research shows Nixon hurt '69 Lions". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. 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. ^ a b 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  4. ^ "Lions slap 45–22 loss on Middies". The News and Observer. September 21, 1969. Retrieved October 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Penn State wins 13th tilt in row". The Indianapolis Star. September 28, 1969. Retrieved October 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Cats stubborn in defeat". The Kansas City Star. October 5, 1969. Retrieved October 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Unbeaten Penn State blanks West Virginia". San Antonio Express/News. October 12, 1969. Retrieved January 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Penn State, down 14 in 4th, edges Syracuse, 15–14". The Star-Ledger. October 19, 1969. Retrieved October 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Penn State string goes to 25 in row". The Daily Times. October 26, 1969. Retrieved October 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Penn State rally pend BC Eagles". The Atlanta Journal & Constitution. November 2, 1969. Retrieved October 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Pittman scores 3 in 48–0 win". Sunday News. November 16, 1969. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Penn State chokes Pitt rallies, 27–7". Staten Island Advance. November 23, 1969. Retrieved October 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Penn State rumbles past Wolfpack 33–8". The Roanoke Times. November 30, 1969. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Penn St. shows Missouri how to intercept win, 10–3". Florida Today. January 2, 1970. Retrieved October 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Schedule/Results (1969 Penn State)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  16. ^ "Onkotz' Run Leads Penn State Past Pitt, 27-7." Palm Beach Post. November 23, 1969
  17. ^ "Penn State Rumbles, 33-8." Palm Beach Post. 1969 Nov 30. Retrieved 2015-Apr-30.
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