1969 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1969 Penn State Nittany Lions football Independent 2 2 11–0 Joe Paterno 4th I formation Jim O'Hora 4th 4–3 Tom Jackson Mike Reid Steve Smear Beaver Stadium Co-national champion (FACT, Sagarin)Eastern championOrange Bowl champion Orange Bowl W 10–3 vs. Missouri The 1969 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University as an independent during 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?"Anderson Shelly Research shows Nixon hurt '69 Lions https://old.post-gazette.com/pg/06321/739083-198.stm https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190446/https://old.post-gazette.com/pg/06321/739083-198.stm dead July 9, 2021 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette November 17, 2006 January 31, 2007 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."Rudel Neil Snub by Nixon helped Penn St. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19940424&id=ar0iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fLUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1354,5314383 The Beaver County Times Beaver, Pennsylvania April 24, 1994 B15 July 6, 2021 Google News Penn State declined an invitation to play the Texas/Arkansas winner in the Cotton Bowl Classic,December 2018 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.120 Penn State was selected co-national champion by FACT and Sagarin, both NCAA-designated major selectors.http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2018/FBS.pdf 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records National Collegiate Athletic Association August 2018 December 10, 2018111 Schedule 1969 AP Eastern September 20 2:00 p.m. w y 3 Navy Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD 45–22 28,796 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-lions-slap-4522-l/183317583/ The News and Observer Lions slap 45–22 loss on Middies September 21, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com September 27 w 2 Colorado Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 27–3 51,342 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-penn-state-wins-13/183358521/ The Indianapolis Star Penn State wins 13th tilt in row September 28, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 4 w y 2 Kansas State KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS 17–14 37,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-cats-stubborn-in-de/183358582/ The Kansas City Star Cats stubborn in defeat October 5, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 11 w y 5 West Virginia 17 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry 20–0 52,713 https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-antonio-express-unbeaten-penn-state/139291087/ San Antonio Express/News Unbeaten Penn State blanks West Virginia October 12, 1969 January 21, 2024 Newspapers.com October 18 w y 5 Syracuse Archbold Stadium Syracuse, NY rivalry 15–14 42,491 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger-penn-state-down-14-in-4/183329474/ The Star-Ledger Penn State, down 14 in 4th, edges Syracuse, 15–14 October 19, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 25 1:30 p.m. w 8 Ohio Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 42–3 49,419 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-penn-state-string-goes-t/183358654/ The Daily Times Penn State string goes to 25 in row October 26, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 1 w 5 Boston College Beaver Stadium University Park, PA CBS 38–16 48,532 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-penn-state-rally-pen/183330608/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Penn State rally pend BC Eagles November 2, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 15 w 5 Maryland Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry 48–0 46,106 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-pittman-scores-3-in-480-win/139349351/ Sunday News Pittman scores 3 in 48–0 win November 16, 1969 January 22, 2024 Newspapers.com November 22 w y 4 Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry 27–7 39,517 https://www.newspapers.com/article/staten-island-advance-penn-state-chokes/183327727/ Staten Island Advance Penn State chokes Pitt rallies, 27–7 November 23, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 29 w y 3 NC State Carter Stadium Raleigh, NC ABC 33–8 24,150 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-penn-state-rumbles-pas/139345363/ The Roanoke Times Penn State rumbles past Wolfpack 33–8 November 30, 1969 January 22, 2024 Newspapers.com January 1, 1970 Thursday w y 2 Missouri 6 Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL Orange Bowl NBC 10–3 78,282 https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-penn-st-shows-missouri-ho/183358854/ Florida Today Penn St. shows Missouri how to intercept win, 10–3 January 2, 1970 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1969 Penn State) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/174805 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics October 20, 2025 Game summaries Pittsburgh Penn State 7 0 7 13 Pittsburgh 0 7 0 0 November 22 Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh 39,517 yes 1 PSU Harris 24-yard run (Reitz kick) PSU 7-0 2 PITT Esposito 6-yard run (Cramer kick) Tied 7-7 3 PSU Pittman 4-yard run (Reitz kick) PSU 14-7 4 PSU Pittman 17-yard run (Reitz kick) PSU 21-7 4 PSU Abbey 18-yard run (kick failed) PSU 27-7 yes "Onkotz' Run Leads Penn State Past Pitt, 27-7." Palm Beach Post. November 23, 1969 NC State Penn St 3 14 6 10 NC State 0 0 0 8 November 29 Carter Stadium 24,150 yes Q1 PSU Reitz 27 yard field goal PSU 3–0 Q2 PSU Pittman 5 yard run (Reitz kick) PSU 10–0 Q2 PSU Mitchell 1 yard run (Reitz kick) PSU 17–0 Q3 PSU Pittman 5 yard run (kick failed) PSU 23–0 Q4 PSU Reitz 35 yard field goal PSU 26–0 Q4 PSU Pittman 13 yard pass from Burkhart (Reitz kick) PSU 33–0 Q4 NCST Walker 71 yard interception return (Sharp pass from Bowers) PSU 33–8 yes "Penn State Rumbles, 33-8." Palm Beach Post. 1969 Nov 30. Retrieved 2015-Apr-30. Personnel 1969 Penn State Nittany Lions f 36 Sr Don Abbey RB 44 Jr Charlie Adams WR 22 Sr Chuck Burkhart QB 11 Sr Wally Cirafesi WR 25 Jr Mike Cooper QB 43 Jr Gary Deuel RB 88 Jr Greg Edmonds WR 42 Jr Fran Ganter RB y 34 So Franco Harris RB y 67 Jr Bob Holuba OL 63 Sr Tom Jackson OL 40 Sr Pete Johnson WR 56 Jr Warren Koegel C y 86 Jr Jim McCord WR 23 So Lydell Mitchell RB y 77 So Wayne Munson TE 13 So Bob Parsons Bob Parsons (American football) QB P y 24 Sr Charlie Pittman RB y 46 Jr Joel Ramich RB 78 Jr Vic Surma OT 41 Jr Charlie Wilson RB 60 Jr Charlie Zapiec OG y 89 Sr John Ebersole John Ebersole (American football) DE y 33 Jr Jack Ham LB y 80 Jr Gary Hull DL 47 Sr Paul Johnson DB 55 Sr Jim Kates LB 31 Jr George Landis DB 35 Sr Dennis Onkotz LB y 52 Sr David Radakovich LB 87 Sr David Rakiecki DL 68 Sr Mike Reid Mike Reid (singer) DT y 76 Sr Steve Smear DL 10 Jr Mike Smith LB 26 Sr Neal Smith DB http://www.nittanyanthology.com/69roster.doc *Joe Paterno Earl Bruce Jim O'Hora Frank Patrick Bob Phillips Dan Radakovich Jerry Sandusky Jim Weaver George Welsh J. T. White Awards Mike Reid Maxwell Award Outland Trophy NFL draft 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 Penn State Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football seasons Category:Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy seasons Category:Orange Bowl champion seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Penn State Nittany Lions football