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Penn State Football Team History


Penn State Nittany Lions
The Pennsylvania State University
 University Park, PA
Founded: 1855
Stadium: Beaver Stadium
Capacity: 106,537
Colors: Blue & White
Coach: Charles A. Rip Engle
Conference: Independent-

Team Home Summary  Coaches Games by Year Opponents Rankings Bowls Conference


Select Year:    
1881  <-- 1960 <- 1961 -> 1962 --> 2024
1961 Season Highlights
 Charles A. Rip Engle enters his 12th season as Head Coach at Penn State.
 
1961 Season
 Date   Opponent  Score   
 Sat., Sep. 23  vs. Navy  20   10   W       
 Fri., Sep. 29  @ Miami (Florida)  8   25   L       
 Fri., Oct. 6  @ Boston University  32   0   W       
 Sat., Oct. 14  vs. Army  6   10   L       
 Sat., Oct. 21  vs. Syracuse  14   0   W       
 Sat., Oct. 28  vs. California  33   16   W       
 Sat., Nov. 4  @ Maryland  17   21   L       
 Sat., Nov. 11  @ West Virginia  20   6   W       
 Sat., Nov. 18  vs. Holy Cross  34   14   W       
 Sat., Nov. 25  @ Pittsburgh  47   26   W       
 Sat., Dec. 30   Georgia Tech  30   15   W    @ Jacksonville, FL   Gator Bowl
 
1961 Season Totals
  Record8-3
  Points Scored261
  Scoring Average23.7
  Points Allowed143
  Defense Average13.0
  Opponents Record43-38
  Conference Record0-0
  Home Record4-1
  Away Record3-2
1961 NCAA Final Rankings
 Rank   Record   Source 
17 7-3-0 AP
19 7-3-0 Coaches
19 7-3-0 UPI
  
1961 Independent- Standings
  Season   Bowls   Conference 
 Team  W/L/T  PF  PA    W/L/T  PF  PA   Coach 
Memphis 8-233275   Billy J. Murphy
Penn State 8-3261143Won  30-15  Charles A. Rip Engle
Southern Mississippi 8-218368   Thad Pie Vann
Syracuse 8-3268131Won  15-14  Floyd B. Ben Schwartzwalder
Miami 7-414685Lost  14-15  Andy Gustafson
Navy 7-3201136   Wayne Hardin
Army 6-4224118   Dale S. Hall
Louisville 6-318091   Frank Camp
San Jose State 6-4183185   Robert Bob Titchenal
Houston 5-4-1144138   Harold W. Lahar
Notre Dame 5-5175182   Joseph L. Joe Kuharich
Oregon State 5-5165137   J. Thompson Tommy Prothro
Boston College 4-6117189   Ernie Hefferle
Buffalo 4-5136163   Dick Offenhammer
Florida State 4-5-193128   Bill Peterson
Oregon 4-6152112   Leonard J. Len Casanova
Air Force 3-787173   Ben Martin
Arkansas State 3-684179   King Block
Pittsburgh 3-7145209   John P. Michelosen
Texas El Paso 3-7176283   Ben Collins
Washington State 3-7163213   James Jim Sutherland

1961 All American Awards
 Player   Position   Class   Ht.   Wt.   Award   Team   Source 
 Coming Someday 

1961 All Independent Conference Players
 Player   Position   Class   Ht.   Wt.   Team   Source 
 Coming Someday 


Some records may be incomplete.


Great Moments in College Football History

During the 1990s, Prairie View College put together an 80-game losing streak. One season, they were outscored each game by an average margin of 56 to 4.