5 Key Indicators That the Penn State Football Program is a Winner By Rick Grantham At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Has your favorite NCAA football team played for 120 years? That is how long Penn State has been dominating the gridiron. Throughout the years, the team has maintained outstanding records, while undergoing changes of its players, coaches, and nicknames. Most fans of Penn State and NCAA football are aware that Penn State has won two National Championships. However, that is only one indicator of the squad's winning tradition. Other gauges include:

1. Coach Joe Paterno

Paterno is currently coaching the Penn State Nittany Lions in his 43rd season. For many Penn State fans, Paterno IS Penn State football. His accomplishments include:

• 2 NCAA football championships (1982, 1986)
• 3 Big Ten Conference Championships (1994, 2005, 2006)
• Winning roughly 75% of the games he has coached
• A 23-10-1 record (.696 winning percentage) in Bowl games
• 3 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year awards (1978, 1982, 1986)

2. Nittany Lion Mascot

People refer to the Nittany Lion, mascot of the Pennsylvania State University athletic teams, as a cougar, lion, panther, or puma. Unfortunately, the animal became extinct a quarter of a century after the school's 1855 founding. Why is the mascot Nittany Lions? Penn State's campus sits within the Nittany Valley, while mount Nittany stands nearby.

Harrison D. "Joe" Mason chose the Nittany Lion symbol, in 1907. A member of Penn State's baseball team, Princeton showed the visiting team two Bengal tigers. Mason noted that a Penn State Nittany Mountain Lion could overpower a Princeton tiger. Penn State won the game and the rest as they say-is history.

3. Outstanding Bowl game record

Through its history, Penn State has played in 41 bowl games. Its overall record in those games is 26-12-2 (.675) while its record in "major" bowl games, is 14-5-1 (.725).

4. One Heisman Trophy winner

In 1973, John Cappelletti, a running back for Penn State, won the Heisman Trophy. During his senior year at Penn State, he had 286 carries for 1,522 yards, and racked up 17 touchdowns. In his acceptance speech for the Heisman Trophy, Cappelletti dedicated the award to Joey, his dying brother. After graduating from Penn State, John played for the Los Angeles Rams (1974-1978), and then the San Diego Chargers (1980-1983).

Two decades after his senior year at Penn State, the College Football Hall of Fame inducted Cappelletti.

5. Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductees

Besides creating a winning tradition at its school, Penn State football has produced successful NFL players as well. Ex-Penn State players who the professional football Hall of Fame has inducted, include:

• Jack Ham (Linebacker): Pittsburgh Steelers
• Franco Harris (Running Back): Pittsburg Steelers/Seattle Seahawks
• Mike Michalske (Guard): New York Yankees/Green Bay Packers
• Lenny Moore (Flanks/Running Back): Baltimore Colts
• Mike Munchak (Guard): Houston Oilers

From its mascot to its future professional football all-stars, Penn State has represented outstanding football, for over a century. Use Penn State Nittany Lions merchandise to cheer on the team as it bounds toward its third NCAA football championship!

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