College Sports Established
1887
Location
State College, Pennsylvania
College Name
Pennsylvania State University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1907 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1991 – Present / Big 10 Conference
1976 – 1979, 1982 - 1991 / Atlantic 10 Conference
1892 - 1975 / Independent
1891 / Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Football Association
1887 - 1890 / Independent
Nickname
Nittany Lions - The Penn State Nittany Lions have been a powerhouse in college football for decades, and their nickname is just as iconic as the team itself. But where did this name come from? As it turns out, the origins of the “Nittany Lion” moniker date back to 1904 when Joe Mason, then-editor of Penn State's student newspaper, The Daily Collegian, suggested that "Nittany" be used to describe a mountain lion that was found near Mount Nittany in Centre County.
At first glance, one might think this creature would be called simply a "mountain lion," but according to legend, no mountain lions lived on or around Mount Nittany! Instead, people believed they had seen an eastern cougar - also known as an eastern puma - which had migrated up from Florida into Pennsylvania during those days. This unique species earned its particular name: The Nittany Lions!
Since then, much has changed about Penn State University and its sports teams, but one thing remains constant –– their beloved mascot and nickname: The mighty “Nitty Lions.” From cheering them on at games with chants like "We Are...Pennsylvania!" To see them represented proudly across campus with logos and merchandise, It's clear why so many fans feel such strong loyalty towards these powerful cats who represent strength & courage through adversity each season!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 2
1986, 1982
Soccer 0
- 1887
- 1911
- 1969
- 1986
- 2006
- 2017
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Penn State first football team is formed
Penn State Nittany Lions In 1887: The first football team is formed, coached by George Hoskins. The team plays its first game against Bucknell and wins 54–01. -
football team wins its first national championship
In 1911: The football team wins its first national championship, finishing with an 8–0–1 record and outscoring opponents 211–11. -
Nittany lions men’s soccer team makes its first appearance in the College Cup
In 1969: The men’s soccer team makes its first appearance in the College Cup, losing to San Francisco in the semifinals and Saint Louis in the third-place game. -
1986 National Champs – Nittany Lions
The 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with Penn State winning the national championship. Coached by Joe Paterno, they defeated Miami (Fl) 14–10 in the Fiesta Bowl. This Fiesta Bowl was the first in the game’s history to decide the national championship, launching it into the top tier of bowls. Miami came into game #1 and Penn State #2. ... -
Nittany Lions in Big Ten championship
In 2006: The football team wins its third Big Ten championship with an 11–1 record and ranks third in the final AP poll. The team defeats Florida State 26–23 in triple overtime in the Orange Bowl. -
Nittany Lions’ Saquon Barkley
In the first game of the season against Akron, Barkley had 14 rushes for 172 yards, two touchdowns, and a long run of 80 yards. He also recorded 54 receiving yards on two catches. For his efforts, Barkley was named co-Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. In the 2017 Big Ten opener, the Nittany Lions visited the Iowa Hawkeyes. ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Nittany Lions
The Nittany Lions are no strangers to success on the field either, as they have won over 20 National Championships across multiple divisions, including Division I-A (now known as Football Bowl Subdivision), Division II (formerly known as College Division), and even at lower levels such as a club or intramural teams throughout their rich history! This includes two undefeated seasons by legendary head coach Joe Paterno who led them from 1966-2011 before being replaced by Bill O'Brien after his retirement due to health issues stemming from cancer treatments he underwent.
Penn State has always had a strong presence within both men's and women's athletics which can be seen through their recent successes, such as winning back-to-back Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Titles in 2018 & 2019 under Coach Coquese Washington while also having numerous individual athletes excel on both sides like Saquon Barkley becoming one of college football’s best running backs ever en route to winning AP Player Of The Year honors during his junior season at PSU!
It is clear why so many students choose this university year after year despite not knowing much about what makes up “Nittany Lion Sports." From championship-caliber teams down to low-level clubs/intramurals, there isn't anything that these student-athletes cannot do when competing against other schools around Pennsylvania or anywhere else! So if you're looking for an exciting place to watch some incredible sporting events, look no further than Happy Valley because here we support our own just like a family would - Go Nittany Lions!!
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