March 1, 1954 — J.T. White, who played on Michigan’s 1948 National Champion team as well as at Ohio State as a center, joins Rip Engle’s staff as an assistant coach.
Spring 1958 — Former linebacker Dan Radakovich, one of the standouts in the 7-6 upset over Ohio State in 1956, becomes Penn State’s first linebacker coach when hired as an undergraduate assistant. The next year, Radakovich continues coaching linebackers as a graduate assistant.
September 25, 1954 — Underdog Penn State stuns preseason Big Ten Conference favorite Illinois, 14-12, in the opening game of the season played at Champaign, shocking the college football world and becoming an overnight front-runner to win the Lambert Trophy.
September 27, 1958 — Penn State ends the longest running series with one of its oldest opponents, Pennsylvania, with a 43-0 victory at Franklin Field. The series, which began in 1890, was never played outside of Philadelphia and finished with Penn State winning 18, losing 25 and tying 4. The team’s first ever two-point conversion is scored when Al Jacks passes to end John Bozick after Penn State’s second touchdown. Later in the game, Richie Lucas passes to Jim Schwab for a second two-point conversion.
October 23, 1954 — Jesse Arnelle, Rosey Grier and Lenny Moore become the first African-Americans to play college football in Fort Worth, Texas, but the Nittany Lions make too many mistakes and lose to Texas Christian, 20-7. October 30, 1954 — Penn State plays its first game on national television and beats Penn, 35-13, at Franklin Field, scoring the most points in the longtime series against the Quakers. Lenny Moore rushes for 140 yards and scores three touchdowns.
December 19, 1959 — Penn State plays in the first Liberty Bowl and tackle Charlie Janerette becomes the first African-American to play against Alabama as the Nittany Lions beat the Crimson Tide, coached by Paul “Bear” Bryant, 7-0, in Philadelphia’s Municipal Stadium.
September 1, 1955 — Penn State begins a year-long celebration of its Centennial Year with Navy scheduled to visit Beaver Field for the first time since 1923. A new dateline of “University Park” is established with the opening of a campus post office. September 29, 1955 — The first game is televised from Beaver Field as CBS transmits the seasonopener with Boston University to a limited region in the East. The Nittany Lions win, 35-0, as an unknown fifth-string sophomore fullback — Joe Sabol — scores two touchdowns to lead the team to victory. November 5, 1955 — Syracuse’s Jim Brown outgains Lenny Moore, 159 yards to 146, and scores all the Syracuse points on three touchdowns and two extra point kicks, but Penn State comes back from a 20-7 deficit on the quarterbacking of Milt Plum to win a thrilling 21-20 Band Day contest in one of the greatest games ever played at New Beaver Field before a crowd of 30,321 and a CBS regional TV audience.
April 1959 — The Nittany Lion Club is organized by 15 alumni who want to arouse interest in Penn State athletic affairs through contributions to the Levi Lamb Fund. Membership stipulated an annual contribution to the fund of at least $50 or at least $25 for graduates of less than 10 years. Members will receive “special consideration” on game tickets and “preferred parking” at the stadium.
Lenny Moore was among the greatest players to wear the blue and white. In 1954, he became the first Nittany Lion to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season, gaining 1,082 with 11 touchdowns. Moore was a dynamic runner, receiver and kick returner, accumulating 3,543 all-purpose yards from 1953-55. Moore was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the first round of the 1956 NFL Draft and had a brilliant 12-year career with the Colts, playing in seven Pro Bowls and gaining induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1975.
September 29, 1956 — The first all-Penn State alumni broadcasting team works its first game for the Nittany Lions football radio network as Mickey Bergstein (’43) moves from color commentary to play-by-play and Bob Wilson (’40) takes over color. Penn State beats Pennsylvania, 34-0, at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. October 20, 1956 — Penn State stuns heavily-favored Ohio State, 7-6, in Columbus, winning on Milt Plum’s extra point kick before the largest crowd to see a Penn State football game up to that time, numbering 82,584. October 19, 1957 — Pete Mauthe, captain of the undefeated 1912 team, becomes the first Penn State player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame during halftime ceremonies of the Homecoming game against Vanderbilt. The Nittany Lions squander a 13-point lead and are upset, 32-20. October 26, 1957 — The third game of the Engle era is televised from Syracuse by CBS on a regional basis as Penn State beats the Orangemen, 21-12, behind the surprise quarterbacking of sophomore Richie Lucas, who was forced to take over for the injured starter, Al Jacks. December 1957 — Outstanding freshman running back Robert “Red” Worrell, who was a potential varsity starter on the 1958 team, is electrocuted at his family home in Denbo, Pa., while helping his father erect a TV antenna. Athletic officials establish an award in his name to honor the most improved player after spring practice. Lineman Andy Stynchula wins the first award in 1958.
November 7, 1959 — The all-time attendance record is set at New Beaver Field as 34,000 watch a memorable battle of unbeatens play with national rankings and bowl berths at stake. Syracuse edges Penn State, 20-18, despite an electrifying 100-yard kickoff return by sophomore Roger Kochman as the Nittany Lions fail to make an extra point kick and two twopoint conversions.
November 14, 1959 — Penn State downs Holy Cross, 46-0, in the last game played at New Beaver Field as 20,000 spectators watch the final quarter in rain and heavy wind. The Nittany Lions end the 229th game played on the site with a record of 184-34-11. January 2, 1960 — Dan Radakovich is hired as a full-time assistant coach in charge of linebackers. He eventually will become known as “The Father of Linebacker U.” September 17, 1960 — Penn State opens Beaver Stadium before a less than capacity crowd of 22,559 as the Nittany Lions beat Boston University, 20-0. Lion senior halfback Eddie Caye scored the stadium’s initial touchdown at 10:25 of the first quarter. October 3, 1960 — What later becomes known as “Tailgating” is first suggested in a front-page column by Centre Daily Times Editor Jerry Weinstein after monumental traffic jams developed before and after the Homecoming game against Illinois at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, October 1. Weinstein advocates adoption of the Ivy League tradition of pregame “picnic lunches” and says Penn State fans should add “picnic suppers” for after the game while traffic disperses. October 8, 1960 — The “hero” defensive back makes its debut in a 27-16 victory over Army at West Point. Senior Sam Sobczak is the first player designated as “Hero.” September 29, 1961 — The Athletic Department experiments with closed-circuit television by televising Penn State’s first game ever against Miami (Fla.) from the Orange Bowl Stadium to Rec Hall and Schwab Auditorium on the Penn State campus. However, paid attendance is disappointing with less than 40 percent of the seating capacity filled.
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