Penn State’s appearance in the 1948 Cotton Bowl was significant on several fronts. Wally Triplett and end Dennie Hoggard became the first African-Americans to play in the Cotton Bowl game and helped Penn State to a 9-0-1 record in 1947, with the only blemish a 13-13 tie with Southern Methodist in the Cotton Bowl. Behind a defense that posted six shutouts, Penn State won its first Lambert Trophy and its No. 4 final ranking was its highest in program history to date. 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.
October 27, 1962 — Assistant coach Joe Paterno is presented a game ball by the team for the first time since he joined Rip Engle’s staff in 1950 when the Nittany Lions overcome the sensational debut of sophomore quarterback Craig Morton and defeat California, 23-21, in Berkeley. December 1962 — End Dave Robinson becomes the first African-American player in Penn State football history to be named first-team All-American when selected by the Associated Press, the Football Writers and others.
November 7, 1959 — The all-time attendance record is set at 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 two-point conversions.
Summer 1963 — Penn State joins Pitt, Syracuse and West Virginia in a Letter of Intent agreement for incoming freshmen football players, obligating recruits to a specific school for at least one year. The national agreement under consideration also would include the Big Ten, Southwest, Southeastern, Atlantic Coast, Big Eight and Missouri Valley conferences.
November 14, 1959 — Penn State downs Holy Cross, 46-0, in the 229th and last game played at Beaver Field as 20,000 spectators watch the final quarter in rain and heavy wind. The Nittany Lions end with a record of 184-34-11 at Beaver Field.
Summer 1964 — Joe Paterno is named associate coach and heir-apparent to succeed Rip Engle as head coach when Engle retires.
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.”
November 7, 1964 — Penn State, with a 3-4 record, shocks unbeaten No. 2 Ohio State, 27-0, in what the Associated Press calls the “college upset of the year.” The Nittany Lions’ defense limits the Buckeyes to 60 net yards, while the Lions’ offense totals 341 yards.
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.
November 24, 1964 — In a closed door meeting without coaches, players vote down the opportunity to play in the Gator Bowl after overcoming an 0-3 start and ending a 6-4 season with stunning shutout victories over Ohio State and Pitt and winning the Lambert Trophy. This will mark the last time that players are given the opportunity to vote on bowl games.
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.
Fall 1965 — College football is changed forever with a rule change implementing unlimited substitution for the first time in the modern era.
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.”
December 4, 1965 — Rip Engle coaches his last game as Penn State beats Maryland, 19-7, at Byrd Stadium, in a game televised nationally by NBC, to finish a 5-5 season and wind up 16 years at Penn State with a 104-48-4 record and no losing seasons.
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.
February 18, 1966 — Rip Engle officially announces his retirement as head coach, about one month from his 60th birthday (March 26). February 19, 1966 — Associate head coach Joseph V. Paterno, 38, is named head football coach by University President Eric Walker and Director of Athletics and Dean of the Physical Education Department Ernest McCoy at an annual salary of $20,000.
November 4, 1961 — Maryland beats Penn State for the only time in the lengthy series, 21-17, at College Park behind the passing combination of Dick Shiner and Gary Collins.
September 17, 1966 — Joe Paterno wins his first game, 15-7, in the season-opener against Maryland at Beaver Stadium as sophomore middle guard Mike Reid sets a team record by scoring three safeties before a crowd of 40,911. The team presents Paterno with the game ball for only the second time in his coaching career.
December 30, 1961 — End Dave Robinson becomes the first African-American to play in the Gator Bowl and makes the defensive “play-of-the-game” with a quarterback sack and fumble recovery that helps the Nittany Lions beat Georgia Tech, 30-15. Spring 1962 — Penn State joins Pitt, Syracuse and West Virginia in agreeing to forbid “redshirting,” a practice that withholds athletes from competition for a year so they can “mature.”
September 24, 1966 — Joe Paterno suffers his first loss as No. 1 Michigan State, led by All-Americans Bubba Smith and George Webster, whip the Nittany Lions, 42-8, before 65,763 at East Lansing.
October 13, 1962 — Penn State becomes the first team to play three service academies in one season, losing to Army at West Point on this date, 9-6, after beating Navy, 41-7, and Air Force, 20-6, earlier in the season at Beaver Stadium. 168