The 1969 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1969 NCAA University Division football season.
Despite posting its second consecutive undefeated, untied season, the Nittany Lions did not have a shot at the national championship. President Richard Nixon said that he would consider the winner of the December 6 matchup between the Texas Longhorns and the Arkansas Razorbacks, then ranked at the top of the polls, and the real voters do not seem to have differed. Paterno, at the 1973 commencement, was quoted saying, "I'd like to know how could the president know so little about Watergate in 1973 and so much about college football in 1969?" Then Pennsylvania Governor Raymond P. Shafer got the White House's attention with Penn State's two-season undefeated streak. A White House assistant called Paterno to invite him and the team to the White House to receive a trophy for their accomplishment. Paterno has stated many times that he responded with, "You can tell the president to take that trophy and shove it."
Penn State declined an invitation to play the Texas/Arkansas winner in the Cotton Bowl Classic, instead playing sixth-ranked Missouri in the Orange Bowl. Penn State beat Missouri 10–3, while Texas beat Notre Dame 21–17 and was recognized as the consensus national champion. Penn State was selected co-national champion by FACT and Sagarin, both NCAA-designated major selectors.
Schedule
Game summaries Pittsburgh
"Onkotz' Run Leads Penn State Past Pitt, 27-7." Palm Beach Post. November 23, 1969
NC State
"Penn State Rumbles, 33-8." Palm Beach Post. 1969 Nov 30. Retrieved 2015-Apr-30.
Personnel
Awards Mike Reid Maxwell Award Outland Trophy
NFL draft Eight Nittany Lions were selected in the 1970 NFL draft.
Round Pick Overall Name Position Team 1st 7 7 Mike Reid Defensive tackle Cincinnati Bengals 3rd 6 58 Charlie Pittman Running back St. Louis Cardinals 3rd 20 72 Dennis Onkotz Linebacker New York Jets 4th 17 95 Steve Smear Defensive end/Linebacker Baltimore Colts 4th 20 98 John Ebersole Linebacker New York Jets 7th 23 179 Don Abbey Fullback Dallas Cowboys 8th 17 199 Paul Johnson Running back Washington Redskins 12th 17 303 James Kates Linebacker Washington Redskins
References