1966 Penn State Nittany Lions football
ConferenceIndependent
Record5–5
Head coach
Captains
  • Mike Irwin
  • John Runnells
Home stadiumBeaver Stadium
Seasons
← 1965
1967 →
1966 NCAA University Division independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Notre Dame   –   –   9 – 0 – 1
Colgate   –   –   8 – 1 – 1
No. 8 Georgia Tech   –   –   9 – 2 – 0
Army   –   –   8 – 2 – 0
Dayton   –   –   8 – 2 – 0
Houston   –   –   8 – 2 – 0
Memphis State   –   –   7 – 2 – 0
No. 9 Miami (FL)   –   –   8 – 2 – 1
VPI   –   –   8 – 2 – 1
Syracuse   –   –   8 – 3 – 0
Colorado State   –   –   7 – 3 – 0
New Mexico State   –   –   7 – 3 – 0
West Texas State   –   –   7 – 3 – 0
Villanova   –   –   6 – 3 – 0
Holy Cross   –   –   6 – 3 – 1
Southern Miss   –   –   6 – 4 – 0
Texas Western   –   –   6 – 4 – 0
Tulane   –   –   5 – 4 – 1
Florida State   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Buffalo   –   –   5 – 5 – 0
Penn State   –   –   5 – 5 – 0
Air Force   –   –   4 – 6 – 0
Boston College   –   –   4 – 6 – 0
Navy   –   –   4 – 6 – 0
Utah State   –   –   4 – 6 – 0
Xavier   –   –   4 – 6 – 0
Pacific   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
San Jose State   –   –   3 – 7 – 0
Pittsburgh   –   –   1 – 9 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1966 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Penn State University during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season.[1] It was Joe Paterno's first season as head coach of Penn State.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 17Maryland
W 15–740,911[2]
September 24at No. 1 Michigan State
L 8–4264,860
October 1at Army
L 0–1131,112
October 8Boston College
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
W 30–2130,924
October 15at No. 4 UCLA
L 11–4937,271
October 22at West Virginia
W 38–615,835–30,000[3]
October 29Californiadagger
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
W 33–1533,332
November 5Syracuse
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
ABC regionalL 10–1245,126
November 12at No. 5 Georgia Tech
L 0–2150,172
November 19at Pittsburgh
W 48–2430,467
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

Maryland

1 234Total
Maryland 7 000 7
• Penn St 11 004 15
Scoring summary
Q1MDTorain 15 yard run (Bramson kick)MD 7–0
Q1PSUSafety, Carlson forced out of end zoneMD 7–2
Q1PSUWhite 2 yard run (pass failed)PSU 8–7
Q1PSUSherman 23 yard field goalPSU 11–7
Q4PSUSafety, Pastrana tackled in end zonePSU 13–7
Q4PSUSafety, Petry illegal pass from end zonePSU 15–7

[4]

Michigan State

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2014)

Army

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2014)

Boston College

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (June 2014)

UCLA

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (June 2014)

West Virginia

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (June 2014)

Roster

1966 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
OT 73 Dave Bradley So
OT 77 Rich Buzin Jr
WR 23 Bob Campbell So
C 53 Bill Lenkaitis So
QB 25 Tom Sherman Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DT 79 Mike McBath Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

NFL/AFL Common Draft

Three Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1967 NFL/AFL Common Draft.

Round Pick Overall Name Position Team
2nd 27 53 Dave Rowe Defensive tackle New Orleans Saints
10th 20 257 John Runnells Linebacker Boston Patriots
16th 22 415 Mike Irwin Defensive back/Running back Buffalo Bills

References

  1. ^ "Penn State Yearly Results (1965-1969)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on August 5, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  2. ^ "Penn State's 'safety blitz' ruins Maryland in opener". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 18, 1966. Retrieved January 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Nittany Lions handily defeat Mountaineers, 38–6". Beckley Post-Herald & The Raleigh Register. October 23, 1966. Retrieved January 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Penn State Trips Terrapins, 15-7." Palm Beach Post. 1966 Sept 18. Retrieved 2014-Jan-14.


Categories