Early Penn State Nittany Lions football

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The early college football teams representing the Pennsylvania State College did not have a head coach on record from the 1887 through 1891 seasons. The teams played its home games on the Old Main lawn on campus in State College, Pennsylvania.

The first recorded game occurred on November 12, 1881, when Penn State traveled to Lewisburg, PA to play Bucknell, known until 1896 as the University of Lewisburg. The Nittany Lions won 9-0, which was nine goals to none. At this time, the game was really "American rugby." Walter Camp did not develop the "scrimmage," the "first down" and the "gridiron" (yard markings) until 1882. The school did not field teams from 1882 to 1886.

Despite the article title, the school did not adopt the Nittany Lion as its mascot until 1907.

Contents

[edit] 1887 season

1887 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
1887 Record 2-0
Head Coach none
Seasons
« 1886 1888 »

The 1887 Penn State Nittany Lions football team would become the school's first undefeated team, going 2-0, and the school's only unscored-upon team. The quarterback of this team was G.H. Lins (1887-1892).

Date Opponent Site Result
11/05/1887‡ at Bucknell Lewisburg, PA W 54-0 
11/19/1887 Bucknell Old Main • State College, PA W 24-0 

‡There is a date discrepancy. Bucknell lists this game as being played on 11/12/1887.


[edit] 1888 season

In stark contrast to the 1887 team, the 1888 team is the only winless team in Penn State history.


1888 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
1888 Record 0-2-1
Head Coach none
Seasons
« 1887 1889 »
Date Opponent Site Result
10/31/1888 Dickinson Old Main • State College, PA T 6-6 
11/03/1888 Lehigh Old Main • State College, PA L 0-30‡ 
11/07/1888 at Dickinson Carlisle, PA L 0-16 

‡There is a score discrepancy. Lehigh lists the final score as 32-0.


[edit] 1889 season

1889 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
1889 Record 2-2
Head Coach none
Seasons
« 1888 1890 »
Date Opponent Site Result
09/27/1889 Swarthmore Old Main • State College, PA W 20-6 
11/09/1889 at Lafayette Easton, PA L 0-26 
11/11/1889 at Lehigh Bethlehem, PA L 0-106 
11/25/1889 Bucknell Old Main • State College, PA W 12-0 


[edit] 1890 season

1890 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
1890 Record 2-2
Head Coach none
Seasons
« 1889 1891 »
Date Opponent Site Result
10/10/1890 at Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA L 0-20 
10/12/1890 at Franklin & Marshall Lancaster, PA L 0-10 
11/15/1890 Altoona Athletic Association Old Main • State College, PA W 68-0 
11/27/1890 at Bellefonte Academy Bellefonte, PA W 23-0 


[edit] 1891 season

1891 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
1891 Record 6-2
Head Coach none
Seasons
« 1890 1892 »
Date Opponent Site Result
10/02/1891 at Lafayette Easton, PA W 14-4 
10/03/1891 at Lehigh Bethlehem, PA L 2-24 
10/17/1891 at Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA W 44-0 
10/24/1891 at Franklin & Marshall Lancaster, PA W 26-6 
10/27/1891 at Gettysburg Gettysburg, PA W 18-0 
11/07/1891 at Bucknell Lewisburg, PA L 10-12 
11/26/1891 Dickinson W Dickinson forfeited 
12/05/1891 at Haverford Haverford, PA W 58-0 


[edit] External links

[edit] References


Preceded by
N/A		 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
1887-1891 seasons		 Succeeded by
1892 season
v • d • e
Penn State Nittany Lions football teams
1887 • 1888 • 1889 • 1890 • 1891 • 1892 • 1893 • 1894 • 1895 • 1896 • 1897 • 1898 • 1899 • 1900 • 1901 • 1902 • 1903 • 1904 • 1905 • 1906 • 1907 • 1908 • 1909 • 1910 • 1911 • 1912 • 1913 • 1914 • 1915 • 1916 • 1917 • 1918 • 1919 • 1920 • 1921 • 1922 • 1923 • 1924 • 1925 • 1926 • 1927 • 1928 • 1929 • 1930 • 1931 • 1932 • 1933 • 1934 • 1935 • 1936 • 1937 • 1938 • 1939 • 1940 • 1941 • 1942 • 1943 • 1944 • 1945 • 1946 • 1947 • 1948 • 1949 • 1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 • 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008
National championships: 1982 • 1986
Perfect seasons: 1887 • 1912 • 1968 • 1969 • 1973 • 1986 • 1994
Big Ten championships: 1994 • 2005