Penn State Nittany Lions football under Rip Engle

Rip Engle coached the Penn State Nittany Lions football teams from 1950 to 1965, after coaching at Brown University for six seasons. When Engle was hired at Penn State, he brought with him his former quarterback Joe Paterno as an assistant coach. In Engle's sixteen seasons at Penn State, he compiled a 104–48–4 record and a .679 winning percentage.

His teams played their home games at New Beaver Field in State College, Pennsylvania through 1959. Starting in 1960, his teams played their home games at Beaver Stadium, after the entire 30,000 seat stadium was dismantled and moved across campus, reassembled and expanded.

Contents

1950 season

1950 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
1950 record 5–3–1
Head coach Rip Engle
Seasons
« 1949 1951 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 30, 1950 Georgetown New Beaver Field • State College, PA W 34–14  
October 7, 1950 at #4 Army Michie Stadium • West Point, NY L 7–41  
October 14, 1950 at Syracuse Archbold Stadium • Syracuse, NY L 7–27  
October 21, 1950 at Nebraska Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE L 0–19  
October 28, 1950 Temple New Beaver Field • State College, PA T 7–7  
November 4, 1950 at Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA W 20–13  
November 11, 1950 West Virginia New Beaver Field • State College, PA W 27–0  
November 18, 1950 Rutgers New Beaver Field • State College, PA W 18–14  
December 2, 1950 at Pittsburgh Forbes Field • Pittsburgh, PA W 21–20  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.


1951 season

1951 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
1951 record 5–4
Head coach Rip Engle
Seasons
« 1950 1952 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 29, 1951 Boston U. New Beaver Field • State College, PA W 40–34  
October 6, 1951 vs. Villanova Allentown, PA L 14–20  
October 13, 1951 at Nebraska Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE W 15–7  
October 20, 1951 #3 Michigan State New Beaver Field • State College, PA L 21–32  
October 27, 1951 West Virginia New Beaver Field • State College, PA W 13–7  
November 3, 1951 at Purdue Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN L 0–28  
November 10, 1951 Syracuse New Beaver Field • State College, PA W 32–13  
November 17, 1951 at Rutgers Rutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJ W 13–7  
November 24, 1951 at Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA L 7–13  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.


1952 season

1952 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
1952 record 7–2–1
Head coach Rip Engle
Seasons
« 1951 1953 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 20, 1952 Temple New Beaver Field • State College, PA W 20–13  
September 27, 1952 Purdue New Beaver Field • State College, PA T 20–20  
October 4, 1952 William & Mary New Beaver Field • State College, PA W 35–23  
October 11, 1952 at West Virginia #20 Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV W 35–21  
October 18, 1952 Nebraska #19 New Beaver Field • State College, PA W 10–0  
October 25, 1952 at #1 Michigan State #19 Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI L 7–34  
November 1, 1952 at #17 Pennsylvania Franklin Field • Philadelphia, PA W 14–7  
November 8, 1952 at Syracuse #15 Archbold Stadium • Syracuse, NY L 7–25  
November 15, 1952 Rutgers New Beaver Field • State College, PA W 7–6  
November 22, 1952 at #16 Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA W 17–0  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.


1953 season

1953 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
1953 record 6–3
Head coach Rip Engle
Seasons
« 1952 1954 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 26, 1953 at Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI L 0–20  
October 3, 1953 at Pennsylvania Franklin Field • Philadelphia, PA L 7–13  
October 10, 1953 at Boston U. Nickerson Field • Boston, MA W 35–13  
October 17, 1953 Syracuse New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 20–14  
October 24, 1953 TCU New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 27–21  
October 31, 1953 West Virginia New Beaver Field • University Park, PA L 19–20  
November 7, 1953 Fordham New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 28–21  
November 14, 1953 at Rutgers Rutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJ W 54–26  
November 21, 1953 at Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA W 17–0  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.


1954 season

1954 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
Ranking
Coaches #16
AP #20
1954 record 7–2
Head coach Rip Engle
Seasons
« 1953 1955 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 25, 1954 at #6 Illinois Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL W 14–12  
October 2, 1954 at Syracuse #10 Archbold Stadium • Syracuse, NY W 13–0  
October 9, 1954 Virginia #12 New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 34–7  
October 16, 1954 #14 West Virginia #9 New Beaver Field • University Park, PA L 14–19  
October 23, 1954 at #20 TCU Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TX L 7–20  
October 30, 1954 at Pennsylvania Franklin Field • Philadelphia, PA W 35–13  
November 6, 1954 Holy Cross New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 39–7  
November 13, 1954 Rutgers New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 37–14  
November 20, 1954 at Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA W 13–0  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.


1955 season

1955 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
1955 record 5–4
Head coach Rip Engle
Seasons
« 1954 1956 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 24, 1955 Boston U. New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 35–0  
October 1, 1955 at #6 Army #18 Michie Stadium • West Point, NY L 6–35  
October 8, 1955 vs. Virginia City Stadium • Richmond, VA (Tobacco Bowl) W 26–7  
October 15, 1955 #8 Navy New Beaver Field • University Park, PA L 14–34  
October 22, 1955 at #8 West Virginia Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV L 7–21  
October 29, 1955 at Pennsylvania Franklin Field • Philadelphia, PA W 20–0  
November 5, 1955 #18 Syracuse New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 21–20  
November 12, 1955 at Rutgers Rutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJ W 34–13  
November 19, 1955 #15 Pittsburgh New Beaver Field • University Park, PA L 0–20  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.


1956 season

1956 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
1956 record 6–2–1
Head coach Rip Engle
Seasons
« 1955 1957 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 29, 1956 at Pennsylvania Franklin Field • Philadelphia, PA W 34–0  
October 8, 1956 at #15 Army Michie Stadium • West Point, NY L 7–14  
October 13, 1956 Holy Cross New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 43–0  
October 20, 1956 at #5 Ohio State Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH W 7–6  
October 27, 1956 West Virginia #18 New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 16–6  
November 3, 1956 at #17 Syracuse #12 Archbold Stadium • Syracuse, NY L 9–13  
November 10, 1956 Boston U. New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 40–7  
November 17, 1956 North Carolina State New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 14–7  
November 24, 1956 at #14 Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA T 7–7  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.


1957 season

1957 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
1957 record 6–3
Head coach Rip Engle
Seasons
« 1956 1958 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 28, 1957 at Pennsylvania #19 Franklin Field • Philadelphia, PA W 19–14  
October 5, 1957 #12 Army New Beaver Field • University Park, PA L 13–27  
October 12, 1957 William & Mary New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 21–13  
October 19, 1957 Vanderbilt New Beaver Field • University Park, PA L 20–32  
October 26, 1957 at Syracuse Archbold Stadium • Syracuse, NY W 20–12  
November 2, 1957 West Virginia New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 27–6  
November 9, 1957 at Marquette Marquette Stadium • Milwaukee, WI W 20–7  
November 16, 1957 at Holy Cross Fitton Field • Worcester, MA W 14–10  
November 23, 1957 at Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA L 13–14  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.


1958 season

1958 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
1958 record 6–3–1
Head coach Rip Engle
Seasons
« 1957 1959 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 20, 1958 at Nebraska Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE L 7–14  
September 27, 1958 at Pennsylvania Franklin Field • Philadelphia, PA W 43–0  
October 4, 1958 at #5 Army Michie Stadium • West Point, NY L 0–26  
October 11, 1958 Marquette New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 40–8  
October 18, 1958 at Boston U. Nickerson Field • Boston, MA W 34–0  
October 25, 1958 Syracuse New Beaver Field • University Park, PA L 6–14  
November 1, 1958 Furman New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 36–0  
November 8, 1958 at West Virginia Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV T 14–14  
November 15, 1958 Holy Cross New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 32–0  
November 27, 1958 at #19 Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA W 25–21  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.


1959 season

1959 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Liberty Bowl, defeated Alabama 7–0
Conference Independent
Ranking
Coaches #10
AP #12
1959 record 9–2
Head coach Rip Engle
Seasons
« 1958 1960 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 19, 1959 at Missouri Faurot Field • Columbia, MO W 19–8  
September 26, 1959 VMI #18 New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 21–0  
October 3, 1959 Colgate New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 58–20  
October 10, 1959 at Army #16 Michie Stadium • West Point, NY W 17–11  
October 17, 1959 Boston U. #10 New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 21–12  
October 24, 1959 vs. #13 Illinois #8 Cleveland Municipal Stadium • Cleveland, OH W 20–9  
October 31, 1959 at West Virginia #7 Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV W 28–10  
November 7, 1959 #4 Syracuse #7 New Beaver Field • University Park, PA L 18–20  
November 14, 1959 Holy Cross #10 New Beaver Field • University Park, PA W 46–0  
November 21, 1959 at Pittsburgh #7 Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA L 7–22  
December 19, 1959 vs. #11 Alabama #14 Philadelphia Municipal Stadium • Philadelphia, PA (Liberty Bowl) W 7–0  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.


1960 season

1960 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Liberty Bowl, defeated Oregon 41–12
Conference Independent
Ranking
AP #16
1960 record 7–3
Head coach Rip Engle
Seasons
« 1959 1961 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 17, 1960 Boston U. #19 Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 20–0  
October 1, 1960 #19 Missouri #20 Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA L 8–21  
October 8, 1960 at #18 Army Michie Stadium • West Point, NY W 27–16  
October 15, 1960 at #4 Syracuse #20 Archbold Stadium • Syracuse, NY L 15–21  
October 22, 1960 at Illinois Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL L 8–10  
October 29, 1960 West Virginia Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 34–13  
November 5, 1960 Maryland Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 28–9  
November 12, 1960 at Holy Cross Fitton Field • Worcester, MA W 33–8  
November 19, 1960 at Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA W 14–3  
December 17, 1960 vs. Oregon #15 John F. Kennedy Stadium • Philadelphia, PA (Liberty Bowl) W 41–12  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.


1961 season

1961 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Gator Bowl, defeated Georgia Tech 30–15
Conference Independent
Ranking
Coaches #19
AP #17
1961 record 8–3
Head coach Rip Engle
Seasons
« 1960 1962 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 23, 1961 Navy #7 Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 20–10  
September 29, 1961 at Miami #8 Miami Orange Bowl • Miami, FL L 8–25  
October 6, 1961 at Boston U. Nickerson Field • Boston, MA W 32–0  
October 14, 1961 Army Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA L 6–10  
October 21, 1961 Syracuse Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 14–0  
October 28, 1961 Cal Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 33–16  
November 4, 1961 at Maryland Byrd Stadium • College Park, MD L 17–21  
November 11, 1961 at West Virginia Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV W 20–6  
November 18, 1961 Holy Cross Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 34–14  
November 25, 1961 at Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA W 47–26  
December 30, 1961 vs. Georgia Tech Gator Bowl Stadium • Jacksonville, FL (Gator Bowl) W 30–15  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.


1962 season

1962 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Gator Bowl, lost to Florida 7–17
Conference Independent
Ranking
Coaches #9
AP #9
1962 record 9–2
Head coach Rip Engle
Seasons
« 1961 1963 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 22, 1962 Navy #9 Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 41–7  
September 29, 1962 Air Force #4 Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 20–6  
October 6, 1962 at Rice #4 Rice Stadium • Houston, TX W 18–7  
October 13, 1962 at Army #3 Michie Stadium • West Point, NY L 6–9  
October 20, 1962 Syracuse Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 20–19  
October 27, 1962 at Cal California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA W 23–21  
November 3, 1962 Maryland Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 23–7  
November 10, 1962 West Virginia Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 34–6  
November 17, 1962 at Holy Cross Fitton Field • Worcester, MA W 48–20  
November 24, 1962 at Pittsburgh #9 Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA W 16–0  
December 29, 1962 vs. Florida #9 Gator Bowl Stadium • Jacksonville, FL (Gator Bowl) L 7–17  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.


1963 season

The regular season finale with Pittsburgh was postponed from Nov. 23 to Dec. 7 following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22 in Dallas, Texas.

1963 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
Ranking
Coaches #16
1963 record 7–3
Head coach Rip Engle
Seasons
« 1962 1964 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 21, 1963 at Oregon Hayward Field • Eugene, OR W 17–7  
September 28, 1963 UCLA Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 17–14  
October 5, 1963 Rice Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 28–7  
October 12, 1963 Army #9 Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA L 7–10  
October 19, 1963 at Syracuse Archbold Stadium • Syracuse, NY L 0–9  
October 26, 1963 West Virginia Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 20–9  
November 2, 1963 at Maryland Byrd Stadium • College Park, MD W 17–15  
November 9, 1963 at #10 Ohio State Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH W 10–7  
November 16, 1963 Holy Cross Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 28–14  
December 7, 1963 at #4 Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA L 21–22  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.


1964 season

1964 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
Ranking
Coaches #14
1964 record 6–4
Head coach Rip Engle
Seasons
« 1963 1965 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 19, 1964 #10 Navy Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA L 8–21  
September 26, 1964 at UCLA Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA L 14–21  
October 3, 1964 Oregon Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA L 14–22  
October 10, 1964 at Army Michie Stadium • West Point, NY W 6–2  
October 17, 1964 #7 Syracuse Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA L 14–21  
October 24, 1964 at West Virginia Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV W 37–8  
October 31, 1964 Maryland Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 17–9  
November 7, 1964 at #2 Ohio State Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH W 27–0  
November 14, 1964 at Houston Jeppesen Stadium • Houston, TX W 24–7  
November 21, 1964 Pittsburgh Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 28–0  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.


1965 season

1965 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Conference Independent
1965 record 5–5
Head coach Rip Engle
Seasons
« 1964 1966 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 25, 1965 Michigan State Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA L 0–23  
October 2, 1965 UCLA Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA L 22–24  
October 9, 1965 at Boston College Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA W 17–0  
October 16, 1965 at Syracuse Archbold Stadium • Syracuse, NY L 21–28  
October 23, 1965 West Virginia Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 44–6  
October 30, 1965 at Cal California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA L 17–21  
November 6, 1965 Kent State Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 21–6  
November 13, 1965 Navy Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA W 14–6  
November 20, 1965 at Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA L 27–30  
December 4, 1965 at Maryland Byrd Stadium • College Park, MD W 19–7  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.


References

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