1966 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

1966 Penn State Nittany Lions football
ConferenceIndependent
Record5–5
Head coach
Offensive schemeI formation
Defensive coordinatorJim O'Hora (1st season)
Base defense4–3
Captains
  • Mike Irwin
  • John Runnells
Home stadiumBeaver Stadium
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
Virginia Tech   –   –   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 (CA)   –   –   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. It was Joe Paterno's first season as head coach of Penn State.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 17Maryland
W 15–740,911[1]
September 24at No. 1 Michigan State
L 8–4264,860[2]
October 1at Army
L 0–1118,000[3]
October 8Boston College
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
W 30–2130,000[4]
October 15at No. 4 UCLA
L 11–4941,105[5]
October 22at West Virginia
W 38–615,835–30,000[6]
October 29California
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
W 33–1537,000[7]
November 5Syracuse
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
ABC regionalL 10–1246,314[8]
November 12at No. 5 Georgia Tech
L 0–2150,172[9]
November 19at Pittsburgh
W 48–2430,362[10]
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[11]

Game summaries

Maryland

Team 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

[12]

Michigan State

Army

Boston College

UCLA

West Virginia

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
  • Redshirt

1967 NFL/AFL draft

Three Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1967 NFL/AFL 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's 'safety blitz' ruins Maryland in opener". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 18, 1966. Retrieved January 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Bob Hoerner (September 25, 1966). "Spartans Give Penn State Grid Lesson". Lansing State Journal. pp. F1, F3 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Army captures third win by upsetting Penn State". San Angelo Standard-Times. October 2, 1966. Retrieved November 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Penn State slips past BC, 30–21". Democrat and Chronicle. October 9, 1966. Retrieved November 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "UCLA crushes Lions". The Pittsburgh Press. October 16, 1966. Retrieved November 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Nittany Lions handily defeat Mountaineers, 38–6". Beckley Post-Herald & The Raleigh Register. October 23, 1966. Retrieved January 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Defense refugee jerks Penn State past California". Tulsa World. October 30, 1966. Retrieved November 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Penn State edged". Sunday News. November 6, 1966. Retrieved November 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Ga. Tech notches 9th straight, 21–0". Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel. November 13, 1966. Retrieved July 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Penn State chalks 27th winning set". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 20, 1966. Retrieved November 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Schedule/Results (1966 Penn State)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  12. ^ "Penn State Trips Terrapins, 15-7." Palm Beach Post. 1966 Sept 18. Retrieved 2014-Jan-14.
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