Year of the Lion-1968 Penn State Football Highlights

they are involved January 1st 1969 a fantastic ending to Penn State's first undefeated season since 1947 it all started on the practice field in September hard you've got to work strenuously for long hours to get in shape to get your timing to get your bodies ready to play a tough 10 game schedule there's absolutely no fun involved it's just drive drive drive and [Applause] [Music] [Music] when you have a [Music] [Music] who will ever forget 1968 the year of the lion [Music] the year of the lion was one of tremendous excitement generated by players like all-american tight end tech quality of McKees Rocks Pennsylvania [Music] one aback Chuck Burkhart also of McKees Rocks whose performance exceeded all expectations at back fob camel of Appalachian New York who made a remarkable recovery from an injury in time to get in some of the best running of his career after Charlie Pittman of Baltimore Maryland who gained more yards rushing in 1968 than any other lion and set a record for touchdown [Music] defensive tackle my Creed of Altoona Pennsylvania he spent most of his playing time an opponent's backfield [Music] and defensive right tackle Steve smear of Johnstown Pennsylvania [Music] all-america linebacker deddi on cots of Northampton Pennsylvania whose interception against Navy was one of the first shots fired by Penn State's rover boys in 1968 [Music] excitement with sophomore linebacker Jack ham of Johnstown Pennsylvania [Music] Jim Kate Plainfield New Jersey one of the best interior linebackers in football [Music] and Neil Smith the junior safety from Selinsgrove Pennsylvania making one of his eight interception [Music] Beaver Stadium University Park Pennsylvania September 1968 Navy was the first turtle for Penn State Joe Paterno anticipated some problems he had a new and inexperienced quarterback and Chuck Birkhoff he was off to a shaky start Navy was weighed down with its own problem namely 225-pound Steve smear and 240 pound my cream Villa lieth the midis coach waited impatiently for his offense to get on track Penn State was through waiting Johnny Pittman got help from Bob Campbell at midfield the rest came easy before his day was complete Pittman had piled up 161 yards and a touchdown defensively the Nittany Lions had sealed off Navy's running attack now they were taking away the patch beat Johnson intercepted Mike McMillan and scored [Music] then it would be Johnson forcing the fumble that Jack camera covers for Penn State on burden goal penn state ran a reverse that worked to perfection Bob gamble got the points preseason polls show Penn State to be the top team in the east more than 49 thousand at Beaver Stadium were convinced Paul Johnson put the topper on a really big show by returning a Navy punt for a touchdown [Music] Penn State at 131 six then Kansas State rolled into town primed for an upset Bob gamble got into a jam which resulted in a Kansas State field goal [Music] the Wildcats kept it up Lin Dickie pastor Mack Curran a nine free sprinter this was no way to treat a Penn State team that had nailed down fourth place in the national polls [Music] the situation demanded a second half resurgent by the Nittany Lion Bob camel got it underway but on the play camel was hurt and lost to the team for three games most of the volcanic Verdun now fell on number 24 Jolly Pittman who quickly put Penn State in front in this game Penn State defense against the rush continue to prove sensations the Chuck Burkhardt panting was definitely on the upswing if Penn State had learned anything it was that it could bounce back from near defeat the Lions travel the West Virginia Mountaineers country [Music] and state took the initiative and scored with 230-pound Ted quality while driving into the end zone on an end-around play [Music] West Virginia storms back with some unexpected help after Patrick scored and Penn State was trailing Joe would not go on after Patrick's door again Danny on cots answer becoming a habit - defense setting up the offense shut for contest - Charlie Wilson was playing his first game for the lion it was a new game with the score tied proud about near-field watched in stunned amazement his jollies Edmund almost single-handedly propelled the neck Penn State Drive [Music] 190-pound speech direct put penn state back on top [Music] then Mike Sherwood did a foolish thing he tried to scream fast that was easy pickins for alert dennee on cots on dot was named Lyman of the week and Penn State went on to its third victory without a law you see LA and the blue ones were favored away to the Lions in 68 let by Ali's tackle Mike Reid the Penn State forward wall proved it was the nation's best in rushing defense then an intersession tried to punt jackhammer baktuns and Jim Gates took off like a half-bath [Music] and stayed up taking the early lead the blows were foiled every time they made a move later pass was intercepted by Pete Johnson does inspire the lineup fetch went to work Chuck Burkhart found Tom cherry all along cm from Fitchburg didn't stop running until he had gone 76 yards for a touchdown [Music] at this point in the season tech koala hadn't caught many facets he broke out of the slump with five sensational receptions against UCLA [Music] and Charlie said Minh broke the Bruins backs with his fancy footwork then stated won a big one upsetting UCLA 21 to 6 to stay on beat [Music] after a week's layoff Penn State returned to action again Boston College one of the nation's offensive leader the lion attack of the fit rusty [Music] but the Eagles were unable to take advantage of their opponents slow start [Music] a game with 25 minutes old before the penn state attack took on a new appearance the Nittany Lions were hitting on all cylinders [Music] just Park Arden tech qualit formed a red-hot passing combination Burkhard completed a 31-yard fast equality the latest spectacular catch in the end zone [Music] an interception gave Penn State another chance Burkhart stayed with quality and made five receptions for 75 yards in the game Tom Jerry put his 220 pounds in motion and score in the space of five minutes Penn State rolled up 17 points in the second half it was a blocked punt by Jack ham that led to Cherry's growing his second touchdown [Music] the rover boys continued to be one of the country's most offensive minded defensive unit they force most of the turnovers that led to Penn State's 29 nothing shutout of Boston College [Music] for years army had been a tough game for Penn State and again the cadets were bent on destroying the lion power Griffin Eve Penn State Strucker [Music] Kamel scored on a naked reverse [Music] camel number 23 had been sidelined with a shoulder separation for three games his speedy recovery felt big trouble for Army Johnny peddlin found a light on the left side and state maintained its edge into the final quarter later of break the Lions missed the field goal army touch men stayed recovered on the army - and Bob Campbell did the red 22 210 Penn State it was an uphill battle but the cadets were full of fright Steve Lyndell Pastor Gary steel for 58 yard [Music] jolly Jarvis dived over from the one to Gannett we're hanging tough sailing 2217 [Music] time was running out the army needed possession so naturally it tried an onside kick anybody seen a football that garlic had it swept past the stunt cadet for a touchdown [Music] let's look at it again Arden Jensen kicked it in the mad scramble the ball squirted out the other end of the pile bollocks scooped it up and tucked it under his arm and Penn State had insured point [Music] the Lyons record remains perfect for the 2824 victory over the arms alliance that was the cry of Miami head coach Johnny chase and the best way to do that was to surprise and overpower the Penn State defense this 70-yard first quarter explosion was just what Tate's archeins needed to take a quick seven nothing lead folks state second plan for victory was to contain the state running attack and with a big strong defensive forward wall led by number 89 Ted Hendricks the ground game grinds to a halt in the first quarter Hendricks affectionately known as the mad stork had an affinity for the ball and anyone who hadn't just asked Chuck Burkhart [Music] to 7-nothing Miami lead guide into the second half when Charlie Pittman rekindled the Penn State offense behind the driving offensive line he was to run where Ted Hendricks wasn't set been behind excellent blocking by Ted quality the touchdown made it 7-6 Miami [Music] the Lions were rolling now and Charlie Pittman was still providing the momentum with dazzling footwork on for family and tektaalik provided the room for Pittman to put Penn State ahead for the first time the Lions led 12 7 and jelly take was beside himself the state defense was performing as well as it had all year in the second half of the lot only 20 yards in one first down the Free Willy for for three defensive alignment also intercepted three miami passes del Paul barricade [Music] and then pulled off the type of defensive jam that coaches dream about jack ham broke through the block of Miami goal line front and Lincoln Lippincott recovered at the 5-yard line let's look at that again Hank Collins punished Jack ham blocked Lincoln Lippincott recovered that a friend did it again the rest was easy for Johnny Pittman on the offensive squad the final touchdown gave Penn State its seventh victory and one of the greatest comebacks in its history [Music] every game is important when you're shooting for a perfect season but against Maryland what about Chuck Burkhart was also aiming his lions toward a trip to the Orange Bowl the first step to victory was provided by the defense Pease Mira tackle who ran like a fullback with a fast interception those oranges were within reach lady 14-nothing Penn State continued to stop the turf while moving forward themselves then asan got started a scoring drive with his punt return [Music] and jolly pitman finished with Marilyn King on camel and Pittman both runners handled the ball and camel ramble to the five [Music] Johnny Pitman's touchdown for foul state to a 26 nothing advantage there was still 10 minutes to play in the first half the lion balanced attack didn't slow down Pitman again go back down a v-fold penn state to a commanding 34 nothing halftime lead before the final gun Joe Paterno's reserves had some fun Gary do all ran away from [Music] around and through the Turks to cap off a 57:13 Penn State victory the Orange Bowl tip was clenched Alliance at 1/8 in a row [Music] [Applause] next test for the unbeaten Nittany Lions was intrastate rival Pittsburgh miss November afternoon the Lions hand at the Panthers their worst defeat ever Johnnie Pittman got good blocking on a chest to the 5th 11 off-broadway take the 23-yard field goal the third ranked Lions led three nothing it was homecoming day for State quarterback Chuck Burkhart at all-america tight end Ted koala both attended montt to a high near Pittsburgh and both that good day go back Don Abbey bounced off a hard tackle at the goal line to increase the Penn State lead in the second trade the Lions were galloping for more mark Campbell got beautiful downfield blocking the register a 27 yard game the Lions went for the field goal or so it appeared but Mike Smith faked the kick and raced into the endzone for a touchdown every facet of fence baits game click today Jenny on cuts to the pit front and race 63 yards to set the line off that self on the Panther 2 [Music] watch the left side of the fence Dateline fold the path of the fence as Charlie Pittman scored again Penn State made its record nine and all with a smashing 65 denying victory over Pittsburgh the orange of Syracuse for the lambchops to go to a perfect season and the highest ranking ever in the national poll not until the final minutes of the game could Syracuse score and both touchdowns were against the second unit but prior to that the game was dominated by the lion [Music] and state was seeking at 17th straight regular season victories spanning two years for the Lions the accent was on the orange not the iron ball because they had not beaten Syracuse at Beaver Stadium since 1962 and the second best rushing defense in the country showed its flash [Music] Chuck Burkhart knew the iron's been will rank second in total defense but picked the right spot to connect with Leon angevine the score state first touchdown the first time they got the ball Ben schwartzwalder head goats of their kids was dismayed when number 23 bought camel exploded on one of the finest single game performances ever by a fence date back it began with its forty yard Rob and after one quarter it's go yardage was 97 yards then the other half of the Lions brilliant one two running front came to life [Music] Johnny Pittman scored stayed second touchdown for 14-nothing first quarterly [Music] Serkis could gain only 59 yards on the ground in the first half and could not do much better in the end Neal Smith intercepted this one two plays later Bob Campbell recorded Penn State history John Cook has T blocks Frank camel loose on an 87-yard touchdown Ross the longest lion touchdown ever from scrimmage the 21-nothing lead was a happy moment for joe paterno that was his selection later as coach of the year Bob Campbell completed his brilliant day with this 19 yard draw play one of 15 electrifying carries that that at 239 yards the 32:12 victory completed a perfect 1000 record 17th straight in two regular seasons and now it's on the orange ball Penn State in Kansas in the orange ball it shaped up at the classic duel between two high-scoring football machines the Nittany Lions at the edge on the fence under the bright Miami moon Penn State exploded Rob camel led becomes Johnny Pittman got more fine blocking and scores the game was tied 7-7 it was still deadlocked in the fourth quarter when Penn State with forged upon [Music] Doni Shanklin returned the kick 46 yards to set up a touchdown John Ragan scored and the Jayhawks on the 14-7 lead Kansas with left-handed Bobby Douglas at the passing helm watched another guy [Music] Donnie Jacqueline ran into a stone wall [Music] on fourth and one John Riggins will stop for no game Penn State's heroics Stan had to be duplicated with two minutes to go the lie into France led by number 68 Mike Reid smothered Bobby Douglas third and 16 Redrup Douglas for another tremendous loss Tanja's product and Penn State took over at the 51:16 left in the game just Park are completed the most important pass of his life Bob Campbell made the catch and forth to the Kansas three with 22 seconds to go Burkhart faked the handoff roll left and score Penn State trailed the 1413 Neal I have to come too far to settle for a die they gamble by passing for the two-point conversion incomplete to quality partner there was a penalty Ganz's was detected with a 12th man on the bail [Music] and they've got another chance for a two-pointer in victory this time the lion stayed on the ground gambled in the opposite size he's over a wild 1514 finish that must rank with the greatest in sports history Penn State had its perfect season 11 victories and number 2 in the nation who will ever forget 1968 the year of the line coach Joe Paterno is already thinking ahead for the 1969 season we're gonna try to make the Nittany Lions symbolic of great football with people who belong at a good university with people who are vanishings not only to be a plan a great football team but have ambitions to be something big in life whatever that because the profession maybe we think that we can make the mini lines symbol of all of good things been big-time in a collegiate football [Music]

Channel: Grey Beard

Views: 5,486

Rating: 5 out of 5

Keywords: Penn State, Nittany Lions, Joe Paterno, College Football, Orange Bowl

Id: 7fr-GWS6XzM

Length: 28min 46sec (1726 seconds)

Published: Thu Apr 23 2020