| The Penn State Nittany Lions are one of the | | | | 3. The first African-American football player to be |
| most famous college football teams in the | | | | drafted and then play for an NFL team was Wally |
| country. Through the 2007 season they have | | | | Triplett who was a star running back for the Penn |
| won two national championships and have had | | | | State Nittany Lions. |
| numerous players drafted into the world of | | | | 4. Matt Bahr, former kicker for the Penn State |
| professional football. The first thing many people | | | | football team from 1976-78, went on to play in |
| think of when Penn State's football program first | | | | the National Football League for six different |
| crosses their mind is the incredible longevity of | | | | teams over fifteen seasons including the |
| their head coach Joe Paterno. His first year | | | | Pittsburgh Steelers (1979-80), San Francisco |
| coaching the team was in | | | | 49ers (1981), Cleveland Browns (1981-89), New |
| 1. Penn State did go undefeated in the first year it | | | | York Giants (1990-92), Philadelphia Eagles (1993), |
| competed intercollegiately in football. The year | | | | and New England Patriots (1993-95). No Penn |
| was 1887 and there were only two games on the | | | | State football player has gone on to play in more |
| schedule. | | | | total professional football games than Matt Bahr |
| 2. The Lambert Trophy is awarded every season | | | | who appeared in 235 contests. |
| to the best college football team located on the | | | | 5. In 1987, 13 Penn State football players were |
| east coast. It has been awarded every season | | | | selected in the NFL Draft. This was the most |
| since 1936. Penn State has won the award 26 | | | | Nittany Lions players ever selected in one year. |
| different times. | | | | |
