Old guys....1969 Homecoming game va WVU
- Thread starter psuro
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I remember that game well. WVU went 10-1 that year and had one of the best rushing offenses in the country. It was a dominant effort by the dominant defense of Penn State.
On another note. Either that year or 1967 against WVU a couple of WVU students displayed an awesome act of courage. Two of them (probably on a bet) jumped onto the track and opened a banner that said "**** Penn State". They got the living hell beaten out of them
On another note. Either that year or 1967 against WVU a couple of WVU students displayed an awesome act of courage. Two of them (probably on a bet) jumped onto the track and opened a banner that said "**** Penn State". They got the living hell beaten out of them
[QUOTE Two of them (probably on a bet) jumped onto the track and opened a banner that said "**** Penn State". They got the living hell beaten out of them[/QUOTE]
And the"two" later became administrators at Rutgres
And the"two" later became administrators at Rutgres
I am old and fondly remember the likes of Ham, Reid, Smear , Onkotz, Kates, Smith and the rest of that swarming defense. Franco and Lydell weren't too bad either.
A mere 50 years ago. Great times. I was young and foolish. Today I am old and foolish. Ah, the memories!
Ah, the memories!
Sounds very familiar.A mere 50 years ago. Great times. I was young and foolish. Today I am old and foolish.
And the"two" later became administrators at Rutgres
[/QUOTE]Sounds like they became members of PSU’s BOT!
These were the guys.
Mike Smith, Steve Smear, John Ebersole, Dennis Onkotz, Jim Kates, Gary Hull, Mike Reid, Jack Ham
The banner mentioned earlier said "Phuck Penn State"
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I remember that game well, or think I do. That was probably the best team WV had ever had, maybe still, tho WV fans would surely argue about that.
That was finally gonna be the year they thought.
Sherwood, Braxton, Gresham, etc; Farley and Crennel led the defense.
Their first drive, WV was moving and got down to about our 35 or so before being shut down; don’t think they ever crossed the 50 the rest of the game, maybe by a yard or two.
I think that was also the game (might have been couple yrs later) when I saw a drunk WV fan, before the game even started, who had his shirt off and had one of those BIG pin Beat Penn State (or something) badges stuck thru his bare chest.
He was feeling no pain at the time.
I expect he did later.
That was finally gonna be the year they thought.
Sherwood, Braxton, Gresham, etc; Farley and Crennel led the defense.
Their first drive, WV was moving and got down to about our 35 or so before being shut down; don’t think they ever crossed the 50 the rest of the game, maybe by a yard or two.
I think that was also the game (might have been couple yrs later) when I saw a drunk WV fan, before the game even started, who had his shirt off and had one of those BIG pin Beat Penn State (or something) badges stuck thru his bare chest.
He was feeling no pain at the time.
I expect he did later.
These were the guys.
Mike Smith, Steve Smear, John Ebersole, Dennis Onkotz, Jim Kates, Gary Hull, Mike Reid, Jack Ham
The banner mentioned earlier said "Phuck Penn State"
Impressive photo. Here is a picture of Ted Kwalick from a year earlier.
Damn! These were some tough lookin' dudes!!!
Crennel was an AA candidate at MG, and Dale Farley was a big strong MLB.
This was one of the few WV teams that was as solid on defense, especially up the middle, as they were on offense.
This was one of the few WV teams that was as solid on defense, especially up the middle, as they were on offense.
Thanks for the reminder of my favorite Penn State team. For the past 50 years I have believed and even convinced a few doubters that the ‘69 defense would have shut down the Texas Wishbone and won solidly over the Longhorns ... despite President Nixon’s opinion.
This “old guy” appreciates your posting those clips very much.
Did you stop to count the # of players on the Kansas defense on the goal line?
Acco ding to Sports Illustrated, Kansas had 12 players for several plays, and 13 on one of them. Sad, pathetic, wretch that I am, I think I still have that issue of SI.
Finally, note that my avatar is a pic of Mike Reid taking down Bobby Douglas for a loss.
Did you stop to count the # of players on the Kansas defense on the goal line?
Acco ding to Sports Illustrated, Kansas had 12 players for several plays, and 13 on one of them. Sad, pathetic, wretch that I am, I think I still have that issue of SI.
Finally, note that my avatar is a pic of Mike Reid taking down Bobby Douglas for a loss.
Thanks ‘Ro. I’ll never forget my dad, Jim Senior, screaming ”Too many men on the field!”
I was there. Mike Reid and Bob Campbell save the day.
It was also the first game with the dark jerseys
KU’s 6-3-3 goal line D. Also used (undetected by the officials) earlier in the second half.
Reid actually took down Bobby D on second and third down, forcing the partially blocked punt that set up the Burkhart to Campbell pass that set up the dramatic goal line drama.
NO QUESTION in my mind that both Penn State and KU would have beaten 1968’s tOSU team.
Thanks. I was a junior in high school and that was the first time I ever watched a Penn State game. I don't remember a lot these days, but I remember beign totally wrapped up in that game. Great memories and the beginning of my love affair with Penn State. Watching these YouTube videos is great. My, oh my, how the game has changed. I still wish we played the Paterno offense, with a real fullback. I just don't think our RPO offense is ever going to win us a national championship. Sorry.
Ro, you’re making my day here. That single game is the most memorable one for me (along with the 1997 Fiesta Bowl win over Texas), for my late wife and I were invited guests of the “Texas Die Hards” on their chartered bus up from San Antonio.
The whole 250 or so miles to Dallas we were inundated with boasting and bragging about how the Horns would rout PSU worse than Tennessee did. My wife made me promise to keep my Italian emotions — and mouth— quiet since we were “guests.”
On the return trip, you would have thought we caught the Helen Keller bus to San Antonio.... mostly silence, and a few “We didn’t think you Pennsylvania boys could keep up with us.” My only responses was, “Yeah. And that 1969 defense would have shut you out.”
Thanks, again, for posting these.
I was at a fraternity brother’s parents’ house. When PSU scored the two point conversion I jumped so high I scrapped my knuckles on their textured ceiling. Getting the blood off wasn’t easy.
Do you guys remember who the best player on the Kansas team was? He's in the HOF and ran behind some "hogs."
John was quite the ball player, had a long productive pro career.
Prior to his NFL career, he won the state (Kansas) 100 yd dash twice in high school and then broke Gayle Sayers’ rushing record at KU.
Don't try to tell me that 69 team wasn't a national champion
He was a sophomore and his older brother played as well. I think his name was Jeff. Donnie Shanklin was their speedster and game MVP.
That Orange Bowl game I watched at my friend across the street’s house. He was already a Penn State student. His mother watched with us. Both are now deceased. I have been a fan ever since. After four years in the Air Force, and a few more struggles, I got my Penn State degree. I assume Mike and his mother are up there waiting for me.
John was a soph in 1968, his older brother was a senior in 1968. Ironically, his older brother’s name was Junior Riggins!
Shanklin receiving the MVP was because the voting was held prior to the end of the game. Burkhart, Campbell or Reid would have more likely been recognized if the vote had been taken after the game concluded.
Old? Bite your toungue. I graduated in 1967. Growing “old” is a bad idea. I am maturing. Seriously, those defenses in 68 and 68 were awesome. What would you expect with a DT named Smear and a DE named Spaz?A mere 50 years ago. Great times. I was young and foolish. Today I am old and foolish.
Ah Mary. I imagine our outlook on our aging is much the same and we just define it differently. Although I am a tad younger than you, I call myself old because I am. I embrace it. I think of wonderful old things, like Old Faithful, The Good Old Days, the hauntingly beautiful song Auld (Old) Lang Syne, or, dare I say, myself? I am an old person with young outlook on life and it appears you are as well. All the best Mary!
One of my very fondest memories is jumping out of the stands and on to the field after we scored the 2 points to win the '69 Orange Bowl game. Even though we knew we were not going to win the NC... Ohio State won it that year... it felt like we had. We should have won it the next year. I have no doubts that our defense would have been too much for the Longhorns to deal with. As far as I'm concerned the '68 & '69 PSU defenses were the best I've ever seen as far as college football is concerned. Unfortunately, we made a bad decision regarding 1969 and our choice of bowl games...we could have chosen the Cotton Bowl and played Texas. At the time the decision was made (before Thanksgiving), it did not appear that the game would be for #1 as it did not look like #1 Ohio State was going to lose its last game to a mediocre Michigan team. Had we made a different choice we would have had an opportunity to beat Texas and get our first NC. I have no doubt that would have been the case. Still frustrates me to this day... in any case I'm glad that I was around to be a witness of the greatest 2 year span of Penn State football.
Correct on the voting. Campbell finished with close to 100 yards rushing, caught the long pass near the end and then scored the two point conversion. Certainly deserving of the MVP. Reid and Burkhart, although keys to the win would have and did finish behind Campbell in the voting.
Some irony. The following year Kansas won only one game.....against a lousy Syracuse team. Penn State struggled mightily against Syracuse scoring a late touchdown to come within one point for a tie and two for the win. The two point conversion was attempted and failed but.......FLAG! After the flag Franco ran it in for two points. The final score? 15-14
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KU went 1-9 in 1969. Lost a lot of great talent to the NFL from the 1968 team. Also had Riggins suspended for a while for punching out a coed in a local bar fight.
Beat Syracuse in Lawrence in Sept 13-0. Went on to lose 2 games by 3 pts and 2 games by 4 pts. And actually had beaten Nebraska until a fourth down penalty in the last minute or so gifted the game to the Cornhuskers.
Finished the year losing to Missouri 69-21, the team PSU beat in the Orange Bowl five weeks later 10-3.
