Where does the time go? This year will be the 50th Anniversary of Penn State's great 1968 team.

[john4psu]

Hopefully, they will be honored this fall during a game. Joe's first undefeated team and winners of the Orange Bowl and finished ranked #2 in the country.

School Opponent Conf Pts Opp W L T Streak Notes
1 Sep 21, 1968 Sat (10) Penn State Navy Ind W 31 6
2 Sep 28, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State Kansas State Big 8 W 25 9
3 Oct 5, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ West Virginia Ind W 31 20
4 Oct 12, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ UCLA Pac-8 W 21 6
5 Oct 26, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State @ Boston College Ind W 29 0
6 Nov 2, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State Army Ind W 28 24
7 Nov 9, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State Miami (FL) Ind W 22 7
8 Nov 16, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ Maryland ACC W 57 13
9 Nov 23, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ Pitt Ind W 65 9
10 Dec 7, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State Syracuse Ind W 30 12
11 Jan 1, 1969 Wed (3) Penn State N (6) Kansas Big 8 W 15 14 Orange Bowl

 

[psuro]

Where does the time go indeed. Moves faster as we get older.

 

[interrobang]

I'm all for a repeat of that Pitt score.

 

[ram2020]

They will be honored during the Iowa game this year.

 

[psu1969a]

Hopefully, they will be honored this fall during a game. Joe's first undefeated team and winners of the Orange Bowl and finished ranked #2 in the country.

School Opponent Conf Pts Opp W L T Streak Notes
1 Sep 21, 1968 Sat (10) Penn State Navy Ind W 31 6
2 Sep 28, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State Kansas State Big 8 W 25 9
3 Oct 5, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ West Virginia Ind W 31 20
4 Oct 12, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ UCLA Pac-8 W 21 6
5 Oct 26, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State @ Boston College Ind W 29 0
6 Nov 2, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State Army Ind W 28 24
7 Nov 9, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State Miami (FL) Ind W 22 7
8 Nov 16, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ Maryland ACC W 57 13
9 Nov 23, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ Pitt Ind W 65 9
10 Dec 7, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State Syracuse Ind W 30 12
11 Jan 1, 1969 Wed (3) Penn State N (6) Kansas Big 8 W 15 14 Orange Bowl

Any word on team being honored at a home game? If so, which one?

If team is honored, then part of the festivities should be that all those attending should dress ala 1968: Men - coat and tie, Women (Ladies) - long or cocktail length dress (no slacks). This attire should be required by all fans and others attending including Coach Franklin, staff and players when they arrive at the stadium.

Make it a total retro night including BB performing one of the halftime shows of that season. Or a montage of the halftime shows from 1968.

 

[Psychedelic_MackDaddy]

Hopefully, they will be honored this fall during a game. Joe's first undefeated team and winners of the Orange Bowl and finished ranked #2 in the country.

School Opponent Conf Pts Opp W L T Streak Notes
1 Sep 21, 1968 Sat (10) Penn State Navy Ind W 31 6
2 Sep 28, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State Kansas State Big 8 W 25 9
3 Oct 5, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ West Virginia Ind W 31 20
4 Oct 12, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ UCLA Pac-8 W 21 6
5 Oct 26, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State @ Boston College Ind W 29 0
6 Nov 2, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State Army Ind W 28 24
7 Nov 9, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State Miami (FL) Ind W 22 7
8 Nov 16, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ Maryland ACC W 57 13
9 Nov 23, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ Pitt Ind W 65 9
10 Dec 7, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State Syracuse Ind W 30 12
11 Jan 1, 1969 Wed (3) Penn State N (6) Kansas Big 8 W 15 14 Orange Bowl

Are we allowed to celebrate? Or, do I need to remember the victims, first?

 

[psuro]

Any word on team being honored at a home game? If so, which one?

If team is honored, then part of the festivities should be that all those attending should dress ala 1968: Men - coat and tie, Women (Ladies) - long or cocktail length dress (no slacks). This attire should be required by all fans and others attending including Coach Franklin, staff and players when they arrive at the stadium.

Make it a total retro night including BB performing one of the halftime shows of that season. Or a montage of the halftime shows from 1968.

So, we can smoke unfiltered camels in the stands, and if rainy, use umbrellas in our seats and block the view of others/poke them in the eye?

That would be great - I have been thinking of taking up smoking and that would cinch it for me.

 

[Ian]

Hopefully, they will be honored this fall during a game. Joe's first undefeated team and winners of the Orange Bowl and finished ranked #2 in the country.

School Opponent Conf Pts Opp W L T Streak Notes
1 Sep 21, 1968 Sat (10) Penn State Navy Ind W 31 6
2 Sep 28, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State Kansas State Big 8 W 25 9
3 Oct 5, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ West Virginia Ind W 31 20
4 Oct 12, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ UCLA Pac-8 W 21 6
5 Oct 26, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State @ Boston College Ind W 29 0
6 Nov 2, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State Army Ind W 28 24
7 Nov 9, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State Miami (FL) Ind W 22 7
8 Nov 16, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ Maryland ACC W 57 13
9 Nov 23, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ Pitt Ind W 65 9
10 Dec 7, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State Syracuse Ind W 30 12
11 Jan 1, 1969 Wed (3) Penn State N (6) Kansas Big 8 W 15 14 Orange Bowl

They jumped from #10 to #4 after week one and pretty much stayed #3, #4 for the entire season. I remember going to the Army game that year. Army was pretty tough in those days and gave them a game. That’s a nice schedule with UCLA, KSU, and Mia as out of region opponents. Loved those “eastern” league games. No Rutgers or Temple....

 

[rohrmd9]

I wanna say that Army game was the first one I ever attended....although my memory is getting fuzzy. My Dad got tickets from someone and took me to that game. I remember how much in awe I was at the bright colors of the uniforms (since everything was B&W TVs back then). PSU had their bright blue jerseys and Army had gold helmets and pants. I don't remember anything about the game except that PSU won. I just remember how "cool" the teams looked in their color unis!

 

[psu1969a]

Are we allowed to celebrate? Or, do I need to remember the victims, first?

WTF are you talking about?

 

[wex18]

The Army game was close all the way. I think that's the game Ted Kwalick scored on an onsides kick.

Army seniors were allowed to travel to the game. That night a bunch of them were passed out drunk on the Old Main lawn.

 

[Nitwit]

Pitt - haha

 

[fairgambit]

Time is relentless. The days, weeks, months and years, pass by in the blink of an eye. I am in the late fall of my life and I remember spring like it was yesterday. A 50th Anniversary thread like this is just another reminder that life is short and uncertain. We never know when the sands of the hourglass will run out. Make the most of your time.

 

[olelion]

Hopefully, they will be honored this fall during a game. Joe's first undefeated team and winners of the Orange Bowl and finished ranked #2 in the country.

School Opponent Conf Pts Opp W L T Streak Notes
1 Sep 21, 1968 Sat (10) Penn State Navy Ind W 31 6
2 Sep 28, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State Kansas State Big 8 W 25 9
3 Oct 5, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ West Virginia Ind W 31 20
4 Oct 12, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ UCLA Pac-8 W 21 6
5 Oct 26, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State @ Boston College Ind W 29 0
6 Nov 2, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State Army Ind W 28 24
7 Nov 9, 1968 Sat (4) Penn State Miami (FL) Ind W 22 7
8 Nov 16, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ Maryland ACC W 57 13
9 Nov 23, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State @ Pitt Ind W 65 9
10 Dec 7, 1968 Sat (3) Penn State Syracuse Ind W 30 12
11 Jan 1, 1969 Wed (3) Penn State N (6) Kansas Big 8 W 15 14 Orange Bowl

Great memories. I attended 10 of those games, missing only UCLA

 

[LionJim]

Army was pretty tough in those days and gave them a game.

Yes, Tom Cahill was a great, great coach.

 

[MrDibbs]

Time is relentless. The days, weeks, months and years, pass by in the blink of an eye. I am in the late fall of my life and I remember spring like it was yesterday. A 50th Anniversary thread like this is just another reminder that life is short and uncertain. We never know when the sands of the hourglass will run out. Make the most of your time.

Please, fairgambit ... since we are from the same era, do not use the expression "late fall"... let's say we are coming close to Halloween.

 

[fairgambit]

Please, fairgambit ... since we are from the same era, do not use the expression "late fall"... let's say we are coming close to Halloween.

OK, MrDibbs. I will try to remember, and will hope it is still early fall for both of us.

 

[MrDibbs]

I also remember that Army game. They had a quarterback/receiver combination that simply ate the Lion's defense up. The era of the 3 deep zone.

The Kwalick onside kick return was a thing of beauty.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

The PSU win over Army (28-24) resulted in a huge Dan Jenkins write-up about JoePa & PSU in Sports Illustrated, maybe one of the first big national recognitions for the program.

Perhaps someone can track down and post the article for The Board? (I still have the magazine somewhere in my basement collection.). Thanks in advance!

 

[LionJim]

The PSU win over Army (28-24) resulted in a huge Dan Jenkins write-up about JoePa & PSU in Sports Illustrated, maybe one of the first big national recognitions for the program.

Perhaps someone can track down and post the article for The Board? (I still have the magazine somewhere in my basement collection.). Thanks in advance!

“The idea is to have some fun, so who needs to be number one?” The first line began, “In the shadow of Mount Nittany...”

 

[fairgambit]

The PSU win over Army (28-24) resulted in a huge Dan Jenkins write-up about JoePa & PSU in Sports Illustrated, maybe one of the first big national recognitions for the program.

Perhaps someone can track down and post the article for The Board? (I still have the magazine somewhere in my basement collection.). Thanks in advance!

OK, ILLINOIS, but just this once. I'm eating my lunch (pizza) and have a bit of time.

https://www.si.com/vault/1968/11/11/551232/the-idea-is-to-have-some-funand-who-needs-to-be-no-1

 

[Woodpecker]

 

[fairgambit]

I love that picture.
And here is the clip. (I was there, in the student section.)

 

[psuro]

OK, ILLINOIS, but just this once. I'm eating my lunch (pizza) and have a bit of time.

https://www.si.com/vault/1968/11/11/551232/the-idea-is-to-have-some-funand-who-needs-to-be-no-1

Back when Journalism meant something, the English language was lyrical in it's use, and articles were written to inform and enjoy, not to attack.

 

[fairgambit]

Back when Journalism meant something, the English language was lyrical in it's use, and articles were written to inform and enjoy, not to attack.

This may not matter much to you, but I had you on ignore for a bit over that Western PA jab. You get old like me, you get testy. You're a valued board member, I (generally) enjoy your posts, and so I am back to reading what you say. Peace.

 

[psuro]

This may not matter much to you, but I had you on ignore for a bit over that Western PA jab. You get old like me, you get testy. You're a valued board member, I (generally) enjoy your posts, and so I am back to reading what you say. Peace.

Yeah, saw that. I get testy at things too, so I take shots. I guess that happens in old age.

FWIW, I seem to be on a role this week with "come back friendships" with people from Western Pa.

 

[Sunsox]

Back when Journalism meant something, the English language was lyrical in it's use, and articles were written to inform and enjoy, not to attack.

Yeah, too bad some of that wasn't passed along to his daughter.

 

[olelion]

The PSU win over Army (28-24) resulted in a huge Dan Jenkins write-up about JoePa & PSU in Sports Illustrated, maybe one of the first big national recognitions for the program.

Perhaps someone can track down and post the article for The Board? (I still have the magazine somewhere in my basement collection.). Thanks in advance!

it featured a picture of Bob Campbell

 

[RandyL]

Life was good in 1968.
Well, in Happy Valley it was.

For those of us who were freshmen that year, Joe kinda spoiled us.

 

[EPC FAN]

First game ever at Beaver Stadium. Dec. 7, 1968. Moved for television.

 

[sluggo72]

Pretty sure this is the first year JVP unleashed the split 6 defense. teams had a lot of trouble with blocking 2 3's!

 

[olelion]

Pretty sure this is the first year JVP unleashed the split 6 defense. teams had a lot of trouble with blocking 2 3's!

Not sure what the split 6 is but JVP unveiled the Penn State 44 defense in the third game of 1967. 4DL, 4LB and 3 DB

 

[BOSCO2]

Those were the shirts I was hoping they'd wear for the Indiana game last year.

 

[sluggo72]

Not sure what the split 6 is but JVP unveiled the Penn State 44 defense in the third game of 1967. 4DL, 4LB and 3 DB

I remember in his book 'football my way ' they talked about him working on his new defense in the summertime. So I would guess he wouldn't wait to the third game to uncork it. On the 67 depth chart they list a MG and river but on the 68 they list DT and De. I guess we could look at the films. No biggie.

 

[Bob78]

The 4-4 Defense featured the DEs lining up perpendicular to the line of scrimmage, and then penetrating along that same line into the backfield. It forced the OT or TE to go wider than preferred to make a block in space. That kept the running game boxed in between the tackles for the most part, funneling the RB to the dominant DTs in Smear and Reid, and into the heart of the LBs. That scheme, plus PSU being quicker and stronger than just about every other team they played, gave us a very dominant D for the 68 and 69 seasons.

From what I recall.

 

[royboy]

Not sure what the split 6 is but JVP unveiled the Penn State 44 defense in the third game of 1967. 4DL, 4LB and 3 DB

Yeah, Joe apparently spent a good part of the previous summer setting up the 4-4 defense, drawing on graph papers, specifying the player assignments, describing the necessary skills for each position, etc.

I've read a good account of how he worked day after day in an upstairs office at home scheming out the whole thing. Maybe in one of the earlier biographies? Anyone else recall reading this, or where it was written?

That 4-4 defense was the foundation for success of Penn State in the late 1960's; it really took a long time for opposing offenses to attack it successfully.

 

[olelion]

I remember in his book 'football my way ' they talked about him working on his new defense in the summertime. So I would guess he wouldn't wait to the third game to uncork it. On the 67 depth chart they list a MG and river but on the 68 they list DT and De. I guess we could look at the films. No biggie.

Basically, they chickened out and neglected to try it. My error, it was the SECOND game that they went with it against Miami

 

[sluggo72]

Yeah, Joe apparently spent a good part of the previous summer setting up the 4-4 defense, drawing on graph papers, specifying the player assignments, describing the necessary skills for each position, etc.

I've read a good account of how he worked day after day in an upstairs office at home scheming out the whole thing. Maybe in one of the earlier biographies? Anyone else recall reading this, or where it was written?

That 4-4 defense was the foundation for success of Penn State in the late 1960's; it really took a long time for opposing offenses to attack it successfully.

As mentioned, I read that in Football my way by Joe Payerno'

 

[Roar More]

First game ever at Beaver Stadium. Dec. 7, 1968. Moved for television.

Man that was a cold day. Back then we set up crosses in a graveyard behind the left corner of the north endzone. One for each "victim." The ground was so frozen we couldn't pound the crosses into the ground.

 

[sluggo72]

Basically, they chickened out and neglected to try it. My error, it was the SECOND game that they went with it against Miami

I went back and re read 'Football My Way- Joe Paterno', and JVP did work on this 4 -4 D the summer of 67 (it can also be termed a split 6 ) any way, what changed the second game(according to the book) wasnt so much what the defensive alignment was, Joe decided to go with the younger players Neil Smith , Jim Kates etc etc as opposed to some of the 'older' guys. I did not think they changed D alignment until the next year based on the depth chart, which still listed a MG (NG) which would not be used in a normal 4-4 (split 6) defense.
(http://www.nittanyanthology.com/Home.html)
Either way, it doesnt matter, it was just fun going back and researching some old information.
I also read that when NC State came to town, Joe decided to basically go to what we can the 'spread' today. As the book says, he decided to put the QB in a short punt formation 5 yds deep, with the best 2 receivers on 1 side!! Close enough for me to call it a 'spread'!!
Relative to NC ST, IIRC a fellow from Danville played SS on their great defense, and I am pretty sure that is who Ted Kwalick caught one of TD's agains!!
below is FL ST drive to tie the Gator bowl!! You can see the alignment with sometimes DE turned, called a Penn State technique. They turned their backs so the WR could not crack back block on them , if they had a normal alignment, then the WR could come in block them below the waist, which of course, that rule was changed.