Penn State University has a long tradition of excellence in football. Yes, even before Joe Paterno. "Joe Pa" is so synonymous with Penn State football, faithful fans have forgotten the pre-Paterno era. Penn State played their first unofficial football game November 12, 1881 against Lewisburg University in Lewisburg, PA. Penn State won in inclement weather, 9-0. Six years later in September (1887) meeting the approval of Pennsylvania State University President, George Atherton, Penn State organized it's first official football team. The architects were freshman George "Lucy" Linsz and classmate Charles Hildebrand. A month later the tradition was born. Penn State played their first official game November 12, 1887 against Bucknell (formerly Lewisburg) at Lewisburg winning, 54-0. A week later (November 19) Penn State played their first home game using the Old Main lawn as its field winning, 24-0 over "rival" Bucknell. Penn State finished their first competitive football season with a 2-0 record. Penn State did not hire their first "official" head football coach until 1892 when they hired George "The General" Hoskins. Hoskins led his teams to a 17-4-4 mark before resigning in 1896. Amazingly there have only been 14 Head Coaches in the history of Penn State Football. Loyalty, pride, and tradition encompass Penn State Football. From the late 1800's to the present there have been many Nittany Lions who have made Penn State Football what it is today ... A WINNER!
