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Nittany Lions Trivia Quiz

This quiz contains questions dealing with the entire history of Penn State football, including questions on players, Bowl games, and opponents. It is meant to be challenging. Good Luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by PSURef21. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
PSURef21

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
150,118

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
8 / 20

Plays
1119

Last 3 plays: Guest 192 (3/20), Guest 207 (13/20), Guest 192 (6/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. Who did Penn State play in its first collegiate football game? Hint

Lehigh

Pitt

Dickinson

Bucknell

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Question 2 of 20

2. Which of the following "powerhouse" teams did Penn State actually lose to? Hint

Steelton YMCA

Wyoming Seminary

Harrisburg Athletic Club

Wissahickon Barracks

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Question 3 of 20

3. Penn State's most common opponent is Pitt (they have played 96 times). Who is Penn State's second most common opponent? Hint

West Virginia

Univ. of Pennsylvania

Syracuse

Maryland

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Question 4 of 20

4. Who was the first Big Ten team, that Penn State has faced in a Bowl game? Hint

Illinois

Michigan

Ohio State

Michigan State

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Question 5 of 20

5. What was Joe Paterno's college major at Brown University? Hint

English

Biology

Psychology

Accounting

6. Under Joe Paterno, Penn State has had 5 undefeated season. During this time they have also had 5 one-loss season (including times when that one loss was in a Bowl game). Which of the following one-loss seasons is incorrectly paired, with the team that beat them? Hint

1977, Kentucky

1982, Alabama

1985, Oklahoma

1971, Texas

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Question 7 of 20

7. What team did Penn State once play in Cleveland's Municipal Stadium? Hint

Ohio State

Illinois

Cincinnati

Michigan State

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Question 8 of 20

8. Which of the following Big Ten teams, had Penn State never played before entering the conference in 1993? Hint

Wisconsin

Michigan

Purdue

Iowa

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Question 9 of 20

9. Which of the following players was NOT a captain of Penn State's 1982 National Championship team? Hint

Stuart McMunn

Walker Lee Ashley

Curt Warner

Ken Kelley

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Question 10 of 20

10. Which of the following Big Ten football officials played for Joe Paterno at Penn State? Hint

David Witvoet

Bill LeMonnier

Bob Bassett

Dick Honig

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Question 11 of 20

11. In November of 1981, #11 Penn State when into Pitt Stadium to play #1 Pitt. Dan Marino led the Panthers out to an early 14-0 lead. What was the final result of that game? Hint

PSU scores 48 unanswered points to win 48-14

PSU makes a late comeback to win 20-14

Pitt goes on the blow out PSU, 38-3

PSU comes up short in a comeback and Pitt hangs on to win 21-17

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Question 12 of 20

12. In what year did Penn State first play in the Rose Bowl? Hint

1923

1959

1948

1995

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Question 13 of 20

13. What Penn State player was stopped short on 4th and Goal, in Alabama's infamous goal line stand during the 1979 Sugar Bowl? Hint

Mike Guman

Bob Torrey

Chuck Fusina

Matt Suhey

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Question 14 of 20

14. Who was Penn State's first full time coach? Hint

Tom Fennell

George Hoskins

Samuel Newton

Rip Engle

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Question 15 of 20

15. What was the original capacity of Beaver Stadium? Hint

76,639

60,203

46,284

48,284

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Question 16 of 20

16. What were Penn State's original colors? Hint

Blue and White

Silver and Black

Blue and Grey

Pink and Black

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Question 17 of 20

17. What team did Penn State beat, to earn Joe Paterno his first win as head coach? Hint

Maryland

Syracuse

Boston College

Army

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Question 18 of 20

18. During which season did Penn State first reach the Number 1 spot in the polls? Hint

1978

1968

1982

1973

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Question 19 of 20

19. Who was Penn State's Homecoming opponent in 1994? Hint

Wisconsin

Minnesota

Ohio State

Indiana

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Question 20 of 20

20. Against which team did Joe Paterno win his 200th game? Hint

Cincinnati

Temple

Bowling Green

West Virginia

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Oct 28 2024 : Guest 192: 3/20
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Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who did Penn State play in its first collegiate football game?

Answer: Bucknell

In their first year of football (1887), Penn State played two games. Both games were against Bucknell, and both games were victories for Penn State.

2. Which of the following "powerhouse" teams did Penn State actually lose to?

Answer: Steelton YMCA

Yes, Penn State actually lost in its one and only meeting against the Steelton YMCA in 1910. Penn State beat Harrisburg Athletic Club (1910), and Wyoming Seminary (1892), and tied Wissahickon Barracks (1918), in their only meetings with each of these other teams.

3. Penn State's most common opponent is Pitt (they have played 96 times). Who is Penn State's second most common opponent?

Answer: Syracuse

PSU's most common opponents are: Pitt (96 meetings), Syracuse (68), West Virginia (59), Bucknell (38), and Maryland (37).

4. Who was the first Big Ten team, that Penn State has faced in a Bowl game?

Answer: Ohio State

Penn State beat Ohio State in the 1980 Fiesta Bowl, by the score of 31-19.

5. What was Joe Paterno's college major at Brown University?

Answer: English

His favorite poet is Virgil.

Answer: 1971, Texas

Penn State lost to Tennessee by a score of 31-11 in the final regular season game of the 1971 season. Penn State then beat Texas in the Cotton Bowl by a score of 30-6. In 1982 'Bama beat PSU, yet the Lions still went on to win the National Championship.

7. What team did Penn State once play in Cleveland's Municipal Stadium?

Answer: Illinois

Penn State beat Illinois in Cleveland, by a score of 20-9 during the 1959 season.

8. Which of the following Big Ten teams, had Penn State never played before entering the conference in 1993?

Answer: Michigan

Believe it or not, these two storied programs never met until PSU joined the league in 1993. In addition PSU had not played Indiana, Northwestern, or Minnesota, before they met in conference play.

9. Which of the following players was NOT a captain of Penn State's 1982 National Championship team?

Answer: Curt Warner

The star running back Warner was not a captain. In addition to Ashley, Kelley, and McMunn, the fourth captain was Pete Speros.

10. Which of the following Big Ten football officials played for Joe Paterno at Penn State?

Answer: Bob Bassett

Bassett, later was a Head Linesman for the conference. He attended Penn State during the late 1970s. Dick Honig was the Referee that Joe Paterno grabbed after their 2002 game with Iowa. Honig also played on a National Championship baseball squad while at the University of Michigan. LeMonnier and Witvoet are also Referees in the conference.

11. In November of 1981, #11 Penn State when into Pitt Stadium to play #1 Pitt. Dan Marino led the Panthers out to an early 14-0 lead. What was the final result of that game?

Answer: PSU scores 48 unanswered points to win 48-14

Many Penn Staters consider this the greatest game in PSU football history.

12. In what year did Penn State first play in the Rose Bowl?

Answer: 1923

USC won the 1923 game by a score of 14-3. John Wayne (yes, that John Wayne) was a "bench warmer" on that Trojan squad. Penn State's next trip to Pasadena was in 1995, when they beat Oregon to cap off an undefeated 1994 season.

13. What Penn State player was stopped short on 4th and Goal, in Alabama's infamous goal line stand during the 1979 Sugar Bowl?

Answer: Mike Guman

Suhey was stopped short on 3rd and Goal. Fusina was the QB for that team. The Tide won the game 14-7 and was named National Champions.

14. Who was Penn State's first full time coach?

Answer: Tom Fennell

Hoskins was Penn State's first coach, serving from 1892-1895, and Newton was the second, serving from 1896-1898, but Fennell was the first coach to have no other duties at the university, other than coaching the football team (he did so from 1904-1908). Engle was coach from 1950-1965 and when he retired, Joe Paterno took over.

15. What was the original capacity of Beaver Stadium?

Answer: 46,284

The 2003 capacity of 107,282 made it the second largest stadium in the country, but when it was built, Beaver Stadium's capacity was less then half that.

16. What were Penn State's original colors?

Answer: Pink and Black

Pink and Black were agreed upon by the student body in 1887. The pink faded to white and the black was changed to navy blue for what would become the school's 2003 colors. The blue/white scheme was announced on March 18, 1890. Needless to say, it was a good change.

17. What team did Penn State beat, to earn Joe Paterno his first win as head coach?

Answer: Maryland

In the first game of the 1966 season (Joe Pa's first), the Lions beat the Terps 15-7.

18. During which season did Penn State first reach the Number 1 spot in the polls?

Answer: 1978

After beating North Carolina State in 1978, the Lions were Ranked #1 for the first time in school history. The did not win the National Championship--they lost to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. In 1982, Penn State was never ranked #1 until the final polls, after beating Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to claim their first National Title.

19. Who was Penn State's Homecoming opponent in 1994?

Answer: Ohio State

Penn State was ranked #1 in both polls coming into this game. Penn State won 63-14. They dropped to the #2 spot in the AP poll. Penn State ended the year with a perfect record, but were ranked #2 behind also undefeated Nebraska.

20. Against which team did Joe Paterno win his 200th game?

Answer: Bowling Green

Joe Pa won #200 against the mighty Falcons in 1987. Interestingly enough, he won #300 against Bowling Green as well in 1998. Win #324 (to break Bear Bryant's all-time wins record) came against another Ohio team. This one looks a bit better in the record books, as it came against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Source: Author PSURef21

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