Penn State Nittany Lions football under Joe Paterno (as an Independent)

Joe Paterno was a head coach of Penn State Nittany Lions football, serving from the retirement of Rip Engle after the 1965 season until he was fired on November 9, 2011, in the wake of the Penn State sex abuse scandal. His teams played their home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Penn State played as an independent through the 1992 season. In 1993, the Nittany Lions started playing a Big Ten Conference football schedule.

NFL/AFL Common Draft
Three Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1967 NFL/AFL Common Draft.

NFL/AFL Common Draft
Three Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1968 NFL/AFL Common Draft.

1968 season
The 1968 team was Paterno's first perfect season. Despite going 11–0, the Nittany Lions finished behind 9–0 Ohio State and 9–0–1 USC in both polls.

NFL/AFL Common Draft
Five Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1969 NFL/AFL Common Draft.

1969 season
Despite posting its second consecutive undefeated, untied season, the Nittany Lions did not have a shot at the national championship. President Richard Nixon said that he would consider the winner of the December 6 matchup between the Texas Longhorns and the Arkansas Razorbacks, then ranked at the top of the polls, and the real voters do not seem to have differed. At the time, national champions were selected before bowl games were played. Paterno, at the 1973 commencement, was quoted saying, "I'd like to know how could the president know so little about Watergate in 1973 and so much about college football in 1969?" Penn State declined an invitation to play the Texas/Arkansas winner in the Cotton Bowl.

NFL Draft
Eight Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1970 NFL Draft.

Awards

 * Mike Reid
 * Maxwell Award
 * Outland Trophy

NFL Draft
Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1971 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft
Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1972 NFL Draft.

1972 season
As a result of using ineligible players, the Oklahoma Sooners were ordered to forfeit seven wins from their 1972 season, including their on-field win over the Nittany Lions. However, Paterno and Penn State refused to accept the forfeit, and the bowl game is officially recorded as a loss.

NFL Draft
Five Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1973 NFL Draft.

Awards

 * Joe Paterno
 * Walter Camp Coach of the Year

1973 season
Penn State's third undefeated season under Joe Paterno was led by John Cappelletti who would become the first Penn State player to win the Heisman Trophy.

Navy Midshipmen
Penn State capitalized on a fumble and two short punts to score three second-quarter touchdowns and break the game wide open against Navy. The Nittany Lions opened scoring with just one second left in the first as QB Tom Shuman hit SE Gary Heyman for a touchdown to cap an 88-yard drive. On the first play after the ensuing kickoff, E Greg Murphy recovered a fumble by RB Bob Jackson at the Navy 41, and the Lions took two-and-a-half minutes and five plays to score again. Penn State scored on two more quick drives of 60 and 51 yards following short punts into a stiff wind by John Stufflebeem. The Lions added a field goal by Chris Bahr midway through the third and backup QB John Clark capped a 56-yard drive with a keeper to put Penn State ahead 37-0. The final points of the contest came when a snap from Navy's center sailed over Stufflebeem's head and out of the end zone for a safety.

NFL Draft
Ten Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1974 NFL Draft.

Awards

 * John Cappelletti
 * Heisman Trophy
 * Maxwell Award
 * Walter Camp Award

NFL Draft
Ten Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1975 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft
Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1976 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft
Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1977 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft
Seven Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1978 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft
Nine Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1979 NFL Draft.

Awards

 * Bruce Clark
 * Lombardi Award


 * Chuck Fusina
 * Maxwell Award


 * Joe Paterno
 * Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year

NFL Draft
Seven Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1980 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft
Seven Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1981 NFL Draft.

Notre Dame

 * Source: Eugene Register-Guard

Following the game, Penn State accepted an invitation to the Fiesta Bowl.

NFL Draft
Ten Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1982 NFL Draft.

Awards

 * Joe Paterno
 * Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award

1982 season
Penn State defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 27–23 in the 1983 Sugar Bowl to win Paterno's first consensus national championship.

NFL Draft
Nine Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1983 NFL Draft.

Awards

 * Todd Blackledge
 * Davey O'Brien Award


 * Joe Paterno
 * Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year


 * Pete Speros
 * Nittany Lion of the Year

NFL Draft
Eight Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1984 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft
Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1985 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft
Three Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1986 NFL Draft.

1986 season
Penn State defeated the Miami Hurricanes 14–10 in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl to win Paterno's second consensus national championship.

NFL Draft
Thirteen Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1987 NFL Draft.

Awards

 * Joe Paterno
 * Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
 * Paul "Bear" Bryant Award

NFL Draft
Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1988 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft
Six Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1989 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft
Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1990 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft
Six Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1991 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft
Nine Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1992 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft
Eight Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1993 NFL Draft.