The 1947 Penn State Nittany Lions football team was an American football team that represented Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) as an independent during the 1947 college football season. In its 18th season under head coach Bob Higgins, the team compiled an undefeated 9–0–1 record, shut out six opponents, outscored opponents by a total of 332 to 40, and was ranked No. 4 in the final AP Poll. The team was 9–0 during the regular season and played No. 3 SMU to a tie in the 1948 Cotton Bowl Classic.[1] The team played its home games in New Beaver Field in State College, Pennsylvania.
On defense, the team gave up an average of 4.0 points per game, the lowest total among all major college teams during the 1947 season.[1]
Schedule[]
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 20 | vs. Washington State | | - Hersheypark Stadium
- Hershey, PA
| W 27–4 | 16,000 | [2] |
| October 4 | Bucknell | | | W 54–0 | | [3] |
| October 11 | at Fordham | No. 12 | | W 75–0 | 12,000 | [4] |
| October 18 | Syracuse | No. 9 | - New Beaver Field
- State College, PA (rivalry)
| W 40–0 | 20,000 | [5] |
| October 25 | West Virginia | No. 9 | - New Beaver Field
- State College, PA (rivalry)
| W 21–14 | 22,000 | [6] |
| November 1 | Colgate | No. 7 | - New Beaver Field
- State College, PA
| W 46–0 | | [7] |
| November 8 | at Temple | No. 7 | | W 7–0 | 20,000 | [8] |
| November 15 | vs. Navy | No. 8 | | W 20–7 | 25,000 | [9] |
| November 22 | at Pittsburgh | No. 5 | | W 29–0 | 53,000 | [10] |
| January 1, 1948 | vs. No. 4 SMU | No. 5 | | T 13–13 | 47,000 | [11] |
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
|
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "1947 Penn State Nittany Lions Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/penn-state/1947-schedule.html. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
- ↑ Chester L. Smith (September 21, 1947). "Lions Easily Defeat Washington State, 27 to 6". The Pittsburgh Press: p. 40. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28411615/lions_easily_defeat_washington_state/.
- ↑ "Nittany Blanks Bucknell, 54-0: Higgins' Reserves Have Field Day". The Pittsburgh Press: p. 29. October 5, 1947. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28446884/nittany_blanks_bucknell_540_higgins/.
- ↑ Hy Turkin (October 12, 1947). "Penn St., 75-0; Worst Ram Loss". The Daily News (New York City): p. 102. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28447082/penn_st_750_worst_ram_loss/.
- ↑ "Penn State Routs Syracuse In Last Three Quarters". The Pittsburgh Press: p. 30. October 19, 1947. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28447212/penn_state_routs_syracuse_in_last_three/.
- ↑ Chester L. Smith (October 26, 1947). "Penn State Scores 21-14 Victory Over Mountaineers". The Pittsburgh Press: p. 30. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28415613/penn_state_scores_2114_victory_over/.
- ↑ "Penn State Whips Colgate, 46-0, and Stays Unbeaten". The Pittsburgh Press: p. 36. November 2, 1947. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28227812/penn_state_whips_colgate_460_and/.
- ↑ Stan Baumgartner (November 9, 1947). "Temple Loses to State, 7-0". The Philadelphia Inquirer: pp. S1, S5. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28006696/temple_loses_to_state_70/.
- ↑ Stuart B. McIver (November 16, 1947). "Penn State Victor Over Navy, 20-7". The Baltimore Sun: pp. 1. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28447439/penn_state_victor_over_navy_207/.
- ↑ Chester L. Smith (November 23, 1947). "Penn State Finishes Unbeaten With 29-0 Win: Lions Overwhelm Pitt For First Perfect Season Since 1912". The Pittsburgh Press: p. 21. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28447639/penn_state_finishes_unbeaten_with_290/.
- ↑ Tex Maule (January 2, 1948). "SMU, Penn State Deadlock, 13 to 13 in Cotton Bowl". The Austin American: p. 14. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28442323/smu_penn_state_deadlock_13_to_13_in/.
