July 7, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA., July 7, 2008 - Nine members of Penn State's 1947 football team reunited for a dinner with Director of Athletics Tim Curley to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their unbeaten season and trip to the 1948 Cotton Bowl.
The dinner, held at The Autoport in State College on June 28, was attended by nine players from the Nittany Lions' historic team. Those in attendance included: Wallace "Wally" Triplett, Elwood "Woody" Petchel, Joe Sarabok, Ray Hedderick, Rip Scherer, John Finley, Charles Beatty, Tom Smith, and Bob Williams. Place-kicker and former Penn State Athletic Director Ed Czekaj was unable to attend.
The 1947 team, coached by Nittany Lion All-American and College Football Hall of Famer Bob Higgins, is considered one of the greatest in Penn State history. Aside from posting a 9-0 undefeated record through the regular season, the team still holds NCAA records for fewest rushing yards allowed per game in a season and fewest yards allowed in a game. Penn State allowed an average of just 17 yards per contest on the ground in 1947 and held Syracuse to minus-47 yards of offense on 49 plays in a 40-0 win in the homecoming game on Oct. 18, 1947.
The Nittany Lions' nine regular season victories were more than any Penn State team had won before. The team, which consisted of a great number of World War II veterans in their mid-20's and thus earned the nickname "The Men of '47," was ranked fourth in the country following the regular season. However, they almost did not go to a bowl game because, unlike most college teams at the time, the Nittany Lions were racially integrated. Penn State did accept an invitation to the 1948 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas to play hometown team Southern Methodist University. The Mustangs and All-American Doak Walker entered the game ranked third in the country. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions had to stay at a Naval Air Station 14 miles outside of town due to segregated hotels in Dallas.
The meeting between the two teams proved to be a thrilling contest ending in a 13-13 tie. During a windy and cold game, Petchel completed seven passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns, one of which was caught by Triplett in the third quarter. Penn State had an opportunity to take the lead after Triplett's touchdown, but Czekaj's point after attempt was controversially called "wide right" by the referee. A late 45-yard hurl from Petchel to end Dennie Hoggard was dropped in the endzone as the gun sounded.
The team finished with a 9-0-1 record and No. 4 wire service ranking and their accomplishments continue to live on. Along with the NCAA defensive records, the team also had an All-American in guard Steve Suhey who would go on to become on of 21 Nittany Lions inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The team was also awarded the Lambert Trophy as the best team in the East.