Need Some Help With Penn State Fooball History

by kleph on Mar 21, 2011 4:01 PM EDT

Howdy! This is your old friend kleph from Roll Bama Roll, the SB Nation site covering all things Alabama Crimson Tide. You might recall me from this epic thread from last year's off season. So I've been roped into doing an article for RBR's season preview Yea Alabama this year and I could use a little assist in the effort.

Last season, in advance of the Alabama vs. Penn State game I did a piece looking at the 1959 Liberty Bowl. I'm hoping to expand on that a bit but I'm somewhat limited in terms of what I know about the Penn State squad of that year.

So I was hoping some of you could point me to a good book or two on the history of the Nittany Lions program that gives a solid overview of this time period. If there is anyone that has specific info and would be willing to help you can email me directly (click my name and look at my SB Nation profile page for the address).

Lastly, I have to post this pic since I know y'all love it so...

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Penn State Football Vault

A bit pricey, though, I would imagine. It’s got lots of good stuff, though.

Also, Mrs. Engle is not amused.

by IndianaLion on Mar 21, 2011 4:06 PM EDT reply actions

I saw it at BJ's Wholesale Club for $35

My coach is better than your coach

by letsgopsu on Mar 21, 2011 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions

We don't have those here.

This is BSD, the crazy stirs itself.

by Paige2PSU on Mar 21, 2011 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

My girlfriend bought it off of amazon for me

I think she got a pretty good price on it

"Penn State is the standard for success with honor. Period. I can’t even believe we’re even discussing that" - ReadingRambler

by psuphysicist on Mar 22, 2011 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions

I got mine on Amazon for $42,

after shipping and handling. None of the Alabama bookstores carry the Penn State vault.

This is BSD, the crazy stirs itself.

by Paige2PSU on Mar 22, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

it disturbed me that there were tO$U books in my local BJ's

(insert BJ joke here)

My coach is better than your coach

by letsgopsu on Mar 22, 2011 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Per request...

You think globally and BJ locally?

jtothetweet
"Cats been getting hookups on tatts since back in '01". - former buckeye Antonio Pittman

by jtothep on Mar 22, 2011 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Per request....

You’re quite the multitasker if you’re browsing books whilst providing BJs.

jtothetweet
"Cats been getting hookups on tatts since back in '01". - former buckeye Antonio Pittman

by jtothep on Mar 22, 2011 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Per request...

Just how big is your mouth?

jtothetweet
"Cats been getting hookups on tatts since back in '01". - former buckeye Antonio Pittman

by jtothep on Mar 22, 2011 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

this doesnt help kleph

but i just bought the vault at borders for 10 bucks in the bargain section. york, pa store for those in the area

by JGood77 on Mar 22, 2011 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

How many of us get cut

if you get 30 of us to sign up to help you?

Sarcastradamus!
Snide predictions since 2010!

by SarcasmJam on Mar 21, 2011 4:48 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs

depends on how many medical disabilities i can convince them to give me.

Remember the Rose Bowl: The Story of the Alabama Crimson Tide & the Grandaddy of Them All

by kleph on Mar 21, 2011 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

It is cool

to have a rival fan with a sense of humor. Welcome!

For ease of use and your assumed purposes :
Penn State Football : The complete illustrated history. Authors are Ken Rappoport & Barry Wilner. It takes you from the beginning up to 2009. Some cools pics of the very early years and it conveniently glosses over the crapfest that was 2000-2004.

Sarcastradamus!
Snide predictions since 2010!

by SarcasmJam on Mar 21, 2011 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions

well, it's certainly easier to bear

having been witness to your beatdown in bryant-denny stadium last season.

Remember the Rose Bowl: The Story of the Alabama Crimson Tide & the Grandaddy of Them All

by kleph on Mar 21, 2011 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Awesome.

I can’t wait until I can have a sense of humor next year.

Sarcastradamus!
Snide predictions since 2010!

by SarcasmJam on Mar 22, 2011 5:57 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Isn't there a book called "Football my Way"?

I believe that Paterno wrote it, but that Rip Engle wrote the forward. It’s long since out of print though.

Our rival is Stanford.

by jesse. on Mar 21, 2011 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

i specifically want to look at the pre-paterno era

or, more precisely, one that gives a solid look at that part of it rather than just focusing on joepa’s reign. i run into this issue for alabama football since there are TONS of books on coach bryant’s time and after but the pickings are scarce for looking at the program prior to that.

Remember the Rose Bowl: The Story of the Alabama Crimson Tide & the Grandaddy of Them All

by kleph on Mar 21, 2011 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Right...

Except this was written in like 1972. So it’s a lot closer in time to those events and they might get a bit more play.

Our rival is Stanford.

by jesse. on Mar 21, 2011 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

honestly...

i find the books written about football from the 50s and 60s are far superior to what you find written today.

i’ll check it out.

Remember the Rose Bowl: The Story of the Alabama Crimson Tide & the Grandaddy of Them All

by kleph on Mar 21, 2011 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions

The current president of

the Alabama Chapter of the PSU Alumni Association played for Rip Engle around that time. He lives in Hoover. Do you want me to send you his email address?

This is BSD, the crazy stirs itself.

by Paige2PSU on Mar 21, 2011 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions

yes, please.

Remember the Rose Bowl: The Story of the Alabama Crimson Tide & the Grandaddy of Them All

by kleph on Mar 21, 2011 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Pre-Paterno era?

Only Rutgers and Princeton were playing then, right?

Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.

by Kyle McCann't on Mar 23, 2011 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

The only one thing I can think of was a book written about the Pitt rivalry with lots of cool quotes from Rip. I can’t even think of the name now. This is ticking me off.

"Use their guts to lubricate our single leg attacks!" - Lycurgus

by ReadingRambler on Mar 21, 2011 6:15 PM EDT reply actions

I can't even talk right either.

"Use their guts to lubricate our single leg attacks!" - Lycurgus

by ReadingRambler on Mar 21, 2011 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Kleph

Send me an email. I can put you in touch with Lou Prato. He’s the premier Penn State historian. He’s always very gratious about doing interviews with bloggers. The only thing he might ask is for a chance to plug one of his books.

Mike
@BSDtweet
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Mar 21, 2011 7:00 PM EDT reply actions

i just had it sent to me

and fired off the email. but thanks.

Remember the Rose Bowl: The Story of the Alabama Crimson Tide & the Grandaddy of Them All

by kleph on Mar 21, 2011 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions

How did I forgot about Lou?

I feel stupid now.

"Use their guts to lubricate our single leg attacks!" - Lycurgus

by ReadingRambler on Mar 21, 2011 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions

No one can compete

with Lou Prato on this. He’s the one stop shopping spot.

Sarcastradamus!
Snide predictions since 2010!

by SarcasmJam on Mar 21, 2011 7:42 PM EDT reply actions

Sam Stellatella

I’m trying to locate an email for Sam, he was on the 1959 team, and is the ringleader for the 1959 Liberty bowl team (official or maybe not) when they have an organized event. You may want to do a search on him in the meanwhile.

by MsYvone on Mar 22, 2011 9:06 AM EDT reply actions