1/1/1969 Penn State vs. Kansas (Orange Bowl)

[@DrinClick]

First memory of college football as a 10-year-old in my grandparents den on New Year’s Day, 1969. I’ll never forget the ref twirling the flag over his head giving Penn State another chance. Fell in love with Penn State became a student eight years later.

[@chipmurray6828]

I was a freshman at Penn State watching that game. I jumped out of my seat and was so excited that I couldn't sleep that night following the game. Wow! What a memory!

[@DonHeiland]

I am a big Kansas Jayhawks fan and this game happened when I was 10 years old. Kansas was up 14-7 on Penn State in the 1969 Orange Bowl. The Nittany Lions had the ball on the 50 and no timeouts after a blocked punt with 1:16 remaining. Right before the blocked punt, the PA announcer told the crowd that Kansas running back Donnie Shanklin was the games MVP. Penn State then completed a long pass to the KU 3, KU assistant Dave McClain sent tackle Karl Salb into the game. Salb forgot to tell linebacker Rick Abernathy he was coming in. Undetected, KU had played with 12 men for five downs, with Penn State finally scoring on third down. The Nittany Lions went for the two-point conversion and failed, and it was then that the officials noticed the extra Jayhawks player. Given another chance because of the penalty, Campbell ran the ball over the left side and got the two-point conversion and the 15-14 victory. Paterno later said this was the game that Put Penn State on the map. What was strange was 10 years later to the day, Penn State lost to Alabama on New Years day costing Penn State the National Championship because of Penn State having 12 men on the field at the end of the game and a great Alabama goal line stand.

[@DrinClick]

Same age as you. I was a 10-year-old when I saw this and I was a student at Penn State when they lost to Alabama. They blew that game.

[@DonHeiland]

@@DrinClick , Yes, I will never forget both of those games!

[@rogerwilliams5366]

Thanks for the great history. I remember watching this game; very memorable. I’ve always wondered how Kansas could have had 12 men on the field.

[@garyboyd3255]

I was 9. Did not understand why Penn St got an extra chance at the time. Not well explained by the announcers. KU jad a chance to simply kick a FG but missed a 4th down try. Take the points up a TD. Over confidence kills even today

[@DonHeiland]

@@garyboyd3255 , Yes, Kansas was down on Penn States 5 yard line with a 4th down and a half yard to go with a 7 point lead with around 5 1/2 minutes left in the game. Kansas had John Riggins and he got stuffed on fourth and a half yard. Yes, I agree! A fieldgoal puts you up by 10. Especially in a defensive game like this game was! At the time I wanted to go for it, but I was too young at the time to understand strategy.

[@robins1016]

I was at that game 13 years old my dad wanted to leave in the middle of the fourth quarter because he thought Penn State had lost and I convinced him to stay just because I wanted to stay and see the whole game turned out to be a great game I will never forget it thanks for the Post

[@ftsjr]

I remember watching this game. I was just a child, but I thought it was thrilling.

[@georgesealy4706]

I was a junior at PSU when this game was played. The Orange Bowl on Jan 1st night was always a big deal as it was the last game of the year. This was a very physical game, and I was disappointed at how it was going. I figured they were losers as time wound down. They couldn't get the offense going. Then Burkhart threw the Hail Mary and the rest is history. It was an exciting end to a good year. It was hard to sleep that night. Then I had the fun of going back to campus a couple of days later for all the festivities.

[@4736dmr]

Was a great year for college football; earlier, before this game, Ohio St had stopped USC, and Simpson in the Rose Bowl to finish no. 1, with that great sophomore team

[@amypeterson4615]

One of my favorite college football games of all time.

[@swimp_stew_pawpaw1006]

I will never forget thus game. Wish they had whole game available. Penn St QB Burchardt was undefeated as a high school and college starter. And of course ol Riggo played for Kansas along with Bobby Douglas at QB. Great game!

[@swimp_stew_pawpaw1006]

@@Nanu67-e9j but Riggo got the last laugh at the next level...

[@johnhebert3855]

Growing up in New England, Pennsylvania State was the closest good college football team to us (this was before Doug Flutie and BC) so I was a big fan. This game was one of my favorites, very exciting. The 1982 Penn State/Nebraska game wasn't too bad either.

[@torpedo58]

@@swimp_stew_pawpaw1006 Fire up that Diesel!!!🚛🚛

[@Vgy926]

Jim Simpson on the play-by-play.

[@adambaum9732]

Kansas had 12 men on the field for 4 consecutive plays, but they only got flagged for the first 2 point conversion try.

[@brianarbenz7206]

I remember on the Today Show the next morning Joe Garagiola reported the discovery via film of the 12 in that whole last series. Imagine if the refs had never caught it - Paterno would have been livid. He was livid anyway because his team lost in the balloting to Ohio State for the national title.

[@stephencabrera9476]

I’m sorry but paterno could have been mad as he wanted to be but they would have been beat soundly by one of the greatest football teams of all times,the 1968 Ohio state Buckeyes

[@adambaum9732]

@@brianarbenz7206 Penn State had a hard time beating a weak Kansas team, Ohio State would have trounced Penn State that year!

[@johnhebert3855]

Next year's Penn State/Missouri matchup wasn't bad either.

[@okay.3746]

That orange logo tho

[@jim7297]

WTF? Was this game played in 1939? Nice film.

[@roberthenry9319]

The game was played 55 years ago.

[@tonyfanella3267]

KU had 12 men on field for three straight plays.....

[@brandonvandelden7972]

It was 4 consecutive plays

[@hughroberts7223]

@@brandonvandelden7972 Those officials were "on the ball".

[@patbrooks9823]

And Penn State still scored the TD. 😮

[@MegaJohnf1]

do you have the rest of the game? Looks like an exciting game.

[@MegaJohnf1]

would love to watch the rest of the game.

[@MegaJohnf1]

I like watching the old bowl games

[@MegaJohnf1]

@Darell Smith -Maybe you can post the rest.

[@nicknam8478]

I always heard that Kansas had to many men on the field so for the 2nd try they still had to many on the field. the 1st time they had 13 so one came off and then they had 12 for the second try.

[@orangehoof]

Looks reminiscent of the 1972 Olympic Gold Medal basketball game where the officials let USSR try over and over at the end until they got the winning points.