Kind of amazing when you think about it.
Penn State Fall Season Brings Five Championships
With an astounding 49-1 combined record and four perfect conference seasons, Penn State enjoyed the most successful season in Big Ten history.
The Nittany Lion football team brought one of five championships to University Park this fall.
Dec. 13, 2005
The trophy case on the campus of Penn State had a record number of new additions this fall, after five Nittany Lion teams won Big Ten championships. With an astounding 49-1 combined record and four perfect conference seasons, Penn State enjoyed the most successful season in Big Ten history, and has already won more championships in a single academic year than it ever has before.
The University Park campus celebrated the first-ever perfect conference season by the men's soccer team, a run to the College Cup by the women's soccer team, a rare unblemished volleyball record, another conference sweep by the field hockey team and the football team's first ever BCS Bowl berth. Individual honors were bestowed upon all five championship coaches, as well as several players who earned Big Ten Player of the Year accolades.
The men's soccer team enjoyed unprecedented success, as it won not only the top seed in the tournament with a 6-0 conference record, but justified that seeding by defeating Indiana in the championship final to win the Big Ten Championship. It marked the first time since 1975 that a team has beaten six-time national champion Indiana twice in one season, and the first nine-game win streak for the Lions since 1992. Barry Gorman led a team with only two seniors to the third round of the NCAA tournament, and for his efforts was a unanimous choice for Big Ten Coach of the Year. Six of his players were honored as first and second team All-Big Ten selections, which was the most from any school.
Not to be outdone, the women's soccer team had a record-breaking season of their own after winning their eighth consecutive Big Ten championship behind a 10-0 season. The Lady Lions' perfection was not limited to conference play. The team reached the College Cup semifinals and ended their season with a 23-0-2 record. The team's domination of conference play was rewarded with Paula Wilkens being named Coach of the Year, and six members of her team earning All-Big Ten honors. Senior Tiffany Weimer, a Hermann Award (National Player of the Year) candidate, broke Big Ten and national records with 31 goals in 23 games, including 17 straight games with a goal, en route to being a unanimous selection for the conference's Player of the Year. Defender Lindsay Bach was also honored with Defensive Player of the Year accolades, becoming the second consecutive Penn State player to earn the title after classmate Natalie Jacobs took home the honor in 2004.
The field hockey team added to the list of perfect seasons with a 6-0 Big Ten record, and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Char Morrett, Hall of Famer and Big Ten Coach of the Year, won her 300th game this season and lead her team to its fourth Big Ten title after a run of 17 straight wins. The Lions, ranked in the top 10 nationally throughout the season, were led offensively by Natalie Berrena, who picked up Offensive Player of the Year honors in the conference and was recognized nationally by being named first-team All-America. In total, four Penn State field hockey players were elected to All-Big Ten teams, and three to All-America teams.
The dominance of the Penn State women's volleyball team was demonstrated when the conference awards were announced, and the Lions had swept each of the four individual honors. Unanimously, Sam Tortorello and Nicole Fawcett were elected Player and Freshman of the Year, respectively, while Kaleena Walters picked up Defensive Player of the Year honors. Tororello was named first-team All-America, while AVCA Freshman of the Year Fawcett along with sophomore Melissa Walbridge picked up second team honors. Kaleena Walters and Christa Harmotto were honorable mention All-America selections. In a reward for posting a 20-0 Big Ten record and a No. 2 national ranking, Russ Rose was named the conference's Coach of the Year for the seventh time in his career. It was the sixth time since the schedule was re-formatted in 1985 that a Big Ten team posted a perfect conference season. Penn State advanced to the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament after winning its third-consecutive Big Ten Championship, its ninth since joining the conference in 1993.
With a 10-1 record, the Nittany Lion football team won its second Big Ten title and earned its first-ever BCS berth. Under coach Joe Paterno, who was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year, Penn State returned to the spotlight and is ranked No. 3 in the nation after it's best season since 1995. Paterno also earned the American Football Coaches Association's national Coach of the Year Award for the unprecedented fourth time. When they have the ball, the Lions are led by Offensive Player of the Year, Michael Robinson, who made the transition to full-time quarterback in his senior year. Robinson marshaled an offense that scored more points than any other team in conference play, averaging 35.8 per game. Defensively, Tamba Hali, Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Paul Posluszny led a defense among the best in a tough defensive conference. Posluszny recently picked up both the Butkis and Bednarick Awards, given to the nation's top linebacker and defenseman, respectively. The football team is the last fall sport still in competition at Penn State as it awaits ACC Champion Florida State in the Orange Bowl on January 3.
A total of 29 Penn State student-athletes were named to various All-Big Ten teams, with eight being individually honored as Players of the Year. Twelve Nittany Lions received national recognition with All-America honors, including National Freshman of the Year honors. In addition to success on the field or court, Penn State student-athletes shine in the classroom as well. The Nittany Lions were tied for most Academic All-Conference selections with 71, spread among the seven fall sports.
With a winning percentage of .980, Penn State is the only school in the country to be in the top-25 nationally in the five fall sports, and set a new Big Ten record for championships by a university in one season, breaking the previous mark of three.
It was a memorable season across the realm of Penn State athletics, and one that all involved wish to repeat in the near future. The student-athletes and coaches of the fall sports have certainly set a high bar for winter and spring teams to reach as they look to build upon their record-setting championship numbers.
http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121305aad.html
Penn State Fall Season Brings Five Championships
With an astounding 49-1 combined record and four perfect conference seasons, Penn State enjoyed the most successful season in Big Ten history.
The Nittany Lion football team brought one of five championships to University Park this fall.
Dec. 13, 2005
The trophy case on the campus of Penn State had a record number of new additions this fall, after five Nittany Lion teams won Big Ten championships. With an astounding 49-1 combined record and four perfect conference seasons, Penn State enjoyed the most successful season in Big Ten history, and has already won more championships in a single academic year than it ever has before.
The University Park campus celebrated the first-ever perfect conference season by the men's soccer team, a run to the College Cup by the women's soccer team, a rare unblemished volleyball record, another conference sweep by the field hockey team and the football team's first ever BCS Bowl berth. Individual honors were bestowed upon all five championship coaches, as well as several players who earned Big Ten Player of the Year accolades.
The men's soccer team enjoyed unprecedented success, as it won not only the top seed in the tournament with a 6-0 conference record, but justified that seeding by defeating Indiana in the championship final to win the Big Ten Championship. It marked the first time since 1975 that a team has beaten six-time national champion Indiana twice in one season, and the first nine-game win streak for the Lions since 1992. Barry Gorman led a team with only two seniors to the third round of the NCAA tournament, and for his efforts was a unanimous choice for Big Ten Coach of the Year. Six of his players were honored as first and second team All-Big Ten selections, which was the most from any school.
Not to be outdone, the women's soccer team had a record-breaking season of their own after winning their eighth consecutive Big Ten championship behind a 10-0 season. The Lady Lions' perfection was not limited to conference play. The team reached the College Cup semifinals and ended their season with a 23-0-2 record. The team's domination of conference play was rewarded with Paula Wilkens being named Coach of the Year, and six members of her team earning All-Big Ten honors. Senior Tiffany Weimer, a Hermann Award (National Player of the Year) candidate, broke Big Ten and national records with 31 goals in 23 games, including 17 straight games with a goal, en route to being a unanimous selection for the conference's Player of the Year. Defender Lindsay Bach was also honored with Defensive Player of the Year accolades, becoming the second consecutive Penn State player to earn the title after classmate Natalie Jacobs took home the honor in 2004.
The field hockey team added to the list of perfect seasons with a 6-0 Big Ten record, and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Char Morrett, Hall of Famer and Big Ten Coach of the Year, won her 300th game this season and lead her team to its fourth Big Ten title after a run of 17 straight wins. The Lions, ranked in the top 10 nationally throughout the season, were led offensively by Natalie Berrena, who picked up Offensive Player of the Year honors in the conference and was recognized nationally by being named first-team All-America. In total, four Penn State field hockey players were elected to All-Big Ten teams, and three to All-America teams.
The dominance of the Penn State women's volleyball team was demonstrated when the conference awards were announced, and the Lions had swept each of the four individual honors. Unanimously, Sam Tortorello and Nicole Fawcett were elected Player and Freshman of the Year, respectively, while Kaleena Walters picked up Defensive Player of the Year honors. Tororello was named first-team All-America, while AVCA Freshman of the Year Fawcett along with sophomore Melissa Walbridge picked up second team honors. Kaleena Walters and Christa Harmotto were honorable mention All-America selections. In a reward for posting a 20-0 Big Ten record and a No. 2 national ranking, Russ Rose was named the conference's Coach of the Year for the seventh time in his career. It was the sixth time since the schedule was re-formatted in 1985 that a Big Ten team posted a perfect conference season. Penn State advanced to the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament after winning its third-consecutive Big Ten Championship, its ninth since joining the conference in 1993.
With a 10-1 record, the Nittany Lion football team won its second Big Ten title and earned its first-ever BCS berth. Under coach Joe Paterno, who was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year, Penn State returned to the spotlight and is ranked No. 3 in the nation after it's best season since 1995. Paterno also earned the American Football Coaches Association's national Coach of the Year Award for the unprecedented fourth time. When they have the ball, the Lions are led by Offensive Player of the Year, Michael Robinson, who made the transition to full-time quarterback in his senior year. Robinson marshaled an offense that scored more points than any other team in conference play, averaging 35.8 per game. Defensively, Tamba Hali, Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Paul Posluszny led a defense among the best in a tough defensive conference. Posluszny recently picked up both the Butkis and Bednarick Awards, given to the nation's top linebacker and defenseman, respectively. The football team is the last fall sport still in competition at Penn State as it awaits ACC Champion Florida State in the Orange Bowl on January 3.
A total of 29 Penn State student-athletes were named to various All-Big Ten teams, with eight being individually honored as Players of the Year. Twelve Nittany Lions received national recognition with All-America honors, including National Freshman of the Year honors. In addition to success on the field or court, Penn State student-athletes shine in the classroom as well. The Nittany Lions were tied for most Academic All-Conference selections with 71, spread among the seven fall sports.
With a winning percentage of .980, Penn State is the only school in the country to be in the top-25 nationally in the five fall sports, and set a new Big Ten record for championships by a university in one season, breaking the previous mark of three.
It was a memorable season across the realm of Penn State athletics, and one that all involved wish to repeat in the near future. The student-athletes and coaches of the fall sports have certainly set a high bar for winter and spring teams to reach as they look to build upon their record-setting championship numbers.
http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121305aad.html
