Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1305106
terno's turnaround 1967 season forced Campbell to the sidelines, and the sopho- more Pittman began emerging as a super- star. Campbell missed almost four games in '68 with a dislocated shoulder, but along with the Lions' great defense, he and Pittman were keys to the success of that team. Campbell was a clutch player, and he showed it in the last minute of the Orange Bowl when he surprised the Kansas defense with a sensational 48- yard pass reception to the Jayhawks' 3- yard line. That play set up a touchdown by Chuck Burkart and a run by Campbell for the two-point conversion that won the game, 15-14. The next season, Pittman became a 9rst-team All-American. LYDELL MITCHELL FRANCO HARRIS 1970-71 This could be Penn State's all-time best tandem, and their great partnership began in 1969, when both players were sophomores and were technically back- ups. Mitchell was pushing the All- American Pittman, while Harris's star began rising when he made his 9rst ca- reer start at fullback in the pivotal 9;h game at Syracuse. Filling in for the in- jured Don Abbey, Harris scored two touchdowns and two points on a con- version, as the Lions escaped with a 15- 14 victory that preserved the second consecutive undefeated season and an- other No. 2 ranking in the polls. But Harris was o;en in Paterno's doghouse throughout his career. Meanwhile, Mitchell set three NCAA scoring records in 1971 with 174 points, 29 total touchdowns and 26 rushing TDs. He broke many team records, be- coming an All-American and 9nishing 9;h in the Heisman Trophy voting. Mitchell was also the out- standing o:ensive player in the 1972 Cotton Bowl, a game that Pa- terno said the Nittany Lions "had to win," and one that they did win, coming from behind in the second half to upset Texas, 30-6. JOHN CAPPELLETTI TOM DONCHEZ 1973 Cappelletti might have won the Heis- man Trophy in 1973 even without Donchez as his fullback, as the Lions went undefeated and 9nished No. 4 in the polls. However, the running and blocking by Donchez made it easier. Cappelletti's accomplishments that season are well known and don't need to be mentioned here except to say that no Penn State running back deserved the Heisman more than Cappy. Paterno's benching of Harris during the 1971 season gave Donchez several starts in his FULL HOUSE Williams (44) and Warner (25) made up one of PSU's most suc- cessful running back tandems. Photo courtesy of Penn State Athletics