Penn State Nittany Lions Home and Office

 

The Nittany Lion is the school symbol as well as the mascot of the Pennsylvania State University athletic teams. The mascot was accidentally created in 1904. It was the idea of a Penn State student, then on his senior year, H. D. “Joe” Mason while on the Princeton University campus for a baseball game. He was embarrassed that their school did not have their mascot especially when shown with the Princeton mascot, two Bengal Tigers. The Tigers supposedly represents the ruthless treatment the team would be getting from the Princeton team. So to save face he fabricated the existence of the Pen State Nittany Mountain Lion mascot. Luckily for them, Penn State defeated the Princeton team.

 

Upon Mason’s and the team’s return to campus, decided to write to the school publication regarding the need for their own symbol and mascot. He lamented the fact that all colleges worldwide have their own symbols except for the then Pennsylvania State College and further suggested that their best choice would be the lion, being the King of beasts. A very good choice indeed, because it happens that their college is situated near the Nittany mountain where the mountain lion once roamed freely.

 

The student body readily approved of the name without needing to vote for it. In 1907, lion symbols started appearing on campus, notably the placing of two African Lion statues made of alabaster on top of the columns at the entrance of the main campus located on the College and Allen streets. Students fondly called them “Ma” and “Pa”.

During the 40s, a new lion sculpture was made courtesy of the Class of 1940; it was made from a block of limestone and made by noted sculptor Heinz Warnecke. It had the likeness of the mountain lion indigenous to the area. The statue was finished and shown in 1942.

 

According to sources, the tradition of the appearance of a student dressed as a furry lion started during football games where some of the best professional players like Jack Ham, Jack Cappelletti who has the Jack Cappelletti Autographed Jersey - Penn State Custom 73 Heis We Are, and Dave Robinson who has the Autographed Dave Robinson Photo - 8x10 San once played.