All-American

Penn State football is in full swing and there is nothing quite like the experience of watching the Nittany Lions both in person and on television.  One resident had a difference experience than most, as a player. Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living resident at The Inn, Richie Lucas, played for Penn State as a quarterback from 1957 to 1959.  Richie, along with then head coach Rip Engle and assistant coach Joe Paterno, lead the team to a winning season in 1959 which ended with a big victory at the first ever Liberty Bowl in Philadelphia against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Richie, nicknamed “Riverboat Richie”, was the first ever Penn Stater to receive the Maxwell award and was runner up for the Heisman trophy in 1959.  He was later indicted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

After Penn State, Richie was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first-round of the 1960 NFL draft.  He went on to play quarterback, halfback, and defensive back for the Buffalo Bills and later for the Denver Broncos.  Richie decided to leave football in 1962 to serve in the Army during the Cuban Crisis.  He returned to Penn State, after serving in the military, to work in athletics administration and raise his two children here in State College.  Richie retired from Penn State as the assistant athletic director in 1998. During his 30+ years working at Penn State he worked with many coaches, including the late Joe Paterno. Richie said that working with Joe was nice. "He was a great guy! Very hard working."

Penn State’s football schedule for October

10/1 vs Minnesota

10/8 vs Maryland

10/22 vs Ohio State

10/29 at Purdue