Penn State’s Mythical Mountain Lion
Roaring Since 1907 at Beaver Stadium
State College, PA · Various Sports
★Mascot Hall of Fame — Class of 2017
| Team / Organization | Pennsylvania State University |
|---|---|
| Location | State College, PA |
| League / Division | NCAA (Big Ten) |
| First Debuted | 1907 (as a symbol); costumed mascot since the 1940s–1950s |
| Species / Type | Mountain lion / Puma (the Nittany Lion is a regionally specific mythical mountain lion of Nittany Valley) |
| Best Known For | One of college football’s oldest mascots, the White Out tradition at 106,000-capacity Beaver Stadium, Penn State’s athletic identity |
| Year Inducted | 2017 |
Profile
The Nittany Lion is one of college football’s oldest and most storied mascots, tied to a mountain lion indigenous to the Nittany Valley region of central Pennsylvania. The species itself was invented by a Penn State student in 1907, though it’s based on real mountain lions that historically roamed the Appalachian ridges. Today the Nittany Lion roars alongside 106,000 Beaver Stadium fans during legendary White Out games.
Fun Facts
- The Nittany Lion was ‘officially’ created in 1907 when Penn State student Joe Mason invented the scientific name Felis nittanensis to describe a mountain lion unique to Nittany Valley — a wholly fictional species that has nonetheless become an entirely real symbol.
- The modern costumed Nittany Lion suit weighs over 50 pounds and must be rotated among multiple performers due to the extreme physical demands of game days at Beaver Stadium.
- Penn State’s ‘White Out’ game tradition — where 106,000+ fans dress entirely in white — is considered one of the most intimidating home-field atmospheres in college football, and the Nittany Lion is at the center of it every time.
