Netflix has a documentary on about Yogi Berra. The case is made that Yogi may have been the most underappreciated star player of his time.
This got me thinking about who might be the most underappreciated star who played for Penn State? I exclude good players in this. I am looking for a star at the time he played who is more forgotten than appreciated today.
My choice? John Hufnagel, quarterback,, 1970-1972
John was the 3rd string quarterback at the beginning of the 1970 season. However, after awful losses to Colorado and Wisconsin, Joe Paterno turned to John and made him the starter. With Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell in the backfield, John led Penn State to a 6-1 record the rest of the year. There was no bowl game invitation that year.
In 1971 Penn State was a dominant team, led by Hufnagel and the offense. Huffy was a great ball handler and his athleticism was evident. The running game was led by Lydell Mitchell who scored 29 touchdowns, had 1,721 total yards, and Franco Harris and Tom Donchez averaged more than 5 yards a carry. Hufnagel ran the ball and passed very effectively. Only a loss to a top 10 Tennessee team @ Tennessee marred their record. In the Cotton Bowl Hufnagel led the team to a crushing 31-11 victory over Texas, a team that only a couple years before took the mythical national championship from them. The team finished #5 in the polls.
In 1972 Huffy passed for 2,039 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also running the ball very effectively. With Harris and Mitchell graduated, and Donchez missing the season, Penn State lost only 1 game, an opener to Tennessee, once again played at Tennessee. A converted safety, by the name of Cappelletti, was the leading rusher. Penn State relied upon Hufffy to lead a young team and he performed at a high level. With Cappy out due to the flu Penn State lost the Orange Bowl 14-0 to a great Oklahoma team. Once again the team finished #5 in the polls.
Huffy held many passing records when he graduated. These included single game passing records and being the first Penn State QB to throw for more than 2,000 yards in a season. He finished 6th in the Heisman Trophy voting his senior year. His record as a starter? 26-3 in regular season games is excellent for any quarterback, but especially for a guy who had to come off the bench as a sophomore in order to turn around a season headed in the wrong direction.
John made most of his professional career in Canada, though he did coach in the NFL. In Canada he is a legend as a player, a coach and an executive in the Canadian Football League.
Had Joe not decided to coach forever John very well could have been a top candidate to return to Penn State as head coach.
BTW, is Hufnagel one of the great football names or what?
This got me thinking about who might be the most underappreciated star who played for Penn State? I exclude good players in this. I am looking for a star at the time he played who is more forgotten than appreciated today.
My choice? John Hufnagel, quarterback,, 1970-1972
John was the 3rd string quarterback at the beginning of the 1970 season. However, after awful losses to Colorado and Wisconsin, Joe Paterno turned to John and made him the starter. With Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell in the backfield, John led Penn State to a 6-1 record the rest of the year. There was no bowl game invitation that year.
In 1971 Penn State was a dominant team, led by Hufnagel and the offense. Huffy was a great ball handler and his athleticism was evident. The running game was led by Lydell Mitchell who scored 29 touchdowns, had 1,721 total yards, and Franco Harris and Tom Donchez averaged more than 5 yards a carry. Hufnagel ran the ball and passed very effectively. Only a loss to a top 10 Tennessee team @ Tennessee marred their record. In the Cotton Bowl Hufnagel led the team to a crushing 31-11 victory over Texas, a team that only a couple years before took the mythical national championship from them. The team finished #5 in the polls.
In 1972 Huffy passed for 2,039 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also running the ball very effectively. With Harris and Mitchell graduated, and Donchez missing the season, Penn State lost only 1 game, an opener to Tennessee, once again played at Tennessee. A converted safety, by the name of Cappelletti, was the leading rusher. Penn State relied upon Hufffy to lead a young team and he performed at a high level. With Cappy out due to the flu Penn State lost the Orange Bowl 14-0 to a great Oklahoma team. Once again the team finished #5 in the polls.
Huffy held many passing records when he graduated. These included single game passing records and being the first Penn State QB to throw for more than 2,000 yards in a season. He finished 6th in the Heisman Trophy voting his senior year. His record as a starter? 26-3 in regular season games is excellent for any quarterback, but especially for a guy who had to come off the bench as a sophomore in order to turn around a season headed in the wrong direction.
John made most of his professional career in Canada, though he did coach in the NFL. In Canada he is a legend as a player, a coach and an executive in the Canadian Football League.
Had Joe not decided to coach forever John very well could have been a top candidate to return to Penn State as head coach.
BTW, is Hufnagel one of the great football names or what?
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