Hall of Fame
Position: Quarterback
Years: 1957-1959
Place of Birth: Glassport, PA
Date of Birth: Apr 15, 1938
Jersey Number: 33
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
High School: Glassport, PA (Glassport HS)
Penn State's "Riverboat Richie" Lucas was a three-year starter for Rip Engle's Nittany Lions. During his college career, he directed the team to a 21-8-1 record, including a 7-0 victory over Bear Bryant's Alabama squad in the first Liberty Bowl game played in Philadelphia. He led his 1959 team in rushing (325 yards), passed for 913 yards and five touchdowns, completed 58 of 117 passes, punted 20 times for a 34.0 yard average and returned five interceptions for 114 yards. Coach Rip Engle said, "I'll never forget the Illinois game. Illinois had a first down on the four, but four plays netted zero yards, with Richie making all four tackles - on both sides of the field - from his defensive halfback position." Earlier that year, in the season opener against Don Faurot's Missouri team, the 6-1, 185-pound Lucas completed 10 of 11 passes and won the game, 19-8, because he was so effective with his roll-out passing game. In 1959, playing both quarterback and safety, he was honored by numerous organizations. In addition, he was named winner of the Maxwell Trophy and finished second to Billy Cannon of LSU in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. He went on to play pro football before returning to Penn State as assistant athletic director.
