The 2005 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head coach was Joe Paterno. It played its home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Previous season The Nittany Lions were coming off of back-to-back losing seasons, finishing 3–9 in 2003 and 4–7 in 2004, capping a stretch from late 1999 where Minnesota upset the #2 Nittany Lions with a late field goal until the goal line stand at Indiana that featured four of five seasons being losing seasons and the lone winning season in 2002 featuring many frustrating close losses. This stretch was called "The Dark Years", sometimes including 2002 as well. The team finished the 2004 season with wins over Indiana and Michigan State, which helped springboard momentum into the 2005 season that gave many optimism for the 2005 Nittany Lions. Preseason The team returned 18 starters from last year's squad. Eight starters returned on offense, led by starting quarterback Michael Robinson who has also played at wide receiver, tailback, and punt returner during his first three years at Penn State. Robinson played exclusively under center after the graduation of Zack Mills. Nine defensive starters return from a unit did not allow more than 21 points in a game in 2004. Also returning was safety Chris Harrell who suffered a neck injury in 2003 and missed the 2004 season. Michael Robinson, Alan Zemaitis, and Paul Posluszny were elected tri-captains of the football team in 2005. Posluszny was the first junior captain since 1968. Penn State started the season unranked in both the AP and the Coaches college football preseason polls. Recruiting class Pre-season awards Alan Zemaitis Second-team Sporting News All-American Third-team Street & Smith's All-American First-team Sporting News All-Big Ten Schedule Penn State did not play Big Ten teams Indiana and Iowa this year. Personnel Roster Coaching staff Joe Paterno – Head Coach Dick Anderson – Offensive Line (Guards and Centers) Tom Bradley – Defensive Coordinator and Cornerbacks Galen Hall – Offensive Coordinator and Running Backs Larry Johnson, Sr. – Defensive Line Bill Kenney – Offensive Tackles and Tight Ends Mike McQueary – Wide Receivers and Recruiting Coordinator Brian Norwood – Safeties Jay Paterno – Quarterbacks Ron Vanderlinden – Linebackers John Thomas – Strength and Conditioning Game summaries September 3: South Florida Penn State opened the season by defeating the Bulls 23–13. In