What makes a lion "Nittany," anyway? According to the Penn State website, before 1904, the school didn't even have a mascot, save for a work mule named "Old Coaly" that helped in construction ...
The reality of the Nittany Lion isn’t nearly as exotic or mysterious as its name might indicate. Penn State’s longtime mascot is a common mountain lion, the kind that roamed the mountains near ...
So, what is a Nittany Lion? The Nittany Lion is more than just a symbol of Penn State University; it’s a nod to the mountain lions that once roamed the Keystone State. Known by many names ...