What the heck is a nittany?

Factual Questions
1

Just what I asked.

I saw a license plate frame on a car ahead of me at the bank for the “Penn State Nittany Lions.” My wife asked me what it meant. I was stumped. I mean, I know what the team is, and what scholl it is from. But what the hell is a “Nittany Lion?” As opposed to a regular old lion, for example.

2

I think it is yet another name for cougar/mountain lion. Specifically ones native (or formerly native) to Pennsylvania.

3

Twenty seconds on Yahoo.

4

Here you go.

5

Mount Nittany is near the University Park campus (the original campus) of Penn State. I don’t know if there ever actually were mountain lions on Mount Nittany, actually. Here is a webpage with some facts (and legends) about the Nittany Lion.

6

Thank you. I don’t Yahoo, and Google didn’t give me much. I knew the Dope would come through! :smiley:

7

Less ferocious, but certainly tastier, is the Mount Nittany from the College Diner in State College across from the Penn State campus. A big scoop of ice cream on top of a grilled sticky bun. Mmmmmm.

8

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!

I was going to mention the Mount Nittany. And the Diner generally. But I hit submit and forgot.

I know I gained 20 pounds when I was going to Penn State on Mount Nittanys alone…