Joe Bedenk was head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions football team in 1949 after coaching the offensive line for several years. After a single 5-4 season, Bedenk requested a return to coaching the offensive line, and Penn State brought in Rip Engle as head coach. The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the United States.