Penn State’s longtime mascot is a common mountain lion, the kind that roamed the mountains near the school’s State College campus until the late 19th century. One of the Nittany Lions’ historic rivals, the Pitt Panthers, has a similar taxonomic nickname for a similar reason.

Penn State’s high-flying offense will have a major test on Thursday night against Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl thanks in part to a former Nittany Lion, Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator Al Golden. A tight end on the Nittany Lions from 1988-91,