Higgins, "Bob" (Robert A.)
Football
b. 1894
d. June 6, 1969
After playing at Penn State from 1914 through 1916, Higgins entered the service during World War I and was named an end on Grantland Rice's all-Army team. He returned to captain the Penn State team to a 7-1-0 record in 1919 and was a Walter Camp All-American. In a 20-0 victory over Pittsburgh that season, Higgins caught a pass from Walter Hess and turned it into a 92-yard gain.
Higgins coached at West Virginia Wesleyan in 1920 and from 1922 through 1924, then went to Washington University in St. Louis for three seasons. He returned to Penn State as head coach in 1930 and remained there for 19 seasons, winning 91 games while losing 57 and tying 9.
Penn State won all 9 of its games in 1947 and tied Southern Methodist University 13-13 in the Rose Bowl. The school continued unbeaten through the first 6 games of 1948 before suffering a 7-0 upset by Pittsburgh that ended hopes for another bowl bid.
Ill health forced Higgins' retirement after the 1948 season, but he remained at Penn State as a special assistant in the Physical Education Department until November of 1951. His overall coaching record was 123-80-17.