PHILIPSBURGosceola FOOTBALL
District	Schedule		Roster	Game Notes		History		Luther Trophy	Memorial Field	QB Club
		Bill Luther Bill Luther’s athletic career began as an eighth grader at Morrisdale, Pennsylvania. The Jednota baseball team was short of manpower, so a young Bill Luther was recruited to play second base on the adult team. After playing tailback at Morris Township High School as a freshman, Luther would go on to earn All-State selections as a junior and senior at Osceola Mills High School. Luther played quarterback in the single wing offense and defensive back, in addition to kicking, punting and returning kicks for the Indians. Perhaps a wild 21-13 loss to State College in 1943, Luther’s junior year, solidified his playing at Penn State. Bob Higgins, Penn State’s head coach, visited Luther at home the following day and invited Luther to be a Nittany Lion. In March of 1945, Luther left high school to enroll early at Penn State and joined the baseball team. As a freshman, Luther went 3-0 during a ten game schedule. After serving as a Corporal in the United States Army, Luther returned to Penn State in 1947 for spring football. Penn State finished the season 9-0-1, tying Heisman Trophy winner Doak Walker and Southern Methodist University in the 1948 Cotton Bowl. Luther led the Nittany Lions with five interceptions that season. In 1949, Luther led the Nittany Lions in all-purpose yards (605), punt return average (13.4), punting (34.8) and interceptions (4). His 405 return yards were the most in school history until 1970 when Lydell Mitchell gained 410. Luther is on the school’s longest punt return list with an 80-yard return in 1949. The Baltimore Colts drafted Luther as a defensive back in 1950, but after a major trade brought change to the Colts, Luther was released from the team eight games into the season. Luther began his coaching career at Connellsville in 1951 before being the head coach at Bellefonte from 1952 to 1972. While at Bellefonte, Luther posted a record of 107-80-7, with an undefeated season in 1954 (10-0) and 1968 (9-0). He was named coach of the year after the 1954 season. During his 21 years coaching at Bellefonte, Luther produced 21 All-State players, three Big 33 participants and two All-Americans. In 1973, Luther coached in the Big 33 game where Pennsylvania defeated Ohio, 21-19. In 1989 and 1991, Luther was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and Pennsylvania State Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, respectively. Bill Luther passed away in 1996, he was 68. Today, the memory of Coach Luther is honored by the Philipsburg-Osceola and Bellefonte football rivalry. The winning team of the annual football game captures the traveling trophy that bears his name. (Special thanks to Todd Irwin and Bud O’Brien for information used)
Luther Trophy
Bill Luther
Philipsburg-Osceola Senior High School 502 Philips Street Philipsburg, Pennsylvania 16866 pomounties.org