By Darin The date November 15, 1890, marks the birth of Gene “Shorty” Miller, a diminutive but dazzling quarterback for Penn State who forever changed the rivalry with Penn.
In the highly anticipated 1911 game against rival Penn, the opposing captain won the coin toss and made the “fatal mistake” of electing to kick off. Miller, the Nittany Lions’ sophomore quarterback, took that opening kickoff and immediately weaved 95 yards for a touchdown, setting the tone for Penn State’s massive 22-6 victory.
Minutes later, Miller scored again, this time on a 32-yard run, and Penn was demoralized. The Nittany Lions went on to a 22-6 victory and the first of two undefeated seasons—College Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
Football Accolades and Accomplishments
- Penn State Quarterback: Played quarterback for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 1910 through 1913, missing only one game during his four-year career.
- “Meteoric Midget”: His short stature (5’5″) and explosive play earned him the memorable nickname, “The Meteoric Midget.”
- Record-Setting Kickoff Return: Scored a game-changing touchdown in the 1911 Penn game with a 95-yard kickoff return.
- Dominant Rushing: Scored a second touchdown in the 1911 Penn game on a 32-yard run, demoralizing the favored opponent.
- Undefeated Seasons: Led Penn State to two undefeated seasons during his tenure, contributing to a career record of 23-8-2.
- College Rushing Record: Rushed for 250 yards against Carnegie Tech in 1913, setting a Penn State single-game rushing record that stood for 68 years (and remains the single-game rushing record for a Penn State quarterback).
- Hall of Fame: Gene “Shorty” Miller was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
