He is a living encyclopedia of Penn State football.

His career spanned five presidential administrations, the first ever moon walk, the rise and fall of Elvis Presley and over 190 Penn State football games.

He has seen three undefeated teams, the school's first-ever national championship, and the only Nittany Lion to receive the coveted Heisman Trophy.

Fran Fisher began his radio career in 1966. The very same year that saw the dawning of a new era in Penn State football: Joe Paterno's inaugural season as head coach.

"It was a nice situation to have my first year on the network coincide with Coach Paterno's first year as head coach," Fisher said. "He was always very cooperative."

From 1966-1982, Fisher was the voice of Nittany Lion football. For the first three years he was the color commentator, and for the remainder of his tenure he did play-by-play.

"Fran was as good an ambassador for Penn State as anyone could ask for," Sports Information Director L. Budd Thalman said. "He was an excellent broadcaster who worked hard to perfect his craft."

Similar to the now retired Michael Jordan, Fisher left broadcasting at the pinnacle of his career. His final broadcast was Penn State's 27-23 Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia, giving the Nittany Lions their first-ever national title.

"This was my only broadcast of a bowl game," Fisher said. "Very often networks owned the rights to those games, but we were allowed to do this one, so it was a great ending for me."

To capture the contest, and the designation as the best college team in America for 1982, Penn State needed to contain Georgia's Heisman Trophy winner and star tailback Herschel Walker.

The Nittany Lion defense did just that, limiting the Bulldog superstar to 103 yards on 28 carries.

"I saw it happen against Marcus Allen and I saw it happen way back against another Heisman winner named Gary Beban," Fisher said. "So when I saw it happen to Walker, I was not surprised at all."

Fisher vividly recalls the 1982 team's thrilling comeback victory against Nebraska, and the devastation the team felt following its 42-21 loss to Alabama two weeks later.

"I'll never forget the trip back from Birmingham," he remembered. "Nobody on that airplane thought, at that moment, that Penn State could rebound and win a national championship."

It's a credit to that group of players and to the coaching staff, that they were able to regroup and accomplish what they did, Fisher said.

Following that remarkable campaign, several of the Nittany Lions continued on to distinguished careers in professional football. Among that group was running back Curt Warner.

"Warner was an excellent football player," Fisher said. "He was determined to succeed and he really made his mark with the Seattle Seahawks."

Before the Sugar Bowl win, and subsequent national title, Penn State won 31 consecutive games from 1967-1969. But this tremendous achievement was never acknowledged with the No. 1 ranking at season's end.

"I felt a team good enough to go undefeated and beat the Big Eight champion two years in a row, should be recognized," Fisher said. "They weren't, and the rap against them was the schedule."

At that time, Penn State was not the household name in college football that it is today. Because of this, Fisher feels that if such a streak occured today, the Nittany Lions would undoubtedly be crowned national champions.

"It's very tough to compare teams," said Fisher. "But the undefeated teams of 1968 and 1969 were two of the greatest defensive football teams I have ever seen."

Having been around so many excellent defensive players, Fisher has seen his share of great linebackers, especially at the school known as 'Linebacker U.'

"I think the best athlete to ever play the position here was Jack Ham," Fisher said. "He ran well, he could dunk a basketball and he was a very, very intelligent player."

In Penn State's defensive system, linebackers are vital to the success of the team. It takes gifted athletes and smart players to be productive there, Fisher said.

Over the years, the University has seen its share of offensive greatness as well.

In what may have been the most phenomenal year a Nittany Lion has ever had, halfback John Cappelletti finished the 1973 season as the recipient of college football's biggest individual honor. The offensive star led his team to a 12-0 record, and he is the only player in Penn State history to have won the Heisman Trophy.

"John was a great, great football player," Fisher said. "Winning that award was a terrific accomplishment for him, and he certainly deserved it."

Fisher totally supports Penn State's move to the Big Ten. But like many other long-time followers of Nittany Lion football, he will miss traditional rivals like Pittsburgh, Syracuse and West Virginia.

One game sticks out in his mind as particularly memorable. In 1981, Penn State traveled to Pitt Stadium for a game against No. 1 Pitt. The Panthers were led by strong-armed quarterback Dan Marino and a defense that boasted many future NFL players.

Penn State spotted the home team 14 points, but then Todd Blackledge and Kenny Jackson went to work. The duo sparked an offensive explosion that produced a 48-14 win.

"The 1981 game against Pitt was an awesome performance," Fisher said. "To beat a rival like that on the road was tremendous."

Despite the incredible success Paterno has enjoyed at Penn State, last year's slow finish prompted some to question if the game had finally passed him by.

"I'm convinced that the game has not, and will never, pass Joe Paterno by," said Fisher. "Joe is the youngest 67-year-old man I've ever known."

Penn State has always demanded much from its student-athletes. Several reasons can be pointed to in an effort to explain the success of the program.

"The tradition started by Rip Engle and continued by Coach Paterno is one of academic and athletic excellence," Fisher said. "They've always stressed to the kids that they are here to get an education first and play football second."

Fisher remains active in following Penn State football. He hosts several radio call-in shows and is a consultant to the company owning the video rights to Nittany Lion football.

"Not doing the games on radio gives me a chance to relax more," he said. "I can enjoy the tailgating and watch the games as a fan."