Getty After playing football as an independent for the previous 100 years, Penn State joined the Big Ten conference in time for the 1993 football season. Even though they became the 11 th member, the Nittany Lions fit in like they’d always belonged. Head Coach Joe Paterno’s teams played a physical, smash-mouth style of football and joined Michigan and Ohio State to become one of the best teams in the conference almost immediately. Meanwhile, Nebraska – still in the old Big Eight conference –