Lydell Mitchell once envisioned himself as a corporate lawyer when his football playing days were over. He never figured he would be national sales manager of a bakery company in business with his former Penn State teammate and roommate Franco Harris.

"I was a political science and history major but I had always thought I would be involved in business in some way," Mitchell said. "I just didn't think it would be on the sales, marketing and distribution side."

Mitchell is now part owner and National Sales Manager of Super Bakery, Inc., a Pittsburgh based company that produces bakery goods such as fortified donuts, cinnamon buns and other breakfast items with an emphasis on providing better nutrition for school age children. The bakery goods are fortified with minerals, vitamins, and protein.

Mitchell was operating his own speakers' bureau and Public Relations Company out of his Baltimore home in the mid 1980s when Harris asked him to get involved with one of Harris' enterprises. "Franco had always stayed in touch and I started doing some sales and marketing things with squeezed orange juice and fruit bars," Mitchell said. "We got involved with Super Bakery in 1990 and the rest just evolved."

Mitchell said the fact that Super Bakery markets their products to schools is one of the most satisfying parts of his job. "I get to meet a lot of great people, really down to earth people," he said. "You go to the various school systems and you talk to the administrators and teachers and that gives you the opportunity to be part of the fiber of the community. It's a lot of fun."

Mitchell and Harris also partnered to revive the Parks Sausage Company in Baltimore. Parks Sausage was a well-known east coast brand dating from 1951 but the owners were looking for a buyer when Harris and Mitchell took over in September of 1996. It is now one of the nation's foremost minority businesses.

Mitchell's football career was equally successful. He in one of Penn State's all-time great running backs (169-71) and still holds several team records, including most touchdowns in a career (41) and one season (29 in 1971). For 22 years, he also held the single season rushing record (1,567 yards on 254 carries set in 1971) until it was broken by Larry Johnson.

Mitchell's 29 TDs in 1971, which included three on pass receptions, made him the country's leading scorer that year and a consensus All-American. He also finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting, won by Pat Sullivan of Auburn. At the time, Mitchell set three NCAA records for TDs, TDs by rushing and most points per season and his 174 points is still the fourth best in NCAA history. Mitchell also is still sixth in career rushing at State with 2,934 yards on 501 carries and his 5.9 yards be rush average is third only to Ki-Jana Carter's 7.2 yards and Larry Johnson's 6.4 yards. Furthermore, he is seventh in career kickoff returns with a 24.6 yard average on 19 runbacks.

Last December, Mitchell's college exploits of three decades ago were formally recognized when he was inducted into the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame. He is the 19th member of the Penn State football program to enter the Hall of Fame, joining 14 former players and coaches.

After graduating from Penn State, Mitchell went on to an outstanding career as a halfback with the Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Rams (1972-1980). He led the National Football League in receiving three different years and rushed for more than 1,000 yards during three seasons. He also was selected to the Pro Bowl three times.

Mitchell is a native of Salem, NJ, and currently lives in the Baltimore area with his wife, Jeanette. They have three sons.

Mitchell said he is extremely proud to be part of the Penn State family. "Penn State helped me in many ways and I'm more proud of the good education I received than the football side of it," Mitchell said. "You have to give up a lot as an athlete and there are a lot of things going on in you life. People are worshiping you and are around you constantly and if you get caught up in it you can get a big head. Penn State helped me there, especially Joe (Paterno). Joe told us many things over the years, things that he believed in and his philosophy, and we learned a tremendous amount from him. I wouldn't trade that for the world."