1989 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1989 Penn State Nittany Lions football Penn State text logo.svg 250 Independent 14 15 8–3–1 Joe Paterno 24th Fran Ganter 6th Pro-style Jerry Sandusky 13th 4–3 Brian Chizmar Andre Collins Blair Thomas Beaver Stadium Eastern championHoliday Bowl champion Holiday Bowl W 50–39 vs. BYU The 1989 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 24th-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 8–3–1. Penn State was invited to the Holiday Bowl, where the Nittany Lions defeated BYU. The team played home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Schedule 1989 AP Eastern September 9 1:00 p.m. l 12 Virginia Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 6–14 85,956 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-penn-state-sho/140155536/ The Philadelphia Inquirer Penn State shocked in opener, 14–6 September 10, 1989 February 3, 2024 Newspapers.com September 16 1:00 p.m. w Temple Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 42–3 78,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/centre-daily-times-lions-rout-lifts-glo/173779931/ Centre Daily Times Lions' rout lifts gloom from Happy Valley September 17, 1989 June 4, 2025 Newspapers.com September 23 1:00 p.m. w Boston College Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 7–3 85,651 https://www.newspapers.com/article/york-sunday-news-penn-state-defeats-bc/173782558/ York Sunday News Penn State defeats B.C. on late score September 24, 1989 June 4, 2025 Newspapers.com September 30 8:00 p.m. w y Texas Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, TX 16–12 75,232 https://www.newspapers.com/article/abilene-reporter-news-penn-state-downs-t/173856306/ The Abilene Reporter-News Penn State downs Texas on late blocked punt October 1, 1989 June 4, 2025 Newspapers.com October 7 1:00 p.m. w y Rutgers Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ 17–0 52,688 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-news-penn-st-blanks-rutgers/173783818/ The Courier-News Penn St. blanks Rutgers October 8, 1989 June 4, 2025 Newspapers.com October 14 4:00 p.m. w y 23 Syracuse Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY rivalry ESPN 34–12 49,876 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-penn-states-vindication/173855407/ The Record Penn State's vindication October 15, 1989 June 4, 2025 Newspapers.com October 28 2:30 p.m. l 14 Alabama 6 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry CBS 16–17 85,975 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71574176/blocked-kick-shocks-lions/ The Times Leader Blocked kick shocks Lions October 29, 1989 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com November 4 4:00 p.m. w y 16 West Virginia 13 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry ESPN 19–9 85,911 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-leader-lions-jump-on-major-mis/140138758/ The Times Leader Lions jump on Major mistakes November 5, 1989 February 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 11 1:00 p.m. t y 13 Maryland Memorial Stadium Baltimore, MD rivalry 13–13 61,215 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-penn-state-views/140181814/ The South Bend Tribune Penn State views tie as a loss November 12, 1989 February 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 18 2:30 p.m. l 17 Notre Dame 1 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry CBS 23–34 86,025 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-notre-dame-grinds/173856442/ The Kalamazoo Gazette Notre Dame grinds down Penn State November 19, 1989 June 4, 2025 Newspapers.com November 25 12:00 p.m. w y 22 Pittsburgh 19 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry CBS 16–13 57,158 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-penn-states-1613-win/173856006/ The Baltimore Sun Penn State's 16–13 win over Pitt gives the boot to team's critics November 26, 1989 June 4, 2025 Newspapers.com December 29 Friday 8:00 p.m. w y 18 BYU 19 Jack Murphy Stadium San Diego, CA Holiday Bowl ESPN 50–39 61,113 https://www.newspapers.com/article/centre-daily-times-lions-enjoy-holiday/173856541/ Centre Daily Times Lions enjoy Holiday December 30, 1989 June 4, 2025 Newspapers.com Game summaries Virginia November 2022 Temple November 2022 Boston College November 2022 At Texas November 2022 vs Rutgers November 2022 At Syracuse November 2022 Alabama November 2022 West Virginia November 2022 At Maryland November 2022 Notre Dame Penn State Nittany Lions 2; text-align:center collapsed #1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10–0) at #17 Penn State Nittany Lions (6–2–1) November 18, 1989 2:30 p.m. Notre Dame 7 14 7 6 Penn St 7 3 7 6 Beaver Stadium, State College, Pennsylvania 86,025 CBS Recap/Box First quarter PSU – Blair Thomas 2-yard run (Ray Tarasi kick), 8:04. Penn St 7–0. Drive: 79 yards. ND – Tony Rice 5-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 2:19. Tie 7–7. Drive: 13 plays, 65 yards. Second quarter PSU – Ray Tarasi 38-yard field goal, 13:46. Penn St 10–7. ND – Ricky Watters 12-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 11:35. Notre Dame 14–10. Drive: 6 plays, 58 yards. ND – Anthony Johnson 1-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 5:27. Notre Dame 21–10. Third quarter ND – Tony Rice 1-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 8:42. Notre Dame 28–10. Drive: 6 plays. PSU – Blair Thomas 3-yard run (Ray Tarasi kick), 4:49. Notre Dame 28–17. Drive: 79 yards. Fourth quarter ND – Billy Hackett 22-yard field goal, 13:33. Notre Dame 31–17. ND – Billy Hackett 19-yard field goal, 6:53. Notre Dame 34–17. PSU – Terry Smith 5-yard pass from Tom Bill (run failed), 4:31. Notre Dame 34–23. Top passers ND – Tony Rice – 5/10, 47 yards, INT PSU – Tom Bill – 6/14, 56 yards, TD Top rushers ND – Tony Rice – 26 rushes, 141 yards, 2 TD PSU – Blair Thomas – 26 rushes, 133 yards, 2 TD Top receivers ND – Raghib Ismail – 2 receptions, 27 yards PSU – O.J. McDuffie – 2 receptions, 37 yards right Full game (part 1) Full game (part 2) Full game (part 3) Game highlights At Pittsburgh November 2022 Holiday Bowl (vs BYU) November 2022 Personnel 1989 Penn State Nittany Lions f 20 Fr Richie Anderson RB y Richie Anderson (American football) 12 Jr Tom Bill QB 27 Jr Gary Brown Gary Brown (running back) FB y 23 Gerry Collins RB 26 Jr David Daniels David Daniels (American football) WR y 78 Sr Roger Duffy Roger Duffy (American football) C y 71 Sr Tim Freeman OL 11 So Sam Gash FB y 34 So John Gerak RB y 89 So Al Golden TE y 86 Sr David Jakob TE 57 Sr Sean Love OL y Matt McCartin OL 24 So O.J. McDuffie WR y 60 Sr Ed Monaghan OL 14 Fr Matt Nardolillo QB 29 Fr Brian O'Neal RB y Rich Rosa WR 19 So Tony Sacca QB y So E. J. Sandusky C y 76 Jr Paul Siever OT y 8 So Terry Smith WR y Terry Smith (American football, born 1969) 79 Sr Dave Szott OG y 32 Sr Blair Thomas RB y 44 Jr Leroy Thompson RB y Leroy Thompson (running back) 80 Sr Todd Young TE 13 So Matt Baggott DB 67 Fr Todd Burger DL 48 So Brian Chizmar LB 31 Sr Andre Collins LB y 38 So Mark D'Onofrio LB y 72 So Jim Deter DL 85 Jr Frank Giannetti DT y 58 Fr Reggie Givens LB y 42 So Keith Goganious LB y 40 Jr Hernon Henderson DB 6 So Leonard Humphries DB y Geoff Lapchen LB 9 So Darren Perry S y 36 Sr Sherrod Rainge DB 75 Sr Rich Schonewolf DL 25 Jr Willie Thomas DB 4 Sr Doug Helkowski P Ray Tarasi K http://www.nittanyanthology.com/89roster.doc *Joe Paterno Fran Ganter (OC) Jerry Sandusky (DC) NFL draft Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1990 NFL draft. Round Pick Overall Name Position Team 1st 2 2 Blair Thomas Running back New York Jets 2nd 21 46 Andre Collins Linebacker Washington Redskins 7th 15 180 David Szott Offensive guard Kansas City Chiefs 8th 3 196 Roger Duffy Offensive guard New York Jets References Penn State Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football seasons Category:Holiday Bowl champion seasons Category:Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy seasons Penn State Nittany Lions football Category:Long stubs with short prose