1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football Penn State text logo.svg Independent 1 1 11–1 Joe Paterno 17th Dick Anderson 2nd Pro-style Jerry Sandusky 6th 4–3 Walker Lee Ashley Ken Kelley Stuart McMunn Pete Speros Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania Consensus national championSugar Bowl championEastern champion Sugar Bowl W 27–23 vs. Georgia The 1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 17th-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 11–1. Penn State defeated the Georgia Bulldogs, 27–23, in the Sugar Bowl to win Paterno's first consensus national championship. The team was selected national champion by AP, Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, FACT, FB News, Football Research, FW, Litkenhous, Matthews, NCF, NFF, The New York Times, Poling, Sagarin, Sagarin (ELO-Chess), Sporting News, UPI/coaches, and USA/CNN, while named co-champion by Helms.http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2018/FBS.pdf 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records National Collegiate Athletic Association August 2018 December 10, 2018 114 Schedule 1982 AP Eastern September 4 1:30 p.m. w 8 Temple Beaver Stadium University Park, PA ESPN (tape delay) 31–14 80,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/courier-post-penn-state-thumps-owls-on-e/166033049/ Courier-Post Penn State thumps Owls on early scores September 5, 1982 February 18, 2025 Newspapers.com September 11 1:30 p.m. w 7 Maryland Beaver Stadium University Park, PA TCS rivalry 39–31 84,597 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-penn-state-rallies-to-edge-m/139783638/ The Sunday News Penn State rallies to edge Maryland September 12, 1982 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com September 18 1:30 p.m. w 8 Rutgers Beaver Stadium University Park, PA TCS 49–14 83,268 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-record-wide-open-penn-state-crushe/166036825/ Daily Record Wide-open Penn State crushes Rutgers, 49–14 September 19, 1982 February 18, 2025 Newspapers.com September 25 3:50 p.m. w 8 Nebraska 2 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA CBS 27–24 85,304 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-penn-state-comeba/166131526/ The Sioux City Journal Penn State comeback kills Huskers' hopes September 26, 1982 February 18, 2025 Newspapers.com October 9 1:30 p.m. l y 3 Alabama 4 Legion Field Birmingham, AL rivalry CBS 21–42 76,821 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71533119/bama-brings-penn-state-back-to-earth/ The Philadelphia Inquirer 'Bama brings Penn State back to earth October 10, 1982 February 19, 2021 Newspapers.com October 16 1:30 p.m. w y 8 Syracuse Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry TCS 28–7 84,762 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-lions-running-game-wa/166031862/ The Times-Tribune Lions' running game wakes up in 28–7 triumph October 17, 1982 February 18, 2025 Newspapers.com October 23 1:30 p.m. w y 9 West Virginia 13 Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV rivalry USA 24–0 60,958 https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-penn-states-defe/139790503/ Democrat and Chronicle Penn State's defense devastates W. Virginia October 24, 1982 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com October 30 1:30 p.m. w y 8 Boston College Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA TCS 52–17 33,205 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-penn-state-destroys-bc/166129354/ Boston Sunday Globe Penn State destroys BC October 31, 1982 February 18, 2025 Newspapers.com November 6 1:30 p.m. w 7 NC State Beaver Stadium University Park, PA TCS 54–0 84,837 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-nittany-lions-follow-n/139788043/ The Sunday Times Nittany Lions follow new script November 7, 1982 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com November 13 3:50 p.m. w y 5 Notre Dame 13 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry ABC 24–14 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-penn-state-stops-iri/166126992/ The Macon Telegraph & News Penn State stops Irish November 14, 1982 February 18, 2025 Newspapers.com November 26 Friday 12:30 p.m. w 2 Pittsburgh 5 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry ABC 19–10 85,522 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lancaster-new-era-penn-state-needs-one/166130965/ Lancaster New Era Penn State needs 'one more' after big win over Pittsburgh November 27, 1982 February 18, 2025 Newspapers.com January 1, 1983 8:00 p.m. w y 2 Georgia 1 Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA Sugar Bowl ABC 27–23 78,124 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advertiser-penn-state-slips-by/166131793/ The Daily Advertiser Penn State slips by top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs January 2, 1983 February 18, 2025 Newspapers.com Rankings 1982 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 15 UPI 0 15 8 5 7 5* 8 8 8 5 3 (7) 3 (3) 3 (9) 3 (6) 8 10 9 8 (1) 8 7 7 6 5 (1) 4 (1) 3 (2) 3 (3) 2 (2) 2 (2) 2 (2) 2 (2) 2 2 (3) 1 (44) 1 (33) * A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot. Game summaries Temple 1982 Temple Owls football team Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse Temple vs. Penn State – Game summary September 4 1:30 PM EDT Temple 0 7 0 7 #8 Penn State 21 3 0 7 Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania 80,000 William Parkinson ESPN Jim Simpson, Bud Wilkinson First Quarter PSU – Warner, 40-yard TD pass from Blackledge, Manca kick good, (PSU 7–0) PSU – Baugh, 31-yard TD pass from Blackledge, Manca kick good, (PSU 14–0) PSU – Williams, 16-yard TD pass from Blackledge, Manca kick good, (PSU 21–0) Second Quarter TU – Slade, 1-yard TD pass from Riordan, Clauser kick good, (PSU 21–7) PSU – Manca, 37-yard field goal, (PSU 24–7) Third Quarter No scoring Fourth Quarter PSU – Williams, 4-yard TD pass from Blackledge, Manca kick good, (PSU 31–7) TU – Brown, 14-yard TD pass from Riordan, Clauser kick good, (PSU 31–14) Top passers TU – PSU – Top rushers TU – PSU – Top receivers TU – PSU – Top defenders TU – PSU – Maryland 1982 Maryland Terrapins football team Maryland–Penn State football rivalry Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse Maryland vs. Penn State – Game summary September 11 1:30 PM EDT Maryland 3 7 14 7 #7 Penn State 3 17 9 10 Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania 84,597 J. Vincent Price TCS Stan Savran, George Paterno First Quarter PSU – MD – Second Quarter PSU – PSU – MD – PSU – Third Quarter MD – PSU – MD – PSU – Fourth Quarter PSU – MD – PSU – Top passers MD – PSU – Top rushers MD – PSU – Top receivers MD – PSU – Top defenders MD – PSU – Rutgers 1982 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse Rutgers vs. Penn State – Game summary September 18 1:30 PM EDT Rutgers 7 7 0 0 #5 Penn State 7 14 14 14 Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania 83,268 Thomas Thamert TCS Stan Savran, George Paterno First Quarter PSU – RUT – Second Quarter PSU – PSU – RUT – Third Quarter PSU – PSU – Fourth Quarter PSU – PSU – Top passers RUT – PSU – Top rushers RUT – PSU – Top receivers RUT – PSU – Top defenders RUT – PSU – #2 Nebraska 1982 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse Nebraska vs. Penn State – Game summary September 25 3:50 PM EDT #2 Nebraska 0 7 7 10 #8 Penn State 7 7 7 6 Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania 85,304 William Parkinson CBS Gary Bender, Pat Haden First Quarter PSU – Second Quarter PSU – NEB – Third Quarter PSU – NEB – Fourth Quarter NEB – NEB – PSU – Top passers NEB – PSU – Top rushers NEB – PSU – Top receivers NEB – PSU – Top defenders NEB – PSU – #4 Alabama 1982 Alabama Crimson Tide football team Alabama–Penn State football rivalry Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse Penn State vs. Alabama – Game summary October 9 1:30 PM EDT #3 Penn State 7 0 7 7 #4 Alabama 7 14 3 18 Legion Field • Birmingham, Alabama 76,821 CBS Gary Bender, Pat Haden First Quarter ALA – PSU – Second Quarter ALA – ALA – Third Quarter PSU – ALA – Fourth Quarter PSU – ALA – ALA – ALA – Top passers PSU – ALA – Top rushers PSU – ALA – Top receivers PSU – ALA – Top defenders PSU – ALA – Syracuse 1982 Syracuse Orangemen football team Penn State–Syracuse football rivalry Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse Syracuse vs. Penn State – Game summary October 16 1:30 PM EDT Syracuse 0 7 0 0 #8 Penn State 7 14 0 7 Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania 84,762 TCS Stan Savran, George Paterno First Quarter PSU – Second Quarter PSU – SU – PSU – Third Quarter No scoring Fourth Quarter PSU – Top passers SU – PSU – Top rushers SU – PSU – Top receivers SU – PSU – Top defenders SU – PSU – #13 West Virginia 1982 West Virginia Mountaineers football team Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse Penn State vs. West Virginia – Game summary October 23 1:00 PM EDT #9 Penn State 3 7 0 14 #13 West Virginia 0 0 0 0 Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, West Virginia 60,958 USA First Quarter PSU – Gancitano, 31-yard field goal, 6:14 (PSU 3–0) Second Quarter PSU – Williams, 4-yard TD run, Gancitano kick good, 1:57 (PSU 10–0) Third Quarter No scoring Fourth Quarter PSU – Radecic 85-yard interception return for TD, Gancitano kick good, 11:29 (PSU 17–0) PSU – Jackson, 9-yard TD run, Gancitano kick good, 2:42 (PSU 24–0) Top passers PSU – WVU – Top rushers PSU – WVU – Top receivers PSU – WVU – Top defenders PSU – WVU – Boston College 1982 Boston College Eagles football team Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse Penn State vs. Boston College – Game summary October 30 1:30 PM EDT #8 Penn State 14 17 7 14 Boston College 7 3 0 7 Alumni Stadium• Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 33,205 TCS Stan Savran, George Paterno First Quarter BC – PSU – PSU – Second Quarter PSU – PSU – BC – PSU – Third Quarter PSU – Fourth Quarter BC – PSU – PSU – Top passers PSU – BC – Top rushers PSU – BC – Top receivers PSU – BC – Top defenders PSU – BC – North Carolina State 1982 North Carolina State Wolfpack football team Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse North Carolina State vs. Penn State – Game summary November 6 1:30 PM EST North Carolina State 0 0 0 0 #7 Penn State 17 9 21 7 Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania 84,762 Thomas Thamert TCS Stan Savran, George Paterno First Quarter PSU – PSU – PSU – Second Quarter PSU – PSU – Third Quarter PSU – PSU – PSU – Fourth Quarter PSU – Top passers NCST – PSU – Top rushers NCST – PSU – Top receivers NCST – PSU – Top defenders NCST – PSU – vs #13 Notre Dame 1982 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team Penn State Nittany Lions 1982; text-align:center; autocollapse No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions (8–1) vs. No. 13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6–1–1) – Game summary November 13, 1982 Saturday 3:50 p.m. EST No. 5 Nittany Lions 0 13 0 11 No. 13 Fighting Irish 7 7 0 0 Notre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana 59,075 Tom Quinn ABC Keith Jackson (play-by-play), Frank Broyles (color commentator), and Tim Brant (sideline reporter) Eugene Register-Guard. November 14, 1982. Retrieved December 15, 2014. First Quarter ND – Chris Smith 8-yard TD pass from Ken Karcher, Mike Johnston kick good, 7:27 (ND 7–0) Second Quarter PSU – Todd Blackledge 1-yard TD run, Nick Gancitano kick good, 10:22 (TIE 7–7) PSU – Nick Gancitano 41-yard field goal, 8:07 (PSU 10–7) PSU – Nick Gancitano 29-yard field goal, 1:41 (PSU 13–7) ND – Allen Pinkett 93-yard TD kickoff return, Mike Johnston kick good, 1:27 (ND 14–13) Third Quarter No scoring Fourth Quarter PSU – Curt Warner 48-yard TD pass from Todd Blackledge, pass failed, 13:36 (PSU 19–14) PSU – Safety, Allen Pinkett tackled by Walker Lee Ashley in end zone, 13:28 (PSU 21–14) PSU – Nick Gancitano 27-yard field goal, 3:11 (PSU 24–14) Statistics PSU ND First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Rushing Receiving Notre Dame Passing Rushing Receiving Officials Game Position Name at #13 Notre Dame Referee Tom Quinn Umpire Don McDonnell Linesman Otto Puls Line Judge Richard Farina Filed Judge Larry Nemmers Back Judge Weldon Waites No. 5 Pittsburgh 1982 Pittsburgh Panthers football team Penn State Nittany Lions 1982; text-align:center; autocollapse No. 5 Pittsburgh Panthers (9–1) vs No. 2 Penn State Nittany Lions (9–1) – Game summary November 26, 1982 Friday 12:30 p.m. EST No. 5 Panthers 0 7 0 3 No. 2 Nittany Lions 3 0 10 6 Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania 85,722 Raymond Bower ABC Al Michaels (play-by-play), Lee Grosscup (color commentator), and Tim Brant (sideline reporter) First Quarter PSU – Nick Gancitano, 26-yard field goal, (PSU 3–0) Second Quarter PITT – Bryan Thomas 4-yard TD run, Eric Schubert kick, (PITT 7–3) Third Quarter PSU – Kenny Jackson 31-yard TD pass from Todd Blackledge, Nick Gancitano kick, (PSU 10–7) PSU – Nick Gancitano, 31-yard field goal, (PSU 13–7) Fourth Quarter PSU – Nick Gancitano, 19-yard field goal, (PSU 16–7) PITT – Eric Schubert, 17-yard field goal, (PSU 16–10) PSU – Nick Gancitano, 29-yard field goal, (PSU 19–10) Statistics PITT PSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving Penn State Passing Rushing Receiving Officials Game Position Name No. 5 Pittsburgh Referee Raymond Bower Umpire Robert Aebersold Linesman Richard Farina Line Judge Earl Birdy Field Judge Thomas Adams Back Judge Paul Lattanzi vs No. 1 Georgia (1983 Sugar Bowl) 1982 Georgia Bulldogs football team 1983 Sugar Bowl Overall record Previous meeting Previous winner First meeting Penn State Nittany Lions 1982; text-align:center; autocollapse 1983 Sugar BowlNo. 2 Penn State Nittany Lions (10–1) vs No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (11–0) – Game summary January 1, 1983 Saturday 8:00 p.m. EST No. 2 Nittany Lions 7 13 0 7 No. 1 Bulldogs 3 7 7 6 Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, Louisiana 78,127 Vance Carlson ABC Keith Jackson (play-by-play), Frank Broyles (color commentator), and Jim Lampley (sideline reporter) First Quarter PSU – Curt Warner 2-yard TD run, Nick Gancitano kick, 12:09 (PSU 7–0) UGA – Kevin Butler, 27-yard field goal, 6:05 (PSU 7–3) Second Quarter PSU – Nick Gancitano, 38-yard field goal, 11:47 (PSU 10–3) PSU – Curt Warner 9-yard TD run, Nick Gancitano kick, 2:43 (PSU 17–3) PSU – Nick Gancitano, 45-yard field goal, 0:44 (PSU 20–3) UGA – Herman Archie 10-yard TD pass from John Lastinger, Kevin Butler kick, 0:05 (PSU 20–10) Third Quarter UGA – Herschel Walker 1-yard TD run, Kevin Butler kick, 10:37 (PSU 20–17) Fourth Quarter PSU – Gregg Garrity 47-yard TD pass from Todd Blackledge, Nick Gancitano kick, 13:16 (PSU 27–17) UGA – Clarence Kay 9-yard TD pass from John Lastinger, run failed, 3:54 (PSU 27–23) Statistics PSU UGA First downs 19 19 Total yards 367 326 Rushing yards 44–139 46–160 Passing yards 228 166 Passing: comp–att–int 13–23–0 12–28–2 Time of possession 30:38 29:22 Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Rushing Receiving Georgia Passing Rushing Receiving Officials Game Position Name 1983 Sugar Bowlvs No. 1 Georgia Referee Vance Carlson Umpire Bob Klisares Linesman Dale Schreurs Line Judge Kent Houck Field Judge John Schroeder Back Judge Artie Palk Roster 1982 Penn State Nittany Lions f Tom Barr RB n Mark Battaglia OL n Kevin Baugh WR n 14 Sr Todd Blackledge QB y 80 Jr Kirk Bowman TE Kevin Campbell WR n Joel Coles RB n 79 Sr Bill Contz T y Dean DiMidio TE n Bill Emerson RB n 19 Sr Gregg Garrity WR y 58 So Nick Haden C y 72 Jr Ron Heller Ron Heller (offensive tackle) T y 82 Jr Kenny Jackson WR y 60 Sr Dave Laube G Dan Lonergan QB n Dick Maginnis OL n 81 Sr Mike McCloskey TE y 29 So Tony Mumford RB y Skeeter Nichols RB n Stan Short OL n 56 Jr Pete Speros G Doug Strang QB n John Walter TE n 25 Sr Curt Warner RB y Rocky Washington WR n 43 So Jon Williams Jon Williams (running back, born 1961) FB y Rogers Alexander LB y 39 Sr Dan Biondi CB 23 So Alvin Cunningham CB 92 Sr Mark Fruehan Mark Fruehan(American football) CB n 70 Jr Greg Gattuso DT y 17 Jr Harry Hamilton Hero y Al Harris LB n Joe Hines DL n 49 Sr Roger Jackson CB 98 Sr Ken Kelley Ken Kelley (football player) LB y 37 Sr Walker Lee Ashley LB y Carmen Masciantonio LB n Brian McCann DB n 65 Sr Dave Opfar DT y 33 Sr Dave Paffenroth LB 55 Sr Rodger Puz LB 97 Jr Scott Radecic LB y 32 Jr Mark Robinson Mark Robinson (safety) S y Steve Sefter DL n Mike Suter DB n Chris Sydnor DB n Mike Zordich DB y 13 So Nick Gancitano PK 21 Sr Ralph Giacomarro P y 10 Fr Massimo Manca PK y George Reynolds P n http://www.nittanyanthology.com/82roster.doc *Joe Paterno Dick Anderson John Bove Tom Bradley Booker Brooks Fran Ganter Bob Phillips John Rosenberg Jerry Sandusky Jim Williams Awards Todd Blackledge Davey O'Brien Award Joe Paterno Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Pete Speros Nittany Lion of the Year NFL draft Nine Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1983 NFL draft. Round Pick Overall Name Position Team 1st 3 3 Curt Warner Running back Seattle Seahawks 1st 7 7 Todd Blackledge Quarterback Kansas City Chiefs 3rd 17 73 Walker Lee Ashley Linebacker Minnesota Vikings 4th 4 88 Mike McCloskey Tight end Houston Oilers 5th 10 122 Bill Contz Offensive tackle Cleveland Browns 5th 28 140 Gregg Garrity Wide receiver Pittsburgh Steelers 10th 8 261 Dave Laube Offensive guard Detroit Lions 10th 10 263 Pete Speros Offensive guard Seattle Seahawks 10th 15 268 Ralph Giacomarro Punter Atlanta Falcons Media Radio Penn State Nittany Lions Flagship station Play-by-play Color commentator Sideline reporter Studio host WMAJ AM 1450 Fran Fisher John Grant References Penn State Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football seasons Category:College football national champions Category:Sugar Bowl champion seasons Category:Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy seasons Penn State Nittany Lions football