1979 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1979 Penn State Nittany Lions football Penn State text logo.svg Independent 18 20 8–4 Joe Paterno 14th I formation Jerry Sandusky 3rd 4–3 Lance Mehl Matt Millen Irv Pankey Beaver Stadium Liberty Bowl champion Liberty Bowl W 9–6 vs. Tulane The 1979 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 14th-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 8–4 with a win over Tulane in the Liberty Bowl. Penn State played home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Schedule 1979 AP Eastern September 15 w 7 Rutgers Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 45–10 77,309 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-freshman-paces-lions/157858366/ The Sunday Times Freshman paces Lions September 16, 1979 October 26, 2024 Newspapers.com September 22 l 6 Texas A&M Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 14–27 77,575 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-texas-am-upsets-6th-ra/157779098/ Sunday Call-Chronicle Texas A&M upsets 6th-ranked Penn State 27–14 September 23, 1979 October 26, 2024 Newspapers.com September 29 l y 18 Nebraska 6 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE ABC 17–42 76,151 https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-cornhuskers-shuck-penn/157858442/ Asbury Park Press Cornhuskers shuck Penn State, 42–17 September 30, 1979 October 26, 2024 Newspapers.com October 6 w y Maryland Byrd Stadium College Park, MD rivalry 27–7 52,348 https://www.newspapers.com/article/courier-post-penn-states-defense-thrott/139735274/ Courier-Post Penn State's defense throttles Terps October 7, 1979 October 26, 2024 Newspapers.com October 13 w y Army Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 24–3 77,157 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-penn-state-rips/157839854/ Wisconsin State Journal Penn State rips Army October 14, 1979 October 26, 2024 Newspapers.com October 20 w y Syracuse Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ rivalry 35–7 53,789 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-orangemen-no-match-for/157857400/ The Miami Herald Orangemen no match for Penn St. October 21, 1979 October 26, 2024 Newspapers.com October 27 w West Virginia Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry 31–6 77,923 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-west-virginia-be/139718202/ The Des Moines Register West Virginia beaten, 31–6, by Penn State October 28, 1979 January 27, 2024 Newspapers.com November 3 l 19 Miami (FL) Beaver Stadium University Park, PA TCS 10–26 75,532 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-hurricanes-blow-away-penn-st/157842525/ Sunday News Hurricanes blow away Penn State November 4, 1979 October 26, 2024 Newspapers.com November 10 w y NC State Carter–Finley Stadium Raleigh, NC 9–7 51,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-menhardts-late-field-goal-l/139719502/ Daily Press Menhardt's late field goal lifts Penn State by 'Pack November 11, 1979 January 27, 2024 Newspapers.com November 17 w Temple 18 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 22–7 76,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-gazette-suheys-2-tds-key-penn-stat/157858668/ Star-Gazette Suhey's 2 TDs key Penn State November 18, 1979 October 25, 2024 Newspapers.com December 1 l 19 Pittsburgh 11 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry ABC 14–29 76,958 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-mcmillan-leads-pitt/157858732/ Lincoln Journal Star McMillan leads Pitt to victory over Penn State December 2, 1979 October 25, 2024 Newspapers.com December 22 w y Tulane 15 Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Liberty Bowl ABC 9–6 50,021 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-lions-dip-into-magic-bag-pu/151992735/ Sunday News Lions dip into magic bag, pull out a Liberty Bowl win December 23, 1979 July 25, 2024 Newspapers.com1979 Penn State Nittany Lions Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 26, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/penn-state/1979-schedule.html Roster 1979 Penn State Nittany Lions f 14 Fr Todd Blackledge QB y 29 Jr Mark Cherewka WR 19 Sr Tom Donovan Tom Donovan (American football) WR y 77 Jr Bill Dugan T y 62 So Sean Farrell Sean Farrell (American football) G y 24 Sr Mike Guman RB y 41 Jr Tracy Hall WR 15 Fr Jeff Hostetler QB y 85 So Vyto Kab TE y 90 Sr Ron LaPointe TE y 38 So Mike Meade RB y 48 Jr Booker Moore RB y 78 So Mike Munchak G y 70 Sr Irv Pankey T y Fr Frank Rocco QB 53 Jr Jim Romano Jim Romano (American football) C y 80 Jr Brad Scovill TE 32 Sr Matt Suhey RB y 17 Jr Dayle Tate QB 13 Sr Kip Vernaglia WR 25 Fr Curt Warner RB y 86 So Jeff Bergstrom DT 30 So Matt Bradley Matt Bradley (American football) DB y 54 Sr Bruce Clark Bruce Clark (gridiron football) DThttps://www.packers.com/news/the-story-behind-the-bruce-clark-bombshell-20683583 The story behind the Bruce Clark bombshell y 20 So Joel Coles CB 74 Jr Larry Kubin DE y 57 Jr Pete Kugler DT y 12 So Jon Lebo CB 37 Fr Walker Lee Ashley LB y 56 Sr Lance Mehl LB y 60 Sr Matt Millen DThttps://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/penn-state/1979-roster.html 1979 Penn State Nittany Lions Roster y 94 So Chet Parlavecchio LB y 47 Fr Danny Rocco CB y 89 Sr Carlos Quirch LB 23 Jr John Walsh S 49 Jr Tom Wise CB 61 So Leo Wisniewski DT y 10 So Brian Franco K y 21 Fr Ralph Giacomarro P y 31 Jr Herb Menhardt K 97 Sr Brian Hand LS http://www.nittanyanthology.com/79roster.doc *Joe Paterno Dick Anderson John Bove Booker Brooks Fran Ganter Bob Phillips John Rosenberg Jerry Sandusky J. T. White Jim Williams NFL draft Seven Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1980 NFL draft. Round Pick Overall Name Position Team 1st 4 4 Bruce Clark Defensive tackle Green Bay Packers 2nd 15 43 Matt Millen Linebacker Oakland Raiders 2nd 18 46 Matt Suhey Running back Chicago Bears 2nd 22 50 Irv Pankey Offensive tackle Los Angeles Rams 3rd 13 69 Lance Mehl Linebacker New York Jets 6th 16 154 Mike Guman Running back Los Angeles Rams 9th 9 230 Tom Donovan Wide receiver Kansas City Chiefs References Penn State Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football seasons Category:Liberty Bowl champion seasons Penn State Nittany Lions football