1977 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1977 Penn State Nittany Lions football Penn State text logo.svg Independent 4 5 11–1 Joe Paterno 12th I formation Jerry Sandusky 1st 4–3 John Dunn Steve Geise Ron Hostetler Randy Sidler Beaver Stadium Eastern championFiesta Bowl champion Fiesta Bowl W 42–30 vs. Arizona State The 1977 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. Led by 12th-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 11–1 with a win over Arizona State in the Fiesta Bowl. Penn State played home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Schedule 1977 AP Eastern September 2 Friday w y 13 Rutgers Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ 45–7 64,790 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71911232/1977-rutgers-psu/ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Lions open big, demolish Rutgers September 3, 1977 April 26, 2025 Newspapers.com September 17 w 10 Houston 9 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 31–14 61,704–62,554 https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-penn-state-cages-houst/169161339/ Asbury Park Press Penn State cages Houston September 18, 1977 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com September 24 w 5 Maryland Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry ABC 27–9 62,079 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-state-passes-maryland-f/139648040/ Sunday Call-Chronicle State passes Maryland for easy 27–9 victory September 25, 1977 January 26, 2024 Newspapers.com October 1 l 4 Kentucky Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 20–24 62,196 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-kentucky-shocks-penn-stat/134285516/ The Tennessean Kentucky shocks Penn State October 2, 1977 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.com October 8 w y 10 Utah State Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 16–7 62,015 https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-defense-turns-tide-pe/171125461/ Asbury Park Press Defense turns tide, Penn State escapes October 9, 1977 April 26, 2025 Newspapers.com October 15 w y 10 Syracuse Archbold Stadium Syracuse, NY rivalry 31–24 27,029 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-reporter-dispatch-penn-state-stops-s/171127213/ The Reporter Dispatch Penn State stops Syracuse, 31–24 October 16, 1977 April 26, 2025 Newspapers.com October 22 w 10 West Virginia Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry 49–28 62,108 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-recorder-lions-crush-mountaine/139643264/ The Times Recorder Lions crush Mountaineers October 23, 1977 January 26, 2024 Newspapers.com October 29 w 9 Miami (FL) Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 49–7 61,853 https://www.newspapers.com/article/abilene-reporter-news-penn-state-calms-h/171112407/ The Abilene Reporter-News Penn State calms Hurricanes October 30, 1977 April 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 5 w y 9 NC State Carter–Finley Stadium Raleigh, NC 21–17 44,800 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-penn-state-improvises/139647575/ The Roanoke Times Penn State improvises, beats Pack November 6, 1977 January 26, 2024 Newspapers.com November 12 w 9 Temple Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 44–7 61,327 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-nittany-lions-blast-temple/171126379/ Daily Press Nittany Lions blast Temple November 13, 1977 April 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 26 w y 9 Pittsburgh 10 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry ABC 15–13 56,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-defense-does-the-job-in/171132432/ The Buffalo News Defense does the job in Penn State victory November 27, 1977 April 26, 2025 Newspapers.com December 25 Sunday w y 8 Arizona State 15 Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ Fiesta Bowl CBS 42–30 57,766 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-lions-outpoint-a/157420319/ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Lions outpoint Arizona State, 42–30, in Fiesta December 26, 1977 October 19, 2024 Newspapers.com Game summaries Miami (FL) Miami (FL) 0 0 0 7 Penn St 7 28 14 0 October 29 Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania 61,853 yes 1 PSU Guthrie 56-yard pass from Fusina (Bahr kick) Penn St 7-0 2 PSU Suhey 1-yard run (Bahr kick) Penn St 14-0 2 PSU Torrey 3-yard run (Bahr kick) Penn St 21-0 2 PSU Suhey 3-yard run (Bahr kick) Penn St 28-0 2 PSU Suhey 1-yard run (Bahr kick) Penn St 35-0 3 PSU Fitzkee 72-yard pass from Fusina (Bahr kick) Penn St 42-0 3 PSU LaPointe 17-yard pass from Capozzolli (Bahr kick) Penn St 49-0 4 MIA Hobbs 3-yard pass from McMillian (Dennis kick) Penn St 49-7 yes Eugene Register-Guard. 1977 Oct 29. Fiesta Bowl Fiesta Bowl#15 Arizona State vs. #8 Penn State Arizona St 0 14 0 16 Penn St 14 3 7 18 December 25 Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, AZ 57,727 CBS yes 1 PSU Lally 21-yard blocked punt return (Bahr kick) Penn St 7-0 1 PSU Torrey 3-yard pass from Fusina (Bahr kick) Penn St 14-0 2 ASU Lane 11-yard pass from Sproul (Hicks kick) Penn St 14-7 2 PSU Bahr 23-yard field goal Penn St 17-7 2 ASU Washington 13-yard pass from Sproul (Hicks kick) Penn St 17-14 3 PSU Geise 18-yard run (Bahr kick) Penn St 24-14 4 PSU Suhey 3-yard run (Bahr kick) Penn St 31-14 4 ASU Washington 30-yard pass from Sproul (Hicks kick) Penn St 31-21 4 PSU Bahr 32-yard field goal Penn St 34-21 4 ASU Perry 1-yard run (Hicks kick) Penn St 34-28 4 PSU Suhey 2-yard run (Geise run) Penn St 42-28 4 ASU Safety, Fitzkee runs out of end zone Penn St 42-30 yes "Penn State runs mark to 11-1." Eugene Register-Guard. 1977 Dec 26. Roster 1977 Penn State Nittany Lions f 81 Jr Bob Bassett WR 44 Sr Jimmy Cefalo WR y 19 So Tom Donovan Tom Donovan (American football) WR y 55 Jr Chuck Correal C y 68 Jr Eric Cunningham Eric Cunningham (American football) OT y 71 Jr Keith Dorney OT y 46 Jr Scott Fitzkee WR y 14 Jr Chuck Fusina QB y 24 So Mike Guman RB y 90 So Ron LaPointe TE y 48 Fr Booker Moore RB y 82 Sr Mickey Shuler TE y 32 So Matt Suhey RB y 25 Jr Tom Bradley Tom Bradley (American football coach) DB y 54 So Bruce Clark Bruce Clark (gridiron football) DE y 95 Sr Tom DePaso LB y 27 So Pete Harris Pete Harris (American football) S y 74 Fr Larry Kubin DE y 57 Fr Pete Kugler DT y 56 So Lance Mehl LB y 60 So Matt Millen DT y 28 Jr Rich Milot DE y 78 Sr Randy Sidler DT y 10 Jr Matt Bahr K y http://www.nittanyanthology.com/77roster.doc *Joe Paterno Dick Anderson Booker Brooks Gregg Ducatte Fran Ganter Bob Phillips John Rosenberg Jerry Sandusky J. T. White NFL draft Seven Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1978 NFL draft. Round Pick Overall Name Position Team 3rd 5 61 Mickey Shuler Tight end New York Jets 3rd 25 81 Jimmy Cefalo Wide receiver Miami Dolphins 5th 4 113 Randy Sidler Defensive tackle New York Jets 6th 17 155 Steve Geise Running back Cincinnati Bengals 9th 5 227 Neil Hutton Running back/Defensive back New York Jets 10th 17 267 Tom DePaso Linebacker Cincinnati Bengals 11th 25 303 Ron Hostetler Linebacker/Defensive back Los Angeles Rams References Penn State Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football seasons Category:Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy seasons Category:Fiesta Bowl champion seasons Penn State Nittany Lions football