1988 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1988 Penn State Nittany Lions football Penn State text logo.svg 250 Independent 5–6 Joe Paterno 23rd Fran Ganter 5th Pro-style Jerry Sandusky 12th 4–3 John Greene Eddie Johnson Keith Karpinski Steve Wisniewski Beaver Stadium The 1988 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 23rd-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 5–6. Penn State played home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Schedule 1988 AP Eastern September 10 7:00 p.m. w y 18 Virginia Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA 42–14 45,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-leader-brown-leads-psu-to-rout/140122886/ The Times Leader Brown leads PSU to rout of Virginia September 11, 1988 February 2, 2024 Newspapers.com September 17 1:00 p.m. w 16 Boston College Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 23–20 84,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-angelo-standard-times-blocked-punt-l/173435261/ San Angelo Standard-Times Blocked punt leads Penn State September 18, 1988 May 29, 2025 Newspapers.com September 24 1:00 p.m. l 15 Rutgers Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 16–21 85,531 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-leader-rutgers-slips-by-lions/173439913/ The Times Leader Rutgers slips by Lions September 25, 1988 May 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 1 7:00 p.m. w y Temple Veterans Stadium Philadelphia, PA 45–9 66,592 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-psu-routs-temple-4/173438871/ The Pittsburgh Press PSU routs Temple, 45–9 October 2, 1988 May 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 8 12:10 p.m. w y Cincinnati Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 35–9 85,693 https://www.newspapers.com/article/york-daily-record-victories-not-style/173363797/ York Daily Record Victories, not style, count October 9, 1988 May 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 15 7:20 p.m. l Syracuse Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry ESPN 10–24 85,916 https://www.newspapers.com/article/centre-daily-times-orange-skip-past-blun/173440075/ Centre Daily Times Orange skip past blundering Lions October 16, 1988 May 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 22 2:30 p.m. l y Alabama Legion Field Birmingham, AL rivalry CBS 3–8 75,808 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71569457/drenched-in-red-penn-state-leaves/ The Morning Call Drenched in red, Penn State leaves Alabama October 23, 1988 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com October 29 2:40 p.m. l y West Virginia 7 Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV rivalry CBS 30–51 66,811 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-mountaineers-bury-n/140096965/ The Orlando Sentinel Mountaineers bury Nittany Lions October 30, 1988 February 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 5 1:00 p.m. w Maryland Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry 17–10 78,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-penn-state-ove/140135042/ The Philadelphia Inquirer Penn State overcomes Maryland November 6, 1988 February 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 12 3:00 p.m. l Pittsburgh Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry ESPN 7–14 85,701 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-item-lions-lose-to-pitt-on-bot/173440182/ The Daily Item Lions lose to Pitt on botched field goals November 13, 1988 May 29, 2025 Newspapers.com November 19 12:00 p.m. l y Notre Dame 1 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry CBS 3–21 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-notre-dame-rips-penn-state-2/173440259/ Daily Press Notre Dame rips Penn State 21–3 November 20, 1988 May 29, 2025 Newspapers.com Roster 1988 Penn State Nittany Lions f 12 So Tom Bill QB 27 So Gary Brown Gary Brown (running back) FB y 26 So David Daniels WR 78 Jr Roger Duffy Roger Duffy (American football) C y 11 So Sam Gash FB y 89 Sr Bob Mrosko TE y Fr E. J. Sandusky C y 79 Jr Dave Szott WR y 32 Jr Blair Thomas RB y 5 Sr Michael Timpson WR y 66 Sr Steve Wisniewski G y 80 Jr Todd Young TE 70 Sr Darryl Bullock NT y 31 Jr Andre Collins LB y 38 Fr Mark D'Onofrio LB y 85 So Frank Giannetti DT y 42 Fr Keith Goganious LB y 84 Sr Keith Karpinski LB y 92 Sr Quintus McDonald LB y 68 Sr Greg Truitt SN y http://www.nittanyanthology.com/88roster.doc *Joe Paterno Tom Bradley Jim Caldwell Craig Cirbus Ron Dickerson Fran Ganter Nick Gasparato Joe Sarra Jerry Sandusky Jim Williams NFL draft Six Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1989 NFL draft. Round Pick Overall Name Position Team 2nd 1 29 Steve Wisniewski Offensive guard Dallas Cowboys 4th 16 100 Michael Timpson Wide receiver New England Patriots 6th 16 155 Quintus McDonald Linebacker Indianapolis Colts 6th 21 160 Gary Wilkerson Defensive back Cleveland Browns 9th 21 244 Bob Mrosko Tight end Houston Oilers 11th 3 282 Keith Karpinski Linebacker Detroit Lions References Penn State Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football seasons Penn State Nittany Lions football