1981 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1981 Penn State Nittany Lions football Penn State text logo.svg Independent 3 3 10–2 Joe Paterno 16th Dick Anderson 1st Pro-style Jerry Sandusky 5th 4–3 Sean Farrell Chet Parlavecchio Leo Wisniewski Beaver Stadium National champion (Dunkel)Eastern championFiesta Bowl champion Fiesta Bowl W 26–10 vs. USC The 1981 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 16th-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 10–2. Penn State was invited to the Fiesta Bowl, where the Nittany Lions defeated USC. The team was selected national champion by Dunkel, an NCAA-designated major selector,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 while Clemson, who finished the season 12–0, was the consensus national champion. Schedule 1981 AP Eastern September 12 1:30 p.m. w 9 Cincinnati Beaver Stadium University Park, PA ESPN (tape delay) 52–0 84,342 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-lions-impressive-in-19/158215775/ The Sunday Times Lions impressive in 1981 opener September 13, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 2:30 p.m. w y 3 Nebraska 15 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE ESPN (tape delay) 30–24 76,308 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-penn-state-tailback/158217170/ The Kansas City Star Penn State tailback runs over Nebraska September 27, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 1:30 p.m. w 2 Temple Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 30–0 84,562 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-patriot-news-state-stuffs-owls-in-f/158213194/ The Patriot-News State stuffs Owls in 'funny game' October 4, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 1:30 p.m. w y 2 Boston College Beaver Stadium University Park, PA ESPN (tape delay) 38–7 84,473 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17504862/penn_st_crushes_bc_387/ The Palm Beach Post Penn St. Crushes B.C. 38–7 October 11, 1981 E6 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 1:30 p.m. w y 2 Syracuse Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY rivalry 41–16 50,037 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-news-penn-st-wallops-syracu/158210674/ The Journal News Penn St. wallops Syracuse 41–16 October 18, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com October 24 1:30 p.m. w 1 West Virginia Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry ESPN (tape delay) 30–7 85,012 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-news-warner-substitute-leads/139760844/ Sunday News Journal Warner substitute leads Penn State past W. Va. October 25, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 4:00 p.m. l y 1 Miami (FL) Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL ABC 14–17 32,117 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-miami-upsets-penn-state-17/158216990/ Sunday News Miami upsets Penn State, 17–14 November 1, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 1:00 p.m. w y 6 NC State Carter–Finley Stadium Raleigh, NC 22–15 48,800 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-lions-stave-off-wolfpa/139768213/ The Tampa Tribune Lions stave off Wolfpack November 8, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 12:20 p.m. l 5 Alabama 6 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry ABC regional 16–31 85,133 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71530482/penn-state-falls-to-alabama-3116/ Sunday News Penn State falls to Alabama, 31–16 November 15, 1981 February 19, 2021 Newspapers.com November 21 1:00 p.m. w 13 Notre Dame Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry ESPN (tape delay) 24–21 84,175 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-notre-dame-inche/158212483/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Notre Dame inches and 3 points shy at Penn State November 22, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com November 28 12:25 p.m. w y 11 Pittsburgh 1 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry ABC 48–14 60,260 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-and-democrat-penn-state-stuns/158217423/ The Times and Democrat Penn State stuns top-ranked Pitt November 29, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com January 1, 1982 Friday 1:30 p.m. w y 7 USC 8 Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ Fiesta Bowl NBC 26–10 71,053 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-penn-state-pounds-u/158217523/ The Arizona Republic Penn State pounds USC in Fiesta Bowl January 2, 1982 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com Game summaries At Nebraska Penn State at #15 Nebraska #3 Penn State #15 Nebraska 3 14 3 10 0 10 14 0 September 26 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska 76,308 1981 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team Boston College Boston College 0 0 0 7 Penn St 10 14 7 7 October 10 Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA 84,473 yes Q1 PSU Warner 7 yard run (Franco kick) PSU 7–0 Q1 PSU Franco 33 yard field goal PSU 10–0 Q2 PSU Meade 1 yard run (Franco kick) PSU 17–0 Q2 PSU Jackson 39 yard pass from Blackledge (Franco kick) PSU 24–0 Q3 PSU Warner 1 yard run (Franco kick) PSU 31–0 Q4 PSU Williams 36 yard run (Franco kick) PSU 38–0 Q4 BC Nizolek 23 yard pass from Flutie (Cooper kick) PSU 38–7 yes Eugene-Register Guard. 1981 Oct 11. Notre Dame Notre Dame at #13 Penn St Notre Dame 7 7 7 0 Penn St 14 3 0 7 Saturday, November 21 Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania 84,175 Source: Eugene Register-Guard yes 1 PSU Williams 4-yard run (Franco kick) PSU 7–0 1 ND Carter 1-yard run (Oliver kick) Tied 7–7 1 PSU Blackledge 1-yard run (Franco kick) PSU 14–7 2 PSU Franco 27-yard field goal PSU 17–7 2 ND Hunter 17-yard pass from Kiel (Oliver kick) PSU 17–14 3 ND Sweeney 4-yard pass from Kiel (Oliver kick) ND 21–17 4 3:48 PSU Blackledge 1-yard run (Franco kick) PSU 24–21 yes Following the game, Penn State accepted an invitation to the Fiesta Bowl. Pittsburgh #11 Penn St at #1 Pittsburgh Penn St 0 14 17 17 Pittsburgh 14 0 0 0 Saturday, November 28 Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 60,260 Bill Flemming, Darrell Royal, and Steve Zabriskie ABC Sports Source: The Nittany Lions snapped the Panthers' 17-game winning streak in convincing fashion.Penn State Stuns No. 1 Pitt. 48-14. Bryant Wins No. 315 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1981/11/29/penn-state-stuns-no-1-pitt-48-14-bryant-wins-no-315/9311bc16-f358-4c03-9783-7bd3a19c9ead/ The Washington Post John Feinstein John Feinstein November 29, 1981 January 29, 2017 Vs. USC (Fiesta Bowl) #7 Penn State vs. #8 USC No. 7 Nittany Lions 7 10 9 0 No. 8 Trojans 7 0 3 0 January 1, 1982 Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona 71,053 Charlie Jones, Len Dawson NBC Sports Source: 1982 Fiesta Bowl 1981 USC Trojans football team Roster 1981 Penn State Nittany Lions f 14 Jr Todd Blackledge QB y 80 So Kirk Bowman TE 79 Jr Bill Contz T y 62 Sr Sean Farrell Sean Farrell (American football) G y 19 Jr Gregg Garrity WR y 72 So Ron Heller Ron Heller (offensive tackle) T y 82 So Kenny Jackson WR y 85 Sr Vyto Kab TE y 81 Jr Mike McCloskey TE y 38 Sr Mike Meade RB y 78 Sr Mike Munchak G y 53 Sr Jim Romano Jim Romano (American football) C y 43 So Jon Williams Jon Williams (running back, born 1961) FB y 25 Jr Curt Warner RB y 30 Sr Matt Bradley Matt Bradley (American football) DB y 17 So Harry Hamilton Hero y 49 Jr Roger Jackson CB 98 Jr Ken Kelley Ken Kelley (American football) LB y 12 Sr Paul Lankford CB y 37 Jr Walker Lee Ashley LB y 94 Jr Chet Parlavecchio LB y 97 So Scott Radecic LB y 61 Sr Leo Wisniewski DT y 10 Sr Brian Franco K y 21 Jr Ralph Giacomarro P y http://www.nittanyanthology.com/81roster.doc *Joe Paterno Dick Anderson John Bove Tom Bradley Booker Brooks Fran Ganter Bob Phillips John Rosenberg Jerry Sandusky Jim Williams Awards Joe Paterno: Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award NFL draft Ten Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1982 NFL draft. Round Pick Overall Name Position Team 1st 8 8 Mike Munchak Offensive guard Houston Oilers 1st 17 17 Sean Farrell Offensive guard Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2nd 1 28 Leo Wisniewski Nose tackle Baltimore Colts 2nd 10 37 Jim Romano Center Los Angeles Raiders 3rd 23 78 Vyto Kab Tight end Philadelphia Eagles 3rd 25 80 Paul Lankford Defensive back Miami Dolphins 5th 15 126 Mike Meade Running back Green Bay Packers 6th 13 152 Chet Parlavecchio Linebacker Green Bay Packers 9th 11 234 Matt Bradley Linebacker Houston Oilers 10th 12 263 Rich D'Amico Linebacker Los Angeles Raiders References Penn State Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football seasons Category:Fiesta Bowl champion seasons Category:Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy seasons Penn State Nittany Lions football