1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
American college football season
The 1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University during the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season.[1] Penn State defeated the Georgia Bulldogs, 27–23, in the Sugar Bowl to win Joe 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.[2]
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
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September 4 | 1:30 p.m. | Temple | No. 8 | | ESPN (tape delay) | W 31–14 | 80,000 | |
September 11 | 1:30 p.m. | Maryland | No. 7 | - Beaver Stadium
- University Park, PA (rivalry)
| TCS | W 39–31 | 84,597 | [3] |
September 18 | 1:30 p.m. | Rutgers | No. 8 | - Beaver Stadium
- University Park, PA
| TCS | W 49–14 | 83,268 | |
September 25 | 3:50 p.m. | No. 2 Nebraska | No. 8 | - Beaver Stadium
- University Park, PA
| CBS | W 27–24 | 85,304 | |
October 9 | 1:30 p.m. | at No. 4 Alabama | No. 3 | | CBS | L 21–42 | 76,821 | [4] |
October 16 | 1:30 p.m. | Syracuse![dagger](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Dagger-14-plain.png) | No. 8 | - Beaver Stadium
- University Park, PA (rivalry)
| TCS | W 28–7 | 84,762 | |
October 23 | 1:30 p.m. | at No. 13 West Virginia | No. 9 | | USA | W 24–0 | 60,958 | [5] |
October 30 | 1:30 p.m. | at Boston College | No. 8 | | TCS | W 52–17 | 33,205 | |
November 6 | 1:30 p.m. | NC State | No. 7 | - Beaver Stadium
- University Park, PA
| TCS | W 54–0 | 84,837 | [6] |
November 13 | 3:50 p.m. | at No. 13 Notre Dame | No. 5 | | ABC | W 24–14 | 59,075 | |
| 12:30 p.m. | No. 5 Pittsburgh | No. 2 | - Beaver Stadium
- University Park, PA (rivalry)
| ABC | W 19–10 | 85,522 | |
January 1, 1983 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 1 Georgia | No. 2 | | ABC | W 27–23 | 78,124 | |
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Roster
1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
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Players
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Coaches
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Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Roster
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Rankings
Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking ( ) = First-place votes | Week |
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Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
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AP | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 3 (7) | 3 (9) | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 (1) | 3 (2) | 2 (2) | 2 (2) | 2 | 1 (44) |
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UPI | 5 | 5* | 8 | 5 | 3 (3) | 3 (6) | 10 | 8 (1) | 7 | 6 | 4 (1) | 3 (3) | 2 (2) | 2 (2) | 2 (3) | 1 (33) |
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* 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
Temple vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Temple |
0 |
7 |
0 | 7 | 14 |
#8 Penn State |
21 |
3 |
0 | 7 | 31 |
at Beaver Stadium
Game information
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- 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)
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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Maryland
Maryland vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Maryland |
3 |
7 |
14 | 7 | 31 |
#7 Penn State |
3 |
17 |
9 | 10 | 39 |
at Beaver Stadium
- Date: September 11
- Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 84,597
- Referee: J. Vincent Price
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
Game information
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- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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Rutgers
Rutgers vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Rutgers |
7 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 14 |
#5 Penn State |
7 |
14 |
14 | 14 | 49 |
at Beaver Stadium
- Date: September 18
- Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 83,268
- Referee: Thomas Thamert
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
Game information
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- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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#2 Nebraska
Nebraska vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
#2 Nebraska |
0 |
7 |
7 | 10 | 24 |
#8 Penn State |
7 |
7 |
7 | 6 | 27 |
at Beaver Stadium
- Date: September 25
- Game time: 3:50 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 85,304
- Referee: William Parkinson
- TV announcers (CBS): Gary Bender, Pat Haden
Game information
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- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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#4 Alabama
Penn State vs. Alabama – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
#3 Penn State |
7 |
0 |
7 | 7 | 21 |
#4 Alabama |
7 |
14 |
3 | 18 | 42 |
at Legion Field
Game information
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- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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Syracuse
Syracuse vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Syracuse |
0 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
#8 Penn State |
7 |
14 |
0 | 7 | 28 |
at Beaver Stadium
- Date: October 16
- Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 84,762
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
Game information
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- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
No scoring
- Fourth Quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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#13 West Virginia
Penn State vs. West Virginia – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
#9 Penn State |
3 |
7 |
0 | 14 | 24 |
#13 West Virginia |
0 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
at Mountaineer Field
- Date: October 23
- Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 60,958
- TV: USA
Game information
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- 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)
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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Boston College
Penn State vs. Boston College – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
#8 Penn State |
14 |
17 |
7 | 14 | 52 |
Boston College |
7 |
3 |
0 | 7 | 17 |
at Alumni Stadium
- Date: October 30
- Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 33,205
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
Game information
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- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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North Carolina State
North Carolina State vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
North Carolina State |
0 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
#7 Penn State |
17 |
9 |
21 | 7 | 54 |
at Beaver Stadium
- Date: November 6
- Game time: 1:30 PM EST
- Game attendance: 84,762
- Referee: Thomas Thamert
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
Game information
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- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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#13 Notre Dame
Penn State vs. Notre Dame – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
#5 Penn State |
0 |
13 |
0 | 11 | 24 |
#13 Notre Dame |
7 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 14 |
at Notre Dame Stadium
Game information
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- First Quarter
- ND – C. Smith, 8-yard TD pass from Karcher, Johnston kick good (ND 7–0)
- Second Quarter
- PSU – Blackledge, 1-yard TD run, Gancitano kick good (TIE 7–7)
- PSU – Gancitano 41-yard field goal (PSU 10–7)
- PSU – Gancitano 29-yard field goal (PSU 13–7)
- ND – Pinkett, 93-yard TD kickoff return, Johnston kick good (ND 14–13)
- Third Quarter
No scoring
- Fourth Quarter
- PSU – Warner, 48-yard TD pass from Blackledge, pass failed (PSU 19–14)
- PSU – Safety, Pinkett tackled by Ashley in end zone (PSU 21–14)
- PSU – Gancitano 27-yard field goal (PSU 24–14)
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- Top passing
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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#5 Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
#5 Pittsburgh |
0 |
7 |
0 | 3 | 10 |
#2 Penn State |
3 |
0 |
10 | 6 | 19 |
at Beaver Stadium
Game information
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- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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#1 Georgia (Sugar Bowl)
Overall record
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Previous meeting
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Previous winner
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First meeting
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Penn State vs. Georgia – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
#2 Penn State |
7 |
13 |
0 | 7 | 27 |
#1 Georgia |
3 |
7 |
7 | 6 | 23 |
at Louisiana Superdome
Game information
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- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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Awards
- Davey O'Brien Award
- Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
- Nittany Lion of the Year
NFL Draft
Nine Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1983 NFL draft.
Radio
Flagship station
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Play-by-play
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Color commentator
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Sideline reporter
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Studio host
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WMAJ AM 1450 |
Fran Fisher |
John Grant |
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References
- ^ "Penn State Yearly Results (1980-1984)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on August 5, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
- ^ 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. p. 114. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
- ^ "Penn State rallies to edge Maryland". The Sunday News. September 12, 1982. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "'Bama brings Penn State back to earth". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 10, 1982. Retrieved February 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Penn State's defense devastates W. Virginia". Democrat and Chronicle. October 24, 1982. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Nittany Lions follow new script". The Sunday Times. November 7, 1982. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Eugene Register-Guard. November 14, 1982. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |
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1936–1949 | |
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1950s | |
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1960s |
- 1960: Minnesota (AP, Coaches, NFF) / Ole Miss (FWAA)
- 1961: Alabama (AP, Coaches, NFF) / Ohio State (FWAA)
- 1962: USC
- 1963: Texas
- 1964: Alabama (AP, Coaches) / Arkansas (FWAA) / Notre Dame (NFF)
- 1965: Alabama (AP, FWAA) / Michigan State (Coaches, FWAA, NFF)
- 1966: Notre Dame (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF) / Michigan State (NFF)
- 1967: USC
- 1968: Ohio State
- 1969: Texas
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1970s | |
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1980–1991 | |
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