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1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football
229 x 31
Consensus national champion
Sugar Bowl champion
Eastern champion
Sugar Bowl, W 27–23 vs. Georgia
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 1
Record11–1
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Dick Anderson (2nd season)
Offensive scheme Pro-style
Defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky (6th season)
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium Beaver Stadium
Seasons
←  1981
1983 →
1982 Major eastern college football independents records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Penn State $ 6 – 0 – 0 11 – 1 – 0
No. 10 Pittsburgh 4 – 1 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
No. 19 West Virginia 4 – 2 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
Boston College 3 – 2 – 0 8 – 3 – 1
Rutgers 1 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Temple 1 – 5 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Syracuse 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll
1982 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Penn State   –   –   11 – 1 – 0
No. 10 Pittsburgh   –   –   9 – 3 – 0
No. 13 Florida State   –   –   9 – 3 – 0
No. 19 West Virginia   –   –   9 – 3 – 0
Boston College   –   –   8 – 3 – 1
Southwestern Louisiana   –   –   7 – 3 – 1
East Carolina   –   –   7 – 4 – 0
Miami (FL)   –   –   7 – 4 – 0
Southern Miss   –   –   7 – 4 – 0
Virginia Tech   –   –   7 – 4 – 0
Notre Dame   –   –   6 – 4 – 1
Cincinnati   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Georgia Tech   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Navy   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Louisville   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Rutgers   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Army   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
South Carolina   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
Temple   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
Tulane   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
Syracuse   –   –   2 – 9 – 0
Memphis State   –   –   1 – 10 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

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

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 41:30 p.m. TempleNo. 8
 ESPN (tape delay)W 31–1480,000
September 111:30 p.m. MarylandNo. 7
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA ( rivalry)
 TCSW 39–3184,597 [3]
September 181:30 p.m. RutgersNo. 8
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
TCSW 49–1483,268
September 253:50 p.m.No. 2 NebraskaNo. 8
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
 CBSW 27–2485,304
October 91:30 p.m.at No. 4 AlabamaNo. 3
CBSL 21–4276,821 [4]
October 161:30 p.m. SyracusedaggerNo. 8
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA ( rivalry)
TCSW 28–784,762
October 231:30 p.m.at No. 13 West VirginiaNo. 9
 USAW 24–060,958 [5]
October 301:30 p.m.at Boston CollegeNo. 8
TCSW 52–1733,205
November 61:30 p.m. NC StateNo. 7
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
TCSW 54–084,837 [6]
November 133:50 p.m.at No. 13 Notre DameNo. 5
 ABCW 24–1459,075
November 2612:30 p.m.No. 5 PittsburghNo. 2
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA ( rivalry)
ABCW 19–1085,522
January 1, 19838:00 p.m.vs. No. 1 GeorgiaNo. 2
ABCW 27–2378,124

Roster

1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 14 Todd Blackledge Sr
TE 80 Kirk Bowman Jr
OT 79 Bill Contz Sr
OT 72 Ron Heller Jr
WR 19 Gregg Garrity Sr
C 58 Nick Haden So
WR 82 Kenny Jackson Jr
G 60 Dave Laube Sr
TE 81 Mike McCloskey Sr
RB 29 Tony Mumford So
G 56 Pete Speros Jr
FB 43 Jon Williams So
RB 25 Curt Warner Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
CB 39 Dan Biondi Sr
CB 23 Alvin Cunningham So
DT 70 Greg Gattuso Jr
Hero 17 Harry Hamilton Jr
CB 49 Roger Jackson Sr
LB 98 Ken Kelley Sr
LB 37 Walker Lee Ashley Sr
DT 65 Dave Opfar Sr
LB 33 Dave Paffenroth Sr
CB 92 Mark Fruehan Sr
LB 55 Rodger Puz Sr
LB 97 Scott Radecic Jr
S 32 Mark Robinson Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
PK 13 Nick Gancitano So
P 21 Ralph Giacomarro Sr
PK 10 Massimo Manca Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

Rankings

See also: 1982 NCAA Division I-A football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP87883 (7)3 (9)89875 (1)3 (2)2 (2)2 (2)21 (44)
UPI55*853 (3)3 (6)108 (1)764 (1)3 (3)2 (2)2 (2)2 (3)1 (33)

* 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

See also: 1982 Temple Owls football team
Temple vs. Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Temple 0 7 0714
#8 Penn State 21 3 0731

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Maryland

See also: 1982 Maryland Terrapins football team and Maryland–Penn State football rivalry
Maryland vs. Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Maryland 3 7 14731
#7 Penn State 3 17 91039

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

Rutgers

See also: 1982 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team
Rutgers vs. Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Rutgers 7 7 0014
#5 Penn State 7 14 141449

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

#2 Nebraska

See also: 1982 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
Nebraska vs. Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
#2 Nebraska 0 7 71024
#8 Penn State 7 7 7627

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

#4 Alabama

See also: 1982 Alabama Crimson Tide football team and Alabama–Penn State football rivalry
Penn State vs. Alabama – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
#3 Penn State 7 0 7721
#4 Alabama 7 14 31842

at Legion Field

Game information

Syracuse

See also: 1982 Syracuse Orangemen football team and Penn State–Syracuse football rivalry
Syracuse vs. Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Syracuse 0 7 007
#8 Penn State 7 14 0728

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

#13 West Virginia

See also: 1982 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
Penn State vs. West Virginia – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
#9 Penn State 3 7 01424
#13 West Virginia 0 0 000

at Mountaineer Field

  • Date: October 23
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 60,958
  • TV: USA
Game information

Boston College

See also: 1982 Boston College Eagles football team
Penn State vs. Boston College – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
#8 Penn State 14 17 71452
Boston College 7 3 0717

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

North Carolina State

See also: 1982 North Carolina State Wolfpack football team
North Carolina State vs. Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
North Carolina State 0 0 000
#7 Penn State 17 9 21754

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

#13 Notre Dame

See also: 1982 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
Penn State vs. Notre Dame – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
#5 Penn State 0 13 01124
#13 Notre Dame 7 7 0014

at Notre Dame Stadium

Game information

#5 Pittsburgh

See also: 1982 Pittsburgh Panthers football team
Pittsburgh vs. Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
#5 Pittsburgh 0 7 0310
#2 Penn State 3 0 10619

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

#1 Georgia (Sugar Bowl)

See also: 1982 Georgia Bulldogs football team and 1983 Sugar Bowl
Overall record Previous meeting Previous winner
First meeting
Penn State vs. Georgia – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
#2 Penn State 7 13 0727
#1 Georgia 3 7 7623

at Louisiana Superdome

Game information

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.

Round Pick Overall Name Position Team
1st 3 3 Curt Warner Running back Seattle Seahawks
1st 7 7 Todd Blackledge Quarterback Kansas City Chiefs
3rd 17 73 Walker Lee Ashley Linebacker Minnesota Vikings
4th 4 88 Mike McCloskey Tight end Houston Oilers
5th 10 122 Bill Contz Offensive tackle Cleveland Browns
5th 28 140 Gregg Garrity Wide receiver Pittsburgh Steelers
10th 8 261 Dave Laube Offensive guard Detroit Lions
10th 10 263 Pete Speros Offensive guard Seattle Seahawks
10th 15 268 Ralph Giacomarro Punter Atlanta Falcons

Media

Radio

Flagship station Play-by-play Color commentator Sideline reporter Studio host
WMAJ AM 1450 Fran Fisher John Grant

References

  1. ^ "Penn State Yearly Results (1980-1984)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on August 5, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  2. ^ 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. p. 114. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  3. ^ "Penn State rallies to edge Maryland". The Sunday News. September 12, 1982. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "'Bama brings Penn State back to earth". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 10, 1982. Retrieved February 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Penn State's defense devastates W. Virginia". Democrat and Chronicle. October 24, 1982. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Nittany Lions follow new script". The Sunday Times. November 7, 1982. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Eugene Register-Guard. November 14, 1982. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
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