1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

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Ranking
Coaches	No. 1
AP	No. 1

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. Penn State defeated the Georgia Bulldogs, 27–23, in the Sugar Bowl to win Paterno's first consensus national championship.

Schedule

September 41:30 p.m.TempleNo. 8

• Beaver Stadium
• University Park, PA

ESPN (tape delay)W 31–14 80,000 September 111:30 p.m.MarylandNo. 7

• Beaver Stadium
• University Park, PA (Rivalry)

TCSW 39–31 84,597 September 181:30 p.m.RutgersNo. 8

• Beaver Stadium
• University Park, PA

TCSW 49–14 83,268 September 253:50 p.m.No. 2 NebraskaNo. 8

• Beaver Stadium
• University Park, PA

CBSW 27–24 85,304 October 91:30 p.m.at No. 4 AlabamaNo. 3

• Legion Field
• Birmingham, AL (Rivalry)

CBSL 21–42 76,821 October 161:30 p.m.SyracuseNo. 8

• Beaver Stadium
• University Park, PA (Rivalry)

TCSW 28–7 84,762 October 231:00 p.m.at No. 13 West VirginiaNo. 9

• Mountaineer Field
• Morgantown, WV (Rivalry)

USAW 24–0 60,958 October 301:30 p.m.at Boston CollegeNo. 8

• Alumni Stadium
• Chestnut Hill, MA

TCSW 52–17 33,205 November 61:30 p.m.North Carolina StateNo. 7

• Beaver Stadium
• University Park, PA

TCSW 54–0 84,837 November 133:50 p.m.at No. 13 Notre DameNo. 5

• Notre Dame Stadium
• South Bend, IN

ABCW 24–14 59,075 November 2612:30 p.m.No. 5 PittsburghNo. 2

• Beaver Stadium
• University Park, PA (Rivalry)

ABCW 19–10 85,522 January 1, 19838:00 p.m.vs. No. 1 GeorgiaNo. 2

• Louisiana Superdome
• New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)

ABCW 27–23 78,124

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 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	Head coach Joe Paterno Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster

Rankings

See also: 1982 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

AP Poll

Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
8	7	8	8	3	3	8	9	8	7	5	3	2	2	2	1

UPI Poll

Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Final
5	8	5	3	3	10	8	7	6	4	3	2	2	2	1

Game summaries

Temple

See also: 1982 Temple Owls football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
16–3–1	1981	PSU, 30–0

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

• Date: September 4
• Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 80,000
• TV announcers (ESPN): Jim Simpson, Bud Wilkinson

Game information
First Quarter PSU – PSU – PSU – Second Quarter TU – PSU – Third Quarter No scoring Fourth Quarter PSU – TU – Top passers TU – PSU – Top rushers TU – PSU – Top receivers TU – PSU – Top defenders TU – PSU –

Maryland

See also: 1982 Maryland Terrapins football team and Maryland–Penn State football rivalry

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
25–1–5	1980	PSU, 24–10

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
• TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno

Game information
First Quarter PSU – MD – Second Quarter PSU – PSU – MD – PSU – Third Quarter MD – PSU – MD – PSU – Fourth Quarter PSU – MD – PSU – Top passers MD – PSU – Top rushers MD – PSU – Top receivers MD – PSU – Top defenders MD – PSU –

Rutgers

See also: 1982 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
9–1	1979	PSU, 45–10

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
• TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno

Game information
First Quarter PSU – RUT – Second Quarter PSU – PSU – RUT – Third Quarter PSU – PSU – Fourth Quarter PSU – PSU – Top passers RUT – PSU – Top rushers RUT – PSU – Top receivers RUT – PSU – Top defenders RUT – PSU –

#2 Nebraska

See also: 1982 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
5–4	1981	PSU, 30–24

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
• TV announcers (CBS): Gary Bender, Pat Haden

Game information
First Quarter PSU – Second Quarter PSU – NEB – Third Quarter PSU – NEB – Fourth Quarter NEB – NEB – PSU – Top passers NEB – PSU – Top rushers NEB – PSU – Top receivers NEB – PSU – Top defenders NEB – PSU –

#4 Alabama

See also: 1982 Alabama Crimson Tide football team and Alabama–Penn State football rivalry

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
1–3	1981	ALA, 31–16

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

• Date: October 9
• Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 76,821
• TV announcers (CBS): Gary Bender, Pat Haden

Game information
First Quarter ALA – PSU – Second Quarter ALA – ALA – Third Quarter PSU – ALA – Fourth Quarter PSU – ALA – ALA – ALA – Top passers PSU – ALA – Top rushers PSU – ALA – Top receivers PSU – ALA – Top defenders PSU – ALA –

Syracuse

See also: 1982 Syracuse Orangemen football team and Penn State–Syracuse football rivalry

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
33–21–5	1981	PSU, 41–16

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
First Quarter PSU – Second Quarter PSU – SU – PSU – Third Quarter No scoring Fourth Quarter PSU – Top passers SU – PSU – Top rushers SU – PSU – Top receivers SU – PSU – Top defenders SU – PSU –

#13 West Virginia

See also: 1982 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
39–7–2	1981	PSU, 30–7

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
First Quarter PSU – Second Quarter PSU – Third Quarter No scoring Fourth Quarter PSU – PSU – Top passers PSU – WVU – Top rushers PSU – WVU – Top receivers PSU – WVU – Top defenders PSU – WVU –

Boston College

See also: 1982 Boston College Eagles football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
9–0	1981	PSU, 38–7

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
First Quarter BC – PSU – PSU – Second Quarter PSU – PSU – BC – PSU – Third Quarter PSU – Fourth Quarter BC – PSU – PSU – Top passers PSU – BC – Top rushers PSU – BC – Top receivers PSU – BC – Top defenders PSU – BC –

North Carolina State

See also: 1982 North Carolina State Wolfpack football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
16–2	1981	PSU, 22–15

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
• TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno

Game information
First Quarter PSU – PSU – PSU – Second Quarter PSU – PSU – Third Quarter PSU – PSU – PSU – Fourth Quarter PSU – Top passers NCST – PSU – Top rushers NCST – PSU – Top receivers NCST – PSU – Top defenders NCST – PSU –

#13 Notre Dame

See also: 1982 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
1–4–1	1981	PSU, 24–21

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

• Date: November 13
• Game time: 3:50 PM EST
• Game attendance: 59,075
• TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Tim Brant

Game information

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, Jancitano kick good (TIE 7–7) PSU – Jancitano 41-yard field goal (PSU 10–7) PSU – Jancitano 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 – Jancitano 27-yard field goal (PSU 24–14) Top passing PSU – ND – Top rushers PSU – ND – Top receivers PSU – ND – Top defenders PSU – ND –

#5 Pittsburgh

See also: 1982 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
38–36–3	1981	PSU, 48–14

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

• Date: November 26
• Game time: 12:30 PM EST
• Game attendance: 85,722
• TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Lee Grosscup, Tim Brant

Game information
First Quarter PSU – Second Quarter PITT – Third Quarter PSU – PSU – Fourth Quarter PSU – PITT – PSU – Top passers PITT – PSU – Top rushers PITT – PSU – Top receivers PITT – PSU – Top defenders PITT – PSU –

#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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
#2 Penn State	7	13	0	7	27
#1 Georgia	3	7	7	6	23

at Louisiana Superdome

• Date: January 1, 1983
• Game time: 8:00 PM EST
• Game attendance: 78,127
• Referee: Vance Carlson
• TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Jim Lampley

Game information
First Quarter PSU – UGA – Second Quarter PSU – PSU – PSU – UGA – Third Quarter UGA – Fourth Quarter PSU – UGA – Top passers PSU – UGA – Top rushers PSU – UGA – Top receivers PSU – UGA – Top defenders PSU – UGA –

Awards

• Todd Blackledge

Davey O'Brien Award

• Joe Paterno

Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year

• Pete Speros

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	–	Detroit Lions
10th	10	263	Pete Speros	–	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