# 1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

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 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.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 1:30 p.m. | Temple | No. 8 | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA | ESPN (tape delay) | W 31–14 | 80,000 |
| September 11 | 1:30 p.m. | Maryland | No. 7 | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA (rivalry) | TCS | W 39–31 | 84,597 |
| September 18 | 1:30 p.m. | Rutgers | No. 8 | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA | TCS | W 49–14 | 83,268 |
| September 25 | 3:50 p.m. | No. 2 Nebraska | No. 8 | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA | CBS | W 27–24 | 85,304 |
| October 9 | 1:30 p.m. | at No. 4 Alabama | No. 3 | Legion FieldBirmingham, AL (rivalry) | CBS | L 21–42 | 76,821 |
| October 16 | 1:30 p.m. | Syracuse | No. 8 | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA (rivalry) | TCS | W 28–7 | 84,762 |
| October 23 | 1:30 p.m. | at No. 13 West Virginia | No. 9 | Mountaineer FieldMorgantown, WV (rivalry) | USA | W 24–0 | 60,958 |
| October 30 | 1:30 p.m. | at Boston College | No. 8 | Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA | TCS | W 52–17 | 33,205 |
| November 6 | 1:30 p.m. | NC State | No. 7 | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA | TCS | W 54–0 | 84,837 |
| November 13 | 3:50 p.m. | at No. 13 Notre Dame | No. 5 | Notre Dame StadiumNotre Dame, IN (rivalry) | ABC | W 24–14 | 59,075 |
| November 26 | 12:30 p.m. | No. 5 Pittsburgh | No. 2 | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA (rivalry) | ABC | W 19–10 | 85,522 |
| January 1, 1983 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 1 Georgia | No. 2 | Louisiana SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl) | ABC | W 27–23 | 78,124 |
| HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 3 (7) | 3 (9) | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 (1) | 3 (2) | 2 (2) | 2 (2) | 2 | 1 (44) |
| 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) |
* 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

| 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
* Referee: William Parkinson
* TV announcers (ESPN): Jim Simpson, Bud Wilkinson
Game information :
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)
Top passers
TU –
PSU –
Top rushers
TU –
PSU –
Top receivers
TU –
PSU –
Top defenders
TU –
PSU – :

### Maryland

| 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 :
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

| 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 :
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

| 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 :
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

| 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

| 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

| 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 – 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)
Top passers
PSU –
WVU –
Top rushers
PSU –
WVU –
Top receivers
PSU –
WVU –
Top defenders
PSU –
WVU – :

### Boston College

| 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

| 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 :
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

| 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, 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)
Top passing
PSU –
ND –
Top rushers
PSU –
ND –
Top receivers
PSU –
ND –
Top defenders
PSU –
ND – :

### #5 Pittsburgh

| 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
* Referee: Raymond Bower
* 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)

| Overall record | Previous meeting | Previous winner |
| First meeting |||
| 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 | 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 | | |