Penn State Nittany Lions football under Joe Paterno ( as an Independent ) Joe Paterno was a head coach of Penn State Nittany Lions football , serving from the retirement of Rip Engle after the 1965 season until he was fired on November 9 , 2011 , in the wake of the Penn State sex abuse scandal . His teams played their home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park , Pennsylvania . Penn State played as an independent through the 1992 season . In 1993 , the Nittany Lions started playing a Big Ten Conference football schedule . 1966 season . NFL / AFL Common Draft . Three Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1967 NFL / AFL Common Draft . 1967 season . NFL / AFL Common Draft . Three Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1968 NFL / AFL Common Draft . 1968 season . The 1968 team was Paterno ' s first perfect season . Despite going 11 – 0 , the Nittany Lions finished behind 9 – 0 Ohio State and 9 – 0 – 1 USC in both polls . NFL / AFL Common Draft . Five Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1969 NFL / AFL Common Draft . 1969 season . Despite posting its second consecutive undefeated , untied season , the Nittany Lions did not have a shot at the national championship . President Richard Nixon said that he would consider the winner of the December 6 matchup between the Texas Longhorns and the Arkansas Razorbacks , then ranked at the top of the polls , and the real voters do not seem to have differed . At the time , national champions were selected before bowl games were played . Paterno , at the 1973 commencement , was quoted saying , " I ' d like to know how could the president know so little about Watergate in 1973 and so much about college football in 1969 ? " Penn State declined an invitation to play the Texas / Arkansas winner in the Cotton Bowl . NFL Draft . Eight Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1970 NFL Draft . 1970 season . NFL Draft . Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1971 NFL Draft . 1971 season . NFL Draft . Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1972 NFL Draft . 1972 season . As a result of using ineligible players , the Oklahoma Sooners were ordered to forfeit seven wins from their 1972 season , including their on - field win over the Nittany Lions . However , Paterno and Penn State refused to accept the forfeit , and the bowl game is officially recorded as a loss . NFL Draft . Five Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1973 NFL Draft . 1973 season . Penn State ' s third undefeated season under Joe Paterno was led by John Cappelletti who would become the first Penn State player to win the Heisman Trophy . Game notes . Navy Midshipmen . Penn State capitalized on a fumble and two short punts to score three second - quarter touchdowns and break the game wide open against Navy . The Nittany Lions opened scoring with just one second left in the first as QB Tom Shuman hit SE Gary Heyman for a touchdown to cap an 88 - yard drive . On the first play after the ensuing kickoff , E Greg Murphy recovered a fumble by RB Bob Jackson at the Navy 41 , and the Lions took two - and - a - half minutes and five plays to score again . Penn State scored on two more quick drives of 60 and 51 yards following short punts into a stiff wind by John Stufflebeem . The Lions added a field goal by Chris Bahr midway through the third and backup QB John Clark capped a 56 - yard drive with a keeper to put Penn State ahead 37 - 0 . The final points of the contest came when a snap from Navy ' s center sailed over Stufflebeem ' s head and out of the end zone for a safety . NFL Draft . Ten Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1974 NFL Draft . 1974 season . NFL Draft . Ten Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1975 NFL Draft . 1975 season . NFL Draft . Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1976 NFL Draft . 1976 season . NFL Draft . Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1977 NFL Draft . 1977 season . NFL Draft . Seven Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1978 NFL Draft . 1978 season . Game notes . Ohio State . Maryland . NFL Draft . Nine Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1979 NFL Draft . 1979 season . NFL Draft . Seven Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1980 NFL Draft . 1980 season . NFL Draft . Seven Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1981 NFL Draft . 1981 season . Game notes . Notre Dame . Following the game , Penn State accepted an invitation to the Fiesta Bowl . NFL Draft . Ten Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1982 NFL Draft . 1982 season . Penn State defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 27 – 23 in the 1983 Sugar Bowl to win Paterno ' s first consensus national championship . NFL Draft . Nine Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1983 NFL Draft . 1983 season . NFL Draft . Eight Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1984 NFL Draft . 1984 season . NFL Draft . Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1985 NFL Draft . 1985 season . NFL Draft . Three Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1986 NFL Draft . 1986 season . Penn State defeated the Miami Hurricanes 14 – 10 in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl to win Paterno ' s second consensus national championship . NFL Draft . Thirteen Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1987 NFL Draft . 1987 season . NFL Draft . Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1988 NFL Draft . 1988 season . NFL Draft . Six Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1989 NFL Draft . 1989 season . NFL Draft . Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1990 NFL Draft . 1990 season . NFL Draft . Six Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1991 NFL Draft . 1991 season . NFL Draft . Nine Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1992 NFL Draft . 1992 season . NFL Draft . Eight Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1993 NFL Draft .