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Penn State Football Team History


Penn State Nittany Lions
The Pennsylvania State University
 University Park, PA
Founded: 1855
Stadium: Beaver Stadium
Capacity: 106,537
Colors: Blue & White
Coach: Joe Paterno
Conference: Independent-

Team Home Summary  Coaches Games by Year Opponents Rankings Bowls Conference


Select Year:    
1881  <-- 1978 <- 1979 -> 1980 --> 2024
1979 Season Highlights
 Joe Paterno enters his 14th season as Head Coach at Penn State.
 
1979 Season
 Date   Opponent  Score   
 Sat., Sep. 15  vs. Rutgers  45   10   W       
 Sat., Sep. 22  vs. Texas A&M  14   27   L       
 Sat., Sep. 29  @ Nebraska  17   42   L       
 Sat., Oct. 6  @ Maryland  27   7   W       
 Sat., Oct. 13  vs. Army  24   3   W       
 Sat., Oct. 20  @ Syracuse  35   7   W    @ East Rutherford, NJ   
 Sat., Oct. 27  vs. West Virginia  31   6   W       
 Sat., Nov. 3  vs. Miami (Florida)  10   26   L       
 Sat., Nov. 10  @ North Carolina State  9   7   W       
 Sat., Nov. 17  vs. Temple  22   7   W       
 Sat., Nov. 24  @ Pittsburgh  14   29   L       
 Sat., Dec. 22   Tulane  9   6   W    @ Memphis, TN   Liberty Bowl
 
1979 Season Totals
  Record8-4
  Points Scored257
  Scoring Average21.4
  Points Allowed177
  Defense Average14.8
  Opponents Record82-43
  Conference Record0-0
  Home Record4-2
  Away Record3-2
1979 NCAA Final Rankings
 Rank   Record   Source 
20 8-4-0 AP
18 8-4-0 Coaches
18 8-4-0 UPI
  
1979 Independent- Standings
  Season   Bowls   Conference 
 Team  W/L/T  PF  PA    W/L/T  PF  PA   Coach 
Louisiana Monroe 3-8158211   John David Crow
Florida State 11-1326160Lost  7-24  Bobby Bowden
Pittsburgh 11-1291116Won  16-10  Jackie Sherrill
Temple 10-2399198Won  28-17  Wayne Hardin
Nevada Las Vegas 9-1-2370300   Tony Knap
Tulane 9-3318179Lost  6-9  Larry Smith
Liberty 8-2-1322176   Tom Dowling
Penn State 8-4257177Won  9-6  Joe Paterno
Rutgers 8-3243174   Frank R. Burns
South Carolina 8-4246205Lost  14-24  Jim Carlen
East Carolina 7-3-1380193   Pat Dye
Navy 7-4180154   George Welsh
Notre Dame 7-4243197   Dan Devine
Syracuse 7-5324293Won  31-7  Frank Maloney
Akron 6-5232223   Jim Dennison
Central Florida 6-210496   Don Jonas
Southern Mississippi 6-4-1228146   Bobby Collins
Boston College 5-6215215   Ed Chlebek
Memphis 5-6166223   Richard Williamson
North Texas 5-6182235   Jerry Moore
Virginia Tech 5-6224222   Bill Dooley
West Virginia 5-6185279   Frank Cignetti
Buffalo 4-5117177   Bill Dando
James Madison 4-6135206   Challace McMillin
Louisville 4-6-1167202   Vince Gibson
Air Force 2-9127253   Ken Hatfield
Army 2-8-196308   Louis H. Lou Saban
Cincinnati 2-9156281   Ralph Staub

1979 All American Awards
 Player   Position   Class   Ht.   Wt.   Award   Team   Source 
 Coming Someday 

1979 All Independent Conference Players
 Player   Position   Class   Ht.   Wt.   Team   Source 
 Coming Someday 


Some records may be incomplete.


Great Moments in College Football History

Touchdowns in college football were originally counted as three points.