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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  <-- 1988 <- 1989 -> 1990 --> 2024
1989 Season Highlights
 Joe Paterno enters his 24th season as Head Coach at Penn State.
 
1989 Season
 Date   Opponent  Score   
 Sat., Sep. 9  vs. Virginia  6   14   L       
 Sat., Sep. 16  vs. Temple  42   3   W       
 Sat., Sep. 23  vs. Boston College  7   3   W       
 Sat., Sep. 30  @ Texas  16   12   W       
 Sat., Oct. 7  @ Rutgers  17   0   W    @ East Rutherford, NJ   
 Sat., Oct. 14  @ Syracuse  34   12   W       
 Sat., Oct. 28  vs. Alabama  16   17   L       
 Sat., Nov. 4  vs. West Virginia  19   9   W       
 Sat., Nov. 11  @ Maryland  13   13   T    @ Baltimore, MD   
 Sat., Nov. 18  vs. Notre Dame  23   34   L       
 Sat., Nov. 25  @ Pittsburgh  16   13   W       
 Fri., Dec. 29   Brigham Young  50   39   W    @ San Diego, CA   Holiday Bowl
 
1989 Season Totals
  Record8-3 -1
  Points Scored259
  Scoring Average21.6
  Points Allowed169
  Defense Average14.1
  Opponents Record79-58
  Conference Record0-0
  Home Record3-3
  Away Record4-0 -1
1989 NCAA Final Rankings
 Rank   Record   Source 
15 8-3-1 AP
14 8-3-1 Coaches
14 8-3-1 UPI
15 8-3-1 USA Today/CNN
  
1989 Independent- Standings
  Season   Bowls   Conference 
 Team  W/L/T  PF  PA    W/L/T  PF  PA   Coach 
Georgia Southern 15-0584221   Erk Russell
Notre Dame 12-1427189Won  21-6  Lou Holtz
Florida State 10-2424199Won  41-17  Bobby Bowden
Northern Illinois 9-2344269   Jerry Pettibone
Penn State 8-3-1259169Won  50-39  Joe Paterno
Pittsburgh 8-3-1333268Won  31-28  Mike Gottfried
Syracuse 8-4286242Won  19-18  Dick MacPherson
West Virginia 8-3-1339221Lost  7-27  Don Nehlen
Central Florida 7-3256168   Gene McDowell
Liberty 7-3287226   Sam Rutigliano
Louisiana 7-4241232   Nelson Stokley
Army 6-5316212   Jim Young
Louisville 6-5312222   Howard Schnellenberger
South Carolina 6-4-1228250   Sparky Woods
Tulsa 6-6302271Lost  24-27  Dave Rader
Virginia Tech 6-4-1203180   Frank Beamer
Western Kentucky 6-5279238   Jack Harbaugh
Arkansas State 5-6261265   Larry Lacewell
East Carolina 5-5-1301286   Bill Lewis
James Madison 5-4-1267159   Joe Purzycki
Louisiana Tech 5-4-1283265   Joe Peace
Southern Mississippi 5-6240252   Curley Hallman
Buffalo 4-6198217   Bill Dando
Tulane 4-8247337   Greg Davis
Navy 3-8145272   Elliot Uzelac
Boston College 2-9207253   Jack Bicknell, Sr.
Memphis 2-9174338   Charles R. Chuck Stobart
Rutgers 2-7-2245319   Dick Anderson
Cincinnati 1-9-1111379   Timothy Tim Murphy
Temple 1-10141387   Jerry Berndt

1989 All American Awards
 Player   Position   Class   Ht.   Wt.   Award   Team   Source 
 Coming Someday 

1989 All Independent Conference Players
 Player   Position   Class   Ht.   Wt.   Team   Source 
 Coming Someday 


Some records may be incomplete.


Great Moments in College Football History

The forward pass first appeared in college football in 1906. It was introduced in an attempt to increase scoring and reduce injuries.