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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  <-- 1980 <- 1981 -> 1982 --> 2024
1981 Season Highlights
 Joe Paterno enters his 16th season as Head Coach at Penn State.
 
1981 Season
 Date   Opponent  Score   
 Sat., Sep. 12  vs. Cincinnati  52   0   W       
 Sat., Sep. 26  @ Nebraska  30   24   W       
 Sat., Oct. 3  vs. Temple  30   0   W       
 Sat., Oct. 10  vs. Boston College  38   7   W       
 Sat., Oct. 17  @ Syracuse  41   16   W       
 Sat., Oct. 24  vs. West Virginia  30   7   W       
 Sat., Oct. 31  @ Miami (Florida)  14   17   L       
 Sat., Nov. 7  @ North Carolina State  22   15   W       
 Sat., Nov. 14  vs. Alabama  16   31   L       
 Sat., Nov. 21  vs. Notre Dame  24   21   W       
 Sat., Nov. 28  @ Pittsburgh  48   14   W       
 Fri., Jan. 1   Southern California  26   10   W    @ Tempe, AZ   Fiesta Bowl
 
1981 Season Totals
  Record10-2
  Points Scored371
  Scoring Average30.9
  Points Allowed162
  Defense Average13.5
  Opponents Record76-47
  Conference Record0-0
  Home Record5-1
  Away Record4-1
1981 NCAA Final Rankings
 Rank   Record   Source 
3 10-2-0 AP
3 10-2-0 Coaches
3 10-2-0 UPI
  
1981 Independent- Standings
  Season   Bowls   Conference 
 Team  W/L/T  PF  PA    W/L/T  PF  PA   Coach 
Louisiana Monroe 5-6309251   Pat Collins
Pittsburgh 11-1385160Won  24-20  Jackie Sherrill
Penn State 10-2371162Won  26-10  Joe Paterno
Southern Mississippi 9-2-1305108Lost  17-19  Bobby Collins
West Virginia 9-3284155Won  26-6  Don Nehlen
Navy 7-4-1244183Lost  28-31  George Welsh
Virginia Tech 7-4232128   Bill Dooley
Cincinnati 6-5171187   Mike Gottfried
Florida State 6-5240286   Bobby Bowden
Nevada Las Vegas 6-6326433   Tony Knap
South Carolina 6-6225222   Jim Carlen
Tulane 6-5213144   Vince Gibson
Akron 5-5132183   Jim Dennison
Boston College 5-6243298   Jack Bicknell, Sr.
Buffalo 5-5187168   Bill Dando
East Carolina 5-6242290   Ed Emory
Louisville 5-6180212   Bob Weber
Notre Dame 5-6232160   Gerry Faust
Rutgers 5-6139208   Frank R. Burns
Temple 5-5181195   Wayne Hardin
Central Florida 4-6142130   Don Jonas
Syracuse 4-6-1248265   Dick MacPherson
Army 3-7-1126212   Ed Cavanaugh
James Madison 3-8198265   Challace McMillin
North Texas 2-9111235   Bob Tyler
Liberty 1-9135308   Tom Dowling
Memphis 1-1082209   Rex Dockery

1981 All American Awards
 Player   Position   Class   Ht.   Wt.   Award   Team   Source 
 Coming Someday 

1981 All Independent Conference Players
 Player   Position   Class   Ht.   Wt.   Team   Source 
 Coming Someday 


Some records may be incomplete.


Great Moments in College Football History

In 1905, 18 men were killed in college football games, and 159 were permanently injured.