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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  <-- 1986 <- 1987 -> 1988 --> 2024
1987 Season Highlights
 Joe Paterno enters his 22nd season as Head Coach at Penn State.
 
1987 Season
 Date   Opponent  Score   
 Sat., Sep. 5  vs. Bowling Green State  45   19   W       
 Sat., Sep. 12  vs. Alabama  13   24   L       
 Sat., Sep. 19  vs. Cincinnati  41   0   W       
 Sat., Sep. 26  @ Boston College  27   17   W    @ Foxboro, MA   
 Sat., Oct. 3  vs. Temple  27   13   W       
 Sat., Oct. 10  vs. Rutgers  35   21   W       
 Sat., Oct. 17  @ Syracuse  21   48   L       
 Sat., Oct. 31  vs. West Virginia  25   21   W       
 Sat., Nov. 7  @ Maryland  21   16   W    @ Baltimore, MD   
 Sat., Nov. 14  @ Pittsburgh  0   10   L       
 Sat., Nov. 21  vs. Notre Dame  21   20   W       
 Fri., Jan. 1   Clemson  10   35   L    @ Orlando, FL   Capital One Bowl
 
1987 Season Totals
  Record8-4
  Points Scored286
  Scoring Average23.8
  Points Allowed244
  Defense Average20.3
  Opponents Record72-54
  Conference Record0-0
  Home Record6-1
  Away Record2-2
1987 NCAA Final Rankings
 Rank   Record   Source 
23 8-4-0 USA Today/CNN
  
1987 Independent- Standings
  Season   Bowls   Conference 
 Team  W/L/T  PF  PA    W/L/T  PF  PA   Coach 
Florida State 11-1481163Won  31-28  Bobby Bowden
Syracuse 11-0-1379169Tied  16-16  Dick MacPherson
Central Florida 9-4401210   Gene McDowell
Georgia Southern 9-4283220   Erk Russell
James Madison 9-3283197   Joe Purzycki
Arkansas State 8-4-1395277   Larry Lacewell
Notre Dame 8-4339218Lost  10-35  Lou Holtz
Penn State 8-4286244Lost  10-35  Joe Paterno
Pittsburgh 8-4230146Lost  27-32  Mike Gottfried
South Carolina 8-4341141Lost  13-30  Joe Morrison
Western Kentucky 7-4263217   Dave Roberts
Louisiana 6-5191252   Nelson Stokley
Rutgers 6-5168213   Dick Anderson
Southern Mississippi 6-5270296   Jim Carmody
Tulane 6-6370376Lost  12-24  Mack Brown
West Virginia 6-6330212Lost  33-35  Don Nehlen
Army 5-6277223   Jim Young
Boston College 5-6244281   Jack Bicknell, Sr.
East Carolina 5-6229330   Art Baker
Memphis 5-5-1220210   Charlie Bailey
Northern Illinois 5-5-1305262   Jerry Pettibone
Akron 4-7204273   Gerry Faust
Cincinnati 4-7234314   Dave Currey
Buffalo 3-7151204   Bill Dando
Liberty 3-7174248   Morgan Hout
Louisiana Tech 3-8108197   Carl Torbush
Louisville 3-7-1215348   Howard Schnellenberger
Temple 3-8154251   Bruce Arians
Tulsa 3-8175371   George Henshaw
Navy 2-9160317   Elliot Uzelac
Virginia Tech 2-9203300   Frank Beamer

1987 All American Awards
 Player   Position   Class   Ht.   Wt.   Award   Team   Source 
 Coming Someday 

1987 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.