Spring 1983 — Running backs coach Fran Ganter is promoted to offensive coordinator to succeed Dick Anderson, who takes the head coaching position at Rutgers. September 8, 1984 — Former offensive coordinator Dick Anderson returns to Beaver Stadium as head coach of Rutgers and in the first game of his career, his team loses to Penn State, 15-12. The “Hawaiian Wave” makes its first appearance in Beaver Stadium as 84,409 fans help the “wave” roll around the stadium several times. Fall 1984 — Permanent lights costing $575,000 are installed at Beaver Stadium after the U.S. Supreme Court rules against the NCAA’s control of televised games and permits individual colleges to make their own arrangements. September 14, 1985 — A new home team locker room and media room open at Beaver Stadium along with additional permanent seats in the North end zone for the handicapped and the visiting band. Four circular concrete ramps to help spectators reach their seats are part of the renovation.
Quarterback Chuck Burkhart directed Penn State to its first two undefeated seasons under Joe Paterno in 1968 and ’69. In the 1969 Orange Bowl against Kansas (above), Burkhart ran for a three-yard touchdown with eight seconds left and Bob Campbell’s twopoint run gave Penn State one of its most thrilling victories in program history, 15-14, to cap an 11-0 season and No. 2 finish in the Associated Press poll. November 28, 1981 — Penn State pulls off one of its finest come-from-behind victories, snapping back from a 14-0 second-quarter deficit to rout No. 1 Pitt, 48-14, and end the national title chances of the Sugar Bowl-bound Panthers before a national television audience and 60,260 at Pitt Stadium. The victory was sparked by interceptions of Dan Marino passes by Roger Jackson and Mark Robinson and the passing combination of Todd Blackledge to Kenny Jackson.
October 26, 1985 — Penn State wins its 600th game by beating West Virginia, 27-0, before a sellout Homecoming crowd of 85,534 and an ABC regional TV audience. John Shaffer throws two touchdown passes and the defense limits the Mountaineers to 268 yards with three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and four sacks. November 6, 1985 — Penn State is voted No. 1 for the fourth time in program history when the UPI coaches board selects the Nittany Lions first after a 16-12 come-frombehind fourth-quarter win over Boston College. But, in the Associated Press poll, the Lions remain No. 2 behind Florida, coached by former Penn State quarterback Galen Hall. November 13, 1985 — Penn State moves to No. 1 in the Associated Press rankings after beating Cincinnati, 31-10, in Riverfront Stadium, while Florida loses to Georgia.
January 1, 1982 — Penn State plays in the first Fiesta Bowl held on New Year’s Day and beats Southern California, 26-10, holding Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Allen to 85 yards as Curt Warner gains 145 yards on 26 carries. Penn State finishes No. 3 in the Associated Press and UPI rankings.
January 1, 1986 — Oklahoma beats the No. 1 Nittany Lions, 25-10, in the Orange Bowl to win the National Championship as two Penn State interceptions and a fumble help the Sooners to victory.
March 1, 1982 — Associate Athletic Director Jim Tarman succeeds Joe Paterno as Athletic Director as Paterno continues as head coach of the football team.
September 6, 1986 — Penn State plays the first night game at Beaver Stadium in the season-opener against Temple that helps launch the celebration of the first 100 years of Penn State football. Quarterback John Shaffer passes for three touchdowns and runs for another in the 45-15 victory.
September 11, 1982 — Penn State wins its 100th game at Beaver Stadium in a 39-31 shootout with Maryland. Todd Blackledge passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns and Maryland’s Boomer Esiason throws for 276 yards and two TDs before a sellout crowd of 84,567.
October 25, 1986 — The sixth-ranked Nittany Lions shock the country with a dominating 23-3 upset win over No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa behind a defense led by linebackers Shane Conlan and Trey Bauer and the running of D.J. Dozier. It is just the Crimson Tide’s third loss in 25 years at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The victory pushed Penn State to No. 2 in the polls and on track to play No. 1 Miami (Fla.) for the national title.
September 25, 1982 — In one of the most thrilling games ever played at Beaver Stadium, No. 8 Penn State comes from behind with a 65-yard drive in the last 1:18 to beat No. 3 Nebraska. Todd Blackledge throws the winning two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kirk Bowman with four seconds left on the clock before a record crowd of 85,304 and a national television audience.
January 2, 1987 — Penn State wins its second National Championship in four years by upsetting previous No. 1 Miami, 14-10, in the Fiesta Bowl with a four-down goal line stand in the last minute of play behind a defense led by All-American Shane Conlan. The Nittany Lions fluster Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde with five sacks and five interceptions, including one by linebacker Pete Giftopoulos at the goal line on the game’s last play.
November 26, 1982 — Curt Warner establishes a Penn State career rushing record of 3,398 yards and Todd Blackledge sets the career touchdown passing record of 41 as they lead the Nittany Lions to a 19-10 win over once-beaten Pitt at Beaver Stadium to take a No. 2 ranking to the Sugar Bowl. Warner gains 118 yards and Blackledge throws a 31-yard touchdown to Kenny Jackson in the victory.
September 5, 1987 — Joe Paterno wins his 200th game in a 45-19 victory over Bowling Green in the season-opening game at Beaver Stadium and later tells the media, “I may live to be 100, but I’ll never be around for another 100 victories.”
January 1, 1983 — Penn State wins its first National Championship by beating previously No. 1 Georgia, 27-23, in the Sugar Bowl. Todd Blackledge passes 47 yards to Gregg Garrity for a key fourth-quarter touchdown and Curt Warner out-duels Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker with 117 yards and two touchdowns.
October 1, 1988 — Tony Sacca becomes the first true freshman to start at quarterback in the Paterno and Engle eras and leads Penn State to 45-9 win over Temple at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.
August 29, 1983 — Penn State plays in the first Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands and loses to a Nebraska team that would finish the regularseason ranked No. 1.
November 19, 1988 — Penn State loses to Notre Dame, 21-3, in South Bend to finish with a record of 5-6, the Nittany Lions’ first losing season in 49 years.
September 9, 1983 — A new Penn State athletic logo is introduced featuring a sleek, Lion head.
December 19, 1989 — Representatives of Penn State and the Big Ten Conference announce that an “invitation in principle” has been extended for Penn State to join the Big Ten. The invitation is made formal on June 4, 1990 in a 7-3 vote of the Council of 10 ruling body and Penn State accepts.
October 8, 1983 — Unranked Penn State upsets No. 3 Alabama, 34-28, at Beaver Stadium on two last-minute defensive plays that lead to one of the biggest controversies in Penn State history when the back judge nullifies an end zone pass reception by Alabama, ruling the receiver juggled the ball as he fell out of bounds.
December 29, 1989 — In one of the zaniest games in Penn State history, the Nittany Lions best Brigham Young in a Holiday Bowl shootout, 50-39, scoring 21 points in a wild fourth quarter that includes two spectacular plays, one by All-American linebacker Andre Collins and another by defensive back Gary Brown. Collins scores Penn State’s first ever two points off an opponent conversion attempt when he returns an interception 102 yards following a BYU touchdown. Moments later, Brown strips the ball from Cougars’ quarterback Ty Detmer and runs 53 yards for another TD with 45 seconds remaining.
November 19, 1983 — In one of most bizarre finishes in Penn State history, Nick Gancitano kicks a 32-yard field goal to tie Pitt, 24-24, after most of the 60,283 spectators and TV viewers thought the game at Pitt Stadium had ended. The clock showed no time left after a Nittany Lion running play had been stopped, but officials said six seconds remained because of a penalty a few moments earlier. Players had to be called back from the locker room and the field cleared for the game to finish. It was the second tie in Joe Paterno’s coaching career. 171