1985 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

Last updated

1985 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Penn State text logo.svg
Orange Bowl, L 10–25 vs. Oklahoma
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 3
APNo. 3
Record11–1
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Fran Ganter (2nd season)
Offensive scheme Pro-style
Defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky (9th season)
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium Beaver Stadium
Seasons
←  1984
1986  →
1985 Major eastern college football independents records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 3 Penn State $ 6 –0 –011 –1 –0
West Virginia 4 –1 –17 –3 –1
Syracuse 4 –2 –07 –5 –0
Boston College 3 –3 –04 –8 –0
Pittsburgh 2 –3 –15 –5 –1
Temple 1 –5 –04 –7 –0
Rutgers 0 –6 –02 –8 –1
Rankings from AP Poll
1985 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 3 Penn State  – – 11 –1 –0
No. 9 Miami (FL)  – – 10 –2 –0
Army  – – 9 –3 –0
No. 15 Florida State  – – 9 –3 –0
West Virginia  – – 7 –3 –1
Southern Miss  – – 7 –4 –0
Syracuse  – – 7 –5 –0
Virginia Tech  – – 6 –5 –0
Pittsburgh  – – 5 –5 –1
Cincinnati  – – 5 –6 –0
Notre Dame  – – 5 –6 –0
South Carolina  – – 5 –6 –0
Southwestern Louisiana  – – 4 –7 –0
Navy  – – 4 –7 –0
Temple  – – 4 –7 –0
Boston College  – – 4 –8 –0
Memphis State  – – 2 –7 –2
Rutgers  – – 2 –8 –1
East Carolina  – – 2 –9 –0
Louisville  – – 2 –9 –0
Tulane  – – 1 –10 –0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1985 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. [1] The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

Contents

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 712:20 p.m.at No. 7 Maryland No. 19
 USA W 20–1850,750 [2]
September 1412:20 p.m. Temple No. 11
TCSW 27–2584,651
September 211:30 p.m. East Carolina No. 10
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
W 17–1084,266 [3]
September 281:00 p.m.at Rutgers No. 9
W 17–1054,560
October 123:30 p.m.No. 10 Alabama No. 8
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
 ABC W 19–1785,444 [4]
October 191:30 p.m.at Syracuse No. 6
W 24–2050,021
October 263:30 p.m. West Virginia Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 3
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
ABCW 27–085,534 [5]
November 212:30 p.m. Boston College No. 3
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
W 16–1282,000
November 92:00 p.m.at Cincinnati No. 2
W 31–1033,528
November 163:30 p.m. Notre Dame No. 1
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
ABCW 36–684,000
November 237:45 p.m.at Pittsburgh No. 1
 ESPN W 31–060,134
January 1, 19868:00 p.m.vs. No. 3 Oklahoma No. 1
 NBC L 10–2574,148

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
AP 181911109986332 (15)1 (44)1 (46)1 (49)1 (47)1 (47)3
Coaches 1717986764221 (34)1 (34)1 (41)1 (39)1 (37)1 (36)3

Game summaries

At Maryland

Penn State at Maryland
1234Total
•No. 19 Nittany Lions1073020
No. 7 Terrapins0108018
Scoring summary
Q1PSUZordich 32 yard interception return (Manca kick)PSU 7–0
Q1PSUManca 28 yard field goalPSU 10–0
Q2PSUWilliams 2 yard pass from Shaffer (Manca kick)PSU 17–0
Q2MDParedes 22 yard field goalPSU 17–3
Q2MDBadanjek 8 yard run (Paredes kick)PSU 17–10
Q3MDBadanjek 5 yard run (Knight pass from Henning)MD 18–17
Q39:46PSUManca 46 yard field goalPSU 20–18

[6]

At Pittsburgh

Vs. Oklahoma (Orange Bowl)

Penn State vs. Oklahoma
1234Total
No. 1 Nittany Lions730010
•No. 3 Sooners0163625
Scoring summary
18:17PSUTim Manoa 1-yard run (Massimo Manca kick)PSU 7-0
214:35OUTim Lashar 26-yard field goalPSU 7-3
212:26OU Keith Jackson 71-yard pass from Jamelle Holieway (Tim Lashar kick)OU 10-7
25:20OUTim Lashar 31-yard field goalOU 13-7
21:49OUTim Lashar 21-yard field goalOU 16-7
20:01PSUMassimo Manca 27-yard field goalOU 16-10
33:09OUTim Lashar 22-yard field goalOU 19-10
41:42OU Lydell Carr 61-yard run (Lashar kick failed)OU 25-10

[7]

Roster

1985 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 9 Mike Alexander Jr
OT 74 Stan Clayton So
G 57 Chris Conlin Jr
RB 42 D.J. Dozier So
G 54 Mitch Frerotte Jr
FB 27John HornyakJr
FB 44 Tim Manoa Jr
G 59 Dan Morgan Jr
C 56 Keith Radecic Jr
WR 6 Ray Roundtree So
QB 14John ShafferJr
RB 35 Steve Smith Jr
RB 32 Blair Thomas Fr
WR 5 Michael Timpson Fr
G 66 Steve Wisniewski Fr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
LB 95 Rogers Alexander Sr
LB 31 Shane Conlan Jr
LB 53 Don Graham Jr
S 22 Ray Isom Jr
LB 55 Tim Johnson Jr
DB 43 Mike Zordich Sr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
PK 10 Massimo Manca Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

NFL Draft

Three Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1986 NFL draft.

RoundPickOverallNamePositionTeam
4th23105 Rogers Alexander Linebacker New York Jets
7th2168 Bob Williams Tight end Buffalo Bills
9th14235 Mike Zordich Defensive back San Diego Chargers

Related Research Articles

The 1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 21st-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 12–0. Penn State defeated the Miami Hurricanes, 14–10, in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl to win Paterno's second consensus national championship. The team was named national champion by AP, Billingsley, FB News, FW, Matthews, NCF, NFF, Sporting News, UPI, and USA/CNN, while named co-champion by FACT, Sagarin (ELO-Chess).

The 1969 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. Despite posting its second consecutive undefeated, untied season, the Nittany Lions did not have a shot at the national championship. President Richard Nixon said that he would consider the winner of the December 6 matchup between the Texas Longhorns and the Arkansas Razorbacks, then ranked at the top of the polls, and the real voters do not seem to have differed. Paterno, at the 1973 commencement, was quoted saying, "I'd like to know how could the president know so little about Watergate in 1973 and so much about college football in 1969?" Then Pennsylvania Governor Raymond P. Shafer got the White House's attention with Penn State's two-season undefeated streak. A White House assistant called Paterno to invite him and the team to the White House to receive a trophy for their accomplishment. Paterno has stated many times that he responded with, "You can tell the president to take that trophy and shove it."

The 1946 Penn State Nittany Lions football team was an American football team that represented Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1946 college football season. In their 17th year under head coach Bob Higgins, the Nittany Lions compiled a 6–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 192 to 48.

The 1952 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 1952 college football season. The team was coached by Rip Engle and played its home games in New Beaver Field in State College, Pennsylvania.

The 1954 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1954 college football season. The team was coached by Rip Engle and played its home games in New Beaver Field in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1957 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1957 college football season. The team was coached by Rip Engle and played its home games in New Beaver Field in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1958 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1958 college football season. The team was coached by Rip Engle and played its home games in New Beaver Field in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1964 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1964 NCAA University Division football season. The team was coached by Rip Engle and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1972 Penn State Nittany Lions represented Pennsylvania State University in the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. As a result of using ineligible players, the Oklahoma Sooners were ordered to forfeit seven wins from their 1972 season, including their on-field win over the Nittany Lions. However, Paterno and Penn State refused to accept the forfeit, and the bowl game is officially recorded as a loss.

The 1974 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1975 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1976 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1980 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1983 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1984 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1988 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1989 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1990 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1991 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 1985 Maryland Terrapins football team represented University of Maryland in the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Terrapins offense scored 326 points while the defense allowed 192 points. Led by head coach Bobby Ross, the Terrapins appeared in the Cherry Bowl.

References

  1. ↑ "Penn State Yearly Results (1985-1989)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on August 5, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Nittany Lions maintain mastery". The Courier-Journal. September 8, 1985. Retrieved January 31, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "PSU foils Carolina upset bid, 17–10". The Pittsburgh Press. September 22, 1985. Retrieved March 5, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Penn State rolls, 19–17, over Bama". The Pittsburgh Press. October 13, 1985. Retrieved February 20, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Penn State blanks West Virginia". The Tyler Courier-Times. October 27, 1985. Retrieved January 30, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Gainesville Sun. 1985 September 8.
  7. ↑ "Orange Bowl; Oklahoma Upends Penn State, Stakes Claim to No. 1". The New York Times . January 2, 1986. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
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