Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

Penn State to honor 1982 championship squad during Week 4 contest

Eric Woods

By Eric Woods

Published:

Penn State has announced that it will honor its 1982 national championship team in Week 4’s contest against Central Michigan.

The 1982 championship was 1 of 2 national championships that the Nittany Lions won in the Joe Paterno era. The team defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 27-23 in the Sugar Bowl to claim the program’s first title.

The team went 11-1 as an independent school, with its only loss to a Bear Bryant-led Alabama team before closing the year winning seven straight.

The 1982 Nittany Lions featured Davy O’Brien Award-winning quarterback Todd Blackledge, who threw for 228 yards and the go-ahead 48-yard touchdown. Running back Curt Warner added 117 yards and 2 scores in the Sugar Bowl, outgaining Heisman winner Herschel Walker in the process.

All-American safety Mark Robinson picked off 2 passes to cement Penn State’s claim on the title.

Blackedge threw for 2,218 yards and 22 touchdowns that season, and Warner rushed for 1,041 yards and 8 touchdowns. Joining them alongside Robinson as All-Americans were wide receiver Kenny Jackson and defensive end Walker Lee Ashley

Michael Zordich, a member of the 1982 team, will be in attendance as Central Michigan’s defensive backs coach.

Eric Woods