Jan. 7, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - Two of the most memorable games in Penn State's glorious football history are among the 10 bowl games fans can vote for as the greatest bowl game that determined a national championship, sponsored by USA Today.
The Nittany Lions' 27-23 win over Georgia in the 1983 Sugar Bowl and their 14-10 win over Miami (Fla.) in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl are among the 10 candidates that fans can vote for at www.usatoday.com.
Penn State, Ohio State and Texas are the only schools with two national championship-winning performances among the 10 games listed.
To vote, fans should click on the star for their top bowl game at: www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bowls/2010-01-06-best-bowl-games-national-championship_N.htm
Penn State's win over previously unbeaten and No. 1 Georgia in the 1983 Sugar Bowl lifted the Nittany Lions (11-1) to their first national championship after having earned three undefeated, untied teams under Joe Paterno (1968, '69, '73) that did not finish No. 1. The Nittany Lions were led by quarterback Todd Blackledge, who threw for 228 yards, and All-America running back Curt Warner, who ran for 117 yards. Gregg Garrity's spectacular 47-yard diving catch in the end zone was splashed on the Sports Illustrated cover the next week.
The Nittany Lions (12-0) stunned the previously undefeated and top-ranked Hurricanes on January 2, 1987, intercepting Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde five times. All-America linebacker Shane Conlan grabbed two interceptions, as did linebacker Pete Giftopoulos, whose second pick at the Penn State one-yard-line in the final seconds sealed the thriller. D.J Dozier ran for 99 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. The 1987 Fiesta Bowl was watched by more than 70 million on television and remains the highest rated bowl game of all-time.
In addition to the 1983 Sugar and 1987 Fiesta Bowls that clinched national championships, Penn State also has completed four unbeaten seasons with bowl game victories and lost in two national championship bowl games. The Nittany Lions won the 1969 and 1970 Orange Bowls to finish 11-0 and the 1974 Orange and 1995 Rose Bowls to finish 12-0. Unbeaten Penn State teams lost to Alabama in the 1979 Sugar Bowl and to Oklahoma in the 1986 Orange Bowl.
Following its January 1 win over LSU in the Capital One Bowl, Penn State is 27-13-2 (66.7) all-time in bowl games, good for No. 3 in the nation in post-season wins and tied for No. 2 in winning percentage among teams with at least 10 bowl wins, trailing only Utah (12-3, 80.0) and tied with USC (32-16, 66.7).