1982 NCAA Division I-A football season
Encyclopedia
The 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season saw Paul "Bear" Bryant
retire as head coach at Alabama with 323 career victories in 38 seasons.
The Penn State Nittany Lions won their first consensus national championship, closing out an 11-1 season by defeating Georgia
and Heisman Trophy
winner Herschel Walker
in the Sugar Bowl
27-23, and edging out undefeated SMU for the National Championship. It was Joe Paterno's first national championship, after three undefeated non-championship seasons.
UCLA
moved from the LA Coliseum
to the Rose Bowl
and fulfilled a promise made by coach Terry Donahue
by closing out their season there as well, beating Michigan
in the post-season Rose Bowl game, 24-14.
It is also the year of “The Play
”, a near impossible finish to the annual rivalry game between Cal
and Stanford
.
The Aloha Bowl
premiered in Honolulu, Hawaii
.
This was the first season the Ivy League
competed at the I-AA (FCS) level. Through the 2009 season, the Ivy League has yet to participate in the post-season tournament, despite an automatic bid, citing academic concerns.
, Georgia
Outland Trophy(Interior Lineman): David Rimington, Nebraska
Vince Lombardi/Rotary Award(Lineman or Linebacker): Dave Rimington, Nebraska
Walter Camp Award(back): Herschel Walker
, Georgia
Davey O'Brien Award(Quarterback): Todd Blackledge
, Penn State
Maxwell Award(college player of the year): Herschel Walker
, Georgia
Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
retire as head coach at Alabama with 323 career victories in 38 seasons.
The Penn State Nittany Lions won their first consensus national championship, closing out an 11-1 season by defeating Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
and Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner Herschel Walker
Herschel Walker
Herschel Junior Walker is an American mixed martial artist and a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and earned the 1982 Heisman Trophy. He began his professional career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League...
in the Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
27-23, and edging out undefeated SMU for the National Championship. It was Joe Paterno's first national championship, after three undefeated non-championship seasons.
UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
moved from the LA Coliseum
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
to the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl (stadium)
The Rose Bowl is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pasadena, California, U.S., in Los Angeles County. The stadium is the site of the annual college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl, held on New Year's Day. In 1982, it became the home field of the UCLA Bruins college football team of the Pac-12...
and fulfilled a promise made by coach Terry Donahue
Terry Donahue
Terry Donahue is a former American football, player, coach, and executive and, currently, a football analyst. He served as the head football coach at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1976 to 1995, compiling a record of 151–74–8. From 2001 to 2005, Donahue served as...
by closing out their season there as well, beating Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
in the post-season Rose Bowl game, 24-14.
It is also the year of “The Play
The Play
The Play refers to a last-second kickoff return during a college football game between the and the Stanford University Cardinal on Saturday, November 20, 1982...
”, a near impossible finish to the annual rivalry game between Cal
California Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley...
and Stanford
Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams...
.
The Aloha Bowl
Aloha Bowl
The Aloha Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision college football bowl game played in Honolulu, Hawaii at Aloha Stadium. With the exception of the 1983-86 playings, the Aloha Bowl was traditionally played on Christmas morning in Honolulu. For most of its...
premiered in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
.
This was the first season the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
competed at the I-AA (FCS) level. Through the 2009 season, the Ivy League has yet to participate in the post-season tournament, despite an automatic bid, citing academic concerns.
Conference standings
The following is an incomplete list of conference standings:Classic Games
- #8 Penn St 27, #2 Nebraska 24
- Cal 25, Stanford 20 (The PlayThe PlayThe Play refers to a last-second kickoff return during a college football game between the and the Stanford University Cardinal on Saturday, November 20, 1982...
) - UCLA 20, USC 19 - USC trailed 20-13 and had 4th & Goal from the one-yard line with 0:01 left in the game. USC scored a touchdown and decided to go for the two-point conversion. USC announcer Tom Kelly remarked, "Typical of this great rivalry--even when it's over, it isn't over!" On the ensuing try for two by USC, UCLA's Karl Morgan sacked USC QB Scott TinsleyScott TinsleyScott Tinsley is a former American football quarterback who played for one season in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1987. He was signed by the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 1984...
. This occurred within minutes of The PlayThe PlayThe Play refers to a last-second kickoff return during a college football game between the and the Stanford University Cardinal on Saturday, November 20, 1982...
, which was happening 400 miles to the north in Berkeley. - Auburn 23, Alabama 22
- Tulane 31, #7 LSU 28 (Tulane's first win at Tiger StadiumTiger Stadium (LSU)Tiger Stadium is an outdoor stadium located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is best known as the home stadium of the Louisiana State University football team.Tiger Stadium opened with a capacity of 12,000 in 1924...
since 1948)
#1 and #2 Progress
| WEEKS | #1 | #2 | Event | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRE-1 | Pittsburgh | Washington | Washington 55, UTEP 0 | Sep 11 |
| 2 | Washington | Pittsburgh | Nebraska 68, New Mexico St. 0 | Sep 18 |
| 3 | Washington | Nebraska | Penn State 27, Nebraska 24 | Sep 25 |
| 4-5 | Washington | Pittsburgh | Alabama 34, Arkansas St 7 | Oct 2 |
| 6 | Washington | Alabama | Tennessee 35, Alabama 28 | Oct 16 |
| 7 | Washington | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh 14, Syracuse 0 | Oct 23 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh | Washington | Stanford 43, Washington 31 | Oct 30 |
| 9 | Pittsburgh | SMU | Notre Dame 31, Pitt 16 | Nov 6 |
| 10-11 | Georgia | SMU | Arkansas 17, SMU 17 | Nov 20 |
| 12-14 | Georgia | Penn State | Penn State 27, Georgia 23 | Jan 1 |
Bowl Games
- Sugar BowlSugar BowlThe Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
: #2 Penn St. 27, #1 Georgia 23 - Orange Bowl: #3 Nebraska 21, #13 LSU 20
- Cotton Bowl Classic: #4 SMU 7, #6 Pittsburgh 3
- Rose Bowl: #5 UCLA 24, #19 Michigan 14
- Sun BowlSun BowlThe Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl...
: North Carolina 26, #8 Texas 10 - Gator BowlGator BowlThe Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally...
: Florida St. 31, #10 West Virginia 12 - Tangerine BowlCapital One BowlThe Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
: #18 Auburn 33, Boston College 26 - Liberty BowlLiberty BowlThe Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003...
: Alabama 21, Illinois 15 - Bluebonnet BowlBluebonnet BowlThe Bluebonnet Bowl was an annual college football bowl game played in Houston, Texas. A civic group was appointed by the Houston Chamber of Commerce Athletics Committee in 1959 to organize the bowl game. It was held at Rice Stadium from 1959 through 1967, and again in 1985 and 1986. The game was...
: #14 Arkansas 28, Florida 24 - Peach Bowl: Iowa 28, Tennessee 22
- Fiesta BowlFiesta BowlThe Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
: #11 Arizona State 32, #12 Oklahoma 21 - Independence BowlIndependence BowlThe Independence Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that is played annually at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, so named because it was inaugurated in the United States bicentennial year, 1976....
: Wisconsin 14, Kansas St. 3 - Hall of Fame Classic: Air Force 36, Vanderbilt 28
- Holiday BowlHoliday BowlThe Holiday Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that has been played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, since 1978. Beginning with the 2010 playing the bowl will officially be known as the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl after...
: #17 Ohio State 47, Brigham Young 17 - Aloha BowlAloha BowlThe Aloha Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision college football bowl game played in Honolulu, Hawaii at Aloha Stadium. With the exception of the 1983-86 playings, the Aloha Bowl was traditionally played on Christmas morning in Honolulu. For most of its...
: #9 Washington 21, Maryland 20 - California BowlCalifornia BowlThe California Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game played annually at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, California, from 1981 to 1991. The games matched the championship teams from the Big West Conference with teams from the Mid-American Conference...
: Fresno State 29, Bowling Green 28
Final AP Poll
- Penn St.
- Southern Methodist
- Nebraska
- Georgia
- UCLA
- Arizona St.
- Washington
- Clemson
- Arkansas
- Pittsburgh
- Louisiana St.
- Ohio St.
- Florida St.
- Auburn
- Southern California
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- North Carolina
- West Virginia
- Maryland
Final Coaches Poll
- Penn St.
- Southern Methodist
- Nebraska
- Georgia
- UCLA
- Arizona St.
- Washington
- Arkansas
- Pittsburgh
- Florida St.
- Louisiana St.
- Ohio St.
- North Carolina
- Auburn
- Michigan
- Oklahoma
- Alabama
- Texas
- West Virginia
- Maryland
Other Major Awards
Heisman Memorial Trophy: Herschel WalkerHerschel Walker
Herschel Junior Walker is an American mixed martial artist and a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and earned the 1982 Heisman Trophy. He began his professional career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League...
, Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
Outland Trophy(Interior Lineman): David Rimington, Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
Vince Lombardi/Rotary Award(Lineman or Linebacker): Dave Rimington, Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
Walter Camp Award(back): Herschel Walker
Herschel Walker
Herschel Junior Walker is an American mixed martial artist and a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and earned the 1982 Heisman Trophy. He began his professional career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League...
, Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
Davey O'Brien Award(Quarterback): Todd Blackledge
Todd Blackledge
Todd Alan Blackledge was an American football quarterback in both the NCAA and National Football League. In college, he led the Penn State Nittany Lions to a national championship; and, as a pro, he played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
, Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
Maxwell Award(college player of the year): Herschel Walker
Herschel Walker
Herschel Junior Walker is an American mixed martial artist and a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and earned the 1982 Heisman Trophy. He began his professional career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League...
, Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...