1972 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1972

| team = Penn State Nittany Lions

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Independent

| CoachRank = 8

| APRank = 10

| record = 10–2

| head_coach = Joe Paterno

| hc_year = 7th

| off_scheme = I formation

| def_coach = Jim O'Hora

| dc_year = 7th

| def_scheme = 4–3

| captain = Gregg Ducatte

| captain2 = Jim Heller

| captain3 = John Hufnagel

| captain4 = Carl Schaukowitch

| stadium = Beaver Stadium

| champion = Eastern champion

| bowl = Sugar Bowl

| bowl_result = L 0–14 vs. Oklahoma

}}

The 1972 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 10–2 and lost to Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. Penn State was the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy as the best college football team in the Eastern United States. The team played home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

As a result of using ineligible players, the Oklahoma Sooners were ordered to forfeit seven wins from their 1972 season, including their win over the Nittany Lions in the Sugar Bowl. However, Paterno and Penn State refused to accept the forfeit, and the bowl game is officially recorded as a loss.{{cite web|title=After Further Review... The NCAA Weighs-In|url=http://www.wjla.com/blogs/sports/after_further_review..._the_ncaa_weighs-in_on_bowden_and_paterno.html|date=January 11, 2008|access-date=November 4, 2008|publisher=ABC 7 News|first=Tim|last=Brant|archive-date=September 30, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930213747/http://www.wjla.com/blogs/sports/after_further_review..._the_ncaa_weighs-in_on_bowden_and_paterno.html|url-status=dead}}

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1972

| poll = AP

| timezone = Eastern

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 16

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank = 6

| opponent = Tennessee

| opprank = 7

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| score = 21–28

| attend = 71,647

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 23

| w/l = w

| rank = 11

| opponent = Navy

| site_stadium = Beaver Stadium

| site_cityst = University Park, PA

| score = 21–10

| attend = 50,547

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 30

| w/l = w

| rank = 13

| opponent = Iowa

| site_stadium = Beaver Stadium

| site_cityst = University Park, PA

| score = 14–10

| attend = 58,065

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 7

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 16

| opponent = Illinois

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| score = 35–17

| attend = 60,349

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 14

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 15

| opponent = Army

| site_stadium = Michie Stadium

| site_cityst = West Point, NY

| score = 45–0

| attend = 42,352

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 21

| w/l = w

| homecoming = y

| rank = 12

| opponent = Syracuse

| site_stadium = Beaver Stadium

| site_cityst = University Park, PA

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 17–0

| attend = 60,465

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 28

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 11

| opponent = West Virginia

| opprank = 18

| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field

| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ABC

| score = 28–19

| attend = 37,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-penn-st-rallies-to-n/139505344/|work=The Sacramento Bee|title=Penn St. rallies to nip WVa.|date=October 29, 1972|accessdate=January 24, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 4

| w/l = w

| rank = 10

| opponent = Maryland

| site_stadium = Beaver Stadium

| site_cityst = University Park, PA

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 46–16

| attend = 58,171

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-penn-st-rips-terp/139538496/|work=The News and Observer|title=Penn St. rips Terps, 46–16|date=November 5, 1972|accessdate=January 25, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 11

| w/l = w

| rank = 10

| opponent = NC State

| site_stadium = Beaver Stadium

| site_cityst = University Park, PA

| score = 37–22

| attend = 54,274

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-penn-state-mauls-n/139507258/|work=The Pittsburgh Press|title=Penn State mauls N.C. State|date=November 12, 1972|accessdate=January 24, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |author= |title=Penn State Halts Wolfpack |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-asheville-times/139595960/ |newspaper=Asheville Citizen-Times |location=Asheville, North Carolina |agency=Associated Press |date=November 12, 1972 |page=2B |access-date=January 26, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 18

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 6

| opponent = Boston College

| site_stadium = Alumni Stadium

| site_cityst = Chestnut Hill, MA

| score = 45–26

| attend = 23,119

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 25

| w/l = w

| rank = 6

| opponent = Pittsburgh

| site_stadium = Beaver Stadium

| site_cityst = University Park, PA

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 49–27

| attend = 38,600

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = {{tooltip|December 31|Sunday}}

| w/l = l

| neutral = y

| rank = 5

| opponent = Oklahoma

| opprank = 2

| site_stadium = Tulane Stadium

| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA

| gamename = Sugar Bowl

| tv = ABC

| score = 0–14

| attend = 80,123

}}

Rankings

{{Ranking movements

| poll1title = AP

| poll1firstweek = 0

| poll1lastweek = 14

| poll1_0=5

| poll1_1=6 (1)

| poll1_2=11

| poll1_3=13

| poll1_4=16

| poll1_5=15

| poll1_6=12

| poll1_7=11

| poll1_8=10

| poll1_9=10

| poll1_10=6

| poll1_11=6

| poll1_12=5

| poll1_13=5

| poll1_14=10

| poll1_15=

| poll1_16=

| poll1_17=

| poll1_18=

| poll1_19=

| poll2title = Coaches

| poll2firstweek =0

| poll2lastweek =13

| poll2_0=6

| poll2_1=7

| poll2_2=14 т

| poll2_3=16

| poll2_4=19

| poll2_5=17

| poll2_6=13

| poll2_7=10

| poll2_8=11

| poll2_9=11

| poll2_10=8

| poll2_11=7

| poll2_12=7

| poll2_13=8

| poll2_14=

| poll2_15=

| poll2_16=

| poll2_17=

| poll2_18=

| poll2_19=

| poll2_20=

}}

Roster

{{American football roster/Header

| year = 1972

| team = Penn State Nittany Lions

| teamcolors = f

| offensive_players =

{{American football roster/Player|num=74|class=So|first=Jeff|last=Bleamer|pos=T|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=50|class=Sr|first=Rick|last=Brown|pos=C}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=22|class=Jr|first=John|last=Cappelletti|pos=RB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=77|class=Jr|first=Charlie|last=Getty|pos=T|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=28|class=Jr|first=Gary|last=Hayman|pos=WR|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=16|class=Sr|first=John|last=Hufnagel|pos=QB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=51|class=So|first=Bill|last=Johnson|dab=William D. Johnson (CEO)|pos=C|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=65|class=Jr|first=Phil|last=LaPorta|pos=T|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=54|class=Jr|first=Mark|last=Markovich|pos=C|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=69|class=Sr|first=Carl|last=Schaukowitch|pos=G|link=y}}

| defensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=68|class=Jr|first=Doug|last=Allen|dab=Doug Allen (American football)|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=83|class=Sr|first=Bruce|last=Bannon|pos=DE|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=53|class=Jr|first=Randy|last=Crowder|pos=DT|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=66|class=So|first=Chris|last=Devlin|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=85|class=So|first=Dave|last=Graf|pos=DE|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=79|class=So|first=Mike|last=Hartenstine|pos=DT|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=41|class=Jr|first=Tom|last=Hull|dab=Tom Hull (American football)|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=47|class=Sr|first=Jim|last=Laslavic|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=89|class=Jr|first=Ed|last=O'Neil|dab=Ed O'Neil (American football)|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=81|class=Sr|first=John|last=Skorupan|pos=LB|link=y}}

| special_teams_players=

}}

{{American football roster/Footer|roster_url=http://www.nittanyanthology.com/72roster.doc

| head_coach = *Joe Paterno

| asst_coach =

| accessdate=

}}

Awards

Joe Paterno

::Walter Camp Coach of the Year

NFL draft

Five Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1973 NFL draft.

Round	Pick	Overall	Name	Position	Team
class="wikitable"
3rd	19	71	Jim Laslavic	Linebacker	Detroit Lions
5th	12	116	Bruce Bannon	Linebacker	New York Jets
6th	6	136	John Skorupan	Linebacker	Buffalo Bills
14th	10	348	John Hufnagel	Quarterback	Denver Broncos
15th	17	381	Carl Schaukowitch	Offensive guard	New York Giants

References

Penn State

Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football seasons

Category:Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy seasons

Penn State Nittany Lions football