PSU season snapshot: 1984
A daily series featuring each Penn State football season from 1947-2019:
Year: 1984
Coach: Joe Paterno
Final record: 6-5
Final ranking: Not ranked
Regular-season wins: Rutgers, Iowa, William & Mary, Maryland, Syracuse, Boston College
Regular-season losses: Texas, Alabama, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Pitt
Bowl game: None
Team stat leaders: D.J. Dozier rushed for 691 yards; Doug Strang passed for 840 yards; Herb Bellamy caught 16 passes for 306 yards; Ray Isom had 82 tackles; Bob White had 7 sacks; Chris Sydnor intercepted 5 passes
All-Americans: None
Neil Rudel’s take: QB Doug Strang’s strong finish in 1983 wasn’t sustained, and the Lion offense struggled most of the season, especially against the better opponents. They were blown out at the Meadowlands (again), this time by Texas 28-3, and didn’t score a touchdown against Alabama or Notre Dame. Pitt (with Altoona’s Troy Benson as captain) came to Beaver Stadium to end the year, and the Lions lost 31-11, prompting Paterno to rip his team, calling them “babies.” For the first time since 1970, there would be no bowl game. All was not lost, however: Permanent lights were installed at Beaver Stadium.
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