1983 Sugar Bowl #2 Penn State vs #1 Georgia No Huddle

[@tonyturley5754]

This bowl game always gets overlooked, but I still think this is one of the best bowl games ever. Herschel Walker and Curt Warner! Joe Paterno vs. Vince Dooley! #1 vs. #2. Two great defenses. That TD at the end of the first half! And a tight finish, with an extreme rarity -- the last play was a punt with no return.

[@jude999]

And the large shoulder pads!

[@jimmyplenderleith9471]

I really wonder how many games EVER have ended with a punt that doesnt get returned?

[@anthony0358]

this was a happy time in my life and I vividly recall watching this game! Thank you sharing the video!

[@patrickohara2012]

Blackledge to Garrity. Cover of SI. One of the finest moments in PS football history!

[@kurtgreaser8439]

And that is the same endzone that Bama hit that overtime walk of TD to win the Natty.

[@josephvanhorn5347]

While Paterno already had 3 of his 5 perfect seasons in the books by this point it was his 4th of 6 one loss seasons that finally brought him a national championship. This was the 4th of 5 consecutive bowl victories for PSU and remains their only win in the Sugar Bowl. (1-3) Joe Pa finished his legendary career with 24 victories in bowl games and 409 wins overall. Both are still the most all time. He won 75 percent of the games he coached and 2/3 of his bowl games. Bobby Bowden is second in both categories, just 2 bowl wins behind but 52 overall. Nick Saban and Mack Brown are the closest active coaches to 409 wins but they’re both very old and very far away. (261 and 253) Saban would need to win 7 more bowl games to equal Paterno’s 24, Brown needs 10, and nobody else active is even half way there. He’s the only coach to win 400 games at one university and only Bowden reached 300 at a single school. (312 Florida State)

[@jimmyplenderleith9471]

As a Penn State Alum and a fan of the Lions, I was 3 when they won in 82 and 7 when they won in 86 so I havent had the chance to watch them in a National Title game once I got fully into football. I often wondered how fans felt in this game....up 20-3 had to be feeling great. Then GA gets it to 20-17.. Had to be really nervous. Then the Lions come back down and hit the big TD to go back up 10..then GA scores......then the Lions play keep away and get a few CLUTCH first downs to put the game away..that had to be wild roller coaster ride.

[@fugyaself2133]

Down 20-3 you have to give UGA props for putting that drive together and going for that tricky stuff at 19:50. That made it a bawl game.

[@matthewkrafft9227]

"Blackledge. He's go'in for the bunnddlle " "Touchdown". . I am a little biased here. But. Kieth Jackson's greatest call of all time. Nobody but Kieth Jackson could call Penn State's 1st Championship. RIP. Mr. Jackson. The All time voice of College Football. I miss KJ.

[@gofishglobal7919]

He was exceptional

[@LANorm]

He was the greatest ever.

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

At 16:20, that is one Hell of a beautiful run by Curt Warner! Quick feet!

[@jude999]

D.J. Dozier ran similarly.

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

@@jude999 Being a Seahawks fan many years ago, Curt's my man! He's one of the most revered players from the classic Seahawks era. And back when they had good uniforms.

[@aaronrider4051]

1:55: If you listen close, you can hear the PSU radio broadcast bleeding into the Keith Jackson ABC broadcast. Not sure how that happened in technical terms.

[@CoreyT127]

Blackledge had a cannon ! I see why he got drafted in the 1st round.

[@aaronrider4051]

Todd wasn't huge so his throwing motion was fun too. Like at 1:38. He really puts his back into it.

[@PowidzMalwa]

He was very good for sure.

[@jamiecrawford8133]

​@@aaronrider4051 he was like 6' 4" 227 a big dude for a 1983 college quarterback

[@jeffcopenhaver2217]

Gotta love the over exaggerated hand signals by these old school refs

[@CoreyT127]

Man, Herschel would've most likely ran for 7,000 yards had he returned for his senior season. And smoked every rushing records in college history!

[@johnmanning4097]

I loved watching 👀Herchell when I was Kid. Georgia would have been in the Hunt for the National Championship again with Nebraska and Miami in 1983 had Herchell Returned.

[@jeffrutt6331]

He went to the U.S.F.L. at first, of all the places. But it was more money at the time!

[@rawn4203]

@@johnmanning4097 They nearly damn were anyways, finishing 10-1-1 and upsetting unbeaten texas in the cotton bowl. One of Dooley's finest coaching jobs.

[@jackarmstrong1838]

But he had to run the ball 34 times for 102 yards in this game. PSU kept him in check

[@chrisbotelho7212]

Yeah, I'm a Georgia fan, but as I recall Penn State pretty much controlled that game the whole way.@@jackarmstrong1838

[@okedoke1234]

I love how the thumbnail for this is like 4K HD but the actual video is 240K

[@90srule96]

As a Seahawks fan, I have to say that Curt Warner was the best running back in this game. And in the pros, he was the better running back. Sorry Hershel...

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

Sucks that he blew out his knee. And I say that as a Raiders fan. Warner was amazing that rookie year...never was the same after shredding his knee in '84.

[@bradlewis6514]

Omg yes and he always outperformed his supposed better counterpart under the larger glare of a bowl game spotlight! He had done the same to USC and Marcus Allen the previous season in the Fiesta Bowl! That opportunistic Penn St defense held Herschel Walker to his lowest output in nearly two full seasons! Warner had 117 yds and 2 TD's and would have had more if not for his ongoing lingering leg cramps which hampered him throughout 1982! I've been a die-hard Nittany Lions fan since the 1979-80 season so I vividly remember exactly where I was when we won this to cap off our elusive first national championship! This game was one week before my 11th birthday

[@bradlewis6514]

@@manuginobilisbaldspot424 no, your right but he still did have five very productive campaigns after that! Not of the 1,400 yd variety, but considering that damage done to his knee, he displayed alot of resiliency! When u figure that KiJana Carter never recovered from his in the mid-90's, what Warner did accomplish was pretty commendable

[@bradlewis6514]

@@manuginobilisbaldspot424 And Curt Warner to this day remains my all-time favorite Penn State player!

[@90srule96]

Penn State has always been known as Linebacker U, and rightly so, but they’ve cranked out a lot of great NFL running backs. You mentioned Ki-Jana Carter on that 12-0 1994 team. He should’ve won the Heisman that year...

[@captaingalaxy8009]

Walker, 3 yards and a cloud of dust. Back then, when the Lions played a "Heisman hopeful", or big-play QB, it was like they had a target on their back; we'd teach them a lesson. My story.

[@serchr1]

At the end of the game Walker said" If I am going to get hit that hard I am going to get paid for". With that he moved to professional football. So much for the Smurfs defensive backs for Penn State.

[@bradlewis6514]

Captain, it would succinctly be known as The Heisman Graveyard! First Marcus Allen, then Herschel, Vinny, Tim Brown and lastly Ty Detmer! No other school has neutralized that number of Heisman winners during a stretch

[@bradlewis6514]

@@serchr1 and their '86 secondary was even more Smurf-like! But Miami found out the hard way they hit much harder than their size! That belied their toughness and grit

[@1USACitizen192]

State Penn people taught alotta little boys a giant lesson.

[@claytonbigsby]

Did you see the lineman move at the 38:06 mark. Penn State got a 1st down but, illegal procedure should have been called.

[@okedoke1234]

That first pass over the middle to McCloskey on the first drive....holy shit I remember going ape shit on that one. That was like "OK Georgia bring your best shit because you will need it today"

[@teekay_1]

I remember watching this game in real time, and now my recollection was faulty. Georgia had a decent defense, but their offense was essentially Hershel Walker and that was pretty much it. The PSU defense was stout in this game. I remembered Blackledge being a better QB he was like a statue in the pocket. Also, I love how animated the refs were before microphones. I had forgotten a lot of the hand/arm/leg movements to indicate the penalty.

[@serchr1]

Sue Paterno was not at the game and Joe Paterno showed up a few minutes late. Their best friends wife collapsed with a severe brain aneurism a few days earlier. they both flew back to the Pittsburgh area to be with the friends family. Joe flew back a few day later for the game and got there after the game started. His friend did recover after a brain surgery operation New Year's eve.

[@bennyrobinson1935]

Oh okay so I guess the whole "him knowing that little kids were getting fucked in the shower" is lived down now?

[@ZepG]

serchr1 Joe Pa was a stand up guy, I met him at an Elks Lodge fundraiser with Franco Harris when I was a kid.

[@SmedleyWarIsaRacket]

@@bennyrobinson1935 is that what Strangers that Tell A Vision told you to believe?

[@matthewkrafft9227]

This game. Was a Historic CFB game. A northern team. Who just 2yrs prior failed against Alabama. Joe Pa and PSU. From 1966 to 1986. Maybe one of the greatest stretch of coaching ever. 4 undefeated seasons. 68, 69, 74, 86. 1 loss seasons. 72,73,78,82(national champs), 85. For 20yrs. Joe Pa. Was the man

[@wickedout2010]

When college football was amazing! 🏉🏈🏉❤

[@marcamerine7941]

This was When All the bowl Games were on Jan. 1St an U had 3 Channels of Great Games but like EVERYTHING they F***ED UP.!! Now they try an have 2 Big days of College Football 🏈 Dec.28TH & Jan.1st... Is it Just Me or was it old way better.?? Even the announcing the announcers were better was there anybody better than Keith Jackson and Brant.??? Penn St was Loaded with Talent & they had a Decent QB which was What Usually coast them each yr look back at Some of the teams with Curtis Eunice LaVar Arrington Brandon short Courtney Brown, Tama Halla (SP.) Michael Hayes the WRs out the Ass to go along with it it was always a QB that CRUSED US or we would’ve definitely had at least two more national championships.!!

[@ifjoebidenwasacar1937]

Ennis, Hali. Hali senior year Michael Robinson QB finished 3rd in the heisman. Agree Arrington and Brown had shit Casey and Thompson at QB although Thompson threw a beautiful long ball

[@bradlewis6514]

Omg Marc you are so spot on! In '99 if we'd had either of our QB's at a better than decent level, we could have very well beaten Florida St with that defense we had! Arrington, Short and Brown were the best trio in the country along with the underrated Justin Kurpeikis but the QB platoon of Rashard Casey and Kevin Thompson just wasn't consistent enough! Chafie Fields was a major game breaker and we didn't use him as often as we should have either! I've been a die-hard Nittany Lions fan since second grade ( '79-'80)! I can still see that pull it out the ass drive by Minnesota in my sleep! The offense wasted drive after drive in that game which resorts back to the average QB's

[@bradlewis6514]

'82 and Curt Warner are still my favorites! I was in fifth grade and my would be stepdad and I had season tickets that year before he married my mom! We'd fly out in his airplane from the Danville PA airport and tailgate! I was in the end zone where Kirk "Stonehands" Bowman made his game winning TD reception during the Nebraska game! Best Penn St regular season game ever JS! #2 the white out win against Ohio St in 2016 or the '05 Tamba Hali end sack on Troy Smith! Take your pick! That's a win-win choice

[@marcamerine7941]

@@bradlewis6514 LOL 😂 OMG I REMEMBER THE CATCH AGAINST NEB.!! Best game ever

[@marcamerine7941]

@@bradlewis6514 I was 10 YEARS Old in 82’ but my favorite team wow Ki Jana Carter was Amazing

[@allengreene9954]

The Georgia Uniforms looked way better and more redder back then than they do now.

[@CoreyT127]

Yeah I notice that about alot of teams uni's college and pro back the day did. Now they get completely carried away with too many details. Less is more when it comes to uniform design IMO.

[@allengreene9954]

Lps Layla T I agree.

[@areguapiri]

Everything nowadays has to be darker and darker. It is so annoying. Especially when it is said by everyone that the old uniforms look better.

[@jude999]

And just like that, "Garrity" etched in my memory forever.

[@livetotell100]

Penn State won 2 national titles. Only because both times it was 1 vs. 2. They didn't get the National title in 1994 because the people who voted felt bad for poor tommy osborne. Poor guy never won a national title. Wa wa wa my pu##y hurts. If Penn State played Nebraska head to head in 1994, Penn State would have won. They would have scored 48 points easily. And the Penn State defense was good enough to hold Nebraska to les than 28. I'll go to my grave believing that Nebraska got the SYMPATHY vote.

[@joebartone606]

100% agree. I’ve said many times…if “they” had known that the very next year, Nebraska would legitimately have the best team in the nation, they wouldn’t have stolen ‘94 from PSU.

[@BuckeyeBred]

I still count it along with many other publications and polls. Clearly deserving of a share of the title in 94.

[@philweiand4564]

Psu left a lot of points on the field

[@rileyjackfansmithandjones8238]

Penn State never went in for Flash and was only happy to get the best Talent from Maryland New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania.... Solid against any Team even before Joining the Big 10 ... 70's thru the 90' s you knew what you could get at PSU.....Tough, Comoetetive, and mostly Wins as an Independant. Joe Pa is a Legend. ( Alot of his guys were Solid NFL citizens ..Franco, Lydell Mitchell, Jack Ham, Mike Reid) no warrants like The Buckeyes

[@bobbywise2313]

They were pretty evenly matched up in every position except QB and that was the difference.

[@ryanhuisman5381]

38:04 mark, Penn St. makes a key 1st down, how is it not a false start?

[@aaronrider4051]

It's very close. I'm a PSU fan and I admit that. The UGA players didn't complain about it, though.

[@ryanhuisman5381]

@@aaronrider4051 Good God, he moved twice. Flinched about a second and a half before the snap, a bigger more obvious rocking back in his stance about a half second before the snap. Clear and obvious.

[@frankpalancio8471]

Sandusky was DC this game.

[@scottweisel3640]

Archie was PSU’s MVP

[@orangelab6846]

Lastinger wasnt too good this game, but Herman Archie wasnt exactly a help. Only dropped about 80 yds of passing, including a TD.

[@edkokosko1759]

Joe Pa ruled! Best coach ever

[@AllHandlesHaveBeenTaken]

When penn state was coached well

[@aaronrider4051]

Hey all you Bulldog fans, was Stan Dooley any relation of Coach Dooley?

[@aaronrider4051]

16:58: is this why coaches back then didn't like playing freshmen?

[@ThomasJohnson-qg2vz]

Never even be in that game nowadays as M closkry caught a. Ball with both feet out of bounds.

[@SmedleyWarIsaRacket]

Actually that has been slowed down and Mike did get his foot down. Got something else to cry about?

[@MarkSteele-bh3hb]

Back when football was football!

[@thefrase7884]

Curt Warner had an interesting career. Great college running back and then led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory

[@scottydaze111]

LOL Different Curt warner

[@johnmanning4097]

Man Georgia's quarterback sucked

[@conservativeamerica9655]

He was actually one of their best, but you'd never know it by this game! He panicked!

[@jgringo5516]

Probably wouldn’t have changed the outcome, but Penn State’s TE moves early on that last 3rd down pass completion to seal it @ 38:06. Either way, Penn State looked like the better team that night. They did a great job containing Herschel.

[@bradlewis6514]

@@jgringo5516 JP I've been a die-hard Nittany Lions fan since second grade ('79-'80) and I vividly remember watching this game live! Was the week before my 11th birthday! And your observation is correct! Penn State and not because of my bias, was the better team and the better prepared also! Their schedule that season was our toughest in school history! And besides Clemson, Georgia had a pretty clean road (SEC overall that year was average)! We we're by far the best they'd faced! The defense has always stepped up for us when the moment was constantly thrown in their face that the opposition or an opposing player was too good for us to handle

[@bradlewis6514]

@@jgringo5516 other case in point! Seemingly invincible '86 Miami! They bad mouthed our secondary the entire week leading up to the Fiesta Bowl and that supposed too small core of DB's we had smacked the 'Canes in the proverbial mouth and they weren't sure how to respond! Their receivers dropped nine passes in that game because our defense viciously hit and set the tone! The only thing Miami won that night was the award for foolishness and immaturity from the way they acted! Cared more about trying to intimidate and having their egos stroked than they did winning! And it hilariously backfired!

[@scottweisel3640]

Lot’s of dropped passes by both teams’ receivers. His picks were basically 3rd down punts.

[@mickeyjackson9318]

Poor quality camera back then

[@matthewkrafft9227]

From '66 to '86. Paterno. Coached 6 teams that finished regular season undefeated. 4 teams that won bowl and finished undefeated. 68', 69',74', 86' . Ok. Put '94 in there. The best ever. The only coach that he could not beat. The Bear. Even this year. We won it all. Our only loss. @.bama.

[@1USACitizen192]

Back before every other play was reviewed or challenged, better game then. Plus, it appeared that state penn did little to no raping during this game.

[@davehanson455]

That doesnt even make sence

[@1USACitizen192]

@@davehanson455 Neither does your spelling.

[@SmedleyWarIsaRacket]

@@1USACitizen192 Much to your dismay no one was raped on the campus as Sandusky was acquitted of that charge that never happen furthermore the football team had nothing to do with the crimes of rape Sandusky was accused and convicted of. It is clear you believe everything the TV tells you to believe.

[@90srule96]

Sandusky is in jail! Sorry, Penn State used to have the moral high ground with Saint JoPa, but that evaporated quickly. They got the same penalty as Ohio State with Terrell Pryor, and all the Buckeyes did was sell their bowl swag! Penn St should’ve got a way tougher penalty. They didn’t get away with murder, but maybe a worse crime.

[@allengreene9954]

90s Rule Rape is worse than Murder in my opinion. Kill somebody and their problems are over but Rape?? They got to deal with that for the rest of their lives.

[@matthewkrafft9227]

This game. Was a Historic CFB game. A northern team. Who just 2yrs prior failed against Alabama. Joe Pa and PSU. From 1966 to 1986. Maybe one of the greatest stretch of coaching ever. 4 undefeated seasons. 68, 69, 74, 86. 1 loss seasons. 72,73,78,82(national champs), 85. For 20yrs. Joe Pa. Was the man

[@gardenstatr07]

dont forget his undefeated team in 1994 that should've played Nebraska for the title.

[@rawn4203]

@@gardenstatr07 And would have had their heads rippped off but yes PSU should have played em.

[@jamiecrawford8133]

@@rawn4203 stop it. Penn State had more then enough talent to give Nebraska hell

[@MeIn321]

​@rawn4203 Lions offense was like a video game. They would've jumped on Nebraska early, and they would've never caught up.

[@tomhowells7617]

And some fools call Joe Pa overrated 🙄. Currently, Penn St football is nowhere close to being a top 5 program.

[@matthewkrafft9227]

"Blackledge. He's go'in for the bunnddlle " "Touchdown". . I am a little biased here. But. Kieth Jackson's greatest call of all time. Nobody but Kieth Jackson could call Penn State's 1st Championship. RIP. Mr. Jackson. The All time voice of College Football. I miss KJ.

[@bradlewis6514]

Matthew, he (Jackson) was the standard of amateur level athletics broadcasting! I vividly remember every second of this original broadcast (paired with Frank Broyles) And exactly where I was when Garrity made his miraculous catch! In fact I have the SI cover shot of him on it framed! That Sugar Bowl was the week before my 11th birthday! Was in fifth grade at the time

[@bradlewis6514]

Been a Penn State die-hard since the 1979-80 season!

[@bradlewis6514]

The Georgia win, along with that seasons' regular season win against Nebraska (I was in the North end zone where Kirk Bowman made his game winning TD), remain my two favorite Penn State games

[@matthewkrafft9227]

From '66 to '86. Paterno. Coached 6 teams that finished regular season undefeated. 4 teams that won bowl and finished undefeated. 68', 69',74', 86' . Ok. Put '94 in there. The best ever. The only coach that he could not beat. The Bear. Even this year. We won it all. Our only loss. @.bama.

[@MrMatteNWk]

He was really good at sweeping all those Sandusky allegations under the rug