Spirit of ‘77- 1977 Penn State football season

[psuro]

 

[MacNit]

Thanks for these and especially this video.

Those PSU teams had an identity: Smart, classy, enthusiastic, and tough as nails. Of course, you can’t compare athleticism from different eras. But that team would annihilate any current version of PSU football…even 2016. One thing is for sure, they would not be pushed around on their home field like Illinois 2021.

I remember every one of those games. But only saw a few that were in TV. Fall Saturdays were hunting with Dad. We would break for lunch at Noon, listen to the first half on the radio (1:00 pm kick), nap at halftime, listen to second half and then back hunting until dark. Good times indeed!

Did get to see the Pitt game in person. What a rivalry! That was its peak. Nothing like it in the Big10. I fear we will never see the likes of this kind of football again….

 

[NittanyBuff]

"Did get to see the Pitt game in person. What a rivalry! That was its peak. Nothing like it in the Big10. I fear we will never see the likes of this kind of football again…." Seeing as how it's been over 30yrs in the Big 10 and nothing close, you would be correct

 

[Metal Mike]

While I did not get to see any games that year, I remember hearing about the loss to Kentucky on Sunday. I heard it was very wet and this contributed to the defeat. In the film above it did not look that wet. This one loss kept PSU from consideration in any talk of a national champ. If anyone was there how wet was that day?

 

[kgilbert78]

While I did not get to see any games that year, I remember hearing about the loss to Kentucky on Sunday. I heard it was very wet and this contributed to the defeat. In the film above it did not look that wet. This one loss kept PSU from consideration in any talk of a national champ. If anyone was there how wet was that day?

I left at the half, totally soaked, and spent a half hour in the shower trying to get warm. Does that answer the question??

 

[NavyBlue]

I left at the half, totally soaked, and spent a half hour in the shower trying to get warm. Does that answer the question??

Looking at the field, it looks like it must have been heavy. The middle of the field is muddy. Look at the players' uniforms.

 

[NavyBlue]

I was at the WVU game, still trying to figure out where I would attend college. It was really windy and PSU chose to defend the north endzone. West Virginia couldn't budge the ball from the south endzone and we put the game away in that quarter.

Chuck Fusina was a heckuva college QB. Great ball handling and accurate passer. Had a great career in the USFL with the Stars.

 

[Thus Spake Mainer]

Many think the '77 edition was better than the '78 team. The '77 team had Jimmy Cefalo on offence and Chet Parlavecchio on defence, case closed.

 

[Bob78]

While I did not get to see any games that year, I remember hearing about the loss to Kentucky on Sunday. I heard it was very wet and this contributed to the defeat. In the film above it did not look that wet. This one loss kept PSU from consideration in any talk of a national champ. If anyone was there how wet was that day?

Heavy rain in the first half, sunny in the 2nd. Up 14-10 at half, lost 24-14. A true 'shoulda' game.

I would have liked our chances vs anyone in the country by the end of the '77 season. ND over #1 Texas in the Cotton for the MNC that year. Both really good, both beatable. Of course, so was Bama the following season!

 

[Big_O]

I left at the half, totally soaked, and spent a half hour in the shower trying to get warm. Does that answer the question??

I did as well. I was soaked to the bone, uncontrolled shivering (rigors) and I was likely in the early stages of hypothermia, which I recognized. Longest walk ever back to 5th floor Snyder, closest dorm to the stadium. Tried hot soup from my crockpot and still was shivering. A long, hot shower finally did the trick to warm me back up.

 

[Bob78]

Many think the '77 edition was better than the '78 team. The '77 team had Jimmy Cefalo on offence and Chet Parlavecchio on defence, case closed.

Chet was an early 80s LBer, I think.
'77 LBs included Paul Suhey and Lance Mehl among other solid LBers. One of the Coders, I think. Rick Donaldson maybe.

 

[Thus Spake Mainer]

Chet was an early 80s LBer, I think.
'77 LBs included Paul Suhey and Lance Mehl among other solid LBers. One of the Coders, I think. Rick Donaldson maybe.

Right, I was thinking about the '81 team and how many thought it was just as good as '82.

 

[kgilbert78]

I did as well. I was soaked to the bone, uncontrolled shivering (rigors) and I was likely in the early stages of hypothermia, which I recognized. Longest walk ever back to 5th floor Snyder, closest dorm to the stadium. Tried hot soup from my crockpot and still was shivering. A long, hot shower finally did the trick to warm me back up.

3rd Floor Snyder in my case.... But we've had that discussion before.

 

[WSTLion87]

The '77 PSU team got punked. They were supposed to go to the Orange Bowl to play Oklahoma and OU opted to play Arkansas who in turn pounded them. The Kentucky game was a bitter disappointment. UK had a QB named Derrick Ramsey who played as a TE for years in the NFL (Patriots?), they had anohter kid named Rod Stewart who I remember because of the famous name. Finally, there was Art Still and he was a MAN.

 

[BobPSU92]

Many think the '77 edition was better than the '78 team. The '77 team had Jimmy Cefalo on offence and Chet Parlavecchio on defence, case closed.

How was ‘77’s goal-line offense?

 

[Jason1743]

While I did not get to see any games that year, I remember hearing about the loss to Kentucky on Sunday. I heard it was very wet and this contributed to the defeat. In the film above it did not look that wet. This one loss kept PSU from consideration in any talk of a national champ. If anyone was there how wet was that day?

I don't remember it being that wet. What I do remember is Art Still from Kentucky dominating the line of scrimmage.

 

[Ceasar]

The '77 PSU team got punked. They were supposed to go to the Orange Bowl to play Oklahoma and OU opted to play Arkansas who in turn pounded them. The Kentucky game was a bitter disappointment. UK had a QB named Derrick Ramsey who played as a TE for years in the NFL (Patriots?), they had anohter kid named Rod Stewart who I remember because of the famous name. Finally, there was Art Still and he was a MAN.

Small world, I actually became friends later in life with Rod Stewart, he was a good guy.