Penn State Football: 15 greatest PSU players of Joe Paterno era

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Sep 16, 1978, Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Penn State quarterback Chuck Fusina (14) in action against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium during the 1978 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 9 greatest player of Joe Paterno era: Chuck Fusina (1975-78)

Career passing yards: 5,382
Career passing touchdowns: 37
1978 Consensus All-American
1978 Maxwell Award

The 1978 Nittany Lions nearly won the national championship and their quarterback, Chuck Fusina nearly won the Heisman Trophy that year. Penn State went into the Sugar Bowl at 11-0 and No. 1 in the country but lost to Alabama and finished No. 4 at 11-1.

Fusina finished second in Heisman voting that year with 1,859 passing yards and 11 touchdowns. He was actually better statistically in 1977 when Penn State went 11-1 and won the Fiesta Bowl.

That year Fusina was eighth in the country with 2,221 passing yards and threw 15 touchdowns. He didn’t receive any Heisman votes.

Fusina eventually became a USFL star before the league folded.

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