Alabama football: Rivalry with Penn State lost on young

TUSCALOOSA — Kids these days.

They just don’t have the respect for the Alabama/Penn State rivalry.

But, in defense of today’s Crimson Tide football players, most were still in diapers the past time Joe Paterno coached in Tuscaloosa. The 6 p.m. Saturday showdown between the two tradition powers will mark the end of the 20-year armistice that began after the Nittany Lions beat the Tide 9-0 on homecoming Saturday in 1990.

“I was born in ’88,” quarterback Greg McElroy said. “I should only be responsible for the time after ’88. I guess that means from childhood, I should know the facts and dates relative to Alabama football. I try my hardest — right? I know basic stats, I guess.”

Those fundamentals include the legendary 1979 Sugar Bowl that ended with Barry Krauss’ famous four-down, goal line tackle. Benny Perrin was a freshman on that national championship winning team who played Penn State twice and remembers just how big the rivalry — which Alabama leads 8-5 — once was.

“You can tell the young kids, the old guys, we don’t take too lightly to Penn State,” said Perrin who owns a sports bar in Decatur. “We’d treat them just like LSU or Auburn.”

It wasn’t a matter of hatred, though.

There was a mutual respect between the two traditional powers, Perrin said, most likely a result of the similar styles with which Bear Bryant and Joe Paterno coached.

And when it comes to goal-line stands, Perrin is quick to point out the denial of 1981 was much more memorable. A senior that season, Perrin’s defense had to stop the Lions seven times since he was whistled for a controversial pass interference penalty on third down.

“Even though it wasn’t for the national championship, it was probably a greater stand,” Perrin said. “It was the only time in coach Bryant’s coaching career he ever walked out on the field and tipped his hat to the defense.”

Alabama went on to finish off the Nittany Lions 31-16 to give Bryant win No. 314 to tie Amos Staggs’ record that Paterno went on to break.

Tide linebacker Dont’a Hightower knows plenty about Penn State since his mom was a fan of the Nittany Lions when he was growing up. Thinking back to seeing the video of the 1979 Krauss tackle leaves Hightower “speechless” when dreaming of making a similar play.

Penn State offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski grew up hearing about the Sugar Bowl game won by Alabama 14-7 to give Bryant another national title. His father, Leo Wisniewski, was a defensive tackle for the Lions that season.

“I think most people my age probably don’t appreciate the whole Bear Bryant/JoePa thing as much, but personally, I have an appreciation,” he said. “… I have a little bit of a sense of the history and how cool the rivalry this is.”

But is there bitterness from his dad towards the Tide?

“It was 30 years ago, I think they’ve gotten over it by now,” he said.

Paterno said he didn’t even bother talking about the rivalry’s significance with his exceptionally young team.

“We’ve got a bunch of kids who, a year from now they stick my picture up and say, ‘Who would wear a funny hat like that these days?’ he said. “I think it’s two football teams playing, and I don’t think they care about Coach Paterno, and a guy by the name of Bryant who used to coach their team.”

Traditionally, Alabama/Penn State games have seen few blowout. Seven of the 13 meetings were decided by a touchdown or less with the 1989 meeting being one of the other non-goal line classics. Only a Thomas Rayam blocked field goal on a 17-yard chip shot preserved the 17-16 Alabama victory in its last visit to Happy Valley where it’ll return next September.

Those playing, however, won’t likely know much of that history.

Not if they’re only responsible for Alabama history made after their birth.