In 1981 Bear Bryant was two wins shy of Amos Alonzo Stagg’s all-time win record when Alabama only had two games left. The #6 ranked Tide made surprisingly short work of the 5th ranked Nittany Lions and Penn State fell 31-6. What happened next was best described in Alan Barra's biography of Bryant, The Last Coach.
"Immediately after the game, Penn State fans accorded Bryant an honor that Alabama fans who were present had never seen the likes of. Hundreds of them lined up on both sides of the grandstands and applauded Bryant as he walked off the field and into the tunnel. Bryant was so moved that in the first couple of minutes after leaving the field he could not speak."
This action, no matter how simple, changed and forever cemented Penn State’s image in the eyes of Alabama fans. An eastern powerhouse bowing and applauding their beloved coach was truly a moment that encapsulated the essence of these two programs. Tradition, honor, and success built two of the most storied programs in college football history. Programs located hundreds of miles away yet so similar that they are almost copies of each other.
Me 53 XW 50 M 18 Years +2 S14 D19 Bomb 10-24-10 Served 1-27-11 Mediate 4-21-11 Civil D Final 6-2-11 No church anullment "A man is not finished when he is defeated, he is finished when he quits."
