Arrow Beyond the Call - 1979 Alabama vs Penn State: Goal Line Stand
November, 29 2023
Alabama linebacker Barry Krauss laid flat on his back. He stared up towards the ceiling of the Superdome in New Orleans. He couldn’t move because he had just pinched a nerve in his neck making a tackle. What he could do was hear the cheers of his teammates and Alabama fans in attendance. He had just made what might be the biggest play in Alabama football history.
In Marty Mule’s book “Sugar Bowl Classic: A History,” Penn State head coach Joe Paterno, who was seeking his first national title, wanted to play against Alabama. He believed that his football team was able to face any team in the nation and not flinch. The challenge of facing Alabama seemed more prestigious than winning the national championship.
The matchup between the two teams was top-notch. Top-ranked Penn State entered the game sporting the nation’s top defensive team while second-ranked Alabama was a nationally recognized rushing team running the wishbone. Penn State’s offense wasn’t something to look over as quarterback Chuck Fusina was the Heisman Trophy runner-up for the 1978 season.
The game was a defensive slobberknocker as Penn State’s offense was overwhelmed by the Tide’s defense. Meanwhile Alabama’s offense showed some spark during the early stages but fizzled out as the game waned.
The game’s first touchdown occurred late in the second quarter with a diving 30-yard catch by Alabama receiver Bruce Bolton. Fast forward to the third quarter, Penn State finally notched their first touchdown with Fusina’s 17-yard pass to receiver Scott Fitzkee. The Tide found the endzone again late in the third quarter when Major Ogilvie took Jeff Rutledge’s option pitch and scored on an eight-yard run.
As the game transitioned into the fourth quarter, Penn State caught a break. With Alabama on their own 22-yard line, an option pitch flew behind an unsuspecting Ogilvie and bounced on the turf with Penn State recovering the ball. On second-and-goal on Penn State’s drive, Fusina whipped a quick pass to Fitzkee on an out route. Fitzkee caught the pass and appeared clear to waltz into the endzone untouched until Alabama defensive back Don McNeal flew down and knocked Fitzkee out of bounds at the one-yard line.
Color analyst and former head coach Frank Broyles gave a quick kudos to McNeal’s play, “a sensational play to prevent the touchdown.”
Now with the ball on the one-yard line, Penn State lined up in a strong power formation. The ball carrier, Matt Suhey, leaped above the scrum looking for the endzone, but was met by Alabama defenders Curtis McGriff and Rich Wingo. This set up one of the most dramatic scenarios in college football: FOUTH AND GOAL.
Alabama defensive tackle Marty Lyons recalled a quick exchange he had with Chuck Fusina after the play,
Fusina asked “How much is it [to the goal line]?” “Bout this much (ten inches)…you better pass,” Lyons replied.
Penn State once again lined up in a power formation and ran the ball once more, this time to Mike Guman.
Guman found a hold for a split second and attempted to power through it. On the other side of the hole was Barry Krauss. When the two players collided, Krauss felt time slow down, “He was falling, and what was actually a couple of seconds seemed like five minutes,” Krauss said. He had stopped Guman short of the goal line and Alabama took over on downs.
As Krauss laid prone on the turf, all he heard was the bedlam inside the Superdome. Marty Lyons came over and helped Krauss back onto his feet exclaiming, “We did it! We stopped them!”
What many forget about the “Alabama Goal Line Stand” was that it occurred with about six minutes left in the game. Alabama seemed to have gone a quick three-and-out, but a twelve men on the field penalty on Penn State on fourth down gave the Tide a fresh set of downs. Alabama drove and chewed much of the clock. Penn State had one last chance to score but a fourth down incompletion sealed the 14-7 victory for Alabama.
The AP Poll named Alabama as national champions giving Bear Bryant his fifth national title.
Barry Krauss was named Sugar Bowl MVP.