1979 Sugar Bowl - The Goal Line Stand

[@anneebanannee8423]

I remember this like it was yesterday. Glorious!!!

[@bigmoney4635]

"You'd better pass" -Marty Lyons

[@dro205]

So crazy that they used to stop the game when the crowd got too loud. I was a young child in these days, and I don't remember that rule when it was in place. I didn't know they did that until years later, watching old replays from this time period. Now, the home crowd isn't doing its job if it isn't being as loud and disruptive to the opposing offense as possible... And ties (as I've seen a couple of others mention) were ridiculous too. I'm so glad they got rid of that garbage.

[@brianrhg]

RMFT we are THE dynasty of college football.

[@dro205]

Another random funny thing I've seen watching these old replays... Coach Bryant would be pacing up and down the sideline smoking cigarettes haha.

[@bamadon]

MATT Suhey was the ball carrier on 3rd down, MIKE Guman on 4th.....

[@eBOLTLLC]

Gilliam dragging an arm, coming out... back before abridged shoulder pads when stingers were a common occurence

[@crimsontidezone]

As difficult as it clearly was for them to score from the goal line; after being pushed back a couple yards I think they would play for the tie, unless they had some mind boggling trick play saved up for just such an occasion.

[@crimsontidezone]

Oh my source said Matt. Got it corrected. Thanks for letting me know.

[@ShanOakley]

Paterno would not have played for the tie. He would've gone for 2. But that don't matter. 'Bama stuffed 'em at the line.

[@k19sparks]

I can't be the first person to say this but...What about a little "play-fake-bootleg" by Fusina? Clearly every Alabama defender was playing the run, right up the middle....

[@johncate9541]

"Hypothetical : IF Penn State HAD scored, would "JoePA" have pulled an "Ara" and played for the TIE, thereby assuring himself finishing #1? -OR- Would he have pulled a "Tom Osbourne" and risked it all by going for 2 ? Thoughts?" I'm almost certain he would have gone for two. It wasn't the same situation. If Penn State had tied Alabama, it still would have been the nation's only undefeated team at 11-0-1. But USC won the Rose Bowl that day to finish 11-1, against a much tougher schedule than Penn State, and it had beaten Alabama at Alabama earlier in the season. In fact, USC won the coaches' poll even after Alabama won this game, based on the fact it had beaten Alabama (and a lot of people, myself included, believe No. 3 Oklahoma was better than any of them). If Paterno had tied this game, especially of his own volition, I don't think he wins the championship.

[@Vgy926]

The ball carrier was Mike Guman, not Matt Guman.

[@bamadon]

Hypothetical : IF Penn State HAD scored, would "JoePA" have pulled an "Ara" and played for the TIE, thereby assuring himself finishing #1? -OR- Would he have pulled a "Tom Osbourne" and risked it all by going for 2 ? Thoughts?

[@MrBamaDave]

ROLL TIDE!!!

[@PerryCuda]

My uncle played for Penn State in that game. Said that 1/2 of the Bama players were doing cocaine DURING the game. I didn't believe it until Tony Nathan admitted it in the SI interview several years ago.

[@joshpruitt293]

Vinny Sunseri is starting at safety for them this year.

[@educatedrock]

Roll Tide Roll.

[@80svideoluvr]

You on that second down play to the TE - nowadays dude, being that close to the goal line, probably would stretch the arm that had the ball in it out in an effort to cross the plane with the ball. I guess players didn't think to do that back then or thought it too risky. Or something.

[@keithjfro]

Hit the showers Penn State!

[@butlmat]

jealous...

[@3321far]

Wow, Alabama actually used let white guys play positions other than qb and kicker.

[@crimsontidezone]

Gimme a break. You obviously don't know much about Alabama football if you are going to make such an ignorant and asinine statement. Sounds pretty racist to me too. Why don't you go troll somewhere else if you don't have anything meaningful to add to the discussions here.