Sept. 5, 2011
Penn State vs. Alabama Game Notes
PENN STATE (1-0; 0-0 Big Ten) vs.
ALABAMA (1-0; 0-0 SEC)
SATURDAY, SEPT. 10, 2011 @ 3:30 P.M. (ET) • ABC
BEAVER STADIUM (106,572) • UNIVERSITY PARK, PA.
TELEVISION: ESPN on ABC
Brad Nessler (p-by-p), Todd Blackledge (analyst),
Holly Rowe (sideline); The game will air nationally on ABC stations.
TV APPEARANCES: The Nittany Lions are appearing on television for the 205th time in their last 207 games.
RADIO: Penn State Sports Network (60 stations):
Steve Jones (p-by-p) & Jack Ham (analyst)
Local: 93.7 FM & 1450 AM; Sirius: CH 91; XM: CH 91
Crimson Tide Sports Network:
Eli Gold (p-by-p), Phil Savage (analyst), Chris Stewart (sideline).
Compass Media Networks: Drew Bontadelli (p-by-p) and Curtis Conway (analyst)
WEB: Gametracker & Audio at: GoPSUsports.com
ATTENDANCE: 108,000+ (sold out)
SERIES: The Nittany Lions and Crimson Tide are meeting for the 15th time, with Alabama leading 9-5 after its 2010 win...Alabama is playing in Happy Valley for the first time since 1989.
COACHES:
Joe Paterno:
PENN STATE RECORD: 402-135-3 (74.7), 46th year
OVERALL RECORD: Same
VS. ALABAMA: 4-9
NOTABLE: 62nd year on Penn State staff...all-time leader in career wins among FBS (1-A) coaches...300 wins faster than any coach in NCAA history...College Football Hall of Fame inductee (2007)
NICK SABAN:
ALABAMA RECORD: 39-11, 5th year
OVERALL RECORD: 130-53-1, 16th year
THIS WEEK
Penn State hosts No. 2 Alabama in the first meeting between the national powers in Beaver Stadium since 1989.
The Crimson Tide lead the series, 9-5, after posting a 24-3 win last year in Tuscaloosa. The teams played a spirited series from 1981-90 and met in three bowl games prior to 1981, including the 1979 Sugar Bowl for the national championship.
The Penn State-Alabama game is the only Big Ten-SEC regular season match-up this season. The conferences will be pitted in at least three 2011-12 bowl games.
The No. 25 Nittany Lions opened their 125th season with a 41-7 win over Indiana State. The Crimson Tide defeated Kent State, 48-7, in their opener last Saturday.
Penn State has a 59-19 (75.6) record since the start of the 2005 season, the nation's 11th-best winning percentage over the past seven seasons.