University Park, Pa. — Penn State takes to the road for the first time this season, visiting defending national champion and No. 1 Alabama for the first meeting between the traditional powerhouse programs since 1990. The game, which is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff at Bryant-Denny Stadium, will be nationally televised by ESPN and also air on the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com.
ESPN’s College GameDay Built by the Home Depot will originate from the Penn State-Alabama game. The program begins every Saturday at 9 a.m. on ESPNU and moves to ESPN from 10 a.m.-noon ET. An interview with Coach Joe Paterno is scheduled to air on GameDay. Nittany Lion fans in Tuscaloosa are invited to attend the program. College GameDay on ESPN Radio also will originate from the Penn State-Alabama game, with coverage from noon-7 p.m. ET on ESPN Radio affiliates across the nation. Ryen Russillo is the host, with analysts Trevor Matich and Brad Edwards.
Penn State is meeting Alabama for the 14th time in program history but the first since the Nittany Lions earned a 9-0 win in Tuscaloosa in 1990. The Crimson Tide lead the series, 8-5, with the teams conducting a spirited series from 1981-90. Alabama will visit Happy Valley on Sept. 10, 2011. The teams were originally scheduled to play during the 2004 and 2005 seasons, but the series was postponed at Alabama’s request in 2003.
The No.18/14 Nittany Lions are one of only four teams that have made multiple visits to Bryant-Denny Stadium and have a winning record vs. the Crimson Tide in the facility: Penn State (2-1), Auburn (4-1), LSU (7-6) and TCU (2-0).
Penn State’s opened its 124th season and 50th year in Beaver Stadium last week with a 44-14 win over Youngstown State. Highlighting the victory was the record-setting performance of freshman quarterback Rob Bolden, who completed 20 of 29 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. After delivering the best passing performance by a Nittany Lion true freshman starter in program history, Bolden earned Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week honors.
Senior wide receiver and co-captain Brett Brackett broke career-highs with eight receptions for 98 yards, including 20 and 22-yard scoring strikes from Bolden.
Led by senior linebacker Chris Colasanti’s career-high 13 tackles, the Nittany Lion defense limited Youngstown State to 75 yards on the ground, as the Penguins became the 17th consecutive Penn State opponent to not have a 100-yard rusher. Alabama and Penn State rank first and third, respectively, for the longest streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher.
Senior placekicker Collin Wagner was 3-for-3 in field goal attempts, connecting on kicks of 44, 49, and 48 yards. His 49-yarder in the second quarter was a career-long.
In its season opener last weekend, Alabama amassed 591 yards of total offense en route to a 48-3 victory over San Jose State, earning its 15th consecutive victory.
Senior tailback Evan Royster enters the Alabama game with 2,958 rushing yards, needing 40 yards to become the sixth Nittany Lion to gain 3,000 career yards.
Bolden has a connection to the Alabama program, as his great uncle, Don McNeal, was an All-America cornerback for the Crimson Tide in the late 1970’s. McNeal played during the epic 1979 Sugar Bowl battle between Penn State and Alabama for the national championship.
Following the Alabama game, Penn State will return home to host Kent State on Sept. 18. Kickoff is set for noon at Beaver Stadium and will be broadcast to a national television audience on ESPN or ESPN2. Kent State defeated Murray State, 41-10, in its season opener and plays at Boston College on Saturday.
Tickets for the Kent State game and can be purchased at www.GoPSUsports.com or by calling 814-865-5555 weekdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.