I always look for quirks of fate or at least notice coincidences or oddities. I see something with this Georgia game that falls into that symbolic, coincidental category of events.
When Penn State played Georgia in 1982, it was the first meeting between the two programs. This despite the fact that both programs featured coaches in Joe Paterno and Vince Dooley who knew each other well and often worked together in the AFCA. Dooley became President of the AFCA and Paterno was arguably its best, most well-known spokesperson (believe or not kids, most fans knew far less about coaches then unless they were unusually successful). In Dooley and Paterno, you had two titans that could have scheduled a game or met in a bowl after being deemed 'good for ticket sales'. Yet, they did not. Moreover, the programs had, at the time, several similarities including equivalent facilities, recruiting student-athletes in comparison to their competition, large student populations in a unique college towns and arguably the largest fan bases that traveled well. In fact, more than a few Alabama fans would say 'Georgia seems similar to y'all' when the Crimson Tide visited Happy Valley over the years. By the 1982 season and a date with Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, the Lions were within sight of the top of the college football mountain, a feat accomplished by Georgia two years prior. Finally to the big game, after all those years of being labeled 'eastern football' as if that type of football was something you ate like your aunt's beets. Penn State beat Hershel Walker and the great Georgia program! Success wasn't limited to the outcome of that single contest. Penn State went on to become the best program in college football, winning another national title four years later and winning games and bowl games for several years. Best on the field and off with excellence and respect being generously rewarded by people around the country. That's what the top of mountain looks like.
So, come down from there and fast forward your mind to 2015. In many respects, Penn State has hit rock bottom due to scandal, loss of scholarships, the loss of a coaching legend, and the rise of the 'professional coaches' at competing programs. While winning some games (the ones they should I guess), the program is clearly in rebuild mode and one hopes there is a bright future due to scholarships being restored under a new, energetic recruiter and head coach in Franklin. So its interesting that we see the highest of highs and the lowest of lows (in some respects) and there's one commonality: Georgia. Penn State and UGA had never played before 1982 nor have they played since 1982 yet here we are. Penn State is taking a journey leading back up the college football mountain and this time Georgia is there for the first step, not the last.
When Penn State played Georgia in 1982, it was the first meeting between the two programs. This despite the fact that both programs featured coaches in Joe Paterno and Vince Dooley who knew each other well and often worked together in the AFCA. Dooley became President of the AFCA and Paterno was arguably its best, most well-known spokesperson (believe or not kids, most fans knew far less about coaches then unless they were unusually successful). In Dooley and Paterno, you had two titans that could have scheduled a game or met in a bowl after being deemed 'good for ticket sales'. Yet, they did not. Moreover, the programs had, at the time, several similarities including equivalent facilities, recruiting student-athletes in comparison to their competition, large student populations in a unique college towns and arguably the largest fan bases that traveled well. In fact, more than a few Alabama fans would say 'Georgia seems similar to y'all' when the Crimson Tide visited Happy Valley over the years. By the 1982 season and a date with Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, the Lions were within sight of the top of the college football mountain, a feat accomplished by Georgia two years prior. Finally to the big game, after all those years of being labeled 'eastern football' as if that type of football was something you ate like your aunt's beets. Penn State beat Hershel Walker and the great Georgia program! Success wasn't limited to the outcome of that single contest. Penn State went on to become the best program in college football, winning another national title four years later and winning games and bowl games for several years. Best on the field and off with excellence and respect being generously rewarded by people around the country. That's what the top of mountain looks like.
So, come down from there and fast forward your mind to 2015. In many respects, Penn State has hit rock bottom due to scandal, loss of scholarships, the loss of a coaching legend, and the rise of the 'professional coaches' at competing programs. While winning some games (the ones they should I guess), the program is clearly in rebuild mode and one hopes there is a bright future due to scholarships being restored under a new, energetic recruiter and head coach in Franklin. So its interesting that we see the highest of highs and the lowest of lows (in some respects) and there's one commonality: Georgia. Penn State and UGA had never played before 1982 nor have they played since 1982 yet here we are. Penn State is taking a journey leading back up the college football mountain and this time Georgia is there for the first step, not the last.
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