1979 Sugar Bowl

1979 Sugar Bowl
45th edition
National Championship Game
Penn State Nittany Lions Alabama Crimson Tide
(11–0) (10–1)
Independent SEC
7 14
Head coach: 
Joe Paterno		 Head coach: 
Bear Bryant
APCoaches
11
APCoaches
22
1234 Total
Penn State 0070 7
Alabama 0770 14
DateJanuary 1, 1979
Season1978
StadiumLouisiana Superdome
LocationNew Orleans, Louisiana
MVPBarry Krauss (Alabama LB)
FavoriteAlabama by 1 point[1]
RefereeBill Jennings (Big Eight)
Attendance76,824
United States TV coverage
NetworkABC
AnnouncersKeith Jackson, Frank Broyles
Sugar Bowl
 < 1978  1980 > 
College Football Championship Game
 < 1973 1983 > 

The 1979 Sugar Bowl was the 45th edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday, January 1. Part of the 1978–79 bowl game season, it matched the top-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions (11–0) and the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide (10–1) of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). A hard-fought 14–7 victory gave Alabama head coach Bear Bryant his fifth national championship.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

The game marked the official debut of Alabama's "Big Al" costumed elephant mascot.

  1. ^ "The Latest Line". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 1, 1979. p. 34.
  2. ^ Underwood, John (January 8, 1979). "The rising of the Tide". Sports Illustrated. p. 10.
  3. ^ "Alabama No. 1?". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 2, 1979. p. 29.
  4. ^ Levy, Paul (January 2, 1979). "Nittany Lions fall into Bear trap, 14-7". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 2.
  5. ^ Browning, Al (January 2, 1979). "Tide winner in Sugar Bowl 'war'". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). p. 1.
  6. ^ Parascenzo, Marino (January 2, 1979). "Penn State loses bid for national crown". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 15.
  7. ^ Franke, Russ (January 2, 1979). "Lions miss national crown by six inches". Pittsburgh Press. p. B3.