The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions Saturday. Here are the official game notes:

ALABAMA FOOTBALL POSTGAME NOTES – ALABAMA AT PENN STATE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2011 • BEAVER STADIUM • STATE COLLEGE, PA. (courtesy of UA Media Relations)

ALABAMA CONTINUES SUCCESS ON THE ROAD: Saturday’s win over Penn State continued a trend of road success by the Crimson Tide in recent seasons. Including Saturday’s win, Alabama has a 12-2 mark in true road games since 2008. The Tide posted a 3-2 mark last season on the heels of identical 4-0 records in 2008 and 2009. Alabama has outscored its opponents 459-234 over that span. In all games away from Tuscaloosa since 2008, Alabama is 17-4, including a 9-4 mark against ranked opponents.

PLAYING IN HOSTILE ENVIROMENTS: On Saturday at Penn State, Alabama played before the largest crowd ever to witness a Crimson Tide football game as 107,846 fans packed Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa. The Crimson Tide has played in nine games away from home that saw the attendance figure eclipse 100,000, with all but Saturday’s game being played at Neyland Stadium against Tennessee.

Top 5 Attendance Totals at Alabama Football Games
107,846 – at Penn State (Sept. 10, 2011)
107, 722 – at Tennessee (Oct. 26, 2002)
107, 709 – at Tennessee (Oct. 21, 2000)
107, 289 – at Tennessee (Oct. 24, 1998)
107, 017 – at Tennessee (Oct. 23, 2004)
106, 700 – at Tennessee (Oct. 26, 1996)

ALABAMA UNDER SABAN IN SEPTEMBER: Alabama has been very successful in the opening month of the season under head coach Nick Saban. Now in his fifth season at Alabama, the Crimson Tide sports a 17-2 record in September following the win at Penn State. Since 2008, Alabama is a perfect 14-0 in September games.

DEFENSIVE NOTES
17 POINTS ALLOWED OVER THE LAST 12 QUARTERS: In the 12 quarters of play spanning today’s game at Penn State, last week’s season opener against Kent State, and the 2011 Capital One Bowl against Michigan State, the Alabama defense has allowed a total of 17 points.

STOUT DEFENSIVE OUTING: The Alabama defense limited Penn State to 250 total yards (106 rushing, 144 passing) on Saturday. In Saban’s 56-game tenure at Alabama, the Crimson Tide has limited the opposition to less than 300 yards of total offense 31 times, or 55.4 percent of the time.

STINGY FIRST QUARTER DEFENSE: Alabama opponents have had a tough time scoring in the first quarter as the Crimson Tide has not allowed a touchdown in the opening quarter since Tauren Poole found pay dirt for Tennessee on Oct. 23. The streaks spans seven games and includes four shutout first quarters. The opening drive field goal by Penn State on Saturday broke a four-game first quarter scoreless streak by opponents.

FIRST OPENING DRIVE SCORE BY OPPONENT IN 8 GAMES: Penn State took the game’s opening possession and marched to a 43-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 7:34 remaining in the opening period. It marked the first time in eight games (dating back to the South Carolina game on Oct. 9, 2010) that Alabama has allowed its opponent to score on its opening drive of the game. Penn State’s opening drive consisted of 16 plays covering 54 yards and consuming 7:26 of game clock.

BARRON NABS 2 TURNOVERS: Senior safety Mark Barron copped two turnovers for Alabama on Saturday. First, he stopped a Penn State drive in the third quarter with an interception at the Alabama 9-yard line. That interception, Barron’s first of the 2011 season, is the 11th of his Alabama career. That total ranks Barron 11th in Alabama history for interceptions in a career. Antonio Langham (1990-93) is the Alabama career record holder with 19 interceptions. Later, in the fourth quarter, Barron scooped up a loose ball caused by cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick to end another Penn State drive at the Crimson Tide 35-yard line.

OFFENSIVE NOTES
RICHARDSON SCORES 2 TDs: Junior running back Trent Richardson enjoyed a methodical outing against Penn State, scoring two rushing touchdowns while exceeding the 100-yard rushing total for the fifth time in his Alabama career, carrying for 112 yards on a career-high 26 attempts. Richardson’s 3-yard touchdown run with 35 seconds remaining in the second quarter gave Alabama a 17-3 lead. His 13-yard scamper with 6:14 left in the fourth quarter salted away the Alabama victory to put the Tide up, 27-3. With the two touchdowns, Richardson has 24 in his Alabama career, including 19 via rush. Overall, Richardson has scored 19 rushing touchdowns, four touchdowns receiving and has returned one kickoff for a touchdown in his Crimson Tide career. Through two games in 2011, Richardson has scored five touchdowns – all rushing.

McCARRON’S DAY: Sophomore quarterback AJ McCarron was solid in his first road game start, leading the Crimson Tide to a convincing victory over Penn State. McCarron completed 19 of 31 passes for 163 yards and one touchdown without throwing an interception.

SERIES NOTES
THE ALABAMA/PENN STATE SERIES: With Saturday’s victory, the Crimson Tide leads the series with Penn State, 10-5. UA boasts a 4-2 edge in the series in State College, collecting wins in 1981 (31-6), 1987 (24-13 and 1989 (17-16) joining the 27-11 victory on Saturday.

ALABAMA VS. THE BIG TEN: With the victory over Penn State today, Alabama owns a 16-9 (.640) record against the programs that currently make up the Big Ten Conference.

SABAN VS. THE BIG TEN: With the victory over Penn State, Alabama head coach Nick Saban has compiled a 27-17-1 (.611) record against Big Ten opponents.

SABAN VS. PENN STATE: The victory over Penn State marks the first win at State College for Alabama head coach Nick Saban. The outcome improved Saban’s record against PSU to 4-3 overall.

One thought on “Alabama Football Game Notes: Tide defeats Penn State”

  1. It’s amazing how Tennesse manages to inflate their attendace to 6000 more than stadium capacity especially since they already stuff ’em in like sardines with half normal seating space. Didn’t think you were supposed count cheerleaders and security in attendace figures. Bwaa haww haww! RTR!

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