Beyond the magnetic legend of The Goal-Line Stand, one incredible play by cornerback Don McNeal casts a mighty shadow all its own.
Because it enabled Barry Krauss and the rest of the Alabama defense to hold Penn State on two straight plays from the one.
Because it helped secure Alabama’s 1978 national championship.
But the memory is a bit more complicated for former Alabama defensive back Murray Legg, who went flying up the field as Penn State quarterback Chuck Fusina stepped into the pocket and rifled a pass toward spilt end Scott Fitzkee.
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“Unfortunately, [Fitzkee] was my man, and I miscalculated…[and] ran the wrong way,“ recalled Legg. “My heart sank as he headed for the flat and I couldn’t get to him…“
Fortunately, the speedy and hard-hitting McNeal zoomed to the scene, cutting off Fitzkee’s route to the end zone. Somehow stopping his progress just short of the goal line, at the last possible moment, McNeal slammed the receiver out of bounds. It was a textbook tackle, saving the game and the national championship.
Like every player on the sideline, reserve defender Benny Perrin watched the play with a sense of awe. “Don’s play has sort of gotten lost in all the talk about the goal-line stand, but, man, but if he doesn’t tackle that guy perfectly, you can forget the rest of it,” Perrin said.
No one was happier than Legg, who had been rescued by his teammate’s intuitive reaction. “It was just an incredible play.“
