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State College, Pa. • With his championship-winning résumé, Alabama coach Nick Saban hardly needs a pat on the back from a fellow coach to feel appreciated.
Joe Paterno might be the only guy who could get away with it.
Two of college football's most successful and recognizable coaches meet Saturday when Saban and the third-ranked Crimson Tide visit Paterno's 23rd-ranked Nittany Lions in Happy Valley.
At times earlier this week, each man gushed about his counterpart as if offering a personal reference on a job application — especially Saban.
A year ago in Alabama's 24-3 win over Penn State at Tuscaloosa, former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden was a guest on the sideline and met with Saban and Paterno. It was a treat for the Crimson Tide's leader.
"The stations of your career sort of make you realize and respect what they do even more and how they were able to do it and the success that they have," Saban said. "I don't know how many games I've won as a head coach, but I know it's not a third as many as what Joe Paterno has."
Not quite, but close.
Saban has 130 victories over his 16-year career, while Paterno has a record 402 over 46 seasons.
Where Saban does match up with Paterno is in national championships. Each man has two: Saban with LSU (2003) and Alabama (2009); Paterno winning at Penn State in 1982 and 1986.
A native of Fairmont, W. Va., Saban talks with reverence about watching Penn State play growing up and seeing Paterno trot out of the tunnel to the sideline.
That may not happen this weekend, as Paterno is still recovering from injuries to his right shoulder and pelvis suffered when a receiver accidentally bowled him over in practice Aug. 7. Paterno said this week he was optimistic about a sideline return, though he was still in pain. He coached the 41-7 win in the season opener last week over Indiana State from the press box.
Either way, the coaches are bound to meet up somewhere in Beaver Stadium.
"When I see him, I'll pat him on the back."