By Dan Harralson
The number one ranked Alabama Crimson Tide travels to Durham, North Carolina Saturday for their first road game. Across the country, some may look at 'Bama playing at Duke as a game without meaning. Wallace Wade Stadium is hosting more than just a "lop-sided" football game Saturday. Wallace Wade Stadium held host to the 1942 Rose Bowl due to the attacks of Pearl Harbor. The attacks to Pearl Harbor came weeks after the 1941 football season and travel restrictions were placed on the west coast of the United States. 22,000 bleacher seats were added to Wallace Wade Stadium (borrowed from N.C. State and UNC) and the game was set between the Oregon State Beavers and the Duke Blue Devils. Despite playing a quote-unquote "road game," Oregon State defeated the heavily favored Duke Blue Devils, 20-16. This is still the only time a Rose Bowl has been played outside Pasadena, California. Two years later, the 1945 Sugar Bowl (1944 season) was played Duke defeated Alabama. The most recent time the Blue Devils and Crimson have squared off was the 2006 season (a Tide win for Coach Shula.) I am live in Winston-Salem on my way to Raleigh tonight. North Carolina State is hosting Cincinnati for Thursday Night football. I love Thursday night football, it is a good way to kill time before the 'Bama/Duke game Saturday. The picture above is the Demon Deacon statue in front of Wake Forest's stadium. Below is Coach Saban on playing at Wallace Wade Stadium:
