A Legend Is Made: Meet The Bama Fan Who Crashed The White Out Against Auburn

STATE COLLEGE, PA — Ed Harding was on his feet in a lower section of Beaver Stadium staring downfield as the visiting Auburn Tigers regrouped after a play against the Penn State Nittany Lions Saturday night.

While the atmosphere was indeed electric for a signature Penn State "White Out" game, the evening in most respects was like any other college football Saturday night apart from being attended by 109,958 white-clad fans — a number local media reported to be the largest post-pandemic crowd for an American sports event to this point.

Click here to subscribe to our free Tuscaloosa Daily newsletter and breaking news alerts

Despite Bryant-Denny Stadium sitting empty and quiet almost 900 miles away, Tuscaloosa and much of the Crimson Tide community on social media erupted when an ABC camera panning the capacity crowd focused on Harding in a crimson and white University of Alabama T-shirt — a humorous contrast against a veritable ocean of Penn State white.

The phrase on his T-shirt? ... "WHERE LEGENDS ARE MADE," written in white letters, positioned just above the trademarked Alabama "A."

Patch caught up with the 63-year-old Penn State graduate following the game and his 15 minutes of fame to learn more about the man behind a moment that won't soon be forgotten in Tuscaloosa.

'They snagged us ... '

Harding is a native of Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania — a small town of less than 1,800 people in the northeastern part of the state, roughly 31 miles northwest of Wilkes-Barre. For a Nittany Lion fan, it's about a two and a half hour drive southwest to the school's iconic campus.

An employee of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture who aims to retire in June 2022, he is also a father, husband and operator of the family business — Harding's Dairy Bar and Golf. The family-friendly attraction is noted for its "famous ice cream and popular homemade food." Visitors can also play mini golf and take some swings on its driving range, which is backdropped by "one of the most beautiful regions in Northeastern Pennsylvania."

But apart from his professional ventures and obligations, he is considered a friend by many in some of the most unlikely places a college football fanatic would expect.

"I'm a graduate of Penn State twice, in ’78 and ’89," Harding said in a phone interview with Patch on Tuesday. "I follow them and have season tickets, but I had a family friend who always told me if you ever get a chance to go to Tuscaloosa to see a football game, you need to go."

As his daughters grew up and he started looking toward the next phase of his life, Harding began to visit the storied venues of college football — his favorite sport. And it would be Alabama's 2010 matchup with Penn State in Tuscaloosa that set in motion the course of events leading to Harding winning cheers on the other side of the country Saturday night as the Auburn Tigers lost 28-20 to the Nittany Lions on national television.

Of the 2010 trip, Harding said they arrived in Tuscaloosa on a Thursday evening, visited Dreamland BBQ and enjoyed offerings in downtown ahead of Penn State taking on Alabama the following Saturday.

What struck them, though, was the hospitality of Alabama fans, who noticed their Penn State regalia and offered warm invitations to come tailgate with them.

Explaining the difference in gameday parking in Tuscaloosa compared to State College, Harding said he found himself driving down a side street, eventually paying someone $20 to park in a spot at their house, which was within walking distance of Bryant-Denny Stadium.

"So we have a couple of beers and these four guys show up in a couple of pickups with fryers," he said, before mentioning their excitement at the prospect of tailgating with Penn State fans. "We agreed [to stay], but we weren’t totally committed. But ... we had a few more beverages and, all of a sudden, 40 people show up. So they snagged us. They had a big ol' fish fry, homemade hushpuppies, French fries and the ladies made some fantastic desserts and we had a blast."

The evening's joviality would mark the start of a friendship that has lasted to the present day, as their new tailgating buddies would soon be invited to come to a game in Happy Valley.

"I stayed in touch with them the whole year and they came up the next year and tailgated with us," he said.

Ahead of the 2011 game in Happy Valley, Harding ordered an Alabama hat and shirt to wear as a sort of gag for the arrival of his new friends, but forgot his tickets ahead of the game and was forced to instruct his guests to meet him at a friend's home before going to the stadium.

"They got to Greg's house and had never met him," he said with a laugh. "He’s 110% Penn State and I had 'Sweet Home Alabama' on a CD and blasted it with the speaker in the truck when I pulled in. I got out and said 'Roll Tide, y'all' ... and Greg is just shaking his head."

The night would result in another memorable college football experience for the Hardings and their friends, with the Pennsylvania family being invited back to Tuscaloosa. This specific trip, though, would have a more profound impact on the family than Harding realized at the time.

"My youngest daughter said she wanted to go to the University of Alabama and I told her if you can get in, I'll pay for it," he said. "Now, she’s a junior at the University of Alabama. Thank God we have friends down there ... Just wonderful people down in Alabama."

It would be this connection to Tuscaloosa, though, that led him to commit to wearing Crimson Tide gear on college football Saturdays ... even as a season ticket holder at every game he attends in Beaver Stadium.

"They'll say 'You’re at the wrong game, and I say 'Nah, I'm at the right game."

THE BIG MOMENT

With new friends in Alabama and a daughter attending UA, it was an easy transition for Harding to switch from blue to crimson. Especially so following the controversy around the Penn State football program that unfolded around the time of its last two-game series with the Crimson Tide.

But after numerous games going by without fanfare in stadiums all over the country, going viral on social media was the last thing he expected when made it to his seat Saturday for Auburn/Penn State, which was broadcast for a national audience on ABC Network.

Another untold twist remains, though, which may be important for the Crimson Tide fans who are quick to jump to conclusions about his allegiance.

"I was rooting for Auburn and I’ll tell you why," Harding said of the game Saturday night. "The Auburn people I met are very nice and anything Alabama I love. The other thing, too, when I'm at the stadium, I have a big flag pole with an Alabama 'Roll Tide' flag. So when I'm there, they know. The nice thing about it is that people will come up and say they are originally from Alabama or their son or daughter goes there or they are a graduate. Just about every game people come up and talk to us and it's a great conversation piece. Some people don’t like it, but that really doesn’t matter."

Now that he has ascended to a new level of Crimson Tide stardom, Harding expressed even more excitement for his planned trip to Tuscaloosa in November. In remembering his past trips, he fondly recalled meals at places like Southern Ale House and Cypress Inn, along with making the drive up to Fayette to buy caramel corn and table syrup from Golden Eagle.

"I’ve got so many friends down there," he said. "We can't wait to come back."

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.