What was the greatest Penn State bowl game in their history? They will play in their 54th postseason classic when they battle Mississippi in the Peach Bowl Saturday beginning at noon.

Was it the 1983 Sugar Bowl in which the Penn State downed Georgia, 27-23? It was a showdown between the top-ranked Nittany Lions and the second-ranked Bulldogs in the New Orleans Superdome before a crowd of more than 78,000. The battle was one of the PSU’s all-timers as well as one of college football’s finest.

There have been others notably in the Fiesta Bowl, where PSU has a clean 7-0 slate. They had a 31-19 win over Ohio State in 1980, and a 14-10 victory over Miami in 1987.

In this week’s version of my Yesterday column – reminiscing about sports and pop culture in the 1960s, 70s, 80 and sometimes before and beyond - I’ll take a look at some of Penn State’s bowl games as well as some recollections from our youth.

Who was involved in college football’s famous “punch” incident on this date 45 years ago? What legendary song was number one in 1970? What brothers’ duo was a controversial one in the 1960s and 70s? And what slot-car racing set fascinated us back in the day?

Sugar Was Sweet ... This was a showdown between Penn State’s Todd Blackledge and Curt Warner against Georgia’s Herschel Walker. Both teams had some pretty good defenses.

With Penn State leading 20-17, Blackledge made the play of the game when he hit wide receiver Greg Garrity, who made a leaping, skidding, 53-yard catch in the end zone.

Georgia answered to cut the gap to three, but Penn State converted a third down ate in the game when Blackledge hit Garrity on a six-yard slant.

Warner was a workhorse as he gained 117 yards on 18 carries and scored two touchdowns. Blackledge was the game’s MVP, completing 13 of 23 passes for 228 yards with a score.

PSU’s defense bottled up Walker for 107 yards on 28 carries. It was head coach Joe Paterno’s first national championship.

Blackledge had a mediocre career with the Chiefs and Steelers, while Warner had a productive run with the Seahawks and ended with the Rams.

Fiesta, No Siesta ... The Nittany Lions had two notable Fiesta Bowl dates, one in 1980 and the other in ’87.

In 1980, PSU overcome a slow start and rallied for a 31-19 win over Ohio State. This was another Blackledge-Warner show with the quarterback throwing for 117 and the running back rushing for 155. Warner scored on the game’s opening play on a 64-yard jaunt.

The Nittany Lions shutout Ohio State and quarterback Art Schlichter in the second half and limited them to 73 yards.

In 1987, Penn State took on Miami, and it was another skirmish between the top two team in the country with Miami holding the top spot. Future Eagle Jerome Brown, Michael Irvin, and Jimmy Johnson lead a colorful and controversial bunch of Hurricanes. Brown became renowned at a dinner for the two teams for his line, “Did the Japanese sit down and eat dinner with Pearl Harbor before they bombed it?”

It certainly was a clash of styles, but the Nittany Lions got the best of it despite being outgained 445-162. Heisman Trophy quarterback Vinnie Testaverde was intercepted five times, and Penn State punter John Bruno had a 43.4 average to pin the Hurricanes inside their 25-ayrd line most of the night.

D.J. Dozier scored a six-yard game-winning touchdown after Shane Conlan’s second interception with 8:13 left in the game. The game drew a record 25.1 million TV audience, and it was the catalyst for the eventual playoff system. It also gave PSU their second national championship.

Orange Juice ... The Nittany Lions did have some success in the Orange Bowl, two appearances that both resulted in undefeated seasons.

In 1969, Penn State had an 11-0 overall record, and they finished second in the AP poll.

The Lions had a three-pronged running attack behind Charlie Pittman, Franco Harris, and Lydell Mitchell. Quarterback Chuck Burkhart -you have to be a diehard to know him - relied on his running game and threw for only 805 yards with nine interceptions and just one touchdown.

Five years later, John Cappelletti ran for 1,522 yards and scored 17 touchdowns during the season to lead the Lions. They met LSU in the Orange Bowl, and it was a defensive battle that resulted in a 16-9 victory. It gave them an 12-0 slate, and they averaged nearly 36 points per game. The Lions finished fifth in the AP Poll.

Do you have a favorite PSU bowl game not mentioned here? Let me know.

The Punch ... It was Dec. 29, 1979, and Ohio State faced Clemson in the Gator Bowl on ABC. What later ensued was one of the most recognizable events in sports history.

In a tight game between the teams, Clemson nose guard Charlie Bauman intercepted an Art Schlichter pass and ran out of bounds on the Ohio State sideline. Woody Hayes, the Buckeyes’ 65-year-old coach, suddenly slugged Bauman, and a melee ensued. The game didn’t begin until 9 p.m., and there was a misty fog throughout most of the contest.

Hayes announced his retirement after the game, even though he was set to be fired. Ironically, ABC broadcaster Keith Jackson gave Hayes a pair of boxing gloves as a gag gift at a press conference before the game.

You initially didn’t see the punch only the melee. However, it soon became evident to the TV audience.

Brother Trouble and Chart Toppers ... Earlier this week, Tom Smothers of the fable Smothers Brothers’ comedy team from the 1960s and 70s, passed away at the age of 86. Although it as too advanced for me at the time, the Smothers Brothers were cutting edge in their day dealing with an array of political issues, hosting their comedy hour from 1967-70.

Brother Dick Smothers was a California state champion in the parallel bars.

Back in 1970, the top-rated TV show was Marcus Welby, M.D., and some of the other were Flip Wilson, Hee Haw, Here’s Lucy, and one of my favorites, Hawaii Five-O.

What was the top song on the Billboard chart? It was Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” a song that touched all of us.

From Train to Lane ... How many of you had a Tyco train set? Back in the late 1950s, Tyco launched its toy locomotive train sets. A few years later, Tyco began its slot-car racing series.

There were some huge track setups usually in a twisted oval shape. There were high banked curves on the track, and the cars had headlights and those tiny rubber tires. You had the remote control and hoped you car stayed in the track groove. For many years, it was viewed as one of the most popular Christmas presents.

Tyco later produced a truck series in the 80s, and they also introduced “Super Blocks” that were similar to Legos.

I never had a Tyco track, but I always wanted one. I may purchase one on eBay someday.

Memory Lane ... Each week, I will look back at a former player, coach, manager, or media personality from our yesterday.

Do you remember former Penn State running back Lydell Mitchell? He was a second-round pick of the Baltimore Colts in 1972, and he played eight seasons in Baltimore. While there, Mitchell led he league in receptions in 1971 (77) and in ’72 (74) and also played in two Pro Bowls. Mitchell played two years with the Chargers before a final season with the Rams in 1980.

A Final Tribute ... One of the most down-to-earth people I have crossed paths in my sports world has been longtime Marian football coach Stan Dakosty. I spoke to him recently, and first met him when I worked for the Allentown Diocese newspaper, and his hard-work approach to life’s deeds hasn’t changed over the years.

All the best in your retirement Stan, as you have embodied a lifestyle in which frankness and hard work have been easy pillars to follow.

Feedback ... Your thoughts, ideas, and comments are welcomed at tnsports@tnonline.com