Golden, who played at Penn State and was Temple's head coach, still has connections on the Nittany Lions' staff.

Penn State’s high-flying offense will have a major test on Thursday night against Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl thanks in part to a former Nittany Lion, Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator Al Golden. A tight end on the Nittany Lions from 1988-91,

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden was a Penn State captain and almost its head coach. Now he leads the Fighting Irish's stout defense vs. the Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl.

Al Golden was once a candidate to be Penn State's head coach. Now, Notre Dame's defensive coordinator will try to end the Nittany Lions' College Football Playoff run.

Here's a look back at Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden's ties to Penn State ahead of Thursday's Orange Bowl:

Former Hurricanes coach Al Golden leads Notre Dame’s defense against Penn State in the Orange Bowl, which is doubling as the semifinals for the College Football Playoff.

The Irish are slight favorites and relying on their defense to help punch their ticket to the National Championship and Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator Al Golden has a special stake in this game against the Nittany Lions.

DANIA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Choose your Al Golden storyline for Thursday's Orange Bowl. He'll be coaching against Penn State, his alma mater and the school where he was a captain. He'll be coaching again at Hard Rock Stadium, where Miami fans booed him off ...

How the Notre Dame defensive coordinator is trying his best put away his Penn State feelings for one important College Football Playoff night.

Particularly not this week, with Golden back in South Florida for the Orange Bowl and facing sixth-seeded Penn State on ... the "Godfather” nickname was mentioned. “I don’t think Al has any Italian in him, so I’m not ready to give him that title ...

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Penn State Nittany Lions will go at it in the College Football Playoffs on Thursday, here's how to watch.

DANIA BEACH, Fla. — Choose your Al Golden storyline for Thursday's Orange Bowl. He'll be coaching against Penn State, his alma mater and the school where he was a captain. He'll be coaching ...