Jump to content

1996 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1996 Alabama Crimson Tide football
SEC Western Division co-champion
Outback Bowl champion
Outback Bowl, W 17–14 vs. Michigan
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionWestern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 11
APNo. 11
Record10–3 (6–2 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorWoody McCorvey
Defensive coordinatorMike Dubose
Home stadiumBryant–Denny Stadium
Legion Field
Seasons
← 1995
1997 →
1996 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Eastern Division
No. 1 Florida x$   8 0     12 1  
No. 9 Tennessee   7 1     10 2  
South Carolina   4 4     6 5  
Kentucky   3 5     4 7  
Georgia   3 5     5 6  
Vanderbilt   0 8     2 9  
Western Division
No. 11 Alabama xy   6 2     10 3  
No. 12 LSU x   6 2     10 2  
No. 24 Auburn   4 4     8 4  
Mississippi State   3 5     5 6  
Ole Miss   2 6     5 6  
Arkansas   2 6     4 7  
Championship: Florida 45, Alabama 30
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1996 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 1996–97 college football season, competing in the Western Division in the Southeastern Conference. Gene Stallings led the Crimson Tide to a 10–3 record in his final year with the program. The team played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

Alabama's loss to Mississippi State broke a 15-game winning streak Alabama had in the series and was their first loss to the Bulldogs since a dramatic upset MSU posted over the #1 ranked Tide in 1980.

Following a victory in the annual Iron Bowl on November 23, head coach Gene Stallings announced his retirement, which would go into effect at the end of the season.[1]

Schedule

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
August 312:00 p.m.Bowling Green*No. 13PPVW 21–776,878[2]
September 711:30 a.m.Southern Miss*No. 14
  • Legion Field
  • Birmingham, AL
JPSW 20–1082,338[3]
September 145:00 p.m.VanderbiltNo. 13ESPN2W 36–2670,123[4]
September 2111:30 a.m.at ArkansasNo. 13JPSW 17–754,827[5]
October 51:00 p.m.KentuckydaggerNo. 13
  • Bryant–Denny Stadium
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
PPVW 35–770,123[6]
October 122:30 p.m.at NC State*No. 8ABCW 24–1950,750[7]
October 195:00 p.m.Ole MissNo. 7
  • Bryant–Denny Stadium
  • Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)
ESPN2W 37–070,123[8]
October 262:30 p.m.at No. 6 TennesseeNo. 7CBSL 13–20106,700[9]
November 96:30 p.m.at No. 11 LSUNo. 10ESPNW 26–080,290[10]
November 168:00 p.m.at Mississippi StateNo. 8ESPNL 16–1740,050[11]
November 236:30 p.m.AuburnNo. 15
  • Legion Field
  • Birmingham, AL (Iron Bowl, College GameDay)
ESPNW 24–2383,091[12]
December 78:00 p.m.vs. No. 4 FloridaNo. 11ABCL 30–4574,132[13]
January 1, 199710:00 a.m.vs. No. 15 Michigan*No. 16ESPNW 17–1453,161[14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[15]

Rankings

[edit]
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
т = Tied with team above or below
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516Final
AP1513141313т1413877101081515111611
Coaches141312111010876111081212111511

Coaching staff

[edit]
Name Position Consecutive seasons at Alabama
Gene Stallings Head coach 7th
Woody McCorvey Offensive coordinator 7th
Dabo Swinney Wide receivers and Tight end coach 4th
Danny Pearman Offensive tackles coach/Special teams coordinator 6th
Jim Fuller Offensive line Coach 13th
Randy Ross Quarterbacks coach/recruiting coordinator 7th
Ivy Williams Running backs coach 3rd
Mike Dubose Defensive coordinator/defensive line 7th
Curley Hallman Secondary coach 1st
Jeff Rouzie Linebackers coach 6th
Mickey Conn Graduate assistant 1st
Reference:[16]

Game summaries

[edit]

Bowling Green

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Falcons 0 0 0 7 7
#13 Crimson Tide 7 7 7 0 21

Alabama wins its sixth straight season opener over newly Division 1 opponent Bowling Green.

Statistics Bowling Green Alabama
First downs 7 16
Total yards 177 316
Rushing yards 80 154
Passing yards 97 162
Turnovers 3 3
Time of possession 27:42 32:18
Team Category Player Statistics
Bowling Green Passing Bob Niemet 9–19, 59 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Courtney Davis 13 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Jacque Rogers 4 receptions, 44 yards
Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 10–16, 156 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Curtis Alexander 6 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Michael Vaughn 5 receptions, 73 yards

Southern Miss

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Eagles 0 10 0 0 10
#14 Crimson Tide 10 7 3 0 20

Alabama would hold Southern Miss to 104 yards of offense to win for the sixth straight year over the Golden Eagles.

Statistics Southern Miss Alabama
First downs 8 20
Total yards 109 304
Rushing yards 11 115
Passing yards 98 189
Turnovers 3 1
Time of possession 19:37 40:21
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Miss Passing Heath Graham 8–26, 98 yards, 2 INT's
Rushing Eric Booth 5 carries, 46 yards
Receiving Sherrod Gideon 2 receptions, 59 yards
Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 15–23, 180 yards, 2 TD's
Rushing Curtis Alexander 20 carries, 73 yards
Receiving Michael Vaughn 5 receptions, 70 yards

Vanderbilt

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Commodores 7 8 11 0 26
#13 Crimson Tide 3 12 21 0 36

In the first home game at Bryant-Denny Stadium for 1996, a shootout would unfold as the Crimson Tide would use a 21 point 3rd quarter to beat the Commodores.

Statistics Vanderbilt Alabama
First downs 11 23
Total yards 255 367
Rushing yards 116 160
Passing yards 139 207
Turnovers 5 3
Time of possession 23:47 36:13
Team Category Player Statistics
Vanderbilt Passing Damian Allen 11–21, 139 yards, 3 INT's
Rushing Bill Marinangel 1 carry, 81 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Billy Miller 1 reception, 38 yards
Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 16–27, 209 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT's
Rushing Curtis Alexander 19 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Marcell West 3 receptions, 43 yards, 1 TD

Arkansas

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
#13 Crimson Tide 0 7 0 10 17
Razorbacks 0 0 0 7 7

A defensive struggle goes the Crimson Tide way as they avenge their loss of a year ago to Arkansas.

Statistics Alabama Arkansas
First downs 14 13
Total yards 288 206
Rushing yards 105 130
Passing yards 183 76
Turnovers 1 3
Time of possession 33:08 26:52
Team Category Player Statistics
Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 14–28, 183 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Dennis Riddle 20 carries, 77 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Calvin Hall 3 receptions, 78 yards
Arkansas Passing Pete Burks 11–24, 76 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Oscar Malone
Chrys Chukwuma
14 carries, 72 yards
9 carries, 72 yards
Receiving Anthony Eubanks 3 receptions, 37 yards, 1 TD

Kentucky

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 0 7 0 0 7
#13 Crimson Tide 7 0 28 0 35

Former Alabama coach Bill Curry returned to Tuscaloosa for the first time since leaving Alabama for Kentucky in 1989. Despite being heavy underdogs, Curry's Wildcats forced a 7-7 tie at halftime which brought a chorus of boos from the homecoming crowd. The Crimson Tide then would use a 28 point third quarter to beat Kentucky.

Statistics Kentucky Alabama
First downs 4 17
Total yards 124 358
Rushing yards 75 168
Passing yards 49 190
Turnovers 3 5
Time of possession 27:10 32:50
Team Category Player Statistics
Kentucky Passing Billy Jack Haskins 5–14, 49 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Billy Jack Haskins 15 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Craig Yeast 1 reception, 22 yards
Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 9–16, 152 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Shaun Alexander 9 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Calvin Hall 2 receptions, 52 yards

NC State

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
#8 Crimson Tide 7 0 7 10 24
Wolfpack 3 0 3 13 19

Despite giving up a season high 418 yards of offense, The Crimson Tide survived on the road to stay undefeated.

Statistics Alabama NC State
First downs 20 22
Total yards 353 418
Rushing yards 172 158
Passing yards 181 260
Turnovers 0 2
Time of possession 30:40 29:20
Team Category Player Statistics
Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 13–24, 181 yards
Rushing Dennis Riddle 33 carries, 154 yards, 3 TD's
Receiving Michael Vaughn 6 receptions, 102 yards
NC State Passing Jamie Barnette 14–25, 260 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Tremayne Stephens 22 carries, 105 yards
Receiving Chris Coleman 1 reception, 72 yards, 1 TD

Ole Miss

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Rebels 0 0 0 0 0
#7 Crimson Tide 3 7 14 13 37

The Crimson Tide put its most complete game together to date in 1996 to roll to a shutout win of Ole Miss.

Statistics Ole Miss Alabama
First downs 9 28
Total yards 158 489
Rushing yards 26 273
Passing yards 132 216
Turnovers 0 3
Time of possession 25:53 34:07
Team Category Player Statistics
Ole Miss Passing Stewart Patridge 10–22, 132 yards
Rushing Tony Cannion 9 carries, 37 yards
Receiving Ta'Boris Fisher 4 receptions, 49 yards
Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 13–33, 216 yards, 2 TD's, 2 INT's
Rushing Dennis Riddle 31 carries, 140 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Michael Vaughn 3 receptions, 89 yards, 2 TD's

Tennessee

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
#7 Crimson Tide 0 3 10 0 13
#6 Volunteers 0 0 6 14 20

Tennessee used 14 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to beat Alabama for the second year in a row and for the first time in Knoxville since 1984.

Statistics Alabama Tennessee
First downs 15 10
Total yards 326 296
Rushing yards 189 120
Passing yards 137 176
Turnovers 4 3
Time of possession 36:28 23:22
Team Category Player Statistics
Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 8–21, 137 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT's
Rushing Dennis Riddle 38 carries, 184 yards
Receiving Michael Vaughn 2 receptions, 65 yards
Tennessee Passing Peyton Manning 12–25, 176 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Jay Graham 14 carries, 128 yards, 2 TD's
Receiving Joey Kent 6 receptions, 125 yards, 1 TD

LSU

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
#10 Crimson Tide 0 7 12 7 26
#11 Tigers 0 0 0 0 0

For the second time in three games, Alabama defense would shut out its opponent. The Crimson tide offense went through one man Redshirt Freshman Shaun Alexander rushed for a School record 291 yards and all four Alabama touchdowns.

Statistics Alabama LSU
First downs 19 9
Total yards 412 248
Rushing yards 351 52
Passing yards 61 196
Turnovers 1 3
Time of possession 35:58 24:02
Team Category Player Statistics
Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 6–18, 61 yards
Rushing Shaun Alexander 20 carries, 291 yards, 4 TD's
Receiving Michael Vaughn 1 reception, 19 yards
LSU Passing Bryan Sparacino 8–35, 133 yards, 2 INT's
Rushing Kevin Faulk 14 carries, 45 yards
Receiving Larry Foster 3 receptions, 56 yards

Mississippi State

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
#8 Crimson Tide 0 13 0 3 16
Bulldogs 7 7 0 3 17

For the first time since 1980, Alabama would lose to Mississippi State in one of the biggest upset of the Gene Stallings era.

Statistics Alabama Mississippi State
First downs 16 16
Total yards 334 309
Rushing yards 229 157
Passing yards 105 152
Turnovers 2 1
Time of possession 27:55 32:05
Team Category Player Statistics
Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 9–18, 93 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Shaun Alexander 15 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Calvin Hall 3 receptions, 27 yards
Mississippi State Passing Derrick Taite 8–20, 152 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Robert Isaac 21 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Reggie Kelly 1 reception, 69 yards

Auburn

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Tigers 3 17 3 0 23
#15 Crimson Tide 17 0 0 7 24

Alabama would pounce on Auburn early with 17 straight points to begin the game. Auburn would respond with 23 unanswered to lead by 6 late in the fourth quarter. Alabama would drive 74 yards to score on a 6-yard swing pass from Freddie Kitchens to Dennis Riddle to tie the game. Jon Brock extra point would give Alabama the one-point lead and eventual win to clinch the SEC West. After the game, Gene Stallings officially announced his retirement as Alabama head coach at the end of the season.

Statistics Auburn Alabama
First downs 13 21
Total yards 296 434
Rushing yards 116 142
Passing yards 180 292
Turnovers 2 5
Time of possession 28:35 31:25
Team Category Player Statistics
Auburn Passing Dameyune Craig 11–39, 180 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT's
Rushing Rusty Williams 17 carries, 89 yards
Receiving Karsten Bailey 5 receptions, 92 yards, 1 TD
Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 20–33, 292 yards, 3 TD's, 3 INT's
Rushing Dennis Riddle 21 carries, 131 yards
Receiving Curtis Alexander 1 reception, 63 yards, 1 TD

Florida

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
#11 Crimson Tide 7 7 14 2 30
#4 Gators 6 18 14 7 45

Alabama would be in its fourth SEC Championship game in five seasons and once again would face Florida, as they had the previous three meetings. The Gators would use nearly 500 yards of offense to win its fourth straight SEC title, a record that still holds to this day.

Statistics Alabama Florida
First downs 13 22
Total yards 296 470
Rushing yards 27 69
Passing yards 269 401
Turnovers 1 3
Time of possession 30:12 29:48
Team Category Player Statistics
Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 19–45, 264 yards, 3 TD's, 1 INT
Rushing Dennis Riddle 17 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Michael Vaughn 5 receptions, 142 yards, 2 TD's
Florida Passing Danny Wuerffel 20–35, 401 yards, 6 TD's, 2 INT's
Rushing Fred Taylor 23 carries, 83 yards
Receiving Reidel Anthony 11 receptions, 171 yards, 3 TD's

Michigan

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
#16 Crimson Tide 3 0 0 14 17
#15 Wolverines 0 6 0 8 14

Two 4th quarter touchdowns proved to be enough as Alabama would win its 10th game of the season and the 70th and final for Gene Stallings as head coach.

Statistics Alabama Michigan
First downs 13 22
Total yards 247 415
Rushing yards 182 124
Passing yards 65 291
Turnovers 2 1
Time of possession 25:28 34:32
Team Category Player Statistics
Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 9–18, 65 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Shaun Alexander 9 carries, 99 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Michael Vaughn 2 receptions, 27 yards
Michigan Passing Brian Griese 21–37, 287 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Clarence Williams 12 carries, 58 yards
Receiving Clarence Williams 5 receptions, 113 yards

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Tide prevails; Stallings retires: Auburn Bama both blow leads". The Atlanta Journal. November 24, 1996. pp. F1.
  2. ^ "Not pretty, but a 'W'". The Anniston Star. August 31, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "No offense: Alabama 20, USM 10". Hattiesburg American. September 8, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Vanderbilt chances go out with the Tide". The Tennessean. September 15, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "No repeat of nightmare". The Montgomery Advertiser. September 22, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "UK no mystery to Riddle as Alabama erupts 35–7". The Courier-Journal. October 6, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Pack can't turn the Tide". The News and Observer. October 13, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Alabama just too much". The Clarion-Ledger. October 20, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Two in a row? It's a miracle". The Tennessean. October 27, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Alabama blanks LSU". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. November 10, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "State stuns Bama!". The Clarion-Ledger. November 17, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Tide wins a classic". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 24, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "SECond chance Gators?". The Tampa Tribune. December 8, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Alabama's big plays leave U-M ruing missed chances, 17–14". Detroit Free Press. January 2, 1997. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "1996 Alabama football archives". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  16. ^ 1997 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Media Guide, p. 2