Rolling with the Tide – Part 1 – Dawgy Daddy responds

Kick-Off

Ups & Downs of greatness

In the Beginning

1892 found Alabama having it’s first official football team with 19 players. The team was referred to as the Cadets, varsity, or Crimson White. In 1893 their first winless season, they lost to that God forsaken cow town Auburn.

1894 found Alabama’s season opening against Ol’ Miss and obtaining the first lose of the year, also marking the first road game outside of the state of Alabama.

After rebounding Alabama closed the season winning their last three. Tulane in New Orleans was followed by a win over Sewanee at home in Birmingham and finally a win in Montgomery against Auburn. the spring of 1895 found Alabama joining their first conference, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA).

Champ Pickens became the team manager in 1896 and was responsible for naming “The Million Dollar Band” and the namesake for the Champ Pickens trophy. In 1897 they only played one game and 1898 they did not take the field due to a ban refusing to let student athletes leave campus. Student and fan outrage got the ban lifted in 1899

A Dynasty is Born

1901 brought Alabama and rival Tennessee together for the first time and the game ended in a 6-6 tie at halftime when fans rushed the field after a offside call and umpires were unable to clear the field.

In 1903 Alabama beat LSU for the first time and Auburn for the second time. The 30–0 victory over Auburn saw what was then the largest crowd ever to see a game in Birmingham (4,000)

The next three years 06-09′ was coached by Doc Pollard. The 1906 team only had one loss but what a dandy it was with Vanderbilt winning 78-0 making it one of the most lopsided wins ever in our history.

Following the 1907 season, the team adopted the “Crimson Tide” nickname. The victory over LSU in 1907 at Monroe Park marked the first Alabama home game played in Mobile. Jack Reidy returned a kickoff for 75 yards and the touchdown with 20 seconds left gave Alabama the win.

In 1909, Alabama had five consecutive shutouts to go 5–0–1 before they surrendered their first touchdown against Tulane in their 5–5 tie.

We did not field a team in 1918 due to WW1. in 1919 coach Xen C. Scott had arguably his best season in which the team lost its only game to Vanderbilt and set a school record for victories in a season with an 8–1 record. The next season the Tide went 10–1 suffering its only loss 14–21 at the hands of SIAA champion Georgia.

Alabama joined the newly formed Southern Conference in 1922. Coach Scott led Alabama to a 9-7 upset victory over Penn, one of the first times Alabama received national coverage.

The next week Alabama beat LSU 47–3 in what was then the largest crowd ever to witness a game at Denny Field. In 1925, Wade would lead the team to an undefeated season capped with a Rose Bowl win over Washington for the national championship.

The Crimson Tide repeats as National Champions in 1926. 1927 brought us the first nationwide broadcast of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California between Stanford and Alabama ending in a tie. Wade led the Crimson Tide to his third and last national championship in 1930. Wade finished his career at Alabama with an overall record of 61–13–3.

Hello SEC

Alabama would join the Southeastern Conference in 1933, winning the conference’s first championship. Alabama didn’t field a team in 1943 because of WW2.

In his first year, “Red” Drew led the 1947 Alabama team to an 8–3 record, a berth in the 1948 Sugar Bowl, and a number eight ranking in the final AP poll.

In November, he led the Crimson Tide to a 55–0 victory over Auburn, a score which remains the most lopsided in the history of the Alabama–Auburn football rivalry.

Coach Drew also had a 61–6 victory over Syracuse in the 1953 Orange Bowl which to this day remains the largest victory margin in Orange Bowl history.

The Era of the Bear 1958-1982

Paul William “Bear” Bryant came to the Crimson Tide program in December 1957, in his first season, Bryant led Alabama to a 5–4–1 record. In his fourth season, Bryant led the Crimson Tide to their sixth national championship .

From 1961 to 1966, Alabama went 60–5–1, which included three national championships (1961, 1964, 1965), four Southeastern Conference Championships, two undefeated seasons, and six bowl berths.

The 70s decade found Alabama posting a record 103-16-1 winning “8” SEC titles and three national championships (1973, 1978, 1979). Bryant’s final game as head coach of Alabama came in the 1982 Liberty Bowl. Alabama earned a 21–15 victory over Illinois showing dominance and the end of a dynasty.

Bryant was not only loved by the people in and around the state of Alabama and the southeastern U.S., but by coaches all over the nation. John McKay, the legendary USC coach, had these words to say about Bryant. “He was not just a coach, he was the coach”. Another quote about Bryant, from Bob Devaney, former Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach, is “He was simply the best there ever was.”

Bryant led Alabama to a 232–46–9 record. His achievements included 6 national championships, 13 Southeastern Conference titles, 24 bowl appearances, and 12 bowl victories. In his 25 seasons, he led the Crimson Tide to 24 consecutive bowl appearances.

Perkins, Curry 1983-1989

Perkins second year as Head coach left a bitter taste in the fans mouths as Alabama suffered it’s first losing season {5-6} in 28 years and failed to get a bowl bid.

1985 saw improvement as we went 9-2-1 and following a kick-ass victory over Auburn went on to win the Aloha Bowl against Southern California. 1986 we went 10-3 and defeated Norte Dame for the first time. Perkins accumulated a 32–15–1 record during his tenure.

While at UA coach Curry posted a 26-10 record and made bowl appearances every year of his 3 year run. In 1990 Alabama offered him a contract but stripped him of hiring power so he left.

Gene’s Scene – 1990 – 1996

I became a fan! I caught a game in some truck stop in Texas. If memory serves me well, it was Michigan and this game was a barn burner. I left that week-end a solid ROLL TIDE fan.

In his third season as head coach, Alabama was unbeaten in the regular season, and recorded three shutout victories en route to the inaugural SEC Championship Game.

Alabama was invited to the 1993 Sugar Bowl to face the unbeaten Miami Hurricanes, who entered with a 29-game winning streak and that year’s Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Gino Torretta.

Despite Miami being favored by 8 points, Crimson Tide routed the Hurricanes 34–13 and finished a perfect 13–0. The victory earned Alabama its 12th national championship.

The Crimson Tide were forced to forfeit eight victories and one tie achieved during the 9–3–1 1993 season in games participated in by senior cornerback Antonio Langham. The NCAA ruled before Alabama’s bowl game that year that Langham had violated NCAA rules by allegedly signing with an agent after the previous season.

Stallings’ Alabama team was in contention for another national title in 1994. They defeated Tennessee and Auburn en route to an undefeated regular season before losing the SEC Championship Game to the #3-ranked Florida. Alabama finished 12–1 after defeating Ohio State in the Citrus Bowl. Alabama finished ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll.

This is the first part of a two piece history of Alabama Crimson Tide football. Part 2 will follow and posts will be made through-out the season. ROLL TIDE !!!

until next time –