37.. Alabama 34 Nebraska 7 1967 Sugar Bowl - New Orleans, LA - from allstatesugarbowl.com
Alabama, No. 3 nationally, unleashed its speed and the throwing-catching combination of Ken Stabler and Ray Perkins to overwhelm Nebraska, Big Eight champs, 34-7, before 82,000. By halftime it was 24-0 on a Les Kelly one-yard run, a 14-yard skitter by Stabler, and a seven-yard burst by Wayne Trimbel, plus Steve Davis’ field goal for three points. Davis hit again in the third period to make it 27-0 before Dick Davis scored on a 15-yard pass from Bob Churchich for the Huskers early in the fourth period. The game was more than sealed with a 45-yard Stabler-to-Perkins toss on the next possession.
Diggit. The countdown is rolling right along. We're getting ever closer and closer to the kickoff of football season, and I cannot wait.
Bear Bryant was 3rd on Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest coaches ever, behind John Wooden and Vince Lombardi. Read more here.
Read up some more on this SEC Digital Network - read here. I've gotta admit, it almost seems too good to be true. I would absolutely lose my mind. Nothing would ever get done. I'd be watching old game films ALL the time. Insanely genious.
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Alabama scored first on a 32 yard touchdown pass from Steve Sloan to Ray Perkins as Alabama took a 7-0 lead. In the second quarter, Nebraska's Bob Churchich threw a 33 yard touchdown pass to Tony Jeter to tie the game at 7. Alabama's Les Kelly scored on a 4 yard touchdown run as the Crimson Tide led 14-7. Sloan and Perkins connected for the second time of the game, as Alabama led 21-7. An 18 yard field goal before halftime gave Alabama a 24-7 lead.
In the third quarter, Churchich threw a 49 yard touchdown pass to Ben Gregory as Nebraska narrowed the deficit to 24-13. Steve Bowman scored on a 1 yard touchdown run giving Alabama a 32-13 lead. In the fourth quarter, Churchich scored on a 1 yard run making it 32-20. Bowman scored on a 3 yard run as Alabama led 39-20. Churchich threw a 14 yard touchdown pass to Tony Jeter as the final score was Alabama 39, Nebraska 28.
Not too much going on today. The SEC will launch a digital network, along with a much-needed update to their website, etc. They'll over a digital library, etc. I think this is a GREAT idea. Read more here.
Jermaine Preyear has seen the writing on the wall and is planning to transfer to a smaller school so he can get some playing time. Read more here.
¶ 10:29 AM0 comments
I was stuck in training for the past week or so, and haven't gotten a chance to actually update. Didn't miss too much at media days, other than Joe Schad twitting that Rolando McClain will be back for his senior season. A lil too early for that, Joe. Regardless, Media Days were fun, and it definitely got everyone fired up. The guys report at the beginning of next week for camp, so we'll see what happens.
Let's go ahead and get what we've missed of the countdown.
50.. Alabama 37 Boston College 21 1943 Orange Bowl - Miami, FL
I couldn't find a single story about this game to save my life. OrangeBowl.com has the game stats, but there's no actual stories about the game. Even brief paragraphs.
49. Duke 29 Alabama 26 1945 Sugar Bowl - New Orleans, LA - from allstatesugarbowl.org
In a seesaw affair that saw the lead change hands four times, Duke emerged the victor with a frantic finish, 29-26.
Alabama took a 26-20 lead late courtesy of Hugh Morrow's record 80-yard interception return for a touchdown. Moments later, again in possession of the football, Bama took an intentional safety. That strategy backfired, however, as Duke got a tremendous return by George Clark on the ensuing kick and then needed just one play (a 20-yard romp by Clark) to pull ahead 29-26.
Even then the game wasn't over as Duke had to come up with a game-saving, last-play tackle of Bama's Harry Gilmer to preserve the win.
Gilmer, a freshman, put on what was then considered an eye-popping performance, completing eight passes in eight attempts.
48.. Alabama 34 USC 14 1946 Rose Bowl - Pasadena, CA - from rosebowlhistory.org
USC suffers first Rose Bowl defeat in nine appearances as Frank Thomas' Alabama (9-0) steamrolls over the Trojans (7-3) in a 34-14 display of superiority. USC gives up more points in this one game than it allows eight previous Rose Bowl foes combined. Instead of passing USC into submission, Bama quarterback Harry Gilmer runs them, gaining 113 yards in 16 carries himself. James Corbitt adds 46 yards, Gordon Pettus 39 yards and Lowell Tew 43 yards. Only the defensive play of Ted Tannehill in the secondary prevents the score from being more decisive.
47.. Texas 27 Alabama 7 1948 Sugar Bowl - New Orleans, LA - from wikipedia.org
In the first quarter, Texas scored on a 5 yard touchdown pass form Bobby Lane to Blount, as Texas opened a 7-0 lead. In the second quarte, Alabama tied the game on an 8 yard touchdown pass from Gilmer to White. In the third quarter, Texas's Vasicek recovered a fumble in the end zone as Texas took a 14-7 lead. Holder later returned an interception 18 yards for a touchdown making it 21-7. Bobby Layne scored on a 1 yard touchdown run making the final score 27-7.
In 1953, a milestone was reached in college football postseason history. The Orange Bowl Classic was played between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Syracuse. The Tide dominated Syracuse, winning the bowl 61-6. Many records fell on that day in 1953, including a 19 point game for Alabama’s Bobby Luna – who scored two touchdowns and kicked for seven extra points. Hall of Famer Cecil “Hootie” Ingram played for the Tide and recorded an 80-yeard punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The 1954 Cotton Bowl featured one of the most famous plays in college football history. Rice's Dickey Moegle (last name spelling later changed to "Maegle") began a run around from his team's 5 yard line and down the open field. Alabama's Tommy Lewis jumped off the bench and tackled Moegle. The referee, Cliff Shaw, saw what happened and signaled touchdown even though Moegle was "tackled" at the 42 yard line.
44.. Penn St 7 Alabama 0 1959 Liberty Bowl - Philadelphia, PA - from mmbolding.com
Galen Hall, a sturdy sophomore sub for the injured Richie Lucas, led Penn Slate to a 7-0 victory over Alabama yesterday in the first Liberty Bowl game. Hall's pass to Roger Kochman, another sophomore, on a fake field goal was good for 18 yards and the touchdown on the last play of the second period. Sam Stellatella added the extra point by placement and that was the ball game.
A chilled crowd of 30,211 left wide gaps in the 100,000 seat Philadelphia Stadium, normally jammed for Army-Navy games. But the turnout for this inaugural game was regarded as encouraging.
20-yard field goal by Dan Petty enabled Texas to tie Alabama, 3 -- 3, in the Bluebonnet Bowl today. Petty's kick was made with only 4 minutes 1 second remaining in the nationally televised game, which was attended by 68,000 fans. Ray Poage, a 205-pound sophomore, provided the power for a 71-yard surge that set up the kick.
42.. Alabama 10 Arkansas 3 1962 Sugar Bowl - New Orleans, LA - from wikipedia.org
Alabama scored on a 12 yard Pat Trammell touchdown run, leading 7-0. A 32 yard Davis field goal in the second quarter extended Alabama's lead to 10-0. In the third quarter, Arkansas got on the board following a 23 yard Mickey Cissell field goal. In the end, Alabama's defense proved too much, as they shutout the Razorbacks the rest of the way. Mike Fracchia was named Sugar Bowl MVP.
A powerful Alabama squad coached by Bear Bryant and led by quarterback Joe Namath take on Bud Wilkinson's Oklahoma Sooners, in a game attended by President John F. Kennedy. Alabama’s Lee Roy Jordan sets a major-bowl record with 31 tackles and the Crimson Tide win, 17-0.
40.. Alabama 12 Ole Miss 7 1964 Sugar Bowl - New Orleans, LA - from wikipedia.org
The game was a defensive slugfest. Alabama scored its first points on a 46 yard field goal by Tim Davis, taking a 3-0 lead. In the second quarter, Davis kicked field goals of 31 and 34 yards giving Alabama a 9-0 lead at halftime. In the third quarter, Davis had a 48 yard field goal giving Alabama a 12-0 lead. In the fourth quarter, Dunn threw a 5 yard touchdown pass to Smith as Ole Miss climbed to 12-7. Alabama held on to win the game. Tim Davis was named the Sugar Bowl MVP.
Dunn had previously backed up Alabama quarterback Joe Namath who was serving a suspension for having had an alcoholic beverage at a fraternity party earlier in the season.
"Just before the game ended, Joe [Namath, the Tide quarterback] got us to the Texas goal, and on a fourth-down quarterback keep he came that close to winning it. Tommy Nobis met him head on. Our guys thought he scored. Afterward, one of the writers asked me who called the play. I said I had (I always call the ones that don't work.) He said, 'How can a $12,000-a-year coach call the plays for a $400,000 quarterback?' I admitted he had a point." -- Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, "Bear," Bryant with John Underwood, 1974
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NCAA 2010 for the PS3 is freakin awesome. Period. I'm playing on All-American at the moment. I started a dynasty and took the first game from VaTech 35-28. Justin Woodall picked off a pass and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown for the game-winning score with 1:49 left in the game. Marquis Johnson saved it with another pick with 29 seconds left on the Alabama 30. Diggit.
Not too much going on today either. I'm headed to Gulf Shores until Sunday, but if something pops up, I'll be back on a computer bloggin about it. Til then, we'll continue the countdown.
52. California 13 Alabama 0 1938 Rose Bowl - Pasadena, CA - from rosebowlhistory.com
Alabama (9-0) ends a four-game Rose Bowl winning streak by falling to California (9-0-1) in a 13-0 display of Vic Botari's ball carrying strength. Botari scores both touchdowns and gains 137 yards in 34 carries. Frank Thomas' Alabama fumbles four times to ruin its chances when California recovers every miscue.
Texas A. & M. held Alabama to one first down Thursday, but the Crimson Tide rolled to four touchdowns, a field goal and a couple of extra points to win the sixth annual Cotton Bowl game, 29 to 21.
Thirty-eight thousand fans shivered in a bitterly cold north wind that swept downfield and numbed pass receivers' hands. Despite this unusual Cotton Bowl weather, very few fans left the stadium before game's end, attesting to the interesting play the athletes were putting out. Read more of the story by clicking on the link above - dallasnews.com.
¶ 3:37 PM1 comments
Boooyah. Not a whole lot going on today. The Mayor of Birmingham just announced that they finally got the approval to build a dome-stadium in B'ham. Total seating would be between 57,000 and 67,500. Interesting. Will be located right next to BJCC. Hmmmm.
Countdown time!
53. Alabama 29 Stanford 13 1935 Rose Bowl - Pasadena, CA - from rosebowlhistory.com
Frank Thomas' Alabama (9-0) brings the first great aerial circus in Rose Bowl history to Pasadena to hand Stanford's "Vow Boys" (9-0-1) another Rose Bowl defeat, 29-13. The 85,000 spectators are amazed by the soaring footballs propelled by Dixie Howell to Don Hutson. Howell completes nine of 12 passes and averages 44.8 yards with six punts. Howell catches six of six passes thrown to him for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Bobby Grayson, Keith Topping and Monk Moscript try to lead Stanford retaliation but this is the day of Robin Hood's trusty bow.
¶ 4:02 PM1 comments
So, over the weekend, we were supposed to begin our countdown of Alabama's 56 bowl games played. Well, I was out of the loop for most of the weekend, but we're kicking it off today.
56. Alabama 20 Washington 19 1926 Rose Bowl - Pasadena, CA - from rosebowlhistory.com
Wallace Wade's Alabama (9-0) launches the "Age of Dixie" by edging Washington (10-0-1) in a 20-19 thriller despite the heroics of the Huskies' great running back George Wilson. In the 38 minutes Wilson is able to play, Washington scores three times and gains 300 yards, but in the 22 minutes he is out with an injury, his team gains only 17 yards and is outscored three touchdowns to none. Wilson has 134 yards in 15 carries and completes five passes. Johnny Mack Brown and "Pooley" Hubert lead Alabama rally after trailing 12-0 with three third-quarter touchdowns. Bill Buckler's two of three conversions makes the victory difference.
55. Alabama 7 Stanford 7 1927 Rose Bowl - Pasadena, CA - from rosebowlhistory.com
Stanford (10-0) ties Alabama (9-0) in a 7-7 standoff despite Stanford's 305-98 yardage to advantage. Stanford takes a 7-0 lead on a George Bogue to Ed Walker touchdown pass and Bogue's conversion. Clarke Pearce blocks a punt of Stanford's Frankie Wilton to set up Jimmy Johnson's fourth quarter touchdown bolt, and Herschel Caldwell ties the game after a trick, quick lineup catches Stanford by surprise before it can attempt to block the effort. Ted Shipkey, Stanford's All-American end, enjoys a 23-yard end around, catches five passes, recovers two fumbles and is a defensive fortress. In two Rose Bowl appearances, he totals 12 catches.
54. Alabama 24 Washington St 0 1931 Rose Bowl - Pasadena, CA - from rosebowlhistory.com
The Rose Bowl is enlarged to seat 81,000, just in time for the fans to see Wallace Wade's Alabama (9-0) administer a 24-0 defeat to previously unbeaten Washington State (9-0). Jimmy "Hurry" Cain at the controls, engineers a decisive attack that produces three second quarter touchdowns with Monk Campbell tallying twice, gaining 114 yards. Washington State has stalwart linemen like Glenn "Turk" Edwards and Mel Hein, but they can't prevent the onslaught. Cain averages 46 yards on six punts to keep the Cougars away from scoring chances except one occasion when they fail at the one.
Awww yeah. Countdown it up, my friends.
Our friend, Ian Rapoport, is leaving the Birmingham News to become the beat writer for the New England Patriots at the Boston Globe. Daaaamn. I can diggit. Read more here.
The Dothan Eagle takes a look at how Julio Jones and Dont'a Hightower will have a bigger impact this year than last year. Good read. Check it out here.
ESPN's Chris Low tackles a lot of subjects regarding SEC Fooball. Read up on it here.
A lil basketball news for ya - Yamene Coleman has transferred to Troy (read here) and Shawn Kemp Jr. is headed to Hargrave for a year before he re-signs with Alabama next year (read here.
Greg McElroy turned a lot of heads at the Manning Passing Academy over the weekend. He looked incredible...better than Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford. Now that's some pretty good company there. Watch some of the videos, etc, here.
All of you know by now that I'm a pretty big UFC fan. If you didn't watch the fights this weekend, you have NO idea what you're missing. I was never a big GSP fan, but watching his fight against Alves was incredible. For boxing fans that can't get into this, UFC has so much more to offer. To see a guy be at an advantage when he's on his back, and be able to escape submission holds, etc...it's just a thing of beauty. There's so much strategy that goes into these fights. The Lesnar match was ridiculous, and Henderson's knockout was brutal.
Not too much going on today. Heard some rumblings about Dre and Julio...we'll see if they prove to be true. Somehow, I doubt it.
Other than that, it appears we're about to go through some attrition, which means we'll see a lot of "medical scholarships" given out soon, along with a couple of transfters. You know how it rolls. We'll touch on that soon.
Have a great monday! I'm headed to see A Day to Remember and Saosin in Memphis tonight. Should be a good time. :-) Talk to you guys tomorrow!
¶ 11:49 AM1 comments
Wooooohooooo! No work tomorrow! I'm gonna be layin out by the pool, chillaxin all day with my soon-to-be 4-year old daughter. Can't beat that, man.
I'm a Grizzlies fan since I live in Memphis, and I gotta tell you...it's difficult to continue to cheer for this franchise. The owner is an idiot, and the guys hired are NBA rejects. They're "yes" men. Jeez. The trade for Zach Randolph? Please. Randolph only has 2 years left on his contract. Now there's talk about Allen Iverson. I'm tellin you, this is the most ridiculous stuff I've ever heard. Ever.
I've been getting a lot of e-mails about Auburn's so-called (Recuriting) Stars and (Tiger) Stripes weekend for July 4th, or possibly July 18th. Apparently something like 10 or 12 kids are all supposed to commit to Auburn publicly on the same day. Trooper Taylor even hinted at it during a call to Sports Call. But I'm being told Owens isn't one of them. So, exactly who are the kids that are supposed to commit? You mean you can find 12 kids in the entire state that want to go to Auburn? C'mon...you know that's a lie. Haha. We'll see if it happens, but I ain't buyin it.
Michael Bowman has qualified, so that's good news. He'll be one of our top WRs next year. Go ahead and bank on it. With people focusing on Julio, he'll have a lot of space to show what he can do. Think of him like an AJ Green type.
Andre Smith is moving to right tackle. Hmmm. Read more here.
Former Bama player Roman Harper has his own thread over at the New Orleans Saints' forum. Haha. Check it out here.
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