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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