American college football season
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]
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source August 31 2:00 p.m. Bowling Green * No. 13 PPV W 21–776,878 [ 2] September 7 11:30 a.m. Southern Miss * No. 14 Legion Field Birmingham, AL JPS W 20–1082,338 [ 3] September 14 5:00 p.m. Vanderbilt No. 13 ESPN2 W 36–2670,123 [ 4] September 21 11:30 a.m. at Arkansas No. 13 JPS W 17–754,827 [ 5] October 5 1:00 p.m. Kentucky No. 13 Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL PPV W 35–770,123 [ 6] October 12 2:30 p.m. at NC State * No. 8 ABC W 24–1950,750 [ 7] October 19 5:00 p.m. Ole Miss No. 7 Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry ) ESPN2 W 37–070,123 [ 8] October 26 2:30 p.m. at No. 6 Tennessee No. 7 CBS L 13–20106,700 [ 9] November 9 6:30 p.m. at No. 11 LSU No. 10 ESPN W 26–080,290 [ 10] November 16 8:00 p.m. at Mississippi State No. 8 ESPN L 16–1740,050 [ 11] November 23 6:30 p.m. Auburn No. 15 Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Iron Bowl , College GameDay ) ESPN W 24–2383,091 [ 12] December 7 8:00 p.m. vs. No. 4 Florida No. 11 ABC L 30–4574,132 [ 13] 10:00 a.m. vs. No. 15 Michigan * No. 16 ESPN W 17–1453,161 [ 14] *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
[ 15]
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Final AP 15 13 14 13 13т 14 13 8 7 7 10 10 8 15 15 11 16 11 Coaches 14 13 12 11 10 10 8 7 6 11 10 8 12 12 11 15 11
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
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
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
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 MaloneChrys Chukwuma 14 carries, 72 yards Receiving Anthony Eubanks 3 receptions, 37 yards, 1 TD
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
^ "Tide prevails; Stallings retires: Auburn Bama both blow leads". The Atlanta Journal. November 24, 1996. pp. F1. ^ "Not pretty, but a 'W' . The Anniston Star . August 31, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .^ "No offense: Alabama 20, USM 10" . Hattiesburg American . September 8, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Vanderbilt chances go out with the Tide" . The Tennessean . September 15, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .^ "No repeat of nightmare" . The Montgomery Advertiser . September 22, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .^ "UK no mystery to Riddle as Alabama erupts 35–7" . The Courier-Journal . October 6, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Pack can't turn the Tide" . The News and Observer . October 13, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Alabama just too much" . The Clarion-Ledger . October 20, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Two in a row? It's a miracle" . The Tennessean . October 27, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Alabama blanks LSU" . Alexandria Daily Town Talk . November 10, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .^ "State stuns Bama!" . The Clarion-Ledger . November 17, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Tide wins a classic" . The Montgomery Advertiser . November 24, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .^ "SECond chance Gators?" . The Tampa Tribune . December 8, 1996. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .^ "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 .^ "1996 Alabama football archives" . RollTide.com . University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved February 20, 2021 .^ 1997 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Media Guide , p. 2
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