1997 Alabama Crimson Tide football team explained

Sport:football
Year:1997
Team:Alabama Crimson Tide
Conference:Southeastern Conference
Division:Western Division
Short Conf:SEC
Record:4–7
Conf Record:2–6
Head Coach:Mike DuBose
Hc Year:1st
Captain:Curtis Alexander
Captain2:Paul Pickett
Captain3:Rod Rutledge
Captain4:Deshea Townsend
Off Coach:Bruce Arians
Oc Year:1st
Def Coach:Ellis Johnson
Dc Year:1st
Stadium:Bryant–Denny Stadium
Legion Field

The 1997 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the college football season of 1997–98. The team's head coach was Mike DuBose, who was entering his first year at Alabama. They played their home games at both Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, and competed in the West Division of the Southeastern Conference. Alabama would finish with a record of 4–7 record in suffering the program's first losing season since the 1984 season. The loss against Kentucky (their first to the Wildcats since 1922) marked Alabama's first ever overtime game, as overtime rules for college football had gone into effect the previous season.

Schedule

[1]

Rankings

See also: 1997 NCAA Division I-A football rankings.

Coaching staff

NamePositionConsecutive seasons at Alabama
1st
Offensive coordinator/Quarterback coach 1st
5th
Offensive line coach 1st
Woody McCorvey Wide receivers coach 8th
Ivy Williams 4th
Defensive coordinator/Defensive line1st
Secondary coach2nd
Jeff Rouzie Linebackers coach 7th
Special teams coordinator 7th
Graduate Assistant2nd
Reference:[2]

Game summaries

Houston

See also: 1997 Houston Cougars football team. A sell-out crowd filled Legion Field as the Mike Dubose era got off to a great start with the Crimson Tide rolling to a big win over Houston. Alabama's 42 points was the most any Alabama team had put up in a game since the season opener in 1994.

Statistics style="Houston!Alabama
First downs 15 25
Total yards 384 466
Rushing yards 114 213
Passing yards 270 253
Turnovers 2 3
Time of possession 28:01 31:59
Team Category Player Statistics
Houston Passing 7–14, 143 yards, 1 TD
Rushing 12 carries, 67 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Robbie Wheeler 6 receptions, 107 yards
Alabama Passing 12–19, 168 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing 11 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Curtis Alexander
Chad Goss
2 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD
2 receptions, 50 yards

Vanderbilt

See also: 1997 Vanderbilt Commodores football team. Alabama defense would hold Vanderbilt offense to 124 yards as the Crimson Tide won its first road and conference game of the year in shutout fashion.

Statistics AlabamaVanderbilt
First downs 9 9
Total yards 238 124
Rushing yards 75 66
Passing yards 163 58
Turnovers 2 0
Time of possession 30:16 29:44
Team Category Player Statistics
Alabama Passing 10–18, 124 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT's
Rushing Dennis Riddle 13 carries, 31 yards
Receiving 3 receptions, 67 yards
Vanderbilt Passing Damian Allen 6–22, 58 yards
Rushing 10 carries, 43 yards
Receiving 3 receptions, 41 yards

Arkansas

See also: 1997 Arkansas Razorbacks football team. For the second time in a row, Arkansas would come to Bryant-Denny Stadium and upset a ranked Alabama team by one point. Alabama held a 16-10 lead late in the game but, an Anthony Eubanks touchdown grab of 29 yards from Clint Stoerner gave Arkansas a one-point win.

Statistics style="Arkansas !Alabama
First downs 14 15
Total yards 270 247
Rushing yards 70 106
Passing yards 200 141
Turnovers 0 0
Time of possession 29:02 30:58
Team Category Player Statistics
Arkansas Passing 16–21, 200 yards, 1 TD
Rushing 12 carries, 65 yards
Receiving Anthony Eubanks 7 receptions, 104 yards
Alabama Passing 10–17, 84 yards
Rushing Dennis Riddle 12 carries, 49 yards
Receiving Calvin Hall 4 receptions, 48 yards

Southern Miss

See also: 1997 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team. After being tied at halftime, Alabama would outscore Southern Miss 17-3 in the second half, led by Alabama defense forcing three Southern Miss turnovers.

Statistics style="Southern Miss !Alabama
First downs 19 12
Total yards 293 275
Rushing yards 67 105
Passing yards 226 170
Turnovers 4 0
Time of possession 29:34 30:26
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Miss Passing Lee Roberts 21–40, 226 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT's
Rushing 20 carries, 79 yards
Receiving 7 receptions, 132 yards
Alabama Passing 11–18, 167 yards, 2 TD's
Rushing 16 carries, 66 yards
Receiving 2 receptions, 58 yards

Kentucky

See also: 1997 Kentucky Wildcats football team. A back and forth shootout ended with a 26-yard game-winning touchdown pass from Kentucky QB Tim Couch to give Kentucky its first win over Alabama since 1922. Alabama had the ball first in overtime but, a Chad Goss fumble gave Kentucky an opportunity to score and win with their possession. This would mark the first overtime game ever for both teams.

Statistics AlabamaKentucky
First downs 20 23
Total yards 410 457
Rushing yards 239 102
Passing yards 171 355
Turnovers 2 4
Time of possession 35:04 24:56
Team Category Player Statistics
Alabama Passing 13–24, 125 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT
Rushing 15 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Chad Goss 3 receptions, 59 yards, 1 TD
Kentucky Passing 32–49, 355 yards, 4 TD's 3 INT's
Rushing Anthony White 15 carries, 117 yards
Receiving Derek Homer 3 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TD

Tennessee

See also: 1997 Tennessee Volunteers football team. For the third straight year, Tennessee would beat Alabama. Alabama would kick two early field goals to have a 6-0 lead but Tennessee would score the next 28 points to put the game out of reach for Alabama. This game would be the last Third Saturday in October game to be played at Legion Field.

Statistics style="Tennessee !Alabama
First downs 23 13
Total yards 393 225
Rushing yards 89 72
Passing yards 304 153
Turnovers 2 1
Time of possession 31:35 28:25
Team Category Player Statistics
Tennessee Passing 23–37, 304 yards, 3 TD's
Rushing 17 carries, 67 yards
Receiving 4 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD
Alabama Passing 13–39, 153 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing 16 carries, 38 yards
Receiving 6 receptions, 66 yards

Ole Miss

See also: 1997 Ole Miss Rebels football team. Mike DuBose would get his first win against a ranked team as the Crimson Tide ended their two-game losing streak with a win against Ole Miss.

Statistics AlabamaOle Miss
First downs 22 19
Total yards 526 420
Rushing yards 297 163
Passing yards 229 257
Turnovers 2 3
Time of possession 36:37 23:23
Team Category Player Statistics
Alabama Passing 15–22, 229 yards, 1 TD
Rushing 16 carries, 141 yards, 1 TD
Receiving 5 receptions, 119 yards
Ole Miss Passing 22–37, 257 yards, 1 TD
Rushing 15 carries, 148 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Andre Rone 4 receptions, 67 yards

Louisiana Tech

See also: 1997 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team. For the first time since the 1990 season, Alabama would lose a non-conference game. This was also the first homecoming loss for Alabama since 1990, and the first time Louisiana Tech had ever defeated Alabama. Coming into the game, the Bulldogs had the third-ranked passing offense in college football.

Statistics style="Louisiana Tech!Alabama
First downs 23 23
Total yards 522 389
Rushing yards 161 127
Passing yards 361 262
Turnovers 1 0
Time of possession 33:50 26:10
Team Category Player Statistics
Louisiana Tech Passing 29–48, 361 yards, 3 TD's
Rushing Bobby Ray Tell 17 carries, 98 yards
Receiving 9 receptions, 126 yards, 1 TD
Alabama Passing 14–32, 228 yards, 2 TD's
Rushing 18 carries, 79 yards, 1 TD
Receiving 4 receptions, 55 yards

LSU

See also: 1997 LSU Tigers football team. LSU returned the favor after Alabama shutout LSU in Tiger Stadium in 1996 by shutting out Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium. This was the first time Alabama had been shutout since 1991.

Statistics style="LSU!Alabama
First downs 17 15
Total yards 370 250
Rushing yards 265 157
Passing yards 105 93
Turnovers 1 2
Time of possession 30:22 29:38
Team Category Player Statistics
LSU Passing 7–13, 105 yards
Rushing 27 carries, 168 yards, 2 TD's
Receiving Abram Booty 3 receptions, 66 yards
Alabama Passing 8–24, 93 yards
Rushing 24 carries, 95 yards
Receiving 1 reception, 22 yards

Mississippi State

See also: 1997 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team. For the first time since 1957, Mississippi State would win in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The loss also meant Alabama would not win a game at Bryant-Denny Stadium for the first time since 1955. The loss also guaranteed Alabama its first losing season since 1984.

Statistics style="Mississippi State!Alabama
First downs 23 13
Total yards 500 247
Rushing yards 347 113
Passing yards 153 134
Turnovers 0 0
Time of possession 31:02 28:58
Team Category Player Statistics
Mississippi State Passing Matt Wyatt 10–20, 153 yards, 1 TD
Rushing 23 carries, 198 yards, 2 TD's
Receiving Lamont Woodberry 4 receptions, 45 yards
Alabama Passing Lance Tucker 7–11, 81 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Dennis Riddle 13 carries, 84 yards, 1 TD
Receiving 3 receptions, 63 yards

Auburn

See also: 1997 Auburn Tigers football team. Despite being an underdog, Alabama would lead for most of the game and be in a position to put the game away but an Ed Scissum fumble recovered by Auburn put them in field goal range to take the lead and ultimately give them the win. Alabama would try a 57-yard field goal with A.J. Diaz as time expired but it fell short. Alabama seven losses was the most Alabama had had in a season since 1957.

Statistics AlabamaAuburn
First downs 15 19
Total yards 299 275
Rushing yards 156 62
Passing yards 143 213
Turnovers 2 3
Time of possession 31:39 28:21
Team Category Player Statistics
Alabama Passing 12–18, 134 yards, 1 TD
Rushing 13 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD
Receiving 7 receptions, 79 yards
Auburn Passing 14–34, 213 yards, 2 INT's
Rushing Rusty Williams 6 carries, 27 yards
Receiving Hicks Poor 5 receptions, 55 yards
[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1997 Alabama football archives . RollTide.com . University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics . February 20, 2021.
  2. 1997 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Media Guide, p. 2
  3. Web site: 1997 Alabama Crimson Tide Football . October 18, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120326073023/http://www.rolltide.com/datadump/fls_files/files/football/1997/1997stats.pdf . March 26, 2012 . dead .