2000 Alabama Crimson Tide football team explained
The 2000 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2000 college football season. The team was led by head coach Mike DuBose, who was coaching his final season at the program. The team finished 6th in the SEC Western Division. The Crimson Tide, also known informally as the Tide, played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Legion Field, in Birmingham, Alabama.
The team entered the season trying to build upon a 10–3 record from their 1999 season, which included a 34–7 victory in the SEC Championship over the Florida Gators. The 2000 team would not have the same success. Despite a preseason #3 ranking they eventually finished with a 3–8 record (3–5 in the SEC). The 2000 season was filled with several close losses. A 30–28 loss at LSU was the Tide's first loss to LSU in Baton Rouge in 31 years, ending a 14–0–1 streak Alabama had posted there since 1969. A 9–0 defeat at the hands of in-state rival Auburn came on a cold and rainy afternoon and marked the first Iron Bowl played in Tuscaloosa since 1901.
For the first time since the 1956 season Alabama failed to win any out-of-conference games and became the first team from an AQ conference to lose to Central Florida, falling 38–40 at home on a last-second field goal. On November 1, Athletic Director Mal Moore announced that Mike DuBose would resign at the end of the season after one of the program's worst seasons.
Schedule
[1]
Rankings
See also: 2000 NCAA Division I-A football rankings.
Game summaries
UCLA
See also: 2000 UCLA Bruins football team. The Preseason hype at Alabama was through the roof as the reigning SEC Champions came into a match up against UCLA ranked third in the country. Despite that, Alabama was physically dominated by UCLA offense as they pulled off the upset.
| Statistics | Alabama | UCLA |
|---|
| First downs | 16 | 26 |
| Total yards | 265 | 396 |
| Rushing yards | 146 | 171 |
| Passing yards | 119 | 225 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 22:41 | 37:19 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Alabama | Passing | Andrew Zow | 8–23, 92 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 1 carry, 56 yards |
| Receiving | | 5 receptions, 49 yards |
| UCLA | Passing | Ryan McCann | 14–24, 194 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 42 carries, 187 yards, 3 TD's |
| Receiving | | 4 receptions, 91 yards, 1TD | |
Vanderbilt
See also: 2000 Vanderbilt Commodores football team. Alabama would use an eighteen-point 4th quarter to pull away and beat Vanderbilt for the 16th straight time. This would be the last conference game Alabama would play at Legion Field.
| Statistics | style=" | Vanderbilt! | Alabama |
|---|
| First downs | 13 | 14 |
| Total yards | 257 | 349 |
| Rushing yards | 85 | 292 |
| Passing yards | 172 | 57 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 28:11 | 31:49 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Vanderbilt | Passing | | 12–26, 172 yards |
| Rushing | Ray Perkins | 8 carries, 45 yards |
| Receiving | Dan Stricker | 5 receptions, 121 yards |
| Alabama | Passing | Tyler Watts | 3–6, 37 yards |
| Rushing | | 13 carries, 172 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Sam Collins | 1 reception, 22 yards |
|
Southern Miss
See also: 2000 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team. Alabama would be shut out for the first time since 1997 as Southern Miss used a pick six and a scoop and score to beat Alabama at Legion Field for the first time since 1990. After the game, Mike Dubose offered his resignation to Mal Moore but, was rejected by Moore.
| Statistics | style=" | Southern Miss! | Alabama |
|---|
| First downs | 12 | 15 |
| Total yards | 210 | 217 |
| Rushing yards | 51 | 95 |
| Passing yards | 159 | 122 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 30:08 | 29:52 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Southern Miss | Passing | | 14–23, 159 yards 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Derrick Nix | 23 carries, 80 yards |
| Receiving | Leroy Handy | 4 receptions, 55 yards |
| Alabama | Passing | Andrew Zow | 8–18, 65 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 12 carries, 22 yards |
| Receiving | | 7 receptions, 43 yards |
|
Arkansas
See also: 2000 Arkansas Razorbacks football team. Despite having the lead for the majority of the second half, Arkansas 13-play, 80-yard drive, capped off by a 9-yard touchdown pass from Robby Hamilton to Marcellus Poydras with 1:04 to go, gave Arkansas the lead and the eventual win.
| Statistics | Alabama | Arkansas |
|---|
| First downs | 22 | 20 |
| Total yards | 343 | 324 |
| Rushing yards | 226 | 151 |
| Passing yards | 117 | 173 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 33:56 | 26:04 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Alabama | Passing | Tyler Watts | 8–20, 117 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | | 29 carries, 96 yards, 2 TD's |
| Receiving | | 2 receptions, 53 yards |
| Arkansas | Passing | Robby Hampton | 20–33, 173 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 18 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 4 receptions, 47 yards | |
South Carolina
See also: 2000 South Carolina Gamecocks football team. Milos Lewis had two critical 4th quarter interceptions that allowed Alabama to hold on the beat #23 South Carolina. The win kept Alabama's perfect record against South Carolina all time (10–0).
| Statistics | style=" | South Carolina! | Alabama |
|---|
| First downs | 20 | 18 |
| Total yards | 349 | 350 |
| Rushing yards | 85 | 146 |
| Passing yards | 264 | 204 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:28 | 31:32 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| South Carolina | Passing | Phil Petty | 7–19, 151 yards, 2 TD's, 2 INT's |
| Rushing | | 12 carries, 42 yards |
| Receiving | Jermale Kelly | 6 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TD's |
| Alabama | Passing | Andrew Zow | 14–26, 149 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 16 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Antonio Carter | 9 receptions, 75 yards |
|
Ole Miss
See also: 2000 Ole Miss Rebels football team. Alabama's 45 points are the most of any team in a game under Mike Dubose and the most for any Alabama team since 1993 in a rout of Ole Miss.
| Statistics | style=" | Ole Miss! | Alabama |
|---|
| First downs | 12 | 21 |
| Total yards | 237 | 464 |
| Rushing yards | 74 | 168 |
| Passing yards | 163 | 296 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:52 | 31:08 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Ole Miss | Passing | | 15–31, 127 yards 1 TD, 3 INT's |
| Rushing | Joe Gunn | 11 carries, 32 yards |
| Receiving | Joe Gunn | 5 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Passing | Andrew Zow | 18–22, 261 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 12 carries, 91 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Antonio Carter | 8 receptions, 157 yards |
|
Tennessee
See also: 2000 Tennessee Volunteers football team. For the 6th year in a row, Tennessee found a way to beat Alabama extending their longest win streak against the Crimson Tide. This match up was the first time both teams came into the game not ranked since 1988.
| Statistics | Alabama | Tennessee |
|---|
| First downs | 14 | 18 |
| Total yards | 225 | 309 |
| Rushing yards | 44 | 96 |
| Passing yards | 181 | 213 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 24:48 | 35:12 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Alabama | Passing | Andrew Zow | 14–29, 181 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT's |
| Rushing | | 8 carries, 29 yards |
| Receiving | Antonio Carter | 5 receptions, 73 yards |
| Tennessee | Passing | | 17–24, 213 yards, 2 TD's |
| Rushing | | 23 carries, 81 yards |
| Receiving | | 7 receptions, 67 yards, 2 TD's | |
UCF
See also: 2000 UCF Golden Knights football team. Alabama could not overcome 5 turnovers as a Javier Beorlegui 37 yard field goal gave UCF the upset win on Homecoming for Alabama. This was the 2nd time under Mike Dubose that Alabama had lost its Homecoming game. On the Wednesday following the game, Mike Dubose was informed that he would not return as head coach in 2001. Coach Dubose was allowed to remain as head coach until the end of the season.
| Statistics | style=" | UCF! | Alabama |
|---|
| First downs | 25 | 20 |
| Total yards | 378 | 429 |
| Rushing yards | 95 | 179 |
| Passing yards | 283 | 250 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 5 |
| Time of possession | 33:11 | 26:49 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| UCF | Passing | Ryan Schneider | 27–48, 283 yards 3 TD's, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Corey Baker | 18 carries, 46 yards |
| Receiving | Tyson Hinshaw | 8 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TD's |
| Alabama | Passing | Andrew Zow | 15–30, 250 yards, 2 TD's, 4 INT's |
| Rushing | | 13 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 3 receptions, 57 yards |
|
LSU
See also: 2000 LSU Tigers football team. For the first time since 1969, Alabama lost at Tiger Stadium behind 16 fourth quarter points from LSU after Alabama had taken the lead at the beginning of the 4th quarter. Alabama scored with seven seconds left to cut the lead to two but, failed to recover the onside kick. This lost guaranteed Alabama second losing season under Mike Dubose and third since 1957.
| Statistics | Alabama | LSU |
|---|
| First downs | 19 | 20 |
| Total yards | 314 | 408 |
| Rushing yards | 164 | 133 |
| Passing yards | 150 | 275 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:35 | 30:25 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Alabama | Passing | Andrew Zow | 15–32, 150 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 21 carries, 129 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 7 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD |
| LSU | Passing | | 18–31, 275 yards, 4 TD's, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 21 carries, 85 yards |
| Receiving | | 8 receptions, 129 yards, 2 TD's | |
Mississippi State
See also: 2000 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team. Alabama gave up a season high 538 total yards of total offense as Mississippi State beat Alabama for the third straight time in Starkville.
| Statistics | Alabama | Mississippi State |
|---|
| First downs | 12 | 22 |
| Total yards | 312 | 538 |
| Rushing yards | 31 | 276 |
| Passing yards | 281 | 262 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:07 | 34:53 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Alabama | Passing | Andrew Zow | 13–31, 281 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT's |
| Rushing | | 11 carries, 23 yards |
| Receiving | Antonio Carter | 4 receptions, 95 yards |
| Mississippi State | Passing | | 18–27, 262 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Dontae Walker | 16 carries, 117 yards |
| Receiving | Larry Huntington | 2 receptions, 75 yards | |
Auburn
See also: 2000 Auburn Tigers football team. For the first time since 1901, the Iron Bowl would be played in Tuscaloosa and the first time ever at Bryant Denny Stadium. However, freezing rain, sleet, and Damon Duval's three field goals would spoil the return as Auburn would shut out Alabama for the first time since 1987. This would be the last game for Mike Dubose as head coach and would be the last time to date Alabama has been shut out. This along with the Southern Miss shut out earlier in the season, would be the first time Alabama has been shut out more than once in a season since 1957.
| Statistics | style=" | Auburn! | Alabama |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 8 |
| Total yards | 301 | 135 |
| Rushing yards | 162 | 23 |
| Passing yards | 139 | 112 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 37:45 | 22:15 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Auburn | Passing | Ben Leard | 10–20, 139 yards, 2 INT's |
| Rushing | | 37 carries, 130 yards |
| Receiving | | 3 receptions, 59 yards |
| Alabama | Passing | Andrew Zow | 12–29, 112 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 9 carries, 16 yards |
| Receiving | | 3 receptions, 45 yards |
|
Coaching staff
Notes and References
- Web site: All-time Football Results: 2000 Season . RollTide.com . University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics . August 27, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111125000700/http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-results-archive.html . November 25, 2011 .
- 1999 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Media Guide, p. 2
