Perfection is easy to recognize. Nine different Alabama teams have achieved the singular distinction of a perfect season, claiming an easily digestible statistical measure of greatness.
But in football as in life, sometimes you don’t know who you are until you get knocked on your butt.
Some teams quit.
Others prove resilient, determined to fight back against their difficult circumstances, motivated to prove something, chasing an elusive goal, dreaming big despite enormous odds. Because they don’t know how to quit.
This quality has proved to be the key element in some of the Crimson Tide’s most competitive and high-achieving teams.
Join us as we examine Six Teams That Stumbled in September But Rumbled Back into Contention.
1965 Crimson Tide
It all turned on one controversial play. When Georgia scored on a questionable flea flicker to upset defending national champion Alabama, 18-17, in the nationally televised 1965 season opener, the Crimson Tide’s title hopes dangled by a flimsy thread. Then, four weeks later, Bama tied Tennessee 7-7…and no one gave the Tide a prayer. The big prize seemed out of reach. But in one of the most incredible comeback stories in the history of college football, Alabama won the rest of the way, exploiting the Associated Press’ decision to crown the national champion after the bowl games for the first time…vaulting from fourth to first after upsetting Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.
1975 Crimson Tide
After capturing four straight SEC championships and losing just a single regular-season game during the period, No. 2-ranked Alabama entered the nationally televised 1975 season opener against Missouri as a huge favorite. The Tide’s 20-7 loss shocked the nation. Knocked out of the weekly top ten for the first time in five years, Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s Crimson Tide methodically went back to work, winning a record fifth straight SEC title. Led by the quarterbacking of Richard Todd and the nation’s best defense (6.0 points per game), Alabama finished 11-1 and ranked third.
1977 Crimson Tide
After losing a 31-24 slugfest on the road against a good Nebraska team in game two, Alabama rolled untouched to its sixth league title in seven years and back into contention for the national championship. Quarterback Jeff Rutledge, who uncharacteristically tossed five interceptions against Tom Osborne’s Cornhuskers, ran the wishbone to near perfection the rest of the way—and wasn’t picked off again. After watching the top two teams fall on New Year’s Day, third-ranked Alabama crushed Ohio State, 35-6, in the Sugar Bowl, making a strong case for the big prize. But Notre Dame, which knocked off No. 1 Texas, vaulted from fifth to first, leaving Bama fans everywhere frustrated.
I remember so well how the 1977 Tide came back from the loss to Nebraska and SHOULD HAVE won the national championship, if not for the national media handing it to Notre Dame once again. Enjoyed the story. Great site!
That win over in Florida in 1999 was inspiring. Great game!