1988 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Last updated

1988 Alabama Crimson Tide football
Sun Bowl champion
Sun Bowl, W 29–28 vs. Army
Conference Southeastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 17
APNo. 17
Record9–3 (4–3 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Homer Smith (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorDon Lindsey (2nd season)
Captains
Home stadium Bryant–Denny Stadium
(Capacity: 70,123)
Legion Field
(Capacity: 75,962)
Seasons
  1987
1989  
1988 Southeastern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 19 LSU + 6 1 08 4 0
No. 8 Auburn + 6 1 010 2 0
No. 15 Georgia 5 2 09 3 0
No. 17 Alabama 4 3 09 3 0
Florida 4 3 07 5 0
Tennessee 3 4 05 6 0
Ole Miss 3 4 05 6 0
Kentucky 2 5 05 6 0
Vanderbilt 2 5 03 8 0
Mississippi State 0 7 01 10 0
  • + Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1988 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "Bama" or "The Tide") represented the University of Alabama in the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 96th overall and 55th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bill Curry, in his second year, and played their home games at both Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of nine wins and three losses (9–3 overall, 4–3 in the SEC) and with a victory in the Sun Bowl over Army.

Contents

Alabama suffered close losses to rivals LSU and Auburn in November but the low point of the season was a 22–12 loss on homecoming to Ole Miss, Alabama's first ever loss against Ole Miss in the state of Alabama. [1] Alabama had zero yards passing in the game. [2] Highlights included a victory over Penn State, Alabama's third consecutive victory over Tennessee, and a come-from-behind 29–28 victory in the Sun Bowl over Army in which quarterback David Smith threw for 412 yards, an all-time bowl record for an Alabama quarterback. [3] [4]

Alabama's road game against Texas A&M, originally scheduled for September 17, was postponed to December 1 when Coach Curry declined to make the trip, worried about oncoming Hurricane Gilbert. [5] When Gilbert made landfall in Mexico and the weather in College Station was clear on gameday, A&M fans called Alabama's coach "Chicken Curry". [6] Alabama won the rescheduled game on December 1 by a final score of 30–10. [7]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 106:00 p.m.at Temple *No. 14W 37–028,680 [8]
September 241:00 p.m. Vanderbilt No. 13W 44–1070,123 [9]
October 111:30 a.m.at Kentucky No. 12 TBS W 31–2753,442 [10]
October 811:30 a.m. Ole Miss Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 12
  • Bryant–Denny Stadium
  • Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)
TBSL 12–2270,123 [11]
October 1512:00 p.m.at Tennessee W 28–2093,025 [12]
October 221:30 p.m. Penn State * CBS W 8–375,962 [13]
October 291:00 p.m.at Mississippi State No. 19W 53–3441,088 [14]
November 51:30 p.m.No. 13 LSU No. 18
  • Bryant–Denny Stadium
  • Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)
CBSL 18–1970,123 [15]
November 121:00 p.m. Southwestern Louisiana *No. 18
  • Legion Field
  • Birmingham, AL
W 17–066,537 [16]
November 251:30 p.m.No. 7 Auburn No. 17
CBSL 10–1575,962 [17]
December 17:30 p.m.at Texas A&M *No. 20 ESPN W 30–1059,152 [18]
December 2411:00 a.m.vs. Army *No. 20CBSW 29–2848,719 [19]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[20]

Roster

1988 Alabama Crimson Tide football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
TE 85 Howard Cross Sr
RB 26 Bobby Humphrey Sr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
LB 86 Keith McCants So
LB 55 Derrick Thomas Sr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 17 Philip Doyle So
P 3 Chris Mohr Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Season summary

Texas A&M

1234Total
Alabama7601730
Texas A&M307010
  • Date: December 1
  • Location: Kyle Field
  • Game attendance: 59,152
  • Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C); wind 5 mph (8.0 km/h) N

[21]

Vs. Army (Sun Bowl)

1989 NFL Draft

PlayerPositionRoundPickNFL club
Derrick Thomas Linebacker14 Kansas City Chiefs
Greg GilbertLinebacker5136 Chicago Bears
Chris Mohr Punter6146 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Howard Cross Tight end6158 New York Giants
George Bethune Linebacker7188 Los Angeles Rams

[22]

Related Research Articles

The 1992 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1992 NCAA Division I-A football season. This was the team's third season under head coach Gene Stallings. They played their home games at both Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season undefeated with a record of 13–0 and as National Champions. The team was noted especially for its strong defense, which led the nation in fewest points allowed and, in a strong bowl game performance, prevented defending national champion Miami from scoring an offensive touchdown.

The 1998 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the college football season of 1998–99. The team's head coach was Mike DuBose, who was entering his second 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. They improved upon a 4–7 record from the 1997 season by finishing the 1998 campaign with a 7–5 record and an appearance in the Music City Bowl. The win against Ole Miss during the season marked Alabama's first ever overtime victory.

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.

The 1963 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1963 NCAA University Division football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 69th overall and 30th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his sixth year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and Ladd Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. They finished season with nine wins and two losses and with a victory over Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl.

The 1991 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was led by head coach Gene Stallings who was in his second season at Alabama. The team played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The team competed in the Southeastern Conference.

The 1980 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 86th overall and 47th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 23rd year, and played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished season with ten wins and two losses and with a victory over Baylor in the Cotton Bowl.

The 1981 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 87th overall and 48th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 24th year, and played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished season with nine wins, two losses and one tie, as SEC co-champions with Georgia and with a loss against Texas in the Cotton Bowl.

The 1982 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 88th overall and 49th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 25th and final year, and played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished season with eight wins and four losses and with a victory over Illinois in the Liberty Bowl.

The 1983 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 89th overall and 50th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Ray Perkins, in his first year, and played their home games at both Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of eight wins and four losses. Ray Perkins, who played as a wide receiver for Bear Bryant in the 1960s, was named as the new head coach at Alabama on December 14, 1982, to succeed Bryant after his 26-year tenure as Alabama's head coach.

The 1984 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 90th overall and 51st season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Ray Perkins, in his second year, and played its home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. Alabama finished the season with a record of five wins and six losses. This marked Alabama's first losing season since the Tide went 2–3–1 in 1957 under Jennings B. Whitworth, and ended its streak of 26 straight bowl appearances.

The 1985 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 93rd overall and 52nd season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Ray Perkins, in his third year, and played their home games at both Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of nine wins, two losses and one tie and with a victory in the Aloha Bowl over USC.

The 1986 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 94th overall and 53rd season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Ray Perkins, in his fourth year, and played their home games at both Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of ten wins and three losses and with a victory in the Sun Bowl over Washington.

The 1987 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 95th overall and 54th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bill Curry, in his first year, and played their home games at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of seven wins and five losses and with a loss in the Hall of Fame Bowl to Michigan.

The 1989 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 97th overall and 56th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bill Curry, in his third year, and played their home games at both Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of ten wins and two losses, as SEC co-champions and with a loss in the Sugar Bowl against national championship winner Miami.

The 1990 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Crimson Tide was led by first-year head coach Gene Stallings, replacing Bill Curry who left for the University of Kentucky.

The 1995 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 1995–96 college football season, competing in the Western Division in the Southeastern Conference. The team played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. Gene Stallings led the Crimson Tide to an 8–3 record. Due to NCAA sanctions, no bowl appearance was made.

The 1994 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 1994–95 college football season, competing in the Western Division in the Southeastern Conference. Gene Stallings led the Crimson Tide to a perfect 11–0 regular season, only to see the Crimson Tide lose to the Florida Gators by one point in the SEC Championship Game. Highlights include a win over then unbeaten Auburn, and a dramatic victory over Georgia which is rebroadcast occasionally as part of the ESPN "Classic" series. Alabama beat Ohio State in the 1995 Florida Citrus Bowl to finish their 1994 season with a 12–1 record.

The 1928 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1928 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 35th overall and 7th season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). The team was led by head coach Wallace Wade, in his sixth year, and played their home games at Denny Field in Tuscaloosa, at Legion Field in Birmingham and at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of six wins and three losses.

The 1929 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1929 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 36th overall and 8th season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). The team was led by head coach Wallace Wade, in his seventh year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, at Legion Field in Birmingham and at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of six wins and three losses.

The 1966 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. The Rebels were led by 20th-year head coach Johnny Vaught and played their home games at Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi and Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson. The team competed as members of the Southeastern Conference, finishing in fourth. After starting 2–2 on the year, the Rebels began a six-game winning streak with a come-from-behind victory over upset-minded Southern Miss on homecoming. Ole Miss ended the regular season at 8–2, and were ranked 12th in the final Coaches Poll, which was conducted before bowl season. The AP Poll ranked only ten teams at the time. The Rebels were invited to the 1966 Bluebonnet Bowl, where they were shutout by Texas, 0–19.

References

General

Specific

  1. Hurt, Cecil (October 9, 1988). "History shines on Ole Miss as Rebs tumble Tide 22–12". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News. p. 1B.
  2. Reed, William F. (October 17, 1988). "College Football: Down in Dixie". Sports Illustrated. SI.com. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  3. "Best of the Sun Bowl". El Paso Times. November 19, 2006.
  4. White, Gordon S. Jr. (December 25, 1988). "Tide Edges Cadets in Sun Bowl". The New York Times. nytimes.com.
  5. Hurt, Cecil (September 17, 1988). "Curry, Sherrill in storm of controversy". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News. p. 15.
  6. Reed, William F. (December 12, 1988). "Chicken Curry and Aggie stew". Sports Illustrated. SI.com. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  7. 1989 Game Recaps, Game No. 11
  8. "Temple routed by Tide". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 11, 1988. Retrieved February 20, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Tide swamps Commodores; victory costly". The Tennessean. September 25, 1988. Retrieved February 20, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  10. "UK left with tears after Tide rushes in with crusher at 0:10". The Courier-Journal. October 2, 1988. Retrieved February 20, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  11. "22–12, Rebs take historic win over Bama". The Clarion-Ledger. October 9, 1988. Retrieved February 20, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Sputtering UT slips again". The Tennessean. October 16, 1988. Retrieved February 20, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Drenched in red, Penn State leaves Alabama". The Morning Call. October 23, 1988. Retrieved February 20, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  14. "State comes on too little, too late to overtake Bama". The Clarion-Ledger. October 30, 1988. Retrieved February 20, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  15. "LSU outkicks Bama". Daily World. November 6, 1988. Retrieved February 20, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Punchless Cajuns fall to Alabama 17–0". The Daily Advertiser. November 13, 1988. Retrieved February 20, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Big-play Tigers stop Tide". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 26, 1988. Retrieved February 20, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Alabama blows Aggies away in 4th quarter". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. December 2, 1988. Retrieved February 20, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  19. "'Bama turns tide, beats Army". El Paso Times. December 25, 1988. Retrieved February 20, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  20. "1988 Alabama football archives". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  21. 1989 Alabama Football Media Guide. Retrieved 2015-Sep-27.
  22. "1989 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved November 23, 2019.