# 1995 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

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 early-season victory over Southern Miss came in dramatic fashion, as Alabama completed a 36-yard pass on 4th down for a go-ahead touchdown with under 30 seconds left in the game. The three games Alabama lost were also particularly noteworthy. The game against Arkansas featured a last-minute 4th-and-goal touchdown pass by Arkansas, giving them the win; however, replays later showed the ball was clearly not caught. This call, along with a missed twelve-men-on-the-field penalty on Arkansas' final drive led to the suspension of the officiating crew the following week. The 41–14 blowout loss to Tennessee marked the Vols first win over the Tide since 1985, ending Alabama's 9-game unbeaten streak. The season-ending loss at Auburn also featured a questionable last-minute call regarding a pass. Alabama QB Freddie Kitchens had apparently hit Curtis Brown for a late go-ahead touchdown, but officials ruled Brown out of bounds.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 7:00 p.m. | at Vanderbilt | No. 11 | Vanderbilt StadiumNashville, TN | PPV | W 33–25 | 40,880 |
| September 9 | 2:00 p.m. | Southern Miss* | No. 13 | Legion FieldBirmingham, AL | PPV | W 24–20 | 83,091 |
| September 16 | 11:30 a.m. | Arkansas | No. 13 | Bryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL | JPS | L 19–20 | 70,123 |
| September 30 | 11:00 a.m. | at Georgia | No. 20 | Sanford StadiumAthens, GA (rivalry) | ABC | W 31–0 | 86,117 |
| October 7 | 2:30 p.m. | NC State* | No. 16 | Bryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL | PPV | W 27–11 | 70,123 |
| October 14 | 6:30 p.m. | No. 6 Tennessee | No. 11 | Legion FieldBirmingham, AL (Third Saturday in October, College GameDay) | ESPN | L 14–41 | 83,091 |
| October 21 | 2:00 p.m. | at Ole Miss | No. 21 | Vaught–Hemingway StadiumOxford, MS (rivalry) | | W 23–9 | 44,312 |
| October 28 | 2:30 p.m. | North Texas* | No. 18 | Bryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL | PPV | W 38–19 | 70,123 |
| November 4 | 2:30 p.m. | LSU | No. 16 | Bryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL (rivalry) | ABC | W 10–3 | 70,123 |
| November 11 | 11:30 a.m. | Mississippi State | No. 16 | Bryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL (rivalry) | JPS | W 14–9 | 70,123 |
| November 18 | 4:30 p.m. | at No. 21 Auburn | No. 17 | Jordan-Hare StadiumAuburn, AL (Iron Bowl, College GameDay) | ESPN | L 27–31 | 85,214 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||||

## Coaching staff

| Name | Position | Consecutive seasons at Alabama |
| Gene Stallings | Head coach | 6th |
| Homer Smith | Offensive coordinator | 2nd |
| Woody McCorvey | Wide receivers Coach | 6th |
| Danny Pearman | Offensive tackles coach/Special teams coordinator | 5th |
| Jim Fuller | Offensive line coach | 12th |
| Randy Ross | Quarterbacks coach/Recruiting Coordinator | 6th |
| Ivy Williams | Running backs coach | 2nd |
| Bill Oliver | Defensive coordinator/Secondary coach | 6th |
| Mike Dubose | Defensive line coach | 6th |
| Jeff Rouzie | Linebackers coach | 5th |
| Reference: |||

## Game summaries
### Vanderbilt

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #11 Crimson Tide | 7 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 33 |
| Commodores | 7 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 25 |
Despite five turnovers, Alabama was able to use a 23 point 4th quarter to survive a scare against Vanderbilt.
| Statistics | Alabama | Vanderbilt |
| First downs | 19 | 10 |
| Total yards | 372 | 208 |
| Rushing yards | 125 | 112 |
| Passing yards | 247 | 96 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 6 |
| Time of possession | 35:35 | 24:25 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Alabama | Passing | Brian Burgdorf | 17–30, 198 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT's |
| Alabama | Rushing | Dennis Riddle | 29 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Receiving | Toderick Malone | 4 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD |
| Vanderbilt | Passing | Damian Allen | 8–23, 87 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT's |
| Vanderbilt | Rushing | Jermaine Johnson | 16 carries, 114 yards, 1 TD |
| Vanderbilt | Receiving | Sanford Ware | 3 receptions, 50 yards |

### Southern Miss

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
| #13 Crimson Tide | 0 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 24 |
For the second week in a row, Alabama would have to use a 4th quarter comeback to prevent an upset. Down 20–17 and facing a 4th and 16, Brian Burgdorf threw a 35 yard touchdown pass to Toderick Malone to give Alabama their first lead and the eventual win.
| Statistics | Southern Miss | Alabama |
| First downs | 14 | 18 |
| Total yards | 259 | 349 |
| Rushing yards | 101 | 84 |
| Passing yards | 158 | 265 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:09 | 29:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Heath Graham | 15–28, 158 yards 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Eric Booth | 9 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Ryan Pearson | 4 receptions, 52 yards |
| Alabama | Passing | Brian Burgdorf | 19–27, 265 yards, 3 TD's |
| Alabama | Rushing | Dennis Riddle | 14 carries, 44 yards |
| Alabama | Receiving | Toderick Malone | 5 receptions, 131 yards, 1 TD |

### Arkansas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Razorbacks | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| #13 Crimson Tide | 3 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 19 |
Despite holding a 9 point lead in the third quarter, Alabama could not hold on and would lose to Arkansas for the first time ever in school history.
| Statistics | Arkansas | Alabama |
| First downs | 13 | 11 |
| Total yards | 270 | 213 |
| Rushing yards | 89 | 123 |
| Passing yards | 181 | 90 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:39 | 27:21 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas | Passing | Barry Lunney Jr. | 15–26, 181 yards, 1 TD |
| Arkansas | Rushing | Madre Hill | 26 carries, 105 yards |
| Arkansas | Receiving | Anthony Eubanks | 3 receptions, 59 yards |
| Alabama | Passing | Brian Burgdorf | 6–17, 90 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Alabama | Rushing | Dennis Riddle | 22 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Receiving | Curtis Brown | 2 receptions, 55 yards, 1 TD |

### Georgia

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #20 Crimson Tide | 3 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bama defensive lineman Shannon Brown blocked a Georgia 27-yard field goal attempt. Deshea Townsend caught the ball and ran 90 yards for a touchdown. Defensive back Cedric Samuel returned a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown. DB Kevin Jackson took an interception back 36 yards for another score. UGA quarterback Hines Ward completed one pass and threw an interception before being replaced.
| Statistics | Alabama | Georgia |
| First downs | 11 | 15 |
| Total yards | 227 | 213 |
| Rushing yards | 110 | 142 |
| Passing yards | 117 | 71 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 6 |
| Time of possession | 28:18 | 31:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Alabama | Passing | Brian Burgdorf | 7–13, 100 yards |
| Alabama | Rushing | Dennis Riddle | 17 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Receiving | Tony Johnson | 2 receptions, 51 yards |
| Georgia | Passing | Brian Smith | 9–20, 60 yards, 2 INT's |
| Georgia | Rushing | Larry Bowie (running back) | 24 carries, 94 yards |
| Georgia | Receiving | Juan Daniels | 1 reception, 18 yards |

### North Carolina State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wolfpack | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 11 |
| #16 Crimson Tide | 10 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
Alabama would extend their non-conference winning streak to 19 as they would beat the Wolfpack on Homecoming.
| Statistics | NC State | Alabama |
| First downs | 22 | 21 |
| Total yards | 380 | 356 |
| Rushing yards | 159 | 150 |
| Passing yards | 221 | 206 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:24 | 27:36 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| NC State | Passing | Terry Harvey | 10–23, 142 yards, 1 INT |
| NC State | Rushing | Tremayne Stephens | 15 carries, 77 yards |
| NC State | Receiving | Mike Guffie | 3 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Passing | Brian Burgdorf | 17–25, 196 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT |
| Alabama | Rushing | Dennis Riddle | 18 carries, 85 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Receiving | Toderick Malone | 5 receptions, 61 yards |

### Tennessee

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #6 Volunteers | 21 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 41 |
| #11 Crimson Tide | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
For the first time since 1985, Tennessee would beat Alabama. The lose of 27 points was the largest margin of defeat at Legion Field since Tennessee replicated that score in 1969.
| Statistics | Tennessee | Alabama |
| First downs | 21 | 21 |
| Total yards | 496 | 303 |
| Rushing yards | 167 | 75 |
| Passing yards | 329 | 228 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 5 |
| Time of possession | 30:25 | 29:35 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tennessee | Passing | Peyton Manning | 20–29, 301 yards, 3 TD's |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Jay Graham | 17 carries, 114 yards, 1 TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Joey Kent | 5 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 20–43, 204 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT's |
| Alabama | Rushing | Dennis Riddle | 13 carries, 60 yards |
| Alabama | Receiving | Curtis Brown | 6 receptions, 61 yards |

### Ole Miss

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #21 Crimson Tide | 9 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 23 |
| Rebels | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
The Alabama defense scored the first nine points of this game. Dwayne Rudd sacked the Ole Miss quarterback who fumbled the ball out of the back end zone for a safety. Later in the first quarter, linebacker Ralph Staten would return an interception 61 yards for a touchdown.
| Statistics | Alabama | Ole Miss |
| First downs | 12 | 18 |
| Total yards | 239 | 304 |
| Rushing yards | 82 | 83 |
| Passing yards | 157 | 221 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 24:33 | 35:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Alabama | Passing | Brian Burgdorf | 13–24, 157 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Rushing | Dennis Riddle | 15 carries, 53 yards |
| Alabama | Receiving | Toderick Malone | 4 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD |
| Ole Miss | Passing | Josh Nelson | 19–38, 163 yards, 1 INT |
| Ole Miss | Rushing | Dou Innocent | 20 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD |
| Ole Miss | Receiving | Dou Innocent | 6 receptions, 68 yards |

### North Texas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 0 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 19 |
| #18 Crimson Tide | 0 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 38 |
After sleep walking through the first half, Alabama would use 28 points in the second half to pull away and win their 20th straight non conference game.
| Statistics | North Texas | Alabama |
| First downs | 9 | 20 |
| Total yards | 274 | 465 |
| Rushing yards | 14 | 219 |
| Passing yards | 260 | 246 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 24:03 | 35:57 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Josh Gulley | 19–37, 183 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT's |
| North Texas | Rushing | Jason Mills | 2 carries, 10 yards, 1 TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Troy Redwine | 5 receptions, 128 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Passing | Brian Burgdorf | 10–13, 136 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Rushing | Brian Steger | 19 carries, 97 yards |
| Alabama | Receiving | Toderick Malone | 4 receptions, 87 yards, 1 TD |

### LSU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| #16 Crimson Tide | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
Early in the fourth quarter, Deshea Townsend intercepted a Jamie Howard pass and returned it 17 yards to the LSU 21-yard line. A few plays later, Dennis Riddle would convert a 2-yard touchdown run that proved to be the difference in Alabama's 10-3 win.
| Statistics | LSU | Alabama |
| First downs | 12 | 17 |
| Total yards | 232 | 337 |
| Rushing yards | 102 | 210 |
| Passing yards | 130 | 127 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 28:09 | 31:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| LSU | Passing | Jamie Howard | 10–23, 127 yards, 2 INT's |
| LSU | Rushing | Kevin Faulk | 23 carries, 75 yards |
| LSU | Receiving | Sheddrick Wilson | 6 receptions, 81 yards |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 6–16, 93 yards, 1 INT |
| Alabama | Rushing | Dennis Riddle | 33 carries, 174 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Receiving | Curtis Brown | 4 receptions, 64 yards |

### Mississippi State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| #16 Crimson Tide | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
Freddie Kitchens would make his first start for Alabama at quarterback as the tide would use defense and good clock management to beat Mississippi State.
| Statistics | Mississippi State | Alabama |
| First downs | 8 | 22 |
| Total yards | 135 | 324 |
| Rushing yards | 94 | 249 |
| Passing yards | 41 | 75 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 19:33 | 40:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Derrick Taite | 8–16, 41 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT's |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Keffer McGee | 18 carries, 78 yards |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Eric Moulds | 4 receptions, 25 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 8–10, 75 yards |
| Alabama | Rushing | Dennis Riddle | 38 carries, 181 yards, 2 TD's |
| Alabama | Receiving | Curtis Brown | 2 receptions, 25 yards |

### Auburn

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #17 Crimson Tide | 14 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 27 |
| #21 Tigers | 14 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 31 |
Despite gaining a season high 478 yards of offense and a valiant comeback effort in the second half, Alabama could not score enough points to beat Auburn.
| Statistics | Alabama | Auburn |
| First downs | 22 | 18 |
| Total yards | 478 | 354 |
| Rushing yards | 176 | 95 |
| Passing yards | 302 | 259 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:26 | 30:34 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 19–43, 302 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Rushing | Dennis Riddle | 20 carries, 86 yards |
| Alabama | Receiving | Toderick Malone | 7 receptions, 106 yards, 1 TD |
| Auburn | Passing | Patrick Nix | 18–36, 259 yards, 2 TD's |
| Auburn | Rushing | Stephen Davis | 22 carries, 80 yards |
| Auburn | Receiving | Errick Lowe | 3 receptions, 66 yards |