# 1996 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

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.
Alabama's loss to Mississippi State broke a 15-game winning streak Alabama had in the series and was their first loss to the Bulldogs since a dramatic upset MSU posted over the #1 ranked Tide in 1980.
Following a victory in the annual Iron Bowl on November 23, head coach Gene Stallings announced his retirement, which would go into effect at the end of the season.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 2:00 p.m. | Bowling Green* | No. 13 | Legion FieldBirmingham, AL | PPV | W 21–7 | 76,878 |
| September 7 | 11:30 a.m. | Southern Miss* | No. 14 | Legion FieldBirmingham, AL | JPS | W 20–10 | 82,338 |
| September 14 | 5:00 p.m. | Vanderbilt | No. 13 | Bryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL | ESPN2 | W 36–26 | 70,123 |
| September 21 | 11:30 a.m. | at Arkansas | No. 13 | War Memorial StadiumLittle Rock, AR | JPS | W 17–7 | 54,827 |
| October 5 | 1:00 p.m. | Kentucky | No. 13 | Bryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL | PPV | W 35–7 | 70,123 |
| October 12 | 2:30 p.m. | at NC State* | No. 8 | Carter–Finley StadiumRaleigh, NC | ABC | W 24–19 | 50,750 |
| October 19 | 5:00 p.m. | Ole Miss | No. 7 | Bryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL (rivalry) | ESPN2 | W 37–0 | 70,123 |
| October 26 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 6 Tennessee | No. 7 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (Third Saturday in October) | CBS | L 13–20 | 106,700 |
| November 9 | 6:30 p.m. | at No. 11 LSU | No. 10 | Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, LA (rivalry, College GameDay) | ESPN | W 26–0 | 80,290 |
| November 16 | 8:00 p.m. | at Mississippi State | No. 8 | Scott FieldStarkville, MS (rivalry) | ESPN | L 16–17 | 40,050 |
| November 23 | 6:30 p.m. | Auburn | No. 15 | Legion FieldBirmingham, AL (Iron Bowl, College GameDay) | ESPN | W 24–23 | 83,091 |
| December 7 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 4 Florida | No. 11 | Georgia DomeAtlanta, GA (SEC Championship Game, rivalry) | ABC | L 30–45 | 74,132 |
| January 1, 1997 | 10:00 a.m. | vs. No. 15 Michigan* | No. 16 | Houlihan's StadiumTampa, FL (Outback Bowl) | ESPN | W 17–14 | 53,161 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking т = Tied with team above or below :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final |
| AP | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13т | 14 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 11 |
| Coaches | 14 | | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 11 |

## Coaching staff

| Name | Position | Consecutive seasons at Alabama |
| Gene Stallings | Head coach | 7th |
| Woody McCorvey | Offensive coordinator | 7th |
| Dabo Swinney | Wide receivers and Tight end coach | 4th |
| Danny Pearman | Offensive tackles coach/Special teams coordinator | 6th |
| Jim Fuller | Offensive line Coach | 13th |
| Randy Ross | Quarterbacks coach/recruiting coordinator | 7th |
| Ivy Williams | Running backs coach | 3rd |
| Mike Dubose | Defensive coordinator/defensive line | 7th |
| Curley Hallman | Secondary coach | 1st |
| Jeff Rouzie | Linebackers coach | 6th |
| Mickey Conn | Graduate assistant | 1st |
| Reference: |||

## Game summaries
### Bowling Green

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| #13 Crimson Tide | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
Alabama wins its sixth straight season opener over newly Division 1 opponent Bowling Green.
| Statistics | Bowling Green | Alabama |
| First downs | 7 | 16 |
| Total yards | 177 | 316 |
| Rushing yards | 80 | 154 |
| Passing yards | 97 | 162 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 27:42 | 32:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Bowling Green | Passing | Bob Niemet | 9–19, 59 yards, 1 INT |
| Bowling Green | Rushing | Courtney Davis | 13 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD |
| Bowling Green | Receiving | Jacque Rogers | 4 receptions, 44 yards |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 10–16, 156 yards, 1 INT |
| Alabama | Rushing | Curtis Alexander | 6 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Receiving | Michael Vaughn | 5 receptions, 73 yards |

### Southern Miss

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| #14 Crimson Tide | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
Alabama would hold Southern Miss to 104 yards of offense to win for the sixth straight year over the Golden Eagles.
| Statistics | Southern Miss | Alabama |
| First downs | 8 | 20 |
| Total yards | 109 | 304 |
| Rushing yards | 11 | 115 |
| Passing yards | 98 | 189 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 19:37 | 40:21 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Heath Graham | 8–26, 98 yards, 2 INT's |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Eric Booth | 5 carries, 46 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Sherrod Gideon | 2 receptions, 59 yards |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 15–23, 180 yards, 2 TD's |
| Alabama | Rushing | Curtis Alexander | 20 carries, 73 yards |
| Alabama | Receiving | Michael Vaughn | 5 receptions, 70 yards |

### Vanderbilt

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Commodores | 7 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 26 |
| #13 Crimson Tide | 3 | 12 | 21 | 0 | 36 |
In the first home game at Bryant-Denny Stadium for 1996, a shootout would unfold as the Crimson Tide would use a 21 point 3rd quarter to beat the Commodores.
| Statistics | Vanderbilt | Alabama |
| First downs | 11 | 23 |
| Total yards | 255 | 367 |
| Rushing yards | 116 | 160 |
| Passing yards | 139 | 207 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 23:47 | 36:13 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Vanderbilt | Passing | Damian Allen | 11–21, 139 yards, 3 INT's |
| Vanderbilt | Rushing | Bill Marinangel | 1 carry, 81 yards, 1 TD |
| Vanderbilt | Receiving | Billy Miller | 1 reception, 38 yards |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 16–27, 209 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT's |
| Alabama | Rushing | Curtis Alexander | 19 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Receiving | Marcell West | 3 receptions, 43 yards, 1 TD |

### Arkansas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #13 Crimson Tide | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
| Razorbacks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
A defensive struggle goes the Crimson Tide way as they avenge their loss of a year ago to Arkansas.
| Statistics | Alabama | Arkansas |
| First downs | 14 | 13 |
| Total yards | 288 | 206 |
| Rushing yards | 105 | 130 |
| Passing yards | 183 | 76 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 33:08 | 26:52 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 14–28, 183 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Rushing | Dennis Riddle | 20 carries, 77 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Receiving | Calvin Hall | 3 receptions, 78 yards |
| Arkansas | Passing | Pete Burks | 11–24, 76 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Arkansas | Rushing | Oscar Malone Chrys Chukwuma | 14 carries, 72 yards 9 carries, 72 yards |
| Arkansas | Receiving | Anthony Eubanks | 3 receptions, 37 yards, 1 TD |

### Kentucky

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| #13 Crimson Tide | 7 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 35 |
Former Alabama coach Bill Curry returned to Tuscaloosa for the first time since leaving Alabama for Kentucky in 1989. Despite being heavy underdogs, Curry's Wildcats forced a 7-7 tie at halftime which brought a chorus of boos from the homecoming crowd. The Crimson Tide then would use a 28 point third quarter to beat Kentucky.
| Statistics | Kentucky | Alabama |
| First downs | 4 | 17 |
| Total yards | 124 | 358 |
| Rushing yards | 75 | 168 |
| Passing yards | 49 | 190 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 5 |
| Time of possession | 27:10 | 32:50 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Kentucky | Passing | Billy Jack Haskins | 5–14, 49 yards, 1 INT |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Billy Jack Haskins | 15 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Craig Yeast | 1 reception, 22 yards |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 9–16, 152 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Rushing | Shaun Alexander | 9 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Receiving | Calvin Hall | 2 receptions, 52 yards |

### NC State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #8 Crimson Tide | 7 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
| Wolfpack | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 19 |
Despite giving up a season high 418 yards of offense, The Crimson Tide survived on the road to stay undefeated.
| Statistics | Alabama | NC State |
| First downs | 20 | 22 |
| Total yards | 353 | 418 |
| Rushing yards | 172 | 158 |
| Passing yards | 181 | 260 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 30:40 | 29:20 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 13–24, 181 yards |
| Alabama | Rushing | Dennis Riddle | 33 carries, 154 yards, 3 TD's |
| Alabama | Receiving | Michael Vaughn | 6 receptions, 102 yards |
| NC State | Passing | Jamie Barnette | 14–25, 260 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| NC State | Rushing | Tremayne Stephens | 22 carries, 105 yards |
| NC State | Receiving | Chris Coleman | 1 reception, 72 yards, 1 TD |

### Ole Miss

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rebels | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| #7 Crimson Tide | 3 | 7 | 14 | 13 | 37 |
The Crimson Tide put its most complete game together to date in 1996 to roll to a shutout win of Ole Miss.
| Statistics | Ole Miss | Alabama |
| First downs | 9 | 28 |
| Total yards | 158 | 489 |
| Rushing yards | 26 | 273 |
| Passing yards | 132 | 216 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 25:53 | 34:07 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ole Miss | Passing | Stewart Patridge | 10–22, 132 yards |
| Ole Miss | Rushing | Tony Cannion | 9 carries, 37 yards |
| Ole Miss | Receiving | Ta'Boris Fisher | 4 receptions, 49 yards |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 13–33, 216 yards, 2 TD's, 2 INT's |
| Alabama | Rushing | Dennis Riddle | 31 carries, 140 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Receiving | Michael Vaughn | 3 receptions, 89 yards, 2 TD's |

### Tennessee

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #7 Crimson Tide | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 13 |
| #6 Volunteers | 0 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 20 |
Tennessee used 14 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to beat Alabama for the second year in a row and for the first time in Knoxville since 1984.
| Statistics | Alabama | Tennessee |
| First downs | 15 | 10 |
| Total yards | 326 | 296 |
| Rushing yards | 189 | 120 |
| Passing yards | 137 | 176 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 36:28 | 23:22 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 8–21, 137 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT's |
| Alabama | Rushing | Dennis Riddle | 38 carries, 184 yards |
| Alabama | Receiving | Michael Vaughn | 2 receptions, 65 yards |
| Tennessee | Passing | Peyton Manning | 12–25, 176 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Jay Graham | 14 carries, 128 yards, 2 TD's |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Joey Kent | 6 receptions, 125 yards, 1 TD |

### LSU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #10 Crimson Tide | 0 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 26 |
| #11 Tigers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
For the second time in three games, Alabama defense would shut out its opponent. The Crimson tide offense went through one man Redshirt Freshman Shaun Alexander rushed for a School record 291 yards and all four Alabama touchdowns.
| Statistics | Alabama | LSU |
| First downs | 19 | 9 |
| Total yards | 412 | 248 |
| Rushing yards | 351 | 52 |
| Passing yards | 61 | 196 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 35:58 | 24:02 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 6–18, 61 yards |
| Alabama | Rushing | Shaun Alexander | 20 carries, 291 yards, 4 TD's |
| Alabama | Receiving | Michael Vaughn | 1 reception, 19 yards |
| LSU | Passing | Bryan Sparacino | 8–35, 133 yards, 2 INT's |
| LSU | Rushing | Kevin Faulk | 14 carries, 45 yards |
| LSU | Receiving | Larry Foster | 3 receptions, 56 yards |

### Mississippi State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #8 Crimson Tide | 0 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
For the first time since 1980, Alabama would lose to Mississippi State in one of the biggest upset of the Gene Stallings era.
| Statistics | Alabama | Mississippi State |
| First downs | 16 | 16 |
| Total yards | 334 | 309 |
| Rushing yards | 229 | 157 |
| Passing yards | 105 | 152 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:55 | 32:05 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 9–18, 93 yards, 1 INT |
| Alabama | Rushing | Shaun Alexander | 15 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Receiving | Calvin Hall | 3 receptions, 27 yards |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Derrick Taite | 8–20, 152 yards, 1 TD |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Robert Isaac | 21 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Reggie Kelly | 1 reception, 69 yards |

### Auburn

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 3 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
| #15 Crimson Tide | 17 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
Alabama would pounce on Auburn early with 17 straight points to begin the game. Auburn would respond with 23 unanswered to lead by 6 late in the fourth quarter. Alabama would drive 74 yards to score on a 6-yard swing pass from Freddie Kitchens to Dennis Riddle to tie the game. Jon Brock extra point would give Alabama the one-point lead and eventual win to clinch the SEC West. After the game, Gene Stallings officially announced his retirement as Alabama head coach at the end of the season.
| Statistics | Auburn | Alabama |
| First downs | 13 | 21 |
| Total yards | 296 | 434 |
| Rushing yards | 116 | 142 |
| Passing yards | 180 | 292 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 5 |
| Time of possession | 28:35 | 31:25 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Auburn | Passing | Dameyune Craig | 11–39, 180 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT's |
| Auburn | Rushing | Rusty Williams | 17 carries, 89 yards |
| Auburn | Receiving | Karsten Bailey | 5 receptions, 92 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 20–33, 292 yards, 3 TD's, 3 INT's |
| Alabama | Rushing | Dennis Riddle | 21 carries, 131 yards |
| Alabama | Receiving | Curtis Alexander | 1 reception, 63 yards, 1 TD |

### Florida

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #11 Crimson Tide | 7 | 7 | 14 | 2 | 30 |
| #4 Gators | 6 | 18 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
Alabama would be in its fourth SEC Championship game in five seasons and once again would face Florida, as they had the previous three meetings. The Gators would use nearly 500 yards of offense to win its fourth straight SEC title, a record that still holds to this day.
| Statistics | Alabama | Florida |
| First downs | 13 | 22 |
| Total yards | 296 | 470 |
| Rushing yards | 27 | 69 |
| Passing yards | 269 | 401 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 30:12 | 29:48 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 19–45, 264 yards, 3 TD's, 1 INT |
| Alabama | Rushing | Dennis Riddle | 17 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Receiving | Michael Vaughn | 5 receptions, 142 yards, 2 TD's |
| Florida | Passing | Danny Wuerffel | 20–35, 401 yards, 6 TD's, 2 INT's |
| Florida | Rushing | Fred Taylor | 23 carries, 83 yards |
| Florida | Receiving | Reidel Anthony | 11 receptions, 171 yards, 3 TD's |

### Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #16 Crimson Tide | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
| #15 Wolverines | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 14 |
Two 4th quarter touchdowns proved to be enough as Alabama would win its 10th game of the season and the 70th and final for Gene Stallings as head coach.
| Statistics | Alabama | Michigan |
| First downs | 13 | 22 |
| Total yards | 247 | 415 |
| Rushing yards | 182 | 124 |
| Passing yards | 65 | 291 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:28 | 34:32 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Alabama | Passing | Freddie Kitchens | 9–18, 65 yards, 1 INT |
| Alabama | Rushing | Shaun Alexander | 9 carries, 99 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama | Receiving | Michael Vaughn | 2 receptions, 27 yards |
| Michigan | Passing | Brian Griese | 21–37, 287 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Michigan | Rushing | Clarence Williams | 12 carries, 58 yards |
| Michigan | Receiving | Clarence Williams | 5 receptions, 113 yards |