American college football season
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.
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source September 2 7:00 p.m. at Vanderbilt No. 11 PPV W 33–2540,880 [ 1] September 9 2:00 p.m. Southern Miss * No. 13 PPV W 24–2083,091 [ 2] September 16 11:30 a.m. Arkansas No. 13 JPS L 19–2070,123 [ 3] September 30 11:00 a.m. at Georgia No. 20 ABC W 31–086,117 [ 4] October 7 2:30 p.m. NC State * No. 16 Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL PPV W 27–1170,123 [ 5] October 14 6:30 p.m. No. 6 Tennessee No. 11 ESPN L 14–4183,091 [ 6] October 21 2:00 p.m. at Ole Miss No. 21 W 23–944,312 [ 7] October 28 2:30 p.m. North Texas * No. 18 Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL PPV W 38–1970,123 [ 8] November 4 2:30 p.m. LSU No. 16 Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry ) ABC W 10–370,123 [ 9] November 11 11:30 a.m. Mississippi State No. 16 Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry ) JPS W 14–970,123 [ 10] November 18 4:30 p.m. at No. 21 Auburn No. 17 ESPN L 27–3185,214 [ 11] *Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
[ 12]
1995 Alabama Crimson Tide football team roster Players Coaches Offense Defense Special teams Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt
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 Rushing Dennis Riddle 29 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD Receiving Toderick Malone 4 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD Vanderbilt Passing Damian Allen 8–23, 87 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT's Rushing Jermaine Johnson 16 carries, 114 yards, 1 TD Receiving Sanford Ware 3 receptions, 50 yards
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 Rushing Eric Booth 9 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ryan Pearson 4 receptions, 52 yards Alabama Passing Brian Burgdorf 19–27, 265 yards, 3 TD's Rushing Dennis Riddle 14 carries, 44 yards Receiving Toderick Malone 5 receptions, 131 yards, 1 TD
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 Rushing Madre Hill 26 carries, 105 yards Receiving Anthony Eubanks 3 receptions, 59 yards Alabama Passing Brian Burgdorf 6–17, 90 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Dennis Riddle 22 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD Receiving Curtis Brown 2 receptions, 55 yards, 1 TD
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.[ 14]
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 Rushing Dennis Riddle 17 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD Receiving Tony Johnson 2 receptions, 51 yards Georgia Passing Brian Smith 9–20, 60 yards, 2 INT's Rushing Larry Bowie (running back) 24 carries, 94 yards Receiving Juan Daniels 1 reception, 18 yards
North Carolina State [ edit ] 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 Rushing Tremayne Stephens 15 carries, 77 yards Receiving Mike Guffie 3 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD Alabama Passing Brian Burgdorf 17–25, 196 yards, 2 TD's , 1 INT Rushing Dennis Riddle 18 carries, 85 yards, 1 TD Receiving Toderick Malone 5 receptions, 61 yards
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 Rushing Jay Graham 17 carries, 114 yards, 1 TD Receiving Joey Kent 5 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TD Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 20–43, 204 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT's Rushing Dennis Riddle 13 carries, 60 yards Receiving Curtis Brown 6 receptions, 61 yards
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 Rushing Dennis Riddle 15 carries, 53 yards Receiving Toderick Malone 4 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD Ole Miss Passing Josh Nelson 19–38, 163 yards, 1 INT Rushing Dou Innocent 20 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD Receiving Dou Innocent 6 receptions, 68 yards
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 Rushing Jason Mills 2 carries, 10 yards, 1 TD Receiving Troy Redwine 5 receptions, 128 yards, 1 TD Alabama Passing Brian Burgdorf 10–13, 136 yards, 1 TD Rushing Brian Steger 19 carries, 97 yards Receiving Toderick Malone 4 receptions, 87 yards, 1 TD
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 Rushing Kevin Faulk 23 carries, 75 yards Receiving Sheddrick Wilson 6 receptions, 81 yards Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 6–16, 93 yards, 1 INT Rushing Dennis Riddle 33 carries, 174 yards, 1 TD Receiving Curtis Brown 4 receptions, 64 yards
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 Rushing Keffer McGee 18 carries, 78 yards Receiving Eric Moulds 4 receptions, 25 yards, 1 TD Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 8–10, 75 yards Rushing Dennis Riddle 38 carries, 181 yards, 2 TD's Receiving Curtis Brown 2 receptions, 25 yards
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 Rushing Dennis Riddle 20 carries, 86 yards Receiving Toderick Malone 7 receptions, 106 yards, 1 TD Auburn Passing Patrick Nix 18–36, 259 yards, 2 TD's Rushing Stephen Davis 22 carries, 80 yards Receiving Errick Lowe 3 receptions, 66 yards
^ "Tide rises just in time" . The Tennessean . September 3, 1995. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Somehow, Tide prevails" . The Anniston Star . September 10, 1995. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Razorbacks trap Alabama" . The Montgomery Advertiser . September 17, 1995. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Take it away Bama: 31–0" . The Atlanta Constitution . October 1, 1995. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Alabama too tough for State" . The News and Observer . October 8, 1995. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Vols sack the streak" . The Tennessean . October 15, 1995. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Alabama springs back" . The Clarion-Ledger . October 22, 1995. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Alabama tops UNT with second-half rally" . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . October 29, 1995. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Option breaks LSU-Tide deadlock" . Daily World . November 5, 1995. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Alabama squeezes Bulldogs" . Hattiesburg American . November 12, 1995. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Tigers win a classic" . The Montgomery Advertiser . November 19, 1995. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "1995 Alabama football archives" . RollTide.com . University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved February 20, 2021 . ^ 1995 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Media Guide , p. 2 ^ "Alabama 31, Georgia 0" . UPI. September 30, 1995. Retrieved May 28, 2020 .
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