1990 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

The 1990 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 1990 College football season. The Crimson Tide was led by first-year head coach Gene Stallings,^[1][2] replacing Bill Curry who left for the University of Kentucky.^[3]

Summary

The 1990 season got off to an excruciating start, as the Tide and new coach Gene Stallings lost three games by a combined total of eight points. In the opener against Southern Miss, star tailback Siran Stacy tore ligaments in his knee and missed the rest of the season. Against Florida, Alabama lost another star player for the year in wide receiver Craig Sanderson and quarterback Gary Hollingsworth threw three interceptions to Florida safety Will White, and the Gators scored the winning touchdown on a blocked punt.^[4]

After wins over lightly regarded Vanderbilt and SW Louisiana (now Louisiana-Lafayette), Bama traveled to Knoxville to face undefeated, third-ranked Tennessee. The result was a shocking 9–6 upset victory, Alabama's fifth in a row in the Third Saturday in October rivalry. The game was a defensive struggle and a field goal duel. UT's kicker Greg Harris, who hit a 51-yard field goal try to tie the game with ten minutes left, attempted a 50-yarder for the win with 1:35 to go, but Alabama's Stacy Harrison blocked the kick and the ball bounced to the Tennessee 37-yard line. The Crimson Tide advanced the ball seven yards on three running plays, setting up Philip Doyle's third field goal, a game-winning 48-yarder as time expired.^[5]

The next game was an ugly 9–0 loss to Penn State in which Hollingsworth threw five interceptions and Bama rushed for only six yards.^[6] However, Alabama bounced back to win four in a row and salvage a winning season after the 0–3 start. Most importantly, Alabama won its first Iron Bowl in five years, dominating Auburn defensively and winning 16–7. It was the seventh game in a row in which the Alabama defense held the opposition to single digits. The season ended with a lopsided 34–7 bowl loss to Louisville, and Alabama finished 7–5.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 8	1:30 p.m.	Southern Miss*	No. 13	Legion Field Birmingham, AL	PPV	L 24–27	75,962
September 15	11:30 a.m.	No. 24 Florida		Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	WTBS	L 13–17	70,123
September 22	2:00 p.m.	at Georgia		Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (rivalry)	CBS	L 16–17	82,122
September 29	1:30 p.m.	Vanderbilt		Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	PPV	W 59–28	70,123
October 6	4:00 p.m.	at Southwestern Louisiana*		Cajun Field Lafayette, LA	PPV	W 25–6	36,133
October 20	3:00 p.m.	at No. 3 Tennessee		Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN (Third Saturday in October)	ESPN	W 9–6	96,732
October 27	4:00 p.m.	Penn State*		Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	ESPN	L 0–9	70,123
November 3	11:30 a.m.	at Mississippi State		Scott Field Starkville, MS (rivalry)	WTBS	W 22–0	39,252
November 10	1:30 p.m.	LSU		Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	PPV	W 24–3	70,123
November 17	1:30 p.m.	Cincinnati*		Legion Field Birmingham, AL		W 45–7	71,327
December 1	2:00 p.m.	vs. No. 20 Auburn		Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Iron Bowl)	CBS	W 16–7	75,962
January 1, 1991	3:30 p.m.	vs. No. 18 Louisville*	No. 25	Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ (Fiesta Bowl)	NBC	L 7–34	69,098
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Statistics

Note: Does not include Fiesta Bowl.

References