The 2001 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Dennis Franchione, the Crimson Tide compiled an overall record of 7–5 with a mark of 4–4 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for third in the SEC's Western Division. Alabama was invited to the Independence Bowl, where the Crimson Tide defeated Iowa State. The team played home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries UCLA
Dennis Franchione's first game as Alabama's head coach pitted the Crimson Tide against the Bruins of the Pacific-10 Conference. ESPN's College Gameday was in Tuscaloosa for the first time ever (they had previously visited Alabama home games at Legion Field in Birmingham). Although Alabama outgained UCLA in total offense 458–291, the Bruins were victorious by a final score of 20–17 before a sold-out home crowd. The Tide took an early 10–0 lead on a 78-yard Antonio Carter touchdown reception from Tyler Watts and 30-yard Neal Thomas field goal. UCLA responded with 20 consecutive points to take a lead that would not be relinquished. The final Alabama score came late in the fourth on a 71-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Zow to Freddie Milons. The 2001 meeting marked the third all-time meeting between the two schools.
Statistics UCLAAlabama First downs 13 17 Total yards 291 458 Rushing yards 168 159 Passing yards 123 299 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 26:29 33:31 Team Category Player StatisticsUCLA Passing Cory Paus 8–22, 123 yards, 1 TD Rushing DeShaun Foster 22 carries, 110 yards Receiving Tab Perry 5 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TDAlabama Passing Tyler Watts 12–22, 204 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Ahmaad Galloway 21 carries, 76 yards Receiving Freddie Milons 4 receptions, 124 yards, 1TD
Vanderbilt
Dennis Franchione notched his first win as head coach of the Crimson Tide, in a game of field goals, and defeated Vanderbilt 12–9.
Statistics AlabamaVanderbilt First downs 17 20 Total yards 357 396 Rushing yards 229 143 Passing yards 128 253 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 30:19 29:41 Team Category Player StatisticsAlabama Passing Tyler Watts 10–17, 128 yards Rushing Ahmaad Galloway 24 carries, 144 yards Receiving Antonio Carter 3 receptions, 30 yardsVanderbilt Passing Greg Zolman 17–34, 253 yards Rushing Lew Thomas 10 carries, 89 yards Receiving Dan Stricker 3 receptions, 75 yards
Arkansas
As a result of the September 11 Attacks, the September 15, 2001, contest with Southern Miss was postponed, resulting in the Razorbacks being the Tide's third opponent on the season. Although outgained in total offense, a pair of defensive touchdowns put the Tide over the top before an emotional home crowd 31–10. Bama would score its first points on an 11-yard Ahmaad Galloway touchdown run to take a 7–3 lead in the first quarter. In the second, the teams would alternate touchdowns with Reggie Myles scoring on a 42-yard fumble recovery for the Tide and Brandon Holmes scoring on a 1-yard run to have Bama leading 14–10 at the half. The Tide would open their second half scoring with a 36-yard Neal Thomas field goal followed by a 39-yard Freddie Milons touchdown reception from Tyler Watts. The final points of the evening would come with only 00:20 remaining in the game when Thurman Ward returning an interception 60-yards for a touchdown.
Statistics ArkansasAlabama First downs 21 11 Total yards 315 249 Rushing yards 106 116 Passing yards 209 133 Turnovers 4 2 Time of possession 35:28 24:32 Team Category Player StatisticsArkansas Passing Ryan Sorahan 14–19, 133 yards Rushing Brandon Holmes 17 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD Receiving George Wilson 7 receptions, 73 yardsAlabama Passing Tyler Watts 9–16, 133 yards, 1 TD Rushing Ahmaad Galloway 20 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD Receiving Freddie Milons 2 receptions, 45 yards, 1 TD
South Carolina
Although the Tide gained 516 yards of total offense, the Gamecocks prevailed by a final score of 37–36. The South Carolina victory marked their first victory over Alabama in school history.
Statistics AlabamaSouth Carolina First downs 30 17 Total yards 516 359 Rushing yards 285 68 Passing yards 231 291 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 38:55 21:05 Team Category Player StatisticsAlabama Passing Tyler Watts 20–25, 231 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Tyler Watts 22 carries, 162 yards, 2 TD's Receiving Freddie Milons 8 receptions, 72 yardsSouth Carolina Passing Phil Petty 19–33, 291 yards, 3 TD's Rushing Derek Watson 9 carries, 24 yards, 1 TD Receiving Matthew Thomas 4 receptions, 83 yards
UTEP
The Tide gained 588 yards of total offense, and defeated the Miners by a final score of 56–7 in the first Legion Field game of the 2001 season. Bama scored 21 points in first on a pair of Donnie Lowe touchdown runs (2 and 1 yard respectively) and a 10-yard Triandos Luke touchdown reception from Tyler Watts. Another 21 points were scored in the second on a pair of Watts touchdown runs (16 and 9 yard respectively) and a 2-yard Luke touchdown reception to give Bama a 42–0 halftime lead. The scoring continued in the second half on a 12-yard Marvin Brown touchdown run and 2-yard Ray Hudson touchdown run. This was the most points Alabama had scored in a game since 1993 vs. Louisiana Tech (56-3).
Statistics UTEPAlabama First downs 7 27 Total yards 232 588 Rushing yards 133 360 Passing yards 99 228 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 24:31 35:29 Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Wesley Phillips 5–14, 60 yards, 1 INT Rushing Jon Schaper 5 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD Receiving Terrance Minor 2 receptions, 33 yardsAlabama Passing Tyler Watts 12–18, 147 yards, 2 TD's Rushing Tyler Watts 9 carries, 101 yards, 2 TD's Receiving Freddie Milons 4 receptions, 74 yards
Ole Miss
Thirteen unanswered points in the fourth resulted in the Rebels defeating the Tide before the home crowd by a final score of 27–24. Bama scored first on a 6-yard Ahmaad Galloway touchdown run, only to have Ole Miss take the lead after touchdown runs on a 1-yard Toward Sanford run and 25-yard Joe Gunn run. The Tide responded with a 58-yard Sam Collins touchdown reception from Tyler Watts and 31 yard Neal Thomas field goal to take a 17–14 halftime lead.
Alabama extended their lead to 24–14 in the third on a 7-yard Triandos Luke touchdown reception. Ole Miss would respond with a 19-yard Charles Stackhouse touchdown run and Eli Manning hitting Gunn for a 3-yard touchdown pass to seal the victory with 00:46 remaining in the game. For the game, Ole Miss outgained the Tide 430–363 in total offense.
Statistics AlabamaOle Miss First downs 15 22 Total yards 363 430 Rushing yards 227 105 Passing yards 136 325 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 26:33 33:27 Team Category Player StatisticsAlabama Passing Tyler Watts 7–24, 136 yards 2 TD's, 1 INT Rushing Tyler Watts 13 carries, 110 yards Receiving Sam Collins 1 reception, 58 yards, 1 TDOle Miss Passing Eli Manning 22–41, 325 yards, 1 TD Rushing Joe Gunn 14 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD Receiving Chris Collins 8 receptions, 110 yards
Tennessee
Although Alabama took a 24–21 lead into the fourth quarter, 14 unanswered points in the fourth resulted in Bama losing its seventh consecutive contest to the Vols in the annual Third Saturday in October game. After falling behind 14–3 on a 21-yard pass from Casey Clausen to Donté Stallworth and a 60-yard Travis Stephens run, the Tide responded with a pair of Sam Collins touchdown receptions to take a 17–14 lead.
The Vols responded and took a 21–17 lead following a 21-yard Jason Witten touchdown reception, only to again fall behind 24–21 after a four-yard Ahmaad Galloway touchdown run. Tennessee again came from behind and dominated the fourth quarter and seal the victory with a one-yard Clausen and one-yard Stephens touchdown runs in the fourth.
Statistics TennesseeAlabama First downs 23 13 Total yards 480 328 Rushing yards 187 163 Passing yards 293 165 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 36:19 23:41 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Passing Casey Clausen 21–28, 293 yards, 2 TD's Rushing Travis Stephens 33 carries, 162 yards, 2 TD's Receiving Kelley Washington 4 receptions, 93 yardsAlabama Passing Tyler Watts 10–23, 165 yards, 2 TD's Rushing Santonio Beard 10 carries, 141 yards Receiving Freddie Milons 2 receptions, 46 yards
LSU
On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, LSU dominated in gaining 611 yards of total offense (with a record 528 yards through the air) and defeated the Tide 35–21. LSU took a 14–0 lead in the first quarter on a 3-yard LaBrandon Toefield run and a 34-yard touchdown pass from Rohan Davey to Jerel Myers. Bama responded in the second with a 22-yard Neal Thomas field goal and 5-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Watts to Terry Jones to make the score to 14–10 at the half.
Early in the third, Toefield again scored on a two-yard run to give the Tigers a 21–10 lead. Bama tied the game at 21 after another Thomas field goal and 22-yard Watts touchdown run. LSU responded and scored on a 25-yard Josh Reed touchdown reception late in the third and on a 6-yard Toefield touchdown run in the fourth. Reed's 293 yards receiving set a SEC record for receiving yardage in a game.
Statistics LSUAlabama First downs 30 18 Total yards 611 383 Rushing yards 83 174 Passing yards 528 209 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 31:02 28:58 Team Category Player StatisticsLSU Passing Rohan Davey 35–44, 528 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT Rushing LaBrandon Toefield 23 carries, 73 yards, 3 TD's Receiving Josh Reed 19 receptions, 293 yards, 1 TDAlabama Passing Tyler Watts 13–22, 165 yards, 1 TD Rushing Tyler Watts 21 carries, 86 yards, 1 TD Receiving Freddie Milons 5 receptions, 91 yards
Mississippi State
Bama put an end to a three-game losing streak and defeated the Bulldogs of Mississippi State 24–17 before the home crowd. The Tide took a 10–0 lead late into the second quarter on a 6-yard Santonio Beard touchdown run and 20-yard Neal Thomas field goal. The Bulldogs answered, and scored the next 17 points on a pair of Kevin Fant touchdown passes and a 43-yard John M. Marlin field goal to take a 17–10 lead into the fourth quarter. In the fourth, Andrew Zow hit Donnie Lowe for a 10-yard touchdown strike to tie the game at 17, with Beard scoring his second touchdown on a game-winning, 14-yard run.
Statistics Mississippi StateAlabama First downs 16 22 Total yards 300 401 Rushing yards 117 228 Passing yards 183 173 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 29:38 30:22 Team Category Player StatisticsMississippi State Passing Kevin Fant 17–29, 175 yards, 2 TD's Rushing Dontae Walker 15 carries, 101 yards Receiving Dicenzo Miller 2 receptions, 43 yards, 1 TDAlabama Passing Andrew Zow 12–22, 157 yards, 1 TD Rushing Santonio Beard 15 carries, 95 yards, 2 TD's Receiving Antonio Carter 4 receptions, 58 yards
Auburn
On The Plains, Alabama outgained the Tigers in total offense 549–272 and secured the Tide's upset victory at Auburn 31–7 in the 2001 Iron Bowl. After a scoreless first, Bama scored first on an eight-yard Santonio Beard touchdown run. Auburn answered with their lone score on a 5-yard Ronnie Brown run. The Tide scored next with Andrew Zow connecting with Jason McAddley for a 45-yard touchdown strike to give the visitors a 14–7 lead at the half.
The second half again saw the Tide strike early on a 47-yard Beard run, with the final scores coming in the fourth on a 10-yard Terry Jones touchdown reception and a 26-yard Neal Thomas field goal. Although slightly outgained in passing yardage 221–231, Bama outrushed the Tigers 328–41 to give Alabama the 31–7 victory.
Statistics AlabamaAuburn First downs 25 15 Total yards 549 272 Rushing yards 328 41 Passing yards 221 231 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 34:01 25:59