The 1997 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Mike DuBose, the Crimson Tide compiled an overall record of 4–7 with a mark of 2–6 in conference play, tying for fifth place at the bottom of the SEC's Western Division standings. The team played home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
Alabama suffered its first losing record since the 1984 season.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries Houston
A sellout crowd packed Legion Field as the Mike DuBose era got off to a strong start, with the Crimson Tide rolling to a convincing victory over Houston. Alabama’s 42 points were the most the Tide had scored in a game since the 1994 season opener.
After a Houston punt, Alabama marched 54 yards in 10 plays on its opening possession, capping the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run by Curtis Alexander to give the Tide an early 7–0 lead.
On Houston’s next possession, Kevin Sigler forced a fumble that was recovered by Trevis Smith, giving Alabama the ball at the Houston 34-yard line. The Tide capitalized two plays later when Freddie Kitchens found Rod Rutledge, who made an impressive one-handed catch for a 29-yard touchdown. Ryan Pflugner’s extra-point attempt was blocked, leaving Alabama with a 13–0 lead.
Houston moved into Alabama territory on its next possession and faced a fourth-and-six at the Alabama 42-yard line. The Cougars elected to go for it, but Jason McKinley’s pass was intercepted by Fernando Bryant, who returned it 66 yards for a touchdown. Alabama successfully converted the two-point attempt to extend its lead to 21–0.
Houston began its next possession in Alabama territory thanks to a 58-yard return by Ketric Sanford, but once again the Cougars came up empty. On fourth-and-16, McKinley’s pass was dropped in the end zone by Maurice Bryant, turning the ball over on downs. Bryant was also flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after the play, giving Alabama possession even deeper in Houston territory.
Lance Tucker entered the game at quarterback, and on third down he found Alexander on a screen pass that Alexander took 43 yards for a touchdown, extending Alabama’s lead to 28–0 early in the second quarter.
After forcing another Houston punt, Alabama drove deep into Cougar territory and faced third-and-goal from the Houston 3-yard line. Third-string quarterback John David Phillips entered the game and took the shotgun snap, running straight up the middle toward the end zone. Phillips appeared to be headed for another touchdown, but he fumbled at the 1-yard line, with Houston recovering to end the threat.
The Cougars capitalized with a three-play, 99-yard scoring drive, capped by a 57-yard touchdown pass from Tyson Helton to Robbie Wheeler to put Houston on the board at 28–7.
Alabama moved back into Houston territory on its next possession but turned the ball over again, this time on an interception by Kitchens. Houston was unable to capitalize, however, and the first half ended with Alabama holding a 28–7 advantage.
Alabama received the opening kickoff of the second half but turned the ball over for the third consecutive possession dating back to the first half. Kitchens was hit from behind by Marcus Smith, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Houston’s Louis Hampton and giving the Cougars possession in Alabama territory. Houston again failed to capitalize, as Sebastian Villarreal missed a 43-yard field-goal attempt, keeping the Tide’s lead at 21 points.
After an Alabama punt, Houston finally found the end zone again, marching 83 yards in seven plays before Sanford scored on a 20-yard touchdown run to cut Alabama’s lead to 28–14.
Tucker returned at quarterback for Alabama and led the Tide into Houston territory. A key play came on third-and-seven from the Houston 32-yard line when Tucker’s pass over the middle was batted into the air and intercepted by Malik Ledbetter. However, Houston was flagged for pass interference, negating the interception and giving Alabama a first down.
Two plays later, early in the fourth quarter, Alexander scored his third touchdown of the game and his second rushing touchdown, extending Alabama’s lead to 35–14.
After another Houston punt, Alabama put together another touchdown drive, marching 71 yards in seven plays. Shaun Alexander capped the drive with his first touchdown of the season, a 22-yard run that pushed the Tide’s lead to 42–14.
After the teams exchanged punts, Houston drove into Alabama territory in eight plays and added a field goal by Villarreal to make the score 42–17. Alabama then ran out the clock on its final possession, securing a dominant season-opening victory and giving the new DuBose era an impressive start.
Statistics HoustonAlabama First downs 15 25 Total yards 384 466 Rushing yards 114 213 Passing yards 270 253 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 28:01 31:59 Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing Tyson Helton 7–14, 143 yards, 1 TD Rushing Ketric Sanford 12 carries, 67 yards, 1 TD Receiving Robbie Wheeler 6 receptions, 107 yardsAlabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 12–19, 168 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Shaun Alexander 11 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD Receiving Curtis AlexanderChad Goss 2 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD2 receptions, 50 yards
Vanderbilt
Alabama's defense held Vanderbilt to just 124 yards of total offense as the Crimson Tide won its first road and conference game of the season in shutout fashion, defeating the Commodores 20-0 in Nashville.
The Thursday night showdown began with both offenses struggling to find any rhythm, as each team went three-and-out and punted on its first three possessions. After Alabama went three-and-out and punted for the fourth consecutive possession, Vanderbilt appeared poised to do the same. However, a defensive holding penalty was called on Alabama, giving Vanderbilt the first first down for either team.
Three plays later, Vanderbilt faced a third-and-1 and converted for a first down that moved the Commodores into Alabama territory. However, Vanderbilt was then flagged for illegal participation, resulting in a 15-yard penalty and forcing a third-and-16. After failing to convert, Vanderbilt punted for the fourth time, but this time the Tide's special teams came through. Warren Foust blocked the punt, and Steve Harris recovered at the Vanderbilt 22-yard line.
Alabama capitalized on the opportunity three plays later when Freddie Kitchens found Ed Scissum for a 17-yard touchdown pass, giving the Crimson Tide a 7-0 lead.
Vanderbilt took its next possession into the second quarter and drove into Alabama territory before eventually punting the ball back to the Tide. Alabama finally picked up its first first down of the game when Lance Tucker connected with Calvin Hall for a 25-yard gain. The Tide could not sustain the drive, however, and was forced to punt once again.
After three more punts—two by Vanderbilt and one by Alabama—the Tide looked to run out the clock at the end of the first half. Alabama used a draw play to Scissum that gained 10 yards and moved the chains. With time remaining, the Tide attempted to take advantage by throwing the ball and adding to its lead before halftime.
Instead, disaster struck. Kitchens' pass deflected off the hands of Dennis Riddle and was intercepted by Rahim Batten, giving Vanderbilt an opportunity to score before the break. The Commodores were unable to capitalize, however, and Alabama took a 7-0 lead into halftime.
Both teams exchanged punts to begin the second half. Following another Vanderbilt punt, Alabama took over near midfield and drove into Commodores territory, where Brian Cunningham connected on a 48-yard field goal to extend the Tide's lead to 10-0.
After another Vanderbilt punt, Alabama again began a drive near midfield looking to add to its advantage. On the first play, Kitchens attempted a deep pass down the middle of the field, but the ball was intercepted by Corey Chavous, giving Vanderbilt possession.
Three more punts followed—two by Vanderbilt and one by Alabama—before the Tide took over at its own 3-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Alabama then put together its best scoring drive of the game, marching 97 yards on 10 plays. Kitchens connected with Quincy Jackson for a 45-yard reception that moved the ball deep into Vanderbilt territory, and the drive was capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from Shaun Alexander. Alexander fumbled the handoff but quickly recovered the ball and crossed the goal line, extending Alabama's lead to 17-0.
Another Vanderbilt punt gave Alabama the ball in Commodores territory, and the Tide looked to add to its lead while, more importantly, taking as much time off the clock as possible. With the scoring opportunity appearing to be in jeopardy, Alabama faced a third-and-23 from the Vanderbilt 47-yard line. Kitchens found Jackson once again, this time for an 18-yard reception. Although the play came up short of the first down, it moved the ball into position for Cunningham, who calmly converted a 46-yard field goal to make it 20-0.
Vanderbilt's next possession expired as Alabama's defense completed the shutout. The Crimson Tide left Nashville with a 20-0 victory.
Statistics AlabamaVanderbilt First downs 9 9 Total yards 238 124 Rushing yards 75 66 Passing yards 163 58 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 30:16 29:44 Team Category Player StatisticsAlabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 10–18, 124 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT's Rushing Dennis Riddle 13 carries, 31 yards Receiving Quincy Jackson 3 receptions, 67 yardsVanderbilt Passing Damian Allen 6–22, 58 yards Rushing Jimmy Williams 10 carries, 43 yards Receiving Jimmy Williams 3 receptions, 41 yards
Arkansas
Despite entering the game as a nearly 18-point underdog, Arkansas once again stunned a ranked Alabama team at Bryant-Denny Stadium, defeating the Crimson Tide by one point for the second consecutive season.
After going three-and-out on its opening possession, Alabama watched Arkansas drive 30 yards in five plays, setting up a 34-yard field goal by Todd Latourette that put the Razorbacks ahead 3–0.
Later in the first quarter, Arvin Richard returned an Arkansas punt inside the Razorbacks’ 20-yard line before fumbling. Alabama recovered at the Arkansas 22-yard line, but the Tide’s offense could not manage a first down. Brian Cunningham salvaged the possession with a 36-yard field goal to tie the game at 3–3.
Arkansas took its next possession into the second quarter and drove into Alabama territory before a sack pushed the Razorbacks out of field-goal range and forced them to punt.
Later in the second quarter, Alabama put together a 47-yard drive over eight plays to take its first lead of the game. Cunningham connected on another field goal, this time from 38 yards, to put the Tide ahead 6–3.
Alabama got the ball back late in the first half and drove into Arkansas territory, setting up Cunningham for a 52-yard field-goal attempt on the final play of the half. The kick was blocked, however, keeping Alabama’s lead at 6–3 heading into halftime.
Arkansas received the opening kickoff of the second half and used two critical third-down conversions to set up the game’s first touchdown. The first came on third-and-five from the Alabama 45-yard line, when Clint Stoerner found Anthony Lucas wide open down the middle of the field for a 43-yard completion that moved the ball to the Alabama 2-yard line.
Alabama’s defense held the Razorbacks out of the end zone on three consecutive plays, but on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Stoerner kept the ball and punched it into the end zone to give Arkansas a 10–6 lead.