The 1991 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was led by head coach Gene Stallings who was in his second season at Alabama. The team played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The team competed in the Southeastern Conference. The team improved upon a 7–5 record from Stallings's first season as they ended with an 11–1 overall record, while going 6–1 in their conference games. The September 21st win against Georgia would prove to be the first in a school record tying 28-game winning streak and a school record 31-game unbeaten streak.

In the opener against Temple, Chris Anderson had a 96-yard touchdown run from scrimmage, setting an all-time team record that still stands."The Record Book" , p. 12 One week later, Alabama traveled to Florida and got blown out, 35–0. It was the worst Tide loss in 34 years, since a 40–0 loss in 1957 to Auburn that ended the disastrous coaching tenure of Jennings B. Whitworth. It also cost Alabama an SEC title as the Gators went undefeated in conference play. However, it would be the last game Alabama lost until November 1993, as the next week's 10–0 victory over Georgia began a 28-game winning streak.

After lopsided victories over Vanderbilt, Chattanooga, and Tulane, the Tide started winning a series of squeakers. Against Tennessee the Tide trailed 6–3 in the fourth quarter when starting quarterback Danny Woodson left the game with a strained hamstring. Behind backup Jay Barker, Alabama rallied for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter and won 24–19."COLLEGE FOOTBALL", The New York Times, Oct. 20, 1991 It was the Crimson Tide's sixth victory in a row in the Third Saturday in October rivalry. Barker assumed the starting job when Woodson was suspended for violating team rules before the LSU game."SPORTS PEOPLE: COLLEGE FOOTBALL", The New York Times, Nov. 7, 1991

Late in the fourth quarter of the Mississippi State game, the Bulldogs drove down to the Alabama 1, but Stacy Harrison's end-zone interception preserved a 13–7 victory."COLLEGE FOOTBALL", The New York Times, Nov. 3, 1991 Against LSU, David Palmer ran a punt back 90 yards for a touchdown and Antonio London blocked a field goal with 2:39 to go to preserve a 20–17 Alabama victory."COLLEGE FOOTBALL", The New York Times, Nov. 10, 1991 Bama eked out a 10–7 victory over lowly Memphis State after the Memphis kicker missed two second-half field goals and Alabama end John Copeland forced a fumble by the Memphis quarterback at the Tide 27 with 3:51 to go."College Report", Sports Illustrated, Nov. 25, 1991 The season ended with Alabama's fifth straight victory by six points or less, as the Tide defeated Auburn in the Iron Bowl, 13–6. Alabama faced off against Colorado in the Blockbuster Bowl and won another nailbiter 30–25 behind a punt return TD and 146 all-purpose yards from Palmer."COLLEGE FOOTBALL", The New York Times, Dec. 30, 1991 Alabama's 11–1 record was its best since the 1979 team went 12–0 and won the national championship.

Schedule

Rankings

Poll Pre Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 Wk 12 Wk 13 Wk 14 Final AP poll222016NR222019147 7878 8 85

Roster

Regular season statistics Overall Alabama Opponents Total points 294 118 Average 26.7 10.7 First downs 217 173 Rushing 136 84 Passing 63 78 Penalty 18 11 Total yards 4,280 3,303 Rushing 2,772 1,452 Passing 1,508 1,851 Touchdowns 37 13 Rushing 24 4 Passing 7 9 Return 6 0 Field goals nade–att 12–22 9–19 PAT made–att 34–37 11–11 Third down made–att 60–141 54–160 Third down success rate 42.6 33.8

Scoring by quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Alabama 78 70 59 87 294 Opponents 7 35 25 51 118

Passing Name G Comp–Att TD Int Yards Pct. LongWoodson 8 64–101 4 3 882 63.4 59Jay Barker 9 33–56 1 3 554 58.9 75Siran Stacy 11 3–4 2 1 57 75.0 26David Palmer 11 1–1 0 0 15 100 15

NFL draft The following Crimson Tide players were selected in the 1992 NFL draft following the season.

248Siran StacyRunning backPhiladelphia Eagles371Kevin TurnerFullbackNew England Patriots8218Robert StewartDefensive tackleNew Orleans Saints10272Mark McMillianCornerbackPhiladelphia Eagles

References