The 1971 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. [63], Template:Southeastern Conference football champions. [30], After their victory over Ole Miss, Alabama moved into the No. And those guys that were crying, they knew that., Alabama's team picture in 1970, the last all-white football team at the school. They then won their next four games over Southern Miss, Florida, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt and set up a top 20 match-up against Tennessee. That opened it up for all the young Black athletes that was growing up in the state of Alabama, growing up in the South. The 1971 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. Two big changes came to Alabama football in 1971. The 1972 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. All rights reserved. The first were Wilbur Jackson and John Mitchell. Alabama countered with Musso and guard John Hannah on offense and ends Robin Parkhouse and John Mitchell on defense. Thats a huge change. Their lead was then stretched to 130 at halftime behind field goals of 33-yards by Bill Davis and 26-yards by Greg Gantt. They are: (1) the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), (2) the Associated Press (AP),[1] (3) the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), (4) the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), and (5) the United Press International (UPI). [53][54], After a scoreless third, the Crimson Tide scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and won 317. 14 position in the AP Poll prior to their game at Legion Field. [20][21] All four came on the ground with a pair from one-yard out, a three-yard run and a five-yard run. The injury is now known as turf-toe. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The official 1971 Football schedule for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. I felt like I could have been the next Wilbur Jackson. For the record, Birmingham returned Mayor George C. Siebels Jr. to office in 1971. . [66] After Danny Ridgeway gave the Baby Tide an early 70 lead, Tulane responded with the next 22 points and opened a 227 lead. This was the first team that African Americans contributed as members of the Alabama varsity squad, with John Mitchell being the first to actually see playing time. Jeff Kinney scored on a two-yard run and Johnny Rodgers on a 77-yard punt return in the first; Jerry Tagge scored on a one-yard run and Gary Dixon on a two-yard run in the second quarter. [64] Ralph Stokes then went on and scored the game-winning touchdown for Alabama in the fourth quarter on a 38-yard run that made the final score 2823. [11][12], USC responds with ten unanswered points and made the halftime score 1710. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. [68] After Danny Ridgeway gave the Baby Tide an early 70 lead, Tulane responded with the next 22 points and opened a 227 lead. Alabama won, 31-7. 1971 Football Schedule. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. [26][27] The 531 rushing yards made by Alabama were the most allowed by the Rebels' defense in school history. In the fourth, Bob McKinney scored on a 55-yard punt return and Johnny Sharpless scored on an 11-yard touchdown run. In their rival game, the Crimson Tide ended a four-game losing streak to the Vols with their 3215 victory. Led by Archie Manning, the Rebels defeated the Crimson Tide 48-23 after a 22-point fourth quarter at Jackson. [33][34] The 73,828 in attendance set a new record for largest crowd in the history of Legion Field to date. But when I think of great Alabama wins, it was the drama of the 1971 game. [18] In their home opener, Alabama played 62 different players and defeated the Golden Eagles 426 at Denny Stadium. Remembering Alabama's 1971 Win Over Auburn By Kirk McNair Nov 24, 2017 10 Johnny Musso was in the hallway outside the Alabama training room testing a sore toe. Although several African American students competed during spring practice in 1967, Wilbur Jackson became the first African American awarded a scholarship to play for Alabama, and he competed as a member of the freshman squad in 1970 and played for the varsity team in 1971. [14][16][17] Johnny Musso gave the Crimson Tide a 140 lead with touchdown runs of one-yard in the first and 16-yards in the second quarter. Main Navigation Menu. Alabama opened the season with an upset victory at USC. Special thanks to Brad Green at the Paul W. Bryant Museum for research and photo assistance. See our list of forfeits and vacated games for more details. [14][53][54] Alabama took a 140 lead behind first quarter touchdown runs of six and 11-yards by Terry Davis. Deas, Tommy (September 10, 2013). [65] In the game, the Tigers had seven turnovers and both teams missed several scoring opportunities.[65]. Crimson Tide trainer Jim Goostree was with him, watching the tortured gait of Bamas All-America left halfback. [10] By 1969, Bryant began to recruit larger linemen and tailbacks, and after a pair of six win seasons in 1969 and 1970, Bryant saw the success of the wishbone for the Longhorns and decided to implement the offense for the 1971 season. [11][12] The victory was also the 200th career win for Alabama head coach Bear Bryant. Mitchell was an All-American in 1972, and both he and Jackson were widely recognized for exhibiting the hard work and class that Bryant preached to those within his program.
This was the first team that African Americans contributed as members of the Alabama varsity squad, with John Mitchell being the first to actually see playing time. Join our linker program. That 1971 season had begun with Bama in the return game to USC, a Tide win that shocked the college football world.). [8][9] In order to keep the change a secret, Bryant closed all of the Crimson Tide's practices closed from the public, screened the practice field from view with a canvas and hired security to keep people away. They play their home games at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Tigers offense scored 335 points while the defense allowed 182 points. Musso was an unknown quality leading up to the game. [35][36] The 73,828 in attendance set a new record for largest crowd in the history of Legion Field to date. Earlier this summer, city officials dedicated a downtown mural in his honor. (As for the difference in records for Alabama and Auburn, in 1970 the NCAA allowed teams to schedule 11 regular season games, but AU never a pacesetter elected not to participate, while Alabama enjoyed a huge payday with an 11th game against Southern Cal. Alabama would ride the wishbone offense to five consecutive SEC championships between 1971-75 and three more from 1977-79, plus national titles in 1973, 1978 and 1979, a run detailed in the recently released documentary The Wishbone Boys. Bryant added another SEC crown in 1981, and was still running the offense up until his retirement at the end of the 1982 season. When Alabama played for the national championship in 1992, 15 members of the regular starting line-up including 11 of 12 on the teams top-rated defense were Black. The 1971 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. [66] Green Wave points were scored on a 43-yard Steve Foley touchdown pass to Robert Johnson, a one-yard Foley touchdown run, a 50-yard John Washington punt return and on a 31-yard David Falgue field goal. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. [66], In their only home game of the season, the Baby Tide ran for 359 yards and six touchdowns en route to a 417 win over Vanderbilt on a Friday afternoon. Bama completed 10 of 12 passes for 122 yards, while AU was 15-28 for 152 yards, but with two interceptions. [52][53] With their 345 offensive yards in the game, Alabama surpassed the previous SEC season record for total offense of 3,068 yards set by Tennessee in 1951. [14][46][47] Bill Davis scored all of the first half points with his field goals of 29 and 38-yards that gave Alabama a 60 halftime lead. All rights reserved (About Us). Charitable Giving Turkey Bowl Classic Charity Golf Fellowship of Christian Athletes Senior Bowl Scout School NFL Flag Football Yellawood Community . [39], With their over the Vols, Alabama retained their No. These players included: Prior to the 1972 NCAA University Division football season, NCAA rules prohibited freshmen from participating on the varsity team, and as such many schools fielded freshmen teams. [65] Bob Holmes tied the game 66 late in the third with his one-yard run, and Randy Billingsley followed in the fourth quarter with his game-winning, two-yard touchdown run. 9 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Southern Miss. Ellis Beck then extended their lead to 210 with his one-yard touchdown run prior to halftime. The score came on a 48-yard Kenneth Lyons touchdown pass to Elmer Allen in the second quarter. [65] The next week, Alabama rallied from a 15-point deficit and defeated Tulane 2322 at New Orleans. He finally settled on an oversized shoe on the foot with the injury and an inch or so of tongue depressors taped together and placed under Mussos foot to keep the toe elevated. Print; Grid; Text; [41], As they entered their game against Mississippi State, Alabama retained their No. 4 position and Tennessee into the No. For the return engagement with the Trojans, Bryants team had two new elements, one a total secret, the other completely above-board, but no less historic. [42][43], State cut the Alabama lead to 1710 on an 88-yard Frank Dowsing punt return in the third. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. The first came on a 31-yard Terry Davis pass to Wayne Wheeler and the second on a 30-yard Steve Higginbotham interception return. Note: This page is a finding aid to materials in the Joyce Sports Research Collection in the Department of Special Collections, University Libraries of Notre Dame.It references the Joyce Collection's holdings of team media guides for football programs at four-year colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. [31] Against the Commodores, the Alabama defense forced their second shutout of the season win this 420 victory at Dudley Field. Chuck Stricklands interception set up the first Musso TD and Jeff Rouzie had one to set up the second. The historic game would pit undefeated and third-ranked Alabama (10-0) vs. undefeated and fifth-ranked Auburn (9-0) for the Southeastern Conference championship. Alabama rebounded from the loss and defeated Virginia Tech and Florida in consecutive games that set up a top-twenty match-up against Ole Miss. Bill Davis kicked a 41-yard field goal for a little breathing room, and then Alabama sewed it up with Musso scoring on runs of 12 and 8 yards. Crimson Tide trainer Jim. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Interestingly, many considered Sullivan to be only the second best player for Auburn. 1 versus No. [9] Alabama later opened the season with an upset victory over USC that was credited to the surprise switch to the wishbone that caught the Trojans off-guard. [54], As they entered their annual rivalry game against Auburn, Alabama moved into the No. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Though the game was not televised, it was being followed closely within the African-American community as well as by Alabamas core white fanbase. [67] Tennessee further extended their lead to 297 with a pair of touchdown runs from John Sapp and one from Kent Fullington in the third quarter. [29][30], Alabama closed the game with a pair of touchdowns in each of the final two quarters and won 420. Baseball Baseball: Facebook Baseball: . The score came on a 48-yard Kenneth Lyons touchdown pass to Elmer Allen in the second quarter. [14][29][30] Johnny Musso gave the Crimson Tide a 70 lead with his 17-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Though Alabama has never had a Black head football coach, Bryant and every Crimson Tide head coach after him has had African-Americans in key coaching positions. 4 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Houston. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? [10][11], After the NCAA enacted a rule that allowed its member institutions to schedule an eleventh regular season game, in January 1970 the Crimson Tide agreed to a home-and-home series with the University of Southern California (USC). (Sound familiar?). 1 Nebraska 386 to close the season in the Orange Bowl. "Bryant's 100th birthday: The wishbone September 10, 2013". Or write about sports? [8] The change to the wishbone was kept under such secrecy that when the media would visit practice, Bryant had the team practice the pro-style system that was phased out. . 1971 NCAA University Division football season, 1971 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team, 1971 All-Big Eight Conference football team, 1971 All-Big Ten Conference football team, 1971 All-Pacific-8 Conference football team, 1971 All-Southwest Conference football team, "Walker, Majors All-Americans on Two Teams", "FWAA All-America Since 1944: The All-Time Team", "Arneson Named To Team: Sporting News Picks UA Star", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1971_College_Football_All-America_Team&oldid=1105114212, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 18 August 2022, at 16:03. No. And so they became players that Southeastern Conference schools and so many teams would recruit because they were trained well, they knew the game, they were smart enough to learn all the systems. [16][31][32] Johnny Musso gave the Crimson Tide a 70 lead with his 17-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. [16][44][45] After Alabama took a 30 first quarter lead behind a 20-yard Bill Davis field goal, they scored a pair of touchdowns in the second. [14][42][43] After Alabama took a 30 first quarter lead behind a 20-yard Bill Davis field goal, they scored a pair of touchdowns in the second. 4 position in the AP Poll for a fifth consecutive week. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. However, they were unable to capture a national championship as they were defeated by No. By 1975, Alabama had 20 Black players on its roster. And there was a couple of clips in there. [35][36], Early in the third, the Crimson Tide extended their lead to 227 behind a 16-yard Terry Davis touchdown pass to Bailey. Alabama football is home to 18 national championships, 32 conference titles and some of the best players to ever partake in college football. Pat Sullivan won the Heisman Trophy .
They were taught better, so they could learn to compete at a high level. Bamas 28-17 win in 1981 to make Tide Coach Paul Bryant the all-time winningest coach. They extended it further to 170 early in the second quarter on an eight-yard Musso touchdown run. Sullivan to Beasley was a non-factor in the game, perhaps because the previous spring Bryant had hired Bill Brother Oliver from Auburn to coach Tide defensive backs. But that is a key point about the integration of the Alabama program, because once Wilbur and John hit, that next year, the gates opened and it had a profound impact on the program. Record: 11-1 (3rd of 128) (Schedule & Results), Bowl Game: Lost Orange Bowl 38-6 versus Nebraska, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Thursday, March 2, 6:51AM. We present them here for purely educational purposes. They didnt make a huge, big deal of it on Coach Bryants show, but you got a couple of clips of John playing. Some school's results have been altered by retroactive NCAA penalties. And I watched that to actually see some of the replays. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. The USC game was only the beginning, both for Alabamas on-field dominance with the wishbone and for the programs embrace of integrated college football. [45], After their victory over Mississippi State, Alabama retained their No. As a matter of policy, Sports Reference only reports the results of games as played on the field. Next week, Alabama retained their No as a matter of policy, Sports Reference LLC Sharpless on... Drama of the season in the second quarter for 122 yards, but with two interceptions loss and the! On our site, we may receive compensation, Sports Reference only reports results... Southeastern Conference football champions to ever partake in college football Alabama lead to 1710 on an 88-yard Dowsing! 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