1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football
Consensus national champion SEC champion Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl, W 24–9 vs. Arkansas
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 1
AP	No. 1
1979 record	12–0 (6–0 SEC)
Head coach	Bear Bryant (22nd year)
Offensive coordinator	Mal Moore
Defensive coordinator	Ken Donahue
Captain	Don McNeal
Captain	Steve Whitman
Home stadium	Bryant–Denny Stadium Legion Field

1979 SEC football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#1 Alabama $	6	–	0	–	0			12	–	0	–	0
Georgia	5	–	1	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
#16 Auburn	4	–	2	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
LSU	4	–	2	–	0			7	–	5	–	0
Tennessee	3	–	3	–	0			7	–	5	–	0
Kentucky	3	–	3	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Ole Miss	3	–	3	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Mississippi State	2	–	4	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Vanderbilt	0	–	6	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
Florida	0	–	6	–	0			0	–	10	–	1
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 85th overall and 46th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 22nd year, and played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season undefeated (12–0 overall, 6–0 in the SEC) and with a victory over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. For their collective efforts, the Crimson Tide were recognized as consensus national champions for the 1979 season.

In 1979 the Alabama Crimson Tide capped off a decade of remarkable success with the program's seventh perfect season in college history after 1925, 1930, 1934, 1945, 1961, and 1966 (discounting the 1897 “season” in which Bama played and won only one game).^[1] The Tide defense recorded five shutouts and allowed only two teams to score in double digits. The offense scored thirty points or more seven times.

Despite this dominance Alabama had three close calls. Against Tennessee on October 20, Alabama fell behind 17–0 in the second quarter before rallying to win 27–17. Three weeks later, against LSU, all the Tide offense could scrape up was a single field goal, but it was enough to win 3–0. In the regular season finale against Auburn, after leading 14–3 at the half Alabama let Auburn take an 18–17 fourth quarter lead before winning 25–18. The Auburn and Tennessee games were the only two times in the 1979 season that Alabama trailed.^[2] A 24–9 victory over Arkansas capped a 12–0 season and a unanimous national championship, Alabama’s sixth wire service national title.

Schedule

Date	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 8	at Georgia Tech*	No. 2	Grant Field • Atlanta, GA	ABC	W 30–6	57,621
September 22	Baylor*	No. 2	Legion Field • Birmingham, AL		W 45–0	77,512
September 29	at Vanderbilt	No. 2	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN		W 66–3	34,694
October 6	Wichita State*	No. 2	Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL		W 38–0	51,000
October 13	at Florida	No. 2	Florida Field • Gainesville, FL		W 40–0	64,552
October 20	No. 18 Tennessee	No. 1	Legion Field • Birmingham, AL (Third Saturday in October)	ESPN	W 27–17	77,665
October 27	Virginia Tech*	No. 1	Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL		W 31–7	60,210
November 3	Mississippi State	No. 1	Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL (Rivalry)		W 24–7	60,210
November 10	at LSU	No. 1	Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (Rivalry)		W 3–0	73,708
November 17	Miami*	No. 1	Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL	ABC	W 30–0	54,500
December 1	vs. No. 14 Auburn	No. 1	Legion Field • Birmingham, AL (Iron Bowl)		W 25–18	77,918
January 1, 1980	vs. No. 6 Arkansas*	No. 2	Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)	ABC	W 24–9	77,846
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. ^#Rankings from AP Poll.

• Source: Rolltide.com: 1979 Alabama football schedule^[3]

Roster

1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class OG Allison, ScottScott Allison Jr OT 78 Aydelette, BuddyBuddy Aydelette Sr OT Barnes, WileyWiley Barnes Sr OT Boler, ThomasThomas Boler Jr SE Booker, DavidDavid Booker Jr OG 60 Boothe, VinceVince Boothe Sr OG Bramblett, GaryGary Bramblett RFr OG 70 Brock, MikeMike Brock Sr TE 83 Brown III, LaurenceLaurence Brown III Sr OT 63 Bunch, JimJim Bunch Sr TE Cayavec, BobBob Cayavec RFr SE 80 Clark, TimTim Clark So OG 67 Cowell, VinceVince Cowell Jr C Dasher, BobBob Dasher RFr RB Dyess, JohnJohn Dyess So OT Faust, RustyRusty Faust So RB 41 Ferguson, MitchMitch Ferguson Jr QB Folmar, PatPat Folmar Jr OG Glass, BillBill Glass So QB-RB 14 Gray, AlanAlan Gray So RB 21 Haney, JamesJames Haney So DB 9 Harris, Jim BobJim Bob Harris So FB 44 Hill, JohnJohn Hill Jr RB Hill, TimTim Hill So TE-P 1 Holt, BuddyBuddy Holt Sr RB 33 Jackson, BillyBilly Jackson Jr RB Jones, AmosAmos Jones So RB 24 Jones, JoeJoe Jones Jr FB Johnson, BobbyBobby Johnson So FB Kennedy, MikeMike Kennedy So TE 87 Krout, BartBart Krout So SE Mallard, JamesJames Mallard Jr SE 82 Marks, KeithKeith Marks RFr OT 72 McCombs, EddieEddie McCombs Jr OT Merritt, DennyDenny Merritt RFr OT Miller, JeffJeff Miller RFr OT Montgomery, FarrarFarrar Montgomery Jr SE Moss, ClayClay Moss Fr RB-DB 48 Nix, MarkMark Nix So RB 42 Ogilvie, MajorMajor Ogilvie Jr RB-DB 29 Orcutt, BenBen Orcutt So RB Prater, DougDoug Prater Jr SE 4 Pugh, KeithKeith Pugh Sr QB Rhoden, SteveSteve Rhoden So C Robbins, JoeJoe Robbins Jr SE Sazera, FrankFrank Sazera Jr OG 69 Searcey, BillBill Searcey Jr QB 10 Shealy, Steadman S.Steadman S. Shealy Sr SE Sherrill, DavidDavid Sherrill So C 52 Smith, BarryBarry Smith Sr OT Smith, MarvinMarvin Smith So C 57 Stephenson, DwightDwight Stephenson Sr TE 88 Travis, TimTim Travis Sr FB 45 Whitman, SteveSteve Whitman Sr FB 38 Williams, CharlieCharlie Williams RFr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DT Beazley, JoeJoe Beazley RFr LB 60 Boyd, TomTom Boyd So DT 47 Braggs, ByronByron Braggs Jr DB Brown, BillBill Brown So DT Casteel, DannyDanny Casteel RFr DB 53 Clements, MikeMike Clements Jr DT 98 Cline, JackieJackie Cline RFr DB Colley, PrincePrince Colley So DT Connell, AllenAllen Connell Jr DE 51 DeNiro, GaryGary DeNiro Jr DB Freeman, MarvisMarvis Freeman Jr DE Gaines, RobertRobert Gaines Fr LB Glass, SteveSteve Glass Fr DE 94 Hamilton, WayneWayne Hamilton Sr DT 74 Hannah, DavidDavid Hannah Sr DE Harkness, ButchButch Harkness Jr DB 37 Haynes, GregGreg Haynes RFr DB Henderson, JoshJosh Henderson RFr DT 93 Homan, ScottScott Homan RFr LB Hughes, JamesJames Hughes So DT 95 Inman, MikeMike Inman Jr DB 5 Jacobs, DonDon Jacobs Jr LB 97 Jones, RobbieRobbie Jones RFr DE 39 Junior, E. J.E. J. Junior Jr DE Lancaster, JohnJohn Lancaster Jr DB Landers, GregGreg Landers Fr DB 57 Lowe, EddieEddie Lowe So NG 91 Lyles, WarrenWarren Lyles So DB Marks, BobbyBobby Marks RSo DE 84 Mauro, JohnJohn Mauro Jr LB McCarty, DavidDavid McCarty So DT 96 McGriff, CurtisCurtis McGriff Sr DB 28 McNeal, DonDon McNeal Sr DB 23 Perrin, BennyBenny Perrin So DE 81 Pitts, MikeMike Pitts RFr DB 16 Reeves, DavidDavid Reeves So DB Robinson, BillBill Robinson So DB Rogers, DavidDavid Rogers So LB 36 Rozzell, RickyRicky Rozzell RFr DE Rumbley, RoyRoy Rumbley So NG 99 Shinn, RichardRichard Shinn So DB 49 Smith, BobbyBobby Smith Sr DB Smith, PeterPeter Smith Jr DB 27 Spencer, TomTom Spencer Jr DB 7 Sprinkle, JerrillJerrill Sprinkle RFr DE Theis, JohnJohn Theis So DB 18 Tucker, RickyRicky Tucker Jr DB 15 Wilcox, TommyTommy Wilcox RFr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class PK Brooker, JohnnyJohnny Brooker So P Bunn, ButchButch Bunn Jr PK Mardini, GeorgeGeorge Mardini So PK 6 McElroy, AlanAlan McElroy Sr P 2 Umphrey, WoodyWoody Umphrey Jr	Head coach Bear Bryant Coordinators/assistant coaches Mal Moore (Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks) Ken Donahue (Defensive coordinator) Sylvester Croom (Inside linebackers) K. J. Lazenby Bobby Marks Bill Oliver (Defensive backs) Bryant Pool Dee Powell Jeff Rouzie Jack Rutledge George "Shorty" White Perry Willis[4] Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: October 15, 2013

Game summaries

Georgia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total • #2 Alabama 6 6 15 3 30 Georgia Tech 0 0 0 6 6 Date: September 8 Location: Grant Field Atlanta, GA Game attendance: 57,621 Sources:[5][6]

Scoring summary 1 1:22 Alabama E. J. Junior 59-yard interception return (Alan McElroy kick failed) Alabama 6–0 2 4:12 Alabama Major Ogilvie 1-yard run (Two-point run failed) Alabama 12–0 3 11:55 Alabama Steve Whitman 13-yard run (Alan McElroy kick) Alabama 19–0 3 5:12 Alabama Steadman S. Shealy 11-yard run (Two-point run) Alabama 27–0 4 2:01 Alabama Alan McElroy 31-yard field goal Alabama 30–0 4 0:12 Georgia Tech Leon Chadwick 36-yard pass from Mike Kelley (Two-point pass failed) Alabama 30–6

As they entered the 1979 season, Alabama was ranked as the No. 2 team in the first AP Poll prior to their season opener against Georgia Tech. Playing before a nationally televised audience, the Crimson Tide rushed for over 300 yards in this 30–6 victory over the Yellow Jackets.^[5][6] Alabama took a 6–0 lead in the first quarter after E. J. Junior intercepted a Mike Kelley pass and returned it 59-yards for a touchdown. Major Ogilvie then extended their lead to 12–0 with his one-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter.^[5][6]

The Crimson Tide took control of the game with a pair of third quarter touchdowns that extended their lead to 27–0. Steve Whitman scored first on a thirteen-yard run and this was followed by an eleven-yard Steadman S. Shealy touchdown run.^[5][6] After a late Gary DeNiro interception setup a 31-yard Alan McElroy field goal, Georgia Tech scored on a 36-yard Kelley touchdown pass to Leon Chadwick that made the final score 30–6 and prevented a shutout.^[5][6] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 25–19–3.^[7]

Baylor

1 2 3 4 Total Baylor 0 0 0 0 0 • #2 Alabama 6 8 3 28 45 Date: September 22 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 77,512 Sources:[8][9]

Scoring summary 1 10:13 Alabama Alan McElroy 30-yard field goal Alabama 3–0 1 0:00 Alabama Alan McElroy 25-yard field goal Alabama 6–0 2 10:53 Alabama Major Ogilvie 1-yard run (Two-point run) Alabama 14–0 3 5:50 Alabama Alan McElroy 33-yard field goal Alabama 17–0 4 14:55 Alabama Mark Nix 2-yard run (Alan McElroy kick) Alabama 24–0 4 11:58 Alabama Mark Nix 8-yard run (Alan McElroy kick) Alabama 31–0 4 4:43 Alabama Joe Jones 1-yard run (Alan McElroy kick) Alabama 38–0 4 0:22 Alabama John Hill 10-yard run (Alan McElroy kick) Alabama 45–0

Coming off their bye week, Alabama was still ranked as the No. 2 team in the AP Poll prior to their home opener against Baylor.^[10] Playing at Legion Field, the Crimson Tide shutout the Bears of the Southwest Conference 45–0 in what was the first all-time meeting between the schools.^[8][9][11] After taking a 6–0 lead on a pair of Alan McElroy field goals, Alabama led 14–0 at halftime after Major Ogilvie scored om a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.^[8][9] A 33-yard McElroy field goal in the third brought the Crimson Tide lead to 17–0 before Alabama scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter and made the final score 45–0. Mark Nix scored the first pair on runs of two and eight-yards, followed by a one-yard Joe Jones run and John Hill scored the final points with his ten-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the game.^[8][9]

Vanderbilt

1 2 3 4 Total • #2 Alabama 14 18 13 21 66 Vanderbilt 0 3 0 0 3 Date: September 29 Location: Dudley Field Nashville, TN Game attendance: 34,694 Sources:[12][13]

Scoring summary 1 Alabama Steadman S. Shealy 65-yard run (Alan McElroy kick) Alabama 7–0 1 Alabama Major Ogilvie 8-yard run (Two-point run) Alabama 14–0 2 Vanderbilt Mike Woodard 47-yard field goal Alabama 14–3 2 Alabama Steadman S. Shealy 19-yard run (Two-point pass) Alabama 22–3 2 Alabama Alan McElroy 21-yard field goal Alabama 25–3 2 Alabama Mark Nix 1-yard run (Alan McElroy kick) Alabama 32–3 3 Alabama Steve Whitman 3-yard run (Alan McElroy kick failed) Alabama 38–3 3 Alabama Joe Jones 1-yard run (Alan McElroy kick) Alabama 45–3 4 Alabama Joe Jones 3-yard run (Tim Clark kick) Alabama 52–3 4 Alabama Michael Landrum 3-yard run (Amos Jones kick) Alabama 59–3 4 Alabama John Hill 14-yard run (Amos Jones kick) Alabama 66–3

After their victory over Baylor, Alabama was still ranked as the No. 2 team in the AP Poll prior to their game against Vanderbilt.^[14] Playing at Nashville, the Crimson Tide defeated the Commodores by a blowout score of 66–3 in the conference opener.^[12][13] The Crimson Tide took a 14–0 first quarter lead behind touchdown runs of 65 and eight-yards by Steadman S. Shealy and Major Ogilvie. After Mike Woodard scored the only Vandy points with his 47-yard field goal, Alabama extended their lead to 32–3 at the half after Alan McElroy connected on a 21-yard field goal and touchdowns were scored on runs of 19 and one-yard by Shealy and Mark Nix.^[12][13]

The Crimson Tide continued their strong play into the second half as they scored five touchdowns and kept the Commodores scoreless on defense. Touchdowns were scored in the third on runs of three and one-yards by Steve Whitman and Joe Jones and in the fourth on a pair of three and a 14-yard run by Jones, Michael Landrum and John Hill.^[12][13] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 36–17–4.^[15]

Wichita State

1 2 3 4 Total Wichita State 0 0 0 0 0 • #2 Alabama 14 14 7 3 38 Date: October 6 Location: Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 55,068 Sources:[16][17]

Scoring summary 1 Alabama Keith Pugh 27-yard pass from Steadman S. Shealy (Alan McElroy kick) Alabama 7–0 1 Alabama Steadman S. Shealy 3-yard run (Alan McElroy kick) Alabama 14–0 2 Alabama Major Ogilvie 6-yard run (Alan McElroy kick) Alabama 21–0 2 Alabama Major Ogilvie 4-yard run (Alan McElroy kick) Alabama 28–0 3 Alabama Steadman S. Shealy 8-yard run (Jones kick) Alabama 35–0 4 Alabama Alan McElroy 40-yard field goal Alabama 38–0

As they prepared for their first Tuscaloosa game of the season, Alabama retained their No. 2 position in AP Poll prior to their game against Wichita State.^[18] In what was the only game ever played against the Shockers, the Crimson Tide won with this 38–0 shutout at Bryant–Denny Stadium.^[16][17][19] Alabama took a 28–0 lead into halftime behind a pair of touchdowns scored in each of the first two quarters. After Steadman S. Shealy connected with Keith Pugh on a 27-yard touchdown pass, Shealy scored on a three-yard run for a 14–0 first quarter lead. Major Ogilvie then gave the Crimson Tide a 28–0 halftime lead after he scored on touchdown runs of six and four-yards in the second.^[16][17] Alabama closed the game with an eight-yard Shealy touchdown run in the third and a 40-yard Alan McElroy field goal in the fourth that made the final score 38–0.^[16][17]

Miami (FL)

The contest vs. the Hurricanes marked the first national television broadcast from Bryant-Denny Stadium. Portable light standards had to be brought in by ABC, since the Tuscaloosa stadium lacked permanent fixtures at the time. It also marked the Alabama homecoming for former Crimson Tide assistant Howard Schnellenberger, in his first season at Miami.

^[20]

Miami (FL) at #1 Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total Miami (FL) 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 10 0 7 13 30 Date: November 17 Location: Bryant–Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 54,500 TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels & Frank Broyles

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP MIA ALA 1 Alabama Tim Travis 56-yard touchdown reception from Steadman Shealy, Alan McElroy kick good 0 7 1 Alabama 24-yard field goal by Alan McElroy 0 10 3 Alabama Major Ogilvie 1-yard touchdown run, Alan McElroy kick good 0 17 4 Alabama 25-yard field goal by Alan McElroy 0 20 4 Alabama 40-yard field goal by Alan McElroy 0 23 4 Alabama James Haney 5-yard touchdown run, Alan McElroy kick good 0 30 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 0 30

Auburn

#1 Alabama vs. #14 Auburn

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 0 14 3 8 25 Auburn 3 0 9 6 18 Date: December 1 Location: Legion Field, Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 77,918

^[21]

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP ALA AUB 1 Auburn Portela 47-yard field goal 0 3 2 Alabama Pugh 28-yard pass from Shealy (McElroy kick) 7 3 2 Alabama Shealy 1-yard run (McElroy kick) 14 3 3 Auburn Portela 39-yard field goal 14 6 3 Alabama McElroy 28-yard field goal 17 6 3 Auburn Cribbs 36-yard pass from Trotman (two-point failed) 17 12 4 Auburn Robbins 11-yard pass from Trotman (two-point failed) 17 18 4 Alabama Shealy 8-yard run (Shealy run) 25 18 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 25 18

References

1. All-time results
2. 1979 game recaps
3. "1979 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
4. "1979 Schedule & Results: 1979 National Champions". CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
5. Browning, Al (September 9, 1979). "Tide hits Atlanta like Sherman did". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1A. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
6. Meade, Doug (September 9, 1979). "Alabama dominates Georgia Tech in 30–6 breeze". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Google News Archives. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
7. "Rivalry Finder: Alabama vs. Georgia Tech". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
8. Browning, Al (September 23, 1979). "Tide massacres hopeful Baylor". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1A. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
9. "Tide swamps Baylor, 45–0". Ocala Star-Banner. Google News Archives. Associated Press. September 23, 1979. p. 2C. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
10. "Southern Cal holds No. 1, widens lead over UA". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. September 18, 1979. p. 11. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
11. "Rivalry Finder: Alabama vs. Baylor". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
12. Browning, Al (September 30, 1979). "Tide waltzes by Vandy, 66–3". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1A. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
13. "Tide nails Vanderbilt by 66–3". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Google News Archives. Associated Press. September 30, 1979. p. 5C. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
14. "Leaders hold their spots in AP college football". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. September 25, 1979. p. 11. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
15. "Rivalry Finder: Alabama vs. Vanderbilt". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
16. Browning, Al (October 7, 1979). "It's no shocker; Bama wins 38–0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1A. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
17. Goens, Steve (October 7, 1979). "Alabama buries Shockers". The Florence Times. Google News Archives. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
18. "USC holds No. 2 in AP Poll". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. October 2, 1979. p. 12. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
19. "Rivalry Finder: Alabama vs. Wichita State". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
20. Recap
21. Recap