1978 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Schedule

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Before the season

Alabama ended the 1977 season with the disappointment of a #2 finish, an 11-point voting margin behind national champion Notre Dame.

On April 13, 1978, Paul Bryant was one of several coaches quoted in an AP interview that focused on efforts to rid college football of cheating. Bryant advocated a rule requiring coaches notify the NCAA of suspected infractions immediately and getting it over with rather than complaining after losing a game.

On April 20, nearly a dozen players with injuries were held out of the annual A-Day game that ended in a colorless 7–7 tie. The biggest concern was a knee injury to second-string QB Steadman Shealy. Bryant, in the post A-Day game press conference, declared his 1978 team would have "a questionable offense, an average kicking game, and a good defense" in the post-A-Day game press conference. Lastly a newcomer who was recruited four years ago but decided to pursue other athletics adventures started as outside linebacker from Richmond Virginia, Eddie McGeorge.

Bear Bryant felt his team was not prepared enough for their week-1 game against Nebraska and did not feel his team deserved their #1 rating.

Sugar Bowl

The 1979 Sugar Bowl against Penn State would go down as a classic. Alabama scored in the second quarter, then Penn State answered in the third, then Alabama took a 14–7 lead on a touchdown set up by a 62-yard punt return. Penn State had a chance to tie in the fourth, but quarterback Chuck Fusina threw an interception into the Alabama end zone. Then Alabama had a chance to put the game away, but fumbled the football back to Penn State at the Nittany Lion 19-yard-line with four minutes to go. Penn State drove to a first and goal at the Alabama eight. On third and goal from the one, Fusina asked Bama defensive lineman Marty Lyons "What do you think we should do?", and Lyons answered "You'd better pass." On third down, Penn State was stopped inches short of the goal line. On fourth down, Penn State was stopped again, Barry Krauss meeting Mike Guman and throwing him back for no gain. Alabama held on for a 14–7 victory. The Crimson Tide split the national championship, winning the AP poll while Southern California won the UPI Coaches' poll, this despite the Trojans' 24–14 victory over the Crimson Tide on September 23. It was Alabama's fifth wire service national championship.

Personnel

References

General

Specific

References

1. (September 3, 1978). "Huskers drop 20–3 battle". The Sioux City Sunday Journal.
2. (September 17, 1978). "MU fails to ride Crimson Tide 38–20". The Kansas City Star.
3. (September 24, 1978). "USC has No. 1 'Bama on the run, 24–14". [[Los Angeles Times]].
4. (October 1, 1978). "Tide buries Vandy". The Selma Times-Journal.
5. (October 8, 1978). "Nerves of Steele fail Huskies 20–17". The News Tribune.
6. (October 15, 1978). "Bryant unhappy after beating Florida". The Pensacola News-Journal.
7. (October 22, 1978). "Vols fall prey to Tide 30–17". The Tennessean.
8. (October 29, 1978). "Alabama romps to homecoming victory". The Selma Times-Journal.
9. (November 5, 1978). "Tide chains MSU". The Shreveport Times.
10. (November 12, 1978). "Tide swamps LSU". The Buffalo News.
11. (December 3, 1978). "Alabama crushes Auburn". The Pensacola News-Journal.
12. (January 2, 1979). "Hard-hitting defense keys Bama victory". Birmingham Post-Herald.
13. "1978 Alabama football schedule". University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
14. (1978). "Bryant:Tide Not No. 1 after Spring's Discontent". The Sacramento Bee.
15. [https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/bestbowls.html Greatest Bowl Games]
16. "Penn State ''Daily Collegian'', 3 January 1979".
17. [http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20090102/news/901010196 "Sugar Bowl Memories", ''Tuscaloosa News'']