1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Schedule

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Game summaries

At Georgia Tech

Atlanta, Georgia

• Sources: 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. 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.

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. After a late Gary DeNiro interception set up 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. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 25–19–3.

Baylor

Birmingham, Alabama

• Sources: 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. 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. After taking a 6–0 lead on a pair of Alan McElroy field goals, Alabama led 14–0 at halftime after Major Ogilvie scored on a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. 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. John Hill scored the final points with his ten-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the game.

At Vanderbilt

Nashville, Tennessee

• Sources: After their victory over Baylor, Alabama was still ranked as the No. 2 team in the AP Poll prior to their game against Vanderbilt. Playing at Nashville, the Crimson Tide defeated the Commodores by a blowout score of 66–3 in the conference opener. 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.

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. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 36–17–4.

Wichita State

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

• Sources: 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. In what was the only game ever played against the Shockers, the Crimson Tide won with this 38–0 shutout at Bryant–Denny Stadium. 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. 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.

At Florida

Tennessee

Virginia Tech

Mississippi State

At LSU

Alabama beat LSU 3-0 by kicking a field goal and holding LSU to 0 points. By kicking that field goal, they were awarded 3 points. By LSU not scoring a touchdown or kicking a field goal, they were awarded 0 points. The Alabama team was present with their uniforms and played in the game. LSU was also present wearing their uniforms and they, too, played in the game.

At the end of the game, the game was ruled over and Alabama deemed the winner from having 3 more points (from the aforementioned field goal) than LSU. It is rumored many fans were present and Alabama fans were said to chant "Roll Tide" at various points in the game. At the end of what was a 60 minute exchange of football plays, Alabama was awarded the win.

Miami (FL)

;First quarter

• ALA – Tim Travis 56-yard pass from Steadman Shealy (Alan McElroy kick). Alabama 7–0.
• ALA – Alan McElroy 24-yard field goal. Alabama 10–0. ;Second quarter
• No scoring ;Third quarter
• ALA – Major Ogilvie 1-yard run (Alan McElroy kick). Alabama 17–0. ;Fourth quarter
• ALA – Alan McElroy 25-yard field goal. Alabama 20–0.
• ALA – Alan McElroy 23-yard field goal. Alabama 23–0.
• ALA – James Haney 5-yard run (Alan McElroy kick). Alabama 30–0.

The contest versus 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.

Vs. Auburn

Roster

• Bear Bryant
• 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

References

References

1. "ROLLTIDE.COM - University of Alabama Official Athletic Site - Football".
2. "1979 game recaps".
3. (September 9, 1979). "Tide floods Tech's revival, 30–6". The Atlanta Journal.
4. (September 23, 1979). "Alabama feasts on Bear meat, 45–0". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
5. (September 30, 1979). "Bama greatness still puzzling". The Tennessean.
6. (October 7, 1979). "Alabama blasts Wichita State 38–0". The Wichita Eagle.
7. (October 14, 1979). "Gators hit bottom, crushed 40–0 by Alabama". Tampa Bay Times.
8. (October 21, 1979). "Alabama rallies to top UT 27–17". The Tennessean.
9. (October 28, 1979). "Alabama's substitutes wear out Va. Tech, 31–7". Daily Press.
10. (November 4, 1979). "Alabama is still the best". Clarion-Ledger.
11. (November 11, 1979). "McElroy field goal wins it". The Montgomery Advertiser.
12. (November 18, 1979). "Bowl-bound(?) Bama demolished Hurricanes". The Palm Beach Post.
13. (December 2, 1979). "Defense holds off Tigers". The Montgomery Advertiser.
14. (January 2, 1980). "Bama Number 1 - Crimson Tide didn't 'give it away' in Sugar Bowl". The Shreveport Journal.
15. "1979 Alabama football archive". University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
16. Browning, Al. (September 9, 1979). "Tide hits Atlanta like Sherman did". The Tuscaloosa News.
17. Meade, Doug. (September 9, 1979). "Alabama dominates Georgia Tech in 30–6 breeze". Spartanburg Herald-Journal.
18. "Rivalry Finder: Alabama vs. Georgia Tech". Sports Reference LLC.
19. Browning, Al. (September 23, 1979). "Tide massacres hopeful Baylor". The Tuscaloosa News.
20. (September 23, 1979). "Tide swamps Baylor, 45–0". Ocala Star-Banner.
21. (September 18, 1979). "Southern Cal holds No. 1, widens lead over UA". The Tuscaloosa News.
22. "Rivalry Finder: Alabama vs. Baylor". Sports Reference LLC.
23. Browning, Al. (September 30, 1979). "Tide waltzes by Vandy, 66–3". The Tuscaloosa News.
24. (September 30, 1979). "Tide nails Vanderbilt by 66–3". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
25. (September 25, 1979). "Leaders hold their spots in AP college football". The Tuscaloosa News.
26. "Rivalry Finder: Alabama vs. Vanderbilt". Sports Reference LLC.
27. Browning, Al. (October 7, 1979). "It's no shocker; Bama wins 38–0". The Tuscaloosa News.
28. Goens, Steve. (October 7, 1979). "Alabama buries Shockers". The Florence Times.
29. (October 2, 1979). "USC holds No. 2 in AP Poll". The Tuscaloosa News.
30. "Rivalry Finder: Alabama vs. Wichita State". Sports Reference LLC.
31. Ocala Star-Banner. 1979 Oct 14. Retrieved 2018-Oct-28.
32. [http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/79-m-footbl-recaps.pdf Recap]
33. "1979 Schedule & Results: 1979 National Champions". CBS Interactive.