1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

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.

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 season)
Offensive coordinator	Mal Moore
Defensive coordinator	Ken Donahue
Captains	Don McNeal Steve Whitman
Home stadium	Bryant–Denny Stadium Legion Field

1979 Southeastern Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Alabama $	6	–	0	–	0			12	–	0	–	0
Georgia	5	–	1	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
No. 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

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 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 (FL)*	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 released prior to the game

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

Roster

1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class OG 62 Scott Allison Jr T 78 Buddy Aydelette Sr OT Wiley Barnes Sr OT 76 Thomas Boler Jr SE David Booker Jr OG 60 Vince Boothe Sr OG Gary Bramblett RFr OG 70 Mike Brock Sr TE 83 Laurence Brown III Sr OT 63 Jim Bunch Sr TE Bob Cayavec RFr SE 80 Tim Clark So OG 67 Vince Cowell Jr C 59 Bob Dasher RFr RB John Dyess So OT 79 Rusty Faust So RB 41 Mitch Ferguson Jr QB Pat Folmar Jr OG Bill Glass So QB-RB 14 Alan Gray So RB 21 James Haney So DB 9 Jim Bob Harris So FB 44 John Hill Jr RB Tim Hill So TE-P 1 Buddy Holt Sr RB 33 Billy Jackson Jr RB Amos Jones So RB 24 Joe Jones Jr FB Bobby Johnson So FB Mike Kennedy So TE 87 Bart Krout So SE 26 James Mallard Jr SE 82 Keith Marks RFr OT 72 Eddie McCombs Jr OT Denny Merritt RFr OT Jeff Miller RFr OT Farrar Montgomery Jr SE Clay Moss Fr RB-DB 48 Mark Nix So RB 42 Major Ogilvie Jr RB-DB 29 Ben Orcutt So RB Doug Prater Jr SE 4 Keith Pugh Sr QB Steve Rhoden So C 61 Joe Robbins Jr SE Frank Sazera Jr OG 69 Bill Searcey Jr QB 10 Steadman S. Shealy Sr SE David Sherrill So C 52 Barry Smith Sr OT Marvin Smith So C 57 Dwight Stephenson Sr TE 88 Tim Travis Sr FB 45 Steve Whitman Sr FB 38 Charlie Williams RFr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DT Joe Beazley RFr LB 90 Tom Boyd So DT 47 Byron Braggs Jr DB Bill Brown So DT Danny Casteel RFr DB 43 Mike Clements Jr DT 98 Jackie Cline RFr DB Prince Colley So DT Allen Connell Jr DE 51 Gary DeNiro Jr DB Marvis Freeman Jr DE Robert Gaines Fr LB Steve Glass Fr DE 94 Wayne Hamilton Sr DT 74 David Hannah Sr DE Butch Harkness Jr DB 37 Greg Haynes RFr DB Josh Henderson RFr DT 93 Scott Homan RFr LB James Hughes So DT 95 Mike Inman Jr DB, QB 5 Don Jacobs Jr LB 97 Robbie Jones RFr DE 39 E. J. Junior Jr DE John Lancaster Jr DB Greg Landers Fr DB 57 Eddie Lowe So NG 91 Warren Lyles So DB Bobby Marks RSo DE 84 John Mauro Jr LB David McCarty So DT 96 Curtis McGriff Sr DB 28 Don McNeal Sr DB 23 Benny Perrin So DE 81 Mike Pitts RFr DB 16 David Reeves So DB Bill Robinson So DB David Rogers So LB 36 Ricky Rozzell RFr DE Roy Rumbley So LB 50 Randy Scott Jr NG 99 Richard Shinn So DB 49 Bobby Smith Sr DB Peter Smith Jr DB 27 Tom Spencer Jr DB 7 Jerrill Sprinkle RFr DE John Theis So DB 18 Ricky Tucker Jr DB 15 Tommy Wilcox RFr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class PK Johnny Brooker So P Butch Bunn Jr PK George Mardini So PK 6 Alan McElroy Sr P 2 Woody 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, Georgia Game attendance: 57,621 TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson & Ara Parseghian 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 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.[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, Alabama 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, Tennessee 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, Alabama 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]

Florida

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 14 3 13 10 40 Florida 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 13 Location: Florida Field Game attendance: 64,552

Scoring summary Q1 ALA Shealy 3 yard run (McElroy kick) ALA 7–0 Q1 ALA Whitman 5 yard run (McElroy kick) ALA 14–0 Q2 ALA McElroy 31 yard field goal ALA 17–0 Q3 ALA Jacobs 73 yard run (kick failed) ALA 23–0 Q3 ALA Oglivie 1 yard run (McElroy kick) ALA 30–0 Q4 ALA Hill 2 yard run (McElroy kick) ALA 37–0 Q4 ALA McElroy 34 yard field goal ALA 40–0

[20]

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.

[21]

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, Alabama 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, Alabama 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 Archived 2011-12-02 at WebCite
2. "1979 game recaps" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-01. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
3. "1979 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on December 2, 2011. 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. Ocala Star-Banner. 1979 Oct 14. Retrieved 2018-Oct-28.
21. Recap