Alabama vs Ole Miss: A Historical Retrospective
by kleph on Oct 5, 2009 8:45 AM CDT
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Alabama's football history with Ole Miss goes back farther than with any other program currently in existence save Swanee and Auburn. Mississippi and Alabama first faced each other in the opening game of Alabama's third season of organized play, in 1894. Since then, the two teams have met in 55 regular season games and one bowl game (more on that in a second).
Perhaps one of the wildest games between the two happened in 1989 when No. 13 Alabama rolled into Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Miss to face the Rebels in front of 55,000 fans. It was the just the second start for Bama QB Gary Hollingsworth and it certainly didn't get off in an auspicious manner.
Ole Miss converted a blocked punt and interception into touchdowns and then followed up with a long scoring drive that had them leading 21-0 before half the quarter had passed. Yet starting at the 8:18 mark Hollingsworth caught fire. He completed ten straight passes including three touchdowns that had the score tied in the next ten minutes of play.
By the time it was over he had completed 25 of 43 passes for 363 yards and thrown no less than five touchdowns. Alabama won 62-27.
"When we were losing 21-0 and Coach [Bill] Curry said he saw in our eyes that we were going to win, I'm not sure whose eyes he was looking at," Hollingsworth remarked later.
But that single game wasn't the high-water mark of futility for Mississippi. Between 1915 and 1930, over the course of nine games, Ole Miss was able to score a single time - on a 54-yard pass in 1929. That game also marked the second in Denny Stadium and saw the structure formally dedicated.
Yet in the only bowl game ever to feature both teams, the 1964 Sugar Bowl, it was a kicker that stole the show. Tim Davis nailed four field goals during the contest from as far out as 48-yards (and just missing a 50-yarder) to account for all the Tide's points in a 12-7 upset of Ole Miss.
Alabama vs Ole Miss Historical Record
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Source: The University of Alabama 2009 Football Media Guide
Alabama vs Ole Miss: The Record Book
| Record | Place | Year | Statistic | Holder | ||||||
| Best Completion Percentage (single game, min 10) | 1st | 1983 | 86.70% | Walter Lewis | ||||||
| Best Completion Percentage (single game, min 15) | 1st | 1966 | 84.20% | Ken Stabler | ||||||
| Most Plays vs Defense | 1st | 1980 | 90 | team | ||||||
| Most Yards vs Defense | 1st | 1969 | 609 yds | team | ||||||
| Most Touchdowns (single game) | 1st (tied) | 2002 | 5 | Santonio Beard | ||||||
| Most Points Per Single Game | 1st (tied) | 2002 | 30 | Santonio Beard | ||||||
| Longest Kickoff Return | 1st (tied) | 1988 | 100 yds | Pierre Goode | ||||||
| Most TDs Total Offense (single game) | 1st (tied) |
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| Most Rushing Touchdowns (single game) | 1st (tied) | 2002 | 5 | Santonio Beard | ||||||
| Most TD Passes (single game) | 1st (tied) | 1989 | 5 | Gary Hollingsworth | ||||||
| Most Interceptions (single game) | 1st (tied) | 1966 | 3 | Dicky Thompson | ||||||
| Most Blocked Kicks Recovered for TD | 1st (tied) |
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| Most Consecutive Completions | 1st (tied) | 2000 | 12 | Andrew Zow | ||||||
| Most Kickoff Returns (single game) | 2nd (tied) | 1970 | 5 | Buddy Seay | ||||||
| Best Punting Average (single game, min 5) | 3rd | 2003 | 52.4 | Bo Freeland | ||||||
| Best Completion Percentage (single game, min 20) | 3rd (tied) | 1969 | 75.9 | Scott Hunter | ||||||
| Highest Average Gain per Catch (min 8) | 4th | 2000 | 19.6 | Antonio Carter | ||||||
| Longest Field Goals (50+ Yds) | 4th | 1993 | 53 yds | Michael Proctor | ||||||
| Most Consecutive Completions | 5th | 1989 | 10 | Gary Hollingsworth | ||||||
| Most Receptions (single game) | 5th | 1989 | 10 | Kevin Turner | ||||||
| Most Rushes (single game) | 5th (tied) | 1999 | 36 | Shaun Alexander | ||||||
| Most Pass Completions (single game) | 5th (tied) | 1989 | 25 | Gary Hollingsworth | ||||||
| Most Yards Passing (single game) | 5th (tied) | 1989 | 363 | Gary Hollingsworth | ||||||
| Most Yardage Total Offense (single game) | 6th | 1989 | 352 yds | Gary Hollingsworth | ||||||
| Most Pass Attempts (single game) | 7th (tied) | 1989 | 43 | Gary Hollingsworth | ||||||
| Longest Scoring Pass Plays | 7th (tied) | 1982 | 80 yds | Walter Lewis to Jesse Bendross | ||||||
| Most Yards Rushing (single game) | 8th | 1999 | 214 yds | Shaun Alexander | ||||||
| Most Receptions (single game) | 8th (tied) | 1969 | 9 | David Bailey | ||||||
| Most Receiving Yds (single game) | 8th (tied) | 2000 | 157 yds | Antonio Carter | ||||||
| Longest Punts | 11th (tied) | 1983 | 71 yds | Malcom Simmons | ||||||
| Games With Two Backs Over 100 yds | n/a | 1980 |
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Source: The University of Alabama Football Record Book
Note: While we are relying on the record book created by the UA athletic department for these entries, the publicly available edition is only complete up through 2006 and the information on these records available in the current Media Guide is limited. We welcome any information concerning records which may have been surpassed since that time.
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That 1989 game...
…is what really cemented my being fan. It was one of the first ones I really remember getting into.
With regard to the NCAA vacations in 2005, 2006, and 2007 ...
this Ole Miss fan really only wants the 2007 win. You all wouldn’t mind just forgetting that season, anyway, right? So, forfeit that win for cheating unrelated to Doyle Jackson, and we’ll call it square.
Destroying your traditions since [YEAR REDACTED].
as our own pete "it's one 'L,' dammit" holiday points out...
…the actual status of those games is still a bit up in the air. but if you pass along your concerns to the NCAA infractions committee, i’m sure they will give them proper and complete consideration before making a reasonable and informed decision on them.
Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.
We used to call
this game the “Redneck Bowl”. A true classic.
MATRIX: Bennett, I thought you were--
BENNETT: Dead? You thought wrong. Ever since you had me thrown out of the unit, I've been waiting to pay you back. Do you know what today is, Matrix? Payday.
My first Alabama game in person was the 1989 game
I was living in Brandon, MS and was given 4 tickets in the middle of the Ole Miss section. I was really catching it from the Ole Miss fans when they scored each of their first three touchdowns inside the first 6 minutes of the game. Then, they went real quiet as Bama began to score. It was an awesome offensive display , as Bama lead 35-21 at halftime, on the way to the final score of 62-27. Each time we would score, I would look around at the people giving me such a hard time earlier and all they could do was grimace. I never had to say a word, all I had to do was sit there and smile.
Listened to the 89
game on the radio and I was afraid we were going to get run out of the stadium.
The truth is in 89 we really had some talent at wr and rb. We should have beaten Auburn.
I hate the NCAA more than UT & AU combined. At least with UT & AU you got a fighting chance.
And...
…Miami.
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Oct 5, 2009 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions
With quality coaching...
… that was a national championship caliber team.
"Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself." -- Milton Friedman
by outsidethesidelines on Oct 5, 2009 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions
I love seeing...
all those names in the record holders chart (graph?). I was a huge Shaun Alexander fan, and I loved Andrew Zow. And I always pray it never comes down to the kicker like you mentioned it did in 1964.
Thanks for the history lesson…great read.
by Queen of the Universe on Oct 5, 2009 6:57 PM CDT reply actions
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