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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