Tide Begins Preparations for Mississippi State
10/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
GAME 10: MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS VS. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
November 4, 2006 -- Bryant-Denny Stadium (92,138) -- Tuscaloosa, Alabama
11:34 a.m. (CST) -- Lincoln Financial Sports
ALABAMA QUICK NOTES: The Alabama-Mississippi State game will feature two former Crimson Tide football players as head coaches ... Mike Shula (Alabama, 1986) will face Sylvester Croom (Alabama, 1975) in the SEC Western Division game ... A total of 25 former Alabama football players have become head coaches ... The group has compiled a 1,419-983-64 (.588) all-time record ... The Alabama-Mississippi State game will mark the 31st time two former UA players have coached against one another in the same game ... Alabama is 24-6 (.800) in those previous 30 meetings ... Junior defensive back Simeon Castille leads the SEC with eight total turnovers forced this season ... Castille has five interceptions and three fumbles recovered in nine games ... He is the SEC co-leader with five interceptions and leads the league with the three fumbles recovered ... Sophomore QB John Parker Wilson is 191 yards shy of becoming the seventh UA quarterback to throw for 2,000 yards in a season ... He is looking to become just the third sophomore (Brodie Croyle and Freddie Kitchens) to throw for 2,000 yards in a season ... Alabama has scored in 30 of 36 quarters this year ...
ALABAMA HOSTS MISSISSIPPI STATE
The University of Alabama football team plays its third home game in four weeks as the Crimson Tide hosts the Mississippi State Bulldogs in an SEC Western Division game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2006. The game will be regionally televised by SEC syndicator Lincoln Financial Sports with Bill Rosinski (play-by-play), Dave Rowe (color) and Jenn Hildreth (sideline reporter) calling the action to split regional audience. The game will also be carried on the 65-station Crimson Tide Sports Network with Eli Gold (play-by-play), Kenny Stabler (analyst) and Tom Roberts (sideline reporter). Alabama (6-3, 2-3 SEC) remained perfect at home this season with a 38-3 homecoming win over Florida International last weekend in Tuscaloosa. Alabama scored a special teams (Javier Arenas 65-yard punt return) and defensive touchdown (Ramzee Robinson 34-yard interception return) in the win over FIU. Alabama is 6-0 at home this season and 12-1 (.923) in the last two years. Mississippi State (2-7, 0-5 SEC) brings a two-game losing streak to Tuscaloosa after a 34-31 loss to Kentucky last weekend in Starkville.
THE HEAD COACHES
Alabama head football coach Mike Shula (Alabama, 1986) is in his fourth season with the Crimson Tide and has compiled a 26-20 (.565) record. Shula’s teams have made progress each season under his watch. After a 4-9 mark in his rookie campaign in 2003, Alabama went 6-6 in 2004 and finished with a No. 8 national ranking after last year’s 10-2 mark and Cotton Bowl win over Texas Tech. Shula was named Alabama’s 26th head coach just 114 days prior to the start of the 2003 season and did not have a spring practice session. He previously served as an assistant coach in the NFL with Tampa Bay, Chicago and Miami. A three-year letterman at Alabama (1984-86), Shula was a two-time All-SEC selection and threw for over 2,000 yards as a junior (1985), leading the Crimson Tide to dramatic come-from-behind wins over Georgia and Auburn. Mississippi State head coach Sylvester Croom (Alabama, 1975) is in his third season as head coach of the Bulldogs. He is 8-23 (.258) in his only head coaching stint at the collegiate or professional level. Prior to being named MSU’s head coach, Croom spent the previous 17 seasons as an assistant coach in the NFL. A native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Croom played for legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and was a three-year letterman with the Tide from 1972-74. He spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, working with both the inside (1977-81, 1984-86) and outside (1982-83) linebackers. He coached on two national championship teams (1978-79) and the ??79 squad allowed just seven TDs all season long and held opponents to 180 total yards during its 12-0 season.
NEXT GAME
Alabama plays its final road game of the 2006 regular season when the Crimson Tide travels to Baton Rouge, La., to face the No. 11 LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium. The kickoff time for the Alabama-LSU game will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006.
FORMER TIDE PLAYERS BECOME HEAD COACHES
*Best research indicates that 25 former Alabama players have become collegiate head coaches at the Division I level.
*The 25 former players have compiled an all-time 1,419-983-64 (.588) head coaching record.
*The former Alabama players have compiled a 9-40 (.184) record as head coach against the Crimson Tide.
*Two of those coaches will be meeting this Saturday as Mississippi State visits Alabama regionally televised game by Lincoln Financial Sports.
*Alabama head coach Mike Shula was a three-year starter at quarterback for the Crimson Tide from 1984-86. Shula is one of seven former UA players to serve as head coach at his alma mater.
*Mississippi State head coach Sylvester Croom was an All-American center under coach Paul “Bear’ Bryant from 1972-74. Croom played on the 1973 UPI National Championship team and went to three straight New Year’s Day bowl games.
FORMER PLAYERS MEET ON SIDELINES
*This Saturday’s football game between Alabama and Mississippi State will pit two former Crimson Tide players as head coaches on opposite sidelines.
*The Mike Shula vs. Sylvester Croom matchup will be the 31st head-to-head meeting between two former Alabama football players.
*Alabama is 24-6 (.800) in those previous 30 meetings.
*Legendary head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant was involved in 16 of those meetings and compiled a 15-1 (.938) record.
*Coach Mike Shula is 4-1 (.800) in his brief career at Alabama against a fellow Tide player.
*Shula was 1-1 (.500) against former Ole Miss head coach and UA alum David Cutcliffe (He did not play football at UA, but worked with the team in several capacities).
*Shula is 2-0 against Croom (UA won last year 30-14 in Tuscaloosa) and 1-0 against former MSU head coach Jackie Sherrill (UA won 38-0 in 2003).
*Here is a look at the results of the previous 30 games involving former UA players.
Paul Bryant vs. Frank Howard (4-0)
Year Result Site
1966 Alabama 26, Clemson 0 Tuscaloosa
1967 Alabama 13, Clemson 10 Clemson
1968 Alabama 21, Clemson 14 Tuscaloosa
1969 Alabama 38, Clemson 13 Clemson
Paul Bryant vs. Bill Battle (6-1)
Year Result Site
1970 Tennessee 24, Alabama 0 Knoxville
1971 Alabama 32, Tennessee 15 Birmingham
1972 Alabama 17, Tennessee 10 Knoxville
1973 Alabama 42, Tennessee 21 Birmingham
1974 Alabama 28, Tennessee 6 Knoxville
1975 Alabama 30, Tennessee 7 Birmingham
1976 Alabama 20, Tennessee 13 Knoxville
Paul Bryant vs. Steve Sloan (4-0)
Year Result Site
1973 Alabama 44, Vanderbilt 0 Nashville
1974 Alabama 23, Vanderbilt 10 Tuscaloosa
1980 Alabama 59, OIe Miss 35 Jackson
1981 Alabama 38, Ole Miss 7 Tuscaloosa
Paul Bryant vs. Charley Pell (1-0)
Year Result Site
1979 Alabama 40, Florida 0 Gainesville
Ray Perkins vs. Jackie Sherrill (1-0)
Year Result Site
1985 Alabama 23, Texas A&M 10 Birmingham
Mike DuBose vs. Danny Ford (0-1)
Year Result Site
1997 Arkansas 17, Alabama 16 Tuscaloosa
Mike DuBose vs. Jackie Sherrill (1-3)
Year Result Site
1997 Miss. State 32, Alabama 20 Tuscaloosa
1998 Miss. State 26, Alabama 14 Starkville
1999 Alabama 19, Miss. State 7 Tuscaloosa
2000 Miss. State 29, Alabama 7 Starkville
Mike DuBose vs. Bill Oliver (1-0)
Year Result Site
1998 Alabama 31, Auburn 17 Birmingham
Mike DuBose vs. David Cutcliffe (2-0)
Year Result Site
1999 Alabama 30, OIe Miss 27 Oxford
2000 Alabama 45, Ole Miss 7 Tuscaloosa
Mike Shula vs. David Cutcliffe (1-1)
Year Result Site
2003 Ole Miss 43, Alabama 28 Oxford
2004 Alabama 28, Ole Miss 7 Tuscaloosa
Mike Shula vs. Jackie Sherrill (1-0)
Year Result Site
2003 Alabama 38, Mississippi State 0 Starkville
Mike Shula vs. Sylvester Croom (1-0)
Year Result Site
2004 Alabama 30, Mississippi State 14 Tuscaloosa
2005 Alabama 17, Mississippi State 0 Starkville
ALABAMA-MISSISSIPPI STATE SERIES
*Alabama holds a 72-15-3 (.817) all-time lead over Mississippi State in a series that dates back to the 1896 season.
*The MSU series is the longest running series in the Alabama record book. The two border rivals will be meeting for the 90th time this weekend.
*Alabama has more wins (72) over Mississippi State than any other opponent on record.
*UA and MSU first met in 1896 with the Crimson Tide posting a 20-0 win in Tuscaloosa. In fact, the first six meetings were all shutouts, including five by Alabama.
*Mississippi State did not post its first win until an 11-0 victory in Columbus, Miss. during the 1903 season.
*The 2006 season will mark the 58th consecutive year these two teams have met on the gridiron, having played every year since 1948.
*For the most part, the series has been dominated by Alabama. The Crimson Tide recorded a 12-game unbeaten streak from 1919-34, posting an 11-0-1 record during that span.
*The 1922 Alabama-Mississippi State game was the last game for Crimson Tide head coach Xen Scott. Bama won the game, 59-0.
*Alabama recorded its first ever SEC win with an 18-0 victory over Mississippi State in Tuscaloosa on Oct. 14, 1933.
*Alabama followed that up with a 10-game unbeaten streak (9-0-1) from 1942-53.
*The 1946 Alabama-Mississippi State game marked the final game for Frank Thomas as head coach at Alabama. UA won that game 24-7 on Nov. 30, 1946.
*Alabama’s 13-12 win over Mississippi State on Oct. 27, 1956 ended a school record 17-game losing streak for the Crimson Tide. The win over MSU was Alabama’s first win since beating Tennessee 27-0 in Knoxville on Oct. 16, 1954.
*The 1956 win over Mississippi State also snapped a 20-game unbeaten streak for Alabama, who played back-to-back, scoreless ties with Georgia and Tulane in 1954.
*The Crimson Tide’s 21-10 win over Mississippi State in 1975 was the school’s 750th all-time football game.
*From 1958-79, Alabama posted a 22-game winning streak over Miss. State. The 22-game winning streak is the longest in series history.
*Mississippi State ended that streak with perhaps one of the greatest wins in school history when they upset No. 1 ranked Alabama, 6-3, on Nov. 1, 1980 at Mississippi Memorial Stadium in Jackson.
*MSU’s 6-3 win also snapped Alabama’s school and SEC record 28-game winning streak.
*Since that loss to Mississippi State, Alabama has never been ranked No. 1 again at any time during the regular season.
*The Crimson Tide rebounded from a three-point upset loss and won the next 15 games in the series from 1981-95.
*In fact, Mississippi State went a period of 19 quarters (1987-92) where they never had the lead in a game against Alabama.
*The Bulldogs held an 18-14 fourth quarter lead in 1987 at Legion Field before losing 21-18 and did not take the lead again until the third quarter in 1992.
*MSU ended that 15-game winning streak with a 17-16 win over Alabama on Nov. 16, 1996 at Scott Field.
*The one-point win was Mississippi State’s first-ever on-campus win over the Crimson Tide and first in the state of Mississippi since the upset win in 1980.
*Mississippi State followed up that victory with two more wins in 1997 and 1998, giving the Bulldogs three straight wins over Alabama.
*The three-game winning streak from 1996-98 equaled the longest in series history by the Bulldogs. Mississippi State also won three straight games from 1912-14.
*Since then, Alabama has won five of the last six meetings, including a five-game winning streak. Mississippi State’s last win (29-7) came on Nov. 11, 2000, in Starkville.
STATE SERIES IS LONGEST IN UA BOOKS
*Alabama has played more games against Mississippi State than any other opponent.
*The two border rivals will be meeting for the 91st time on the gridiron this Saturday.
*Mississippi State (91), Tennessee (89) and Vanderbilt (80) are the only three opponents the Crimson Tide has played 80 or more times.
MOST GAMES VS. OPPONENT (All-Time)
Opponent Games 1st Meeting
Miss. State 91 1896
Tennessee 89 1901
Vanderbilt 80 1903
Auburn 67 1892
LSU 67 1895
*In addition, the Mississippi State game is the fifth oldest series in the UA record books as the two teams first met in 1896.
ALABAMA’S OLDEST FOOTBALL SERIES
Rank Opponent First Meeting
1. Auburn 1893
2. Ole Miss 1894
3. Georgia 1895
LSU 1895
5. Miss. State 1896
6. Tennessee 1901
*The Mississippi State and Auburn series are tied for the second-longest running series in the UA record books. Bama and State have met every year since 1948.
*The Tennessee game is the longest current running series in the UA record books. Tennessee and Alabama met for the 76th consecutive year (neither team fielded a squad in 1943) earlier this season in Tuscaloosa.
LONGEST CONSECUTIVE GAME STREAKS
Opponent Streak Series Began
Tennessee 76 1928
Miss. State 58 1948
Auburn 56 1948
Vanderbilt 51 1953
UA-MSU HAVE PLAYED AT EIGHT SITES
The Alabama-Mississippi State series has been hosted at eight different sites, with the majority of the games taking place in Tuscaloosa.
*The two teams will meet for the 46th time in Tuscaloosa this Saturday. Alabama holds a 37-7-1 (.833) series lead in Tuscaloosa.
*Three of the last five meetings between the two schools have been in Tuscaloosa.
*The 2001 and 2002 games in Tuscaloosa marked the first time since 1978-79 that MSU traveled to the state of Alabama in consecutive years to play the Crimson Tide. The two teams played in Birmingham (1978) and Tuscaloosa (1979).
*The 2001 and 2002 games also marked the first time since the 1950s that Alabama and MSU played in Tuscaloosa in consecutive seasons. The Crimson Tide hosted the Bulldogs six straight years in Tuscaloosa from 1952-57.
*In games played in the state of Alabama, the Crimson Tide holds a 44-9-2 (.818) series lead.
*In games played in the state of Mississippi, the Crimson Tide holds a 27-6-1 (.809) series lead.
*Here is a look at the series record at various sites.
Site Series Record
Tuscaloosa UA leads, 37-7-1
Birmingham UA leads, 6-2-1
Montgomery UA leads, 1-0
Starkville UA leads, 14-3
Jackson UA leads, 9-1
Columbus Series Ties, 1-1-1
Aberdeen MSU leads, 1-0
Meridian UA leads 3-0
ALABAMA BULLDOGS
*The Alabama roster contains six players from the state of Mississippi.
MISSISSIPPI NATIVES ON BAMA ROSTER
Player, Pos. Hometown
Jeffrey Dukes, DB Oxford
Terry Grant, RB Lumberton
Jimmy Johns, RB Brookhaven
Mike McCoy, WR Brandon
Milton Talbert, DL Hattiesburg
Justin Woodall, DB Oxford
*Junior wide receiver Keith Brown is from Gulfport, Miss., but he played his senior year of high school in Pensacola, Fla. and now calls that his hometown.
MSU CRIMSON TIDERS
*The Mississippi State roster contains 21 players from the state of Alabama.
*The 21 players from Alabama are the second-most from any state on the MSU roster.
*There are 46 Mississippi natives on the MSU roster, followed by Alabama (21) and Georgia (17).
ALABAMA NATIVES ON MSU ROSTER
Player, Pos. Hometown
Brian Anderson, OL Butler
Aubrey Bell, WR Prichard
Titus Brown, DL Tuscaloosa
Johnny Carpenter, OL Citronelle
Anthony Dunning, OL Thomasville
Aaron Field, SN Homewood
Michael Henig, QB Montgomery
Jonathan Hill, DB Athens
Steven Holley, TE Satsuma
Keon Humphries, WR Montgomery
Carvel Jones, LB Mobile
Ryan Mason, WR Mobile
Mark Melichar, OL Birmingham
Rodney Prince, DL Irondale
Carlton Rice, LB Huntsville
Casey Rogers, RB Henegar
Major Sosebee, WR Warrior
Arnil Stallworth, RB Daphne
Braxton Stowe, LB Fayette
Brandon Thornton, RB Birmingham
Adrian Yielding, DB Daphne
SCOUTING REPORT: Mississippi State
*Mississippi State enters this weekend with a 2-7 record and 0-5 mark in the SEC. Three of the seven losses have come by three points or less, including two straight conference setbacks.
*The last game for the Bulldogs was a 34-31 loss to Kentucky at home. Mississippi State has played three road games with losses at LSU and Georgia and an overtime victory at UAB.
*Sophomore quarterback Michael Henig (Montgomery, Ala.) passed for a career-high 384 yards against the Wildcats. He was 22-of-41 with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
*Henig’s main target last weekend was junior wide receiver Tony Burks (Gulfport, Miss.), who caught seven passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns.
*Henig has missed time due to injuries but has played in five games with three starts. He has completed 56-of-120 for 935 yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions.
*Burks is fourth in the SEC and 19th nationally with 79.78 receiving yards per game.
*Burks is also the only player in the SEC Top 10 to average over 20 yards per catch (26.6 averagea). He has 27 catches for 718 yards and three touchdowns.
*Sophomore defensive back Derek Pegues (Batesville, Miss.) has made his mark on defense and special teams scoring three touchdowns. He leads the team and is sixth in the conference with four interceptions. He has returned two of his interceptions for touchdowns.
*Pegues also ranks ninth in the nation, averaging 14.8 yards per punt return. He has 18 returns for 266 yards and one touchdown with a long of 81 yards. He is sixth in the SEC in kick returns with 20 for 487 yards (24.4 avg.) and a long of 61 yards.
*Senior linebacker Quinton Culberson (Jackson, Miss.) leads the defense with 78 tackles and six pass breakups. He ranks third in the SEC in tackles per game and 40th in the country.
*The Bulldogs are among the national leaders in tackles for a loss. They have five players with over five tackles for a loss and two in double digits.
*Junior linebacker Titus Brown (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) is third in the SEC with 11.5 TFL including six sacks.
*Senior defensive lineman Michael Heard (Lovejoy, Ga.) has 10 TFL and a team-high 6.5 sacks.
*Senior defensive back Jeramie Johnson (East Point, Ga.) has forced an NCAA-leading five fumbles and is second on the squad with 59 tackles.
ALABAMA-MSU NOTEBOOK
*Alabama head coach Mike Shula is 3-0 (1.000) in his career against Miss. State. Shula won his debut against the Bulldogs 38-0 in Starkville in 2003. He guided the Tide to a 30-14 win in Tuscaloosa last season.
*In the win over MSU in 2003, Shula recorded his first career shutout and first career SEC road win as Bama’s head coach.
*As an Alabama player, Shula was 3-0 (1.000) against the Bulldogs as the starting quarterback, leading the Crimson Tide to wins in 1984, 1985 and 1986.
*Mississippi State head coach Sylvester Croom is a graduate of the University of Alabama and former standout offensive lineman under legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.
*At the age of 20, Croom earned his bachelor’s degree in history, with a minor in biology in 1975. He earned his master’s degree in educational administration in 1977.
*The association of Dave Rader (Alabama Offensive Coordinator) and Rockey Felker (Miss. State Director of Football Operations) goes back to the playing days of UA head coach Mike Shula in the mid 1980s.
*Rader and Felker were both on the offensive staff of Ray Perkins while Shula was the starting quarterback.
*Felker served as receivers coach in 1983 and 1984 and was the offensive backfield coach in 1985, working with UA quarterback Mike Shula, now the Tide’s head coach.
*During those same three years, Rader served as Alabama’s quarterbacks coach.
*In 1986, Felker took the head coaching job at Miss. State and named Rader his offensive coordinator.
*Rader left for Tulsa after one year and was named head coach in 1988.
*The two were reunited in 1991 when Rader hired Felker as the Tulsa quarterbacks coach (1991) and wide receivers coach (1992). In 1991, the Golden Hurricane went 10-2 and defeated San Diego State in the Freedom Bowl.
*Alabama running backs coach Sparky Woods served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Jackie Sherrill at MSU from 1999-2002.
*Alabama Chancellor Dr. Malcolm Portera is the former President at Mississippi State University.
*Portera was named MSU’s 16th president on Jan. 1, 1999 and remained in that position until accepting the post as UA’s Chancellor during the summer of 2002.
*Prior to his tenure at Mississippi State, Portera spent more than two decades of his administrative life at the University of Alabama, where he worked in Alabama’s offices of academic affairs and research and served as executive assistant to two presidents before being named vice president.
*Following his tenure at the University of Alabama, Portera served as Vice Chancellor of the UA system, representing the interests of three campuses in Tuscaloosa, Huntsville and Birmingham.
*Portera also earned his Ph.D. in political science from the Capstone.
MSU COACHES HAVE TIES TO CAPSTONE
*The Mississippi State coaching staff has six former UA players or coaches, including head coach Sylvester Croom.
*Mississippi State defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson served two stints with the Crimson Tide under Gene Stallings and Mike DuBose.
*Under Stallings (1990-93), Johnson was the outside linebackers coach helping the Crimson Tide to a 41-9 (.840) overall record and the 1992 National Championship.
*After three years at Clemson, Johnson returned to Alabama under DuBose and served as defensive coordinator (1997-2000) before becoming the head coach at The Citadel. As defensive coordinator, Johnson helped Alabama to the 1999 SEC Championship.
*Mississippi State linebackers and special teams coach Amos Jones also has Alabama roots. A native of nearby Pickens County, Jones played for coach Paul “Bear” Bryant from 1978-80 and was a part of two national championship squads, including Bryant’s only undefeated 12-0 team in 1979.
*During his tenure as a player, the Crimson Tide went 33-3 (.917) and played in the 1979 and 1980 Sugar Bowl and the 1981 Cotton Bowl.
*Jones began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach under Bryant in 1981. In two seasons, UA went 17-6-1 and earned the 1981 SEC Championship.
*Jones also worked two years under Stallings (1990-91) as the special teams coach.
*MSU assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Woody McCorvey spent seven years as an Alabama assistant under Stallings (1990-96) and DuBose (1997).
*From 1990-96, McCorvey served as receivers coach and then offensive coordinator under Stallings, leading Alabama to a 70-16-1 (.810) record, including the first 13-0 season in school history and 1992 national championship.
*As offensive coordinator in 1996, McCorvey led Alabama to a 10-3 record with junior QB Freddie Kitchens, including a win over Michigan in the 1997 Outback Bowl.
*The 1996 Alabama team passed for 2,192 yards, the fifth best total in school history.
*MSU defensive backs coach Melvin Smith worked one year (2002) at Alabama in a similar capacity under Dennis Franchione.
*MSU coordinator of football operations Rockey Felker served as the receivers coach (1983-84) and offensive backfield coach (1985) at Alabama under Ray Perkins.
HARBISON-JOHNSON CONNECTION
*Alabama receivers coach Charlie Harbison and MSU defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson are not in the same coaching circles, but the two are close, personal friends.
*Johnson was instrumental in Harbison joining the Alabama staff under Mike DuBose in 1997. Johnson and Harbison worked together at Clemson and when Johnson was hired by DuBose as UA’s defensive coordinator, he brought Harbison with him as the Tide’s secondary coach.
*After DuBose was fired after the 2000 season, Harbison landed on his feet at LSU, while Johnson was named head coach at The Citadel.
*Harbison was given the chance to return to Alabama in 2003 when coach Shula was named head coach in May.
*Johnson’s third child, Charlie, is named for coach Harbsion, who also serves as the child’s Godfather.
MAGNOLIA STATE SUCCESS
*Alabama head coach Mike Shula is 9-1 (.900) in his career against teams from the state of Mississippi.
*Shula brings an eight-game winning streak against Mississippi teams into Saturday’s SEC game against Mississippi State at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
*He is 3-0 against Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State and 3-1 against Ole Miss.
*Shula’s only loss to a Mississippi team came in 2003 when Alabama suffered a 43-28 loss to Ole Miss in Oxford.
Mike Shula vs. Mississippi Teams
Year Result Site
2003 Alabama 17, Southern Miss 3 Tuscaloosa
Ole Miss 43, Alabama 28 Oxford
Alabama 38, Miss. State 0 Starkville
2004 Alabama 28, Ole Miss 7 Tuscaloosa
Alabama 27, Southern Miss 3 Tuscaloosa
Alabama 30, Miss. State 14 Tuscaloosa
2005 Alabama 30, Southern Miss 21 Tuscaloosa
Alabama 13, Ole Miss 10 Oxford
Alabama 17, Miss. State 0 Starkville
2006 Alabama 26, Ole Miss 23 (ot) Tuscaloosa
ALABAMA VS. MISSISSIPPI SCHOOLS
*Alabama has compiled a 149-31-2 (.824) all-time record against teams from the state of Mississippi.
*The Crimson Tide has played four Mississippi teams in its football history, including Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Southern Miss and Delta State.
*Alabama beat Delta State, 89-0, during the 1951 season in the lone meeting between the two schools.
Alabama vs. Mississippi Schools
Opponent Record
Delta State 1-0
Ole Miss 43-9-2
Mississippi State 71-16-3
Southern Mississippi 34-6-2
TURNOVERS
*Alabama leads the SEC and ranks second nationally with a +1.44 turnover margin per game this season.
*Only Brigham Young (+1.50) has a better turnover margin in college football than Alabama.
*The Crimson Tide has forced 22 turnovers in its first nine games, an average of 2.44 per game.
*Alabama is tied for ninth in the nation with those 22 turnovers gained.
*The Crimson Tide defense has 14 interceptions and eight fumbles recovered thus far.
*Alabama ranks fifth nationally with those 14 interceptions.
*Junior defensive back Simeon Castille ranks second in the SEC and 16th nationally with 0.6 interceptions per game. Castille leads UA with five interceptions in nine games.
*Sophomore defensive back Lionel Mitchell (Stone Mountain, Ga.) is third in the SEC and tied for 19th nationally with 0.5 interceptions per game.
*The Crimson Tide is 38th nationally with eight fumbles recovered.
*Castille also leads UA with three fumbles recovered this season. Freshman linebacker Prince Hall is second in the team with two fumbles recovered.
*Hall had a 50-yard return for a touchdown against Florida on Sept. 30.
*Alabama has forced at least one turnover in 39 of 46 games under Coach Shula.
*Since 2003, the Crimson Tide has forced 90 turnovers in 46 games, an average of 1.96 per game under Shula’s watch.
*Alabama has forced at least one turnover in eight of nine games this season.
*Alabama did not force a turnover in its 26-23 overtime win over Ole Miss on Oct. 14.
*On the flip side, Alabama has the fourth fewest turnovers in the nation this season. The Crimson Tide has commited nine turnovers in nine games.
*Alabama is 10th nationally with four fumbles lost. Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois have the fewest fumbles (2) lost this season.
*Alabama is 13th nationally with five interceptions thrown in nine games. Ohio State, Texas A&M and Wake Forest share the lead among Division I teams with two interceptions thrown this season.
TURNOVER FREE FOOTBALL
*Alabama’s offense has not had a turnover in its last three games against Ole Miss, Tennessee and Florida International.
*The last time Alabama played three consecutive games without a turnover came against LSU, Auburn and Texas Tech last season.
*The Crimson Tide offense has run 204 plays from scrimmage since its last turnover.
*The last UA turnover came with 4:47 left in the third quarter against Duke on Oct. 7, 2006. John Parker Wilson was intercepted by Duke’s John Talley in Alabama territory.
*Alabama has thrown 88 consecutive passes without an interception, dating back to the Duke game.
*Alabama has had 219 consecutive rushing attempts without a fumble lost.
*Including pass plays, the Crimson Tide has run 259 consecutive plays from scrimmage without losing a fumble.
*The last time Alabama lost a fumble was the third quarter of the Arkansas game in Fayetteville on Sept. 23.
*Wilson lost the fumble and Arkansas’ Randy Kelly had a 39-yard return to give the Razorbacks a 17-10 lead.
MITCHELL AMONG NCAA LEADERS IN INTERCEPTION RETURN YARDS
*Sophomore defensive back Lionel Mitchell (Stone Mountain, Georgia) is third in the nation with 131 interception return yards this season.
*He is just one of 11 Division I-A players with 100 or more interception return yards this season.
*Mitchell has four interceptions for 131 yards and one touchdown through nine games.
*In addition, he is third in the SEC and ranks tied for 19th nationally with 0.50 interceptions per game.
*He recorded his first career interception on the final play of the game as Alabama beat Hawai’i, 25-17, in the season opener on Sept. 2, 2006.
*Mitchell added his second interception of the season with a 51-yard return against Arkansas on Sept. 23 in Fayetteville.
*He scored his first collegiate touchdown with a 50-yard interception return in the Tide’s 30-14 win over Duke on Oct. 7.
*Mitchell’s fourth interception of the season came on the final play of the first half against No. 7 Tennessee in Knoxville on Oct. 21.
*Mitchell picked off an Erik Ainge pass at the Bama 10-yard line and was credited with a 30-yard return before being forced out of bounds as the second quarter ended.
NCAA INTERCEPTION RETURN YARDS
Player (School) Yards
Stanley Franks (Idaho) 220
Marty Tadman (Boise State) 142
Lionel Mitchell (Alabama) 131
John Talley (Duke) 130
Londen Fryar (Western Michigan) 123
Alterraun Verner (UCLA) 123
Jamal Lewis (Georgia Tech) 117
Adam Shada (Iowa) 113
Craig Steltz (LSU) 111
Anthony Scirrotto (Penn State) 103
Leonard Peters (Hawai’i) 101
MITCHELL CLOSING IN ON UA RECORD
*Sophomore defensive back Lionel Mitchell (Stone Mountain, Georgia) ranks third in the nation with 131 interception return yards this season.
*Those 131 return yards are already good enough for the third-best single-season total in Alabama history.
*Mitchell is just 32 yards shy of the single-season record held by Cecil “Hootie” Ingram during the 1952 season.
*Ingram had 10 interceptions for a school-record 163 yards (16.3 per return) in 1952.
SINGLE-SEASON INTERCEPTION RETURNS
Player (Year) Yards
Cecil “Hootie” Ingram (1952) 163
Bobby Luna (1953) 158
Lionel Mitchell (2006) 131
Reggie Myles (2000) 127
Antoino Langham (1992) 114
Ricky Davis (1974) 110
Steve Higginbotham (1971) 108
Steve Higginbotham (1970) 107
Fernando Bryant (1997) 106
Jeremiah Castille (1981) 101
CASTILLE LEADS SEC IN TURNOVERS
*Junior defensive back Simeon Castille (Birmingham) leads the SEC with eight turnove`-s forced this season.
*Castille leads the SEC with three fumbles recovered this season.
*He is the SEC co-leader with five intercetpions. Florida’s Ryan Smith also has five interceptions.
*Castille is averaging 0.89 turnovers per game in nine games this season.
SEC TURNOVER LEADERS
Player (School) Turnovers
Simeon Castille (Alabama) 8
Reshard Langford (Vanderbilt) 5
Reggie Nelson (Florida) 5
Ryan Smith (Florida) 5
Marc. McClinton (Kentucky) 4
DJ Moore (Vanderbilt) 4
Derek Pegues (Mississippi State) 4
Craig Steltz (LSU) 4
Tony Taylor (Georgia) 4
Seven Players Tied 3
*In addition, Castille is one of only six SEC defenders with at least one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery this season.
Player (School) INT-FR-FF Total
Simeon Castille (Alabama) 5-3-1 9
Marc. McClinton (Kentucky) 3-1-4 8
Wesley Woodyard (Kentucky) 1-2-2 5
Myron Pope (Kentucky) 1-1-3 5
Paul Oliver (Georgia) 1-1-1 3
Quinton Culberson (MSU) 1-1-1 3
NOVEMBER RECORD
*Alabama has compiled a 251-120-14 (.670) all-time record in 385 all-time November games.
*The Crimson Tide has compiled a 3-7 (.300) record in the month of November under coach Mike Shula.
*Alabama was 1-2 (.333) last season in the month of November.
*The first football game in Alabama history was played in the month of November. The Crimson Tide defeated Birmingham High School 56-0 on Nov. 11, 1892.
*Alabama is 47-29-1 (.617) in the month of November since the 1983 season.
ON THIS DATE
*Alabama has compiled an 12-3-1 (.782) all-time record in games played on November 4th.
*The Crimson Tide has not played on this date since a 30-28 loss at LSU during the 2000 season. That loss ended the Crimson Tide’s seven-game winning streak on this date.
*Alabama is 8-2-1 (.773) in SEC games played on Nov. 4th.
*Alabama and Mississippi State will be playing for the sixth time on Nov. 4 when the two teams meet this Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
*Alabama is 5-0 (1.000) in its previous Nov. 4 meetings with Mississippi State.
*UA and MSU last met on this date in 1989, with the Crimson Tide posted a 23-10 win at Birmingham’s Legion Filed.
All-Time Games on November 4th
Year Result Site
1893 Bham AC 10, Alabama 8 Birmingham
1905 Alabama 36, Georgia 0 Birmingham
1911 Alabama 31, Marion Inst. 0 Marion
1916 Alabama 7, Sewanee 6 Birmingham
1922 Alabama 9, Penn 7 Philadelphia
1933 Alabama 20, Kentucky 0 Birmingham
1939 Alabama 7, Kentucky 7 Birmingham
1944 Georgia 14, Alabama 7 Birmingham
1950 Alabama 14, Georgia 7 Birmingham
1961 Alabama 24, Miss. State 0 Tuscaloosa
1967 Alabama 13, Miss. State 0 Tuscaloosa
1972 Alabama 58, Miss. State 14 Tuscaloosa
1978 Alabama 35, Miss. State 14 Birmingham
1989 Alabama 23, Miss. State 10 Birmingham
1995 Alabama 10, LSU 3 Tuscaloosa
2000 LSU 30, Alabama 28 Baton Rouge
