We'd be remiss if we didn't mention one of our favorite Crimson Tide games, which was known for one thing especially: snow.
Alabama's Top 10 Sugar Bowls: Bonus, 1964 Alabama vs. Ole Miss
The Alabama Crimson Tide will be making its 17th appearance in the Sugar Bowl, the most of any team, when it squares off against the No. 9 Kansas State Wildcats inside Caesars Superdome on Dec. 31 (11 a.m. CT on ESPN).
BamaCentral is counting down the Top 10 Sugar Bowls for Alabama:
#8 Alabama 12 (Final: 9-2-0)
#7 Ole Miss 7 (Final: 7-1-2)
To give an idea of how unusual the 1964 Sugar Bowl was between Alabama and Ole Miss, the teams combined for 17 fumbles, 11 by the Rebels, both all-time bowl records.
Yet that wasn't the story of the game.
You see, this was no ordinary team, and no ordinary Sugar Bowl.
Having lost quarterback Joe Namath to a suspension, Alabama was not even supposed to be on the same field as Ole Miss.
Instead, the game featured 17 fumbles, 11 by Ole Miss, both all-time bowl records – and was still exciting to the end.
Sophomore Steve Sloan, showing the poise and savvy of a veteran, guided the Crimson Tide to a 12-7 victory over the heavily favored Ole Miss Rebels, but it took four Tim Davis field goals to turn the trick.
Davis’s kicks of 31, 46, 22 and 48 yards earned the senior from Columbus, Ga., the Outstanding Player award. His four field goals were a bowl record and his 48-yarder was the longest in bowl history at the time.
It was 3-0 after the first quarter, 9-0 at halftime and 12-0 going into the final quarter. The Rebels finally got on the scoreboard when Larry Smith took a five-yard pass from Perry Lee Dunn. Billy Irwin kicked good and it ended just that way, 12-7, Alabama. With snow piled on the edge of the playing field, the Tide put on a great display of how to win under adversity. The alert Crimson Tide gobbled up six Rebels fumbles and intercepted three Rebels passes. And while Ole Miss piled up more yardage (248 to 194), it was Alabama that controlled the football by running 69 plays to only 48 for the Rebels.
In the final quarter the Tide defense stopped the Rebels on Alabama’s 2, 9 and 28-yard lines to seal the verdict.
There had been Sugar Bowls won by field goals before – the 1936 game being won by a kick, the only points the winning team could manage. To show how much the game has changed, Sammy Baugh’s boot in that one was the first of just nine before 1964 in the Sugar Bowl’s three-decade history.
Tulane Stadium really did resemble a huge sugar bowl on the first day of 1964, with snow banks flanking the field. The moist 45-degree temperature was said later to have played a critical roles in the outcome, causing a total of 17 fumbles, 11 by the losing team, and bringing on an incredible for-the-time four field goals – including the longest ever kicked in any bowl – by Davis, three coming after bobbles, which provided the ultimate difference.
Playing with a second-string quarterback, 18-year-old Steve Sloan, in place of suspended Joe Namath, and against the nation’s best run defense, Bear Bryant figured he was in for an iffy afternoon.
On ‘Bama’s first series, though, Sloan took the Crimson Tide on an impressive quick-hitting, between-the-tackles drive that netted five straight first downs. Ole Miss, which led the nation in rushing defense, finally was able to stop the Tide at the Rebel 15, forcing Davis to come in and kick a 31-yard field goal.
Following the kickoff, Ole Miss quarterback Jim Weatherly, in for Perry Lee Dunn, set the tone for a frustrating Rebel day by losing the ball with no one around him as he attempted to pass. Butch Henry recovered at the Ole Miss 31, and Davis eventually came back in to boot a 46-yard field goal, breaking the Sugar Bowl record of 32 yards that he set himself two years before against Arkansas.
After yet another lost muff at the Rebel 37, Davis, in for his third play of the game, attempted a 50-yard field goal, but it was wide to the right. “I ought to beat you with a stick, you rascal,” admonished the Bear with a smile. “You should have had that other one, too. I saw you take your eyes off the ball.”
Another lost Rebel fumble at the 16 gave Davis another chance. With 16 seconds left until intermission Davis kicked a 22-yarder that gave Alabama a 9-0 halftime lead.
“I’m not taking anything away from Alabama,” reflected Rebel end Joe Wilkins. “We played under the same conditions. Our game, though, I feel, was much more affected by the weather than theirs. We had a much more open offense, handled the ball more than Alabama, which ran basically a simple quick-hitting offense. The main thing was the snow put more moisture in the air. The field was slick as glass … With our roll-out offense; it just seemed a little more difficult for us.”
Dennis picked up 11 yards on the first play of the second half, registering Ole Miss’ initial first down. Two plays later, Frank Kinard dropped the Rebels’ eighth fumble, bringing Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett to his feet, saying, “Why is it the boys can’t hold onto the football?”
Two series after that, Davis kicked a 48-yard field goal, at that time the record for any bowl.
Ole Miss crossed midfield for the first time in the fourth quarter, and Dunn eventually hit Larry Smith with a 5-yard touchdown pass, the Rebels, outplayed most of the day, were now in position to win. And soon they were knocking on the door again, but on a fourth down at the 4, Dunn was stopped at the 2. Bryant would say later, “If I remember right, we (Kentucky) stopped Oklahoma in almost the same spot in the ’51 game.”
Ole Miss, hot now, made a last bid, getting to the 19 where end Joe Pettey caught a pass in the numbers and near the sideline. Fittingly, he couldn’t hold the ball as he was tackled. ‘Bama recovered at the 9 to seal the victory.
Davis was the postgame story. He credited the snow with his performance. “I think being off the day before the game was the answer,” he theorized. “I just had more zip in my kicks. I could see when I was warming up before the game. If the snow hadn’t forced us indoors Tuesday, I would not have been so strong and accurate.”
Excerpt from the book “Sugar Bowl Classic: A History” by Marty Mulé.
No. 7: 2018 Alabama vs. Clemson (CFP semifinal)
No. 8: 1978 Alabama vs. Ohio State
No. 9: 1945 Alabama vs. Duke
No. 10: 1975 Alabama vs. Penn State
Alabama's Top 10 Sugar Bowls: Bonus, 1964 Alabama vs. Ole Miss
The Alabama Crimson Tide will be making its 17th appearance in the Sugar Bowl, the most of any team, when it squares off against the No. 9 Kansas State Wildcats inside Caesars Superdome on Dec. 31 (11 a.m. CT on ESPN).
BamaCentral is counting down the Top 10 Sugar Bowls for Alabama:
#8 Alabama 12 (Final: 9-2-0)
#7 Ole Miss 7 (Final: 7-1-2)
To give an idea of how unusual the 1964 Sugar Bowl was between Alabama and Ole Miss, the teams combined for 17 fumbles, 11 by the Rebels, both all-time bowl records.
Yet that wasn't the story of the game.
You see, this was no ordinary team, and no ordinary Sugar Bowl.
Having lost quarterback Joe Namath to a suspension, Alabama was not even supposed to be on the same field as Ole Miss.
Instead, the game featured 17 fumbles, 11 by Ole Miss, both all-time bowl records – and was still exciting to the end.
Alabama Recap
It snowed on the eve of the game and that was just the first of some unusual occurrences.Sophomore Steve Sloan, showing the poise and savvy of a veteran, guided the Crimson Tide to a 12-7 victory over the heavily favored Ole Miss Rebels, but it took four Tim Davis field goals to turn the trick.
Davis’s kicks of 31, 46, 22 and 48 yards earned the senior from Columbus, Ga., the Outstanding Player award. His four field goals were a bowl record and his 48-yarder was the longest in bowl history at the time.
It was 3-0 after the first quarter, 9-0 at halftime and 12-0 going into the final quarter. The Rebels finally got on the scoreboard when Larry Smith took a five-yard pass from Perry Lee Dunn. Billy Irwin kicked good and it ended just that way, 12-7, Alabama. With snow piled on the edge of the playing field, the Tide put on a great display of how to win under adversity. The alert Crimson Tide gobbled up six Rebels fumbles and intercepted three Rebels passes. And while Ole Miss piled up more yardage (248 to 194), it was Alabama that controlled the football by running 69 plays to only 48 for the Rebels.
In the final quarter the Tide defense stopped the Rebels on Alabama’s 2, 9 and 28-yard lines to seal the verdict.
Sugar Bowl Summary
Tulane Stadium was like an icebox, cold and damp. But in the midst of snow banks, with players bothered by frosted fingertips, Tim Davis was hot. Or, at least, his toe was.There had been Sugar Bowls won by field goals before – the 1936 game being won by a kick, the only points the winning team could manage. To show how much the game has changed, Sammy Baugh’s boot in that one was the first of just nine before 1964 in the Sugar Bowl’s three-decade history.
Tulane Stadium really did resemble a huge sugar bowl on the first day of 1964, with snow banks flanking the field. The moist 45-degree temperature was said later to have played a critical roles in the outcome, causing a total of 17 fumbles, 11 by the losing team, and bringing on an incredible for-the-time four field goals – including the longest ever kicked in any bowl – by Davis, three coming after bobbles, which provided the ultimate difference.
Playing with a second-string quarterback, 18-year-old Steve Sloan, in place of suspended Joe Namath, and against the nation’s best run defense, Bear Bryant figured he was in for an iffy afternoon.
On ‘Bama’s first series, though, Sloan took the Crimson Tide on an impressive quick-hitting, between-the-tackles drive that netted five straight first downs. Ole Miss, which led the nation in rushing defense, finally was able to stop the Tide at the Rebel 15, forcing Davis to come in and kick a 31-yard field goal.
Following the kickoff, Ole Miss quarterback Jim Weatherly, in for Perry Lee Dunn, set the tone for a frustrating Rebel day by losing the ball with no one around him as he attempted to pass. Butch Henry recovered at the Ole Miss 31, and Davis eventually came back in to boot a 46-yard field goal, breaking the Sugar Bowl record of 32 yards that he set himself two years before against Arkansas.
After yet another lost muff at the Rebel 37, Davis, in for his third play of the game, attempted a 50-yard field goal, but it was wide to the right. “I ought to beat you with a stick, you rascal,” admonished the Bear with a smile. “You should have had that other one, too. I saw you take your eyes off the ball.”
Another lost Rebel fumble at the 16 gave Davis another chance. With 16 seconds left until intermission Davis kicked a 22-yarder that gave Alabama a 9-0 halftime lead.
“I’m not taking anything away from Alabama,” reflected Rebel end Joe Wilkins. “We played under the same conditions. Our game, though, I feel, was much more affected by the weather than theirs. We had a much more open offense, handled the ball more than Alabama, which ran basically a simple quick-hitting offense. The main thing was the snow put more moisture in the air. The field was slick as glass … With our roll-out offense; it just seemed a little more difficult for us.”
Dennis picked up 11 yards on the first play of the second half, registering Ole Miss’ initial first down. Two plays later, Frank Kinard dropped the Rebels’ eighth fumble, bringing Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett to his feet, saying, “Why is it the boys can’t hold onto the football?”
Two series after that, Davis kicked a 48-yard field goal, at that time the record for any bowl.
Ole Miss crossed midfield for the first time in the fourth quarter, and Dunn eventually hit Larry Smith with a 5-yard touchdown pass, the Rebels, outplayed most of the day, were now in position to win. And soon they were knocking on the door again, but on a fourth down at the 4, Dunn was stopped at the 2. Bryant would say later, “If I remember right, we (Kentucky) stopped Oklahoma in almost the same spot in the ’51 game.”
Ole Miss, hot now, made a last bid, getting to the 19 where end Joe Pettey caught a pass in the numbers and near the sideline. Fittingly, he couldn’t hold the ball as he was tackled. ‘Bama recovered at the 9 to seal the victory.
Davis was the postgame story. He credited the snow with his performance. “I think being off the day before the game was the answer,” he theorized. “I just had more zip in my kicks. I could see when I was warming up before the game. If the snow hadn’t forced us indoors Tuesday, I would not have been so strong and accurate.”
Excerpt from the book “Sugar Bowl Classic: A History” by Marty Mulé.
See Also:
No. 6 1966 Alabama vs. NebraskaNo. 7: 2018 Alabama vs. Clemson (CFP semifinal)
No. 8: 1978 Alabama vs. Ohio State
No. 9: 1945 Alabama vs. Duke
No. 10: 1975 Alabama vs. Penn State
