Looking Back, not Forward, at Bama vs Colorado.
It's interesting to me when we end up facing opponents outside of our conference that the majority of the time we can look back in our history, our tradition, and always find things that intersect. As example, when we faced Oklahoma a few years ago in our home and home series there were varieties of different story lines linking the two programs.
This game, is no different.
We've faced Colorado twice in the past. Once, at the conclusion of the 1969 season in the Liberty Bowl. The last time was at the end of the 1991 season in the Blockbuster Bowl in Miami.
One aspect I find interesting was in both of the two match-ups Alabama was either entering or beginning a transition period.
We all know the stories about the implementation of the wishbone attack for the 1971 squad at Alabama. While it was in the midst of Coach Bryant's tenure at Alabama it was at the cusp of a significant change in our philosophies on the offensive side of the ball. What is even more astounding is that Alabama had just finished two seasons where we hovered around the .500 mark in our last two season. Now, we sit looking back at two seasons where the '06 and '07 teams are hovering around the same mark.
The Liberty Bowl officials wanted to showcase a game in that season that featured two high scoring offenses. Now, we are looking at a game featuring an innovative offensive mind in Dan Hawkins (CU head coach) and a new offensive philosophy that has proven, at times, to be a dangerous unit when clicking on all cylinders.
You want a brief history reminder for 1969?
Scott Hunter, Johnny Musso, Ned Hayden, George Ranager and Steve Williams.
You want a bit of irony?
Down by 7 with little time left on the clock Bama turned the ball over on downs to lead to a loss: Colorado 47- Bama 33.
Jumping up a few years to 1991.
Alabama was looking at a change in the program. A team just a year prior was just over .500 was enjoying seeing a rebuilding process happening at the Capstone. The '91 team, at 10-1, was looking towards the future of what we thought to be a team that could compete for Championships again.
Colorado, on the other hand, was coming off of a National Championship the year before.
Bama, finding itself behind had to rally in the 2nd half to pull off what many considered the breaking point leading to the 1992 Championship. Yet, one more offensive showcase with the Bama QB throwing for 3 touchdowns in the second leading Bama to defeat the Buffaloes 30-25.
A brief history reminder for 1991?
Jay Barker, David Palmer, Tank Williamson, Kevin Lee, and perhaps most intriguing? Siran Stacy.
Now, we see two teams coming in with records alike. We see two teams with new coaches on the sidelines. We see ourselves in the same position, in retrospect, with Alabama coaches who added another trophy to our tradition.
Interestingly enough, Bama has played in back to back bowl appearances only time in our history. In 1981-82 Alabama played in the Cotton Bowl in consecutive years. First, winning against Baylor then losing to Texas.
We've played in the Independence bowl twice. Once, a win versus Iowa State and then last year a lose versus Oklahoma State. So we mark history once again making this the second time we've appeared in the same bowl game in back to back years. 1-1 in the Cotton...?-1 in the...
Sidenotes: This is the 4th consecutive bowl appearance for Alabama something that hasn't happened since 1984-95 when we went to 10 straight.
This game will also mark out NCAA leading 55th bowl appearances.
More on the game as it draws closer...
It's interesting to me when we end up facing opponents outside of our conference that the majority of the time we can look back in our history, our tradition, and always find things that intersect. As example, when we faced Oklahoma a few years ago in our home and home series there were varieties of different story lines linking the two programs.
This game, is no different.
We've faced Colorado twice in the past. Once, at the conclusion of the 1969 season in the Liberty Bowl. The last time was at the end of the 1991 season in the Blockbuster Bowl in Miami.
One aspect I find interesting was in both of the two match-ups Alabama was either entering or beginning a transition period.
We all know the stories about the implementation of the wishbone attack for the 1971 squad at Alabama. While it was in the midst of Coach Bryant's tenure at Alabama it was at the cusp of a significant change in our philosophies on the offensive side of the ball. What is even more astounding is that Alabama had just finished two seasons where we hovered around the .500 mark in our last two season. Now, we sit looking back at two seasons where the '06 and '07 teams are hovering around the same mark.
The Liberty Bowl officials wanted to showcase a game in that season that featured two high scoring offenses. Now, we are looking at a game featuring an innovative offensive mind in Dan Hawkins (CU head coach) and a new offensive philosophy that has proven, at times, to be a dangerous unit when clicking on all cylinders.
You want a brief history reminder for 1969?
Scott Hunter, Johnny Musso, Ned Hayden, George Ranager and Steve Williams.
You want a bit of irony?
Down by 7 with little time left on the clock Bama turned the ball over on downs to lead to a loss: Colorado 47- Bama 33.
Jumping up a few years to 1991.
Alabama was looking at a change in the program. A team just a year prior was just over .500 was enjoying seeing a rebuilding process happening at the Capstone. The '91 team, at 10-1, was looking towards the future of what we thought to be a team that could compete for Championships again.
Colorado, on the other hand, was coming off of a National Championship the year before.
Bama, finding itself behind had to rally in the 2nd half to pull off what many considered the breaking point leading to the 1992 Championship. Yet, one more offensive showcase with the Bama QB throwing for 3 touchdowns in the second leading Bama to defeat the Buffaloes 30-25.
A brief history reminder for 1991?
Jay Barker, David Palmer, Tank Williamson, Kevin Lee, and perhaps most intriguing? Siran Stacy.
Now, we see two teams coming in with records alike. We see two teams with new coaches on the sidelines. We see ourselves in the same position, in retrospect, with Alabama coaches who added another trophy to our tradition.
Interestingly enough, Bama has played in back to back bowl appearances only time in our history. In 1981-82 Alabama played in the Cotton Bowl in consecutive years. First, winning against Baylor then losing to Texas.
We've played in the Independence bowl twice. Once, a win versus Iowa State and then last year a lose versus Oklahoma State. So we mark history once again making this the second time we've appeared in the same bowl game in back to back years. 1-1 in the Cotton...?-1 in the...
Sidenotes: This is the 4th consecutive bowl appearance for Alabama something that hasn't happened since 1984-95 when we went to 10 straight.
This game will also mark out NCAA leading 55th bowl appearances.
More on the game as it draws closer...
Only other time I've been bumped in almost 19 years was my honeymoon. :shock:
