Roll Tide! Alabama defeated Texas Tech 13-10 in the Cotton Bowl on January 2, 2006. Alabama finished the season with 10 wins and two losses under third year coach Mike Shula. It’s been a great season for the Tide after a series of disasters the last few years.

The unraveling began under Coach Mike Dubose, under whose leadership Alabama was placed on probation by the NCAA. Bama then hired Dennis Franchione, who, after some success, betrayed his players and left under cover of darkness for Texas A&M. Then Alabama hired the infamous Mike Price. Price (before even signing his contract) reportedly violated University policy on several occasions with behavior that usually results in players being suspended, much less coaches. To Alabama’s credit, they let Price go and hired Mike Shula about one month before the beginning of the 2003 season.

Shula inherited a mess in 2003. Not only did he take over the program at the last minute, but the team was decimated by the sanctions imposed by the NCAA. Shula had no prior head coaching experience. In addition to the problems already mentioned, in 2004 the Tide encountered more injuries to key players than ever in recent memory. The injuries were a more significant problem than you would normally expect due to the lack of depth resulting from scolarship restrictions.

Under Shula the Tide has shown steady improvement, despite the obstacles. In 2003, Alabama finished 4-9. In 2004, Alabama finished 6-6. This year Bama improved to 10-2. This year Bama had big wins against South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas Tech. There were two disappointing losses, to LSU and rival Auburn. Bama played LSU tough, down to the wire. The biggest disappointment was the loss to Auburn 28-18. Though they lost by 10 points, it seemed worse because Auburn was so dominant in the first quarter, jumping out to a 21-0 lead. Despite the fact Bama outscored Auburn 18-7 during the final three quarters, they never could overcome the bad start.

Bama showed up ready to play one of their best games of the year in the Cotton Bowl. This was a battle between the nation’s #2 offense in Texas Tech and the nation’s #2 defense in Alabama. It was widely hyped as the best matchup besides the Rose Bowl National Championship game between USC and Texas. As usual, a good defense beat a good offense. Bama won on a last second field goal by Christensen, his third such game-winning kick of the year.

The future looks bright for the Alabama Crimson Tide!

Here are the box scores from the 2005 season.....

Box Score (Final) Middle Tennessee vs Alabama Crimson Tide (Sep 3, 2005 at Tuscaloosa, Alabama) Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score ----------------- -- -- -- -- ----- Middle Tennessee.... 0 7 0 0 - 7 Record: (0-1) Alabama Crimson Tide 2 7 14 3 - 26 Record: (1-0) Scoring Summary: 1st 03:49 ALABAMA - TEAM safety, , MT 0 - ALABAMA 2 2nd 09:05 ALABAMA - Tim Castille 1 yd run (Ryan Saxby kick), 10-51 4:30, MT 0 - ALABAMA 9 06:06 MT - Nick McAfee 14 yd pass from Clint Marks (Colby Smith kick), 9-80 2:59, MT 7 - ALABAMA 9 3rd 10:34 ALABAMA - Tyrone Prothro 13 yd pass from Brodie Croyle (Ryan Saxby kick), 6-68 2:48, MT 7 - ALABAMA 16 02:53 ALABAMA - Tim Castille 1 yd run (Ryan Saxby kick), 6-59 2:55, MT 7 - ALABAMA 23 4th 12:10 ALABAMA - Ryan Saxby 32 yd field goal, 7-62 2:34, MT 7 - ALABAMA 26

Box Score (Final) Southern Mississippi vs Alabama Crimson Tide (Sep 10, 2005 at Tuscaloosa, Alabama) Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score ----------------- -- -- -- -- ----- Southern Mississippi 14 7 0 0 - 21 Record: (0-1) Alabama Crimson Tide 10 7 6 7 - 30 Record: (2-0) Scoring Summary: 1st 14:04 ALABAMA - DJ Hall 26 yd pass from Brodie Croyle (J. Christensen kick), 4-80 0:56, USM 0 - ALABAMA 7 06:41 ALABAMA - J. Christensen 33 yd field goal, 8-53 3:29, USM 0 - ALABAMA 10 03:32 USM - Gerald Mcrath 32 yd interception return (Darren Mccaleb kick), , USM 7 - ALABAMA 10 00:53 USM - Anthony Perine 12 yd pass from Dustin Almond (Darren Mccaleb kick), 1-12 0:07, USM 14 - ALABAMA 10 2nd 10:19 USM - Anthony Perine 37 yd pass from Dustin Almond (Darren Mccaleb kick), 7-64 3:05, USM 21 - ALABAMA 10 00:12 ALABAMA - Le'Ron McClain 1 yd pass from Brodie Croyle (J. Christensen kick), 11-72 3:00, USM 21 - ALABAMA 17 3rd 09:19 ALABAMA - Tim Castille 2 yd run (J. Christensen kick failed), 9-60 4:00, USM 21 - ALABAMA 23 4th 11:06 ALABAMA - Tim Castille 2 yd run (J. Christensen kick), 11-85 4:20, USM 21 - ALABAMA 30

Box Score (Final) Alabama Crimson Tide vs South Carolina (Sep 17, 2005 at Columbia, S.C.) Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score ----------------- -- -- -- -- ----- Alabama Crimson Tide 14 6 10 7 - 37 Record: (3-0,1-0) South Carolina...... 7 0 0 7 - 14 Record: (1-2,0-2) Scoring Summary: 1st 10:54 ALABAMA - Brodie Croyle 15 yd run (J. Christensen kick), 8-80 4:06, ALABAMA 7 - USC 0 05:16 USC - Mike Davis 1 yd run (Josh Brown kick), 13-75 5:38, ALABAMA 7 - USC 7 03:06 ALABAMA - Keith Brown 46 yd pass from Brodie Croyle (J. Christensen kick), 7-80 2:10, ALABAMA 14 - USC 7 2nd 11:56 ALABAMA - J. Christensen 41 yd field goal, 12-62 5:02, ALABAMA 17 - USC 7 04:02 ALABAMA - J. Christensen 29 yd field goal, 13-40 6:12, ALABAMA 20 - USC 7 3rd 06:24 ALABAMA - J. Christensen 27 yd field goal, 9-39 4:42, ALABAMA 23 - USC 7 04:08 ALABAMA - Kenneth Darby 22 yd run (J. Christensen kick), 3-39 1:03, ALABAMA 30 - USC 7 4th 09:51 ALABAMA - Keith Brown 36 yd pass from JP Wilson (J. Christensen kick), 6-80 3:38, ALABAMA 37 - USC 7 05:43 USC - Sidney Rice 6 yd pass from Blake Mitchell (Josh Brown kick), 11-80 4:08, ALABAMA 37 - USC 14

Box Score (Final) Arkansas vs Alabama Crimson Tide (Sep 24, 2005 at Tuscaloosa, Alabama) Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score ----------------- -- -- -- -- ----- Arkansas............ 0 3 0 10 - 13 Record: (1-3,0-2) Alabama Crimson Tide 0 7 3 14 - 24 Record: (4-0,2-0) Scoring Summary: 2nd 08:54 ARK - Chris Balseiro 34 yd field goal, 8-27 3:05, ARK 3 - ALABAMA 0 06:57 ALABAMA - DJ Hall 43 yd pass from Brodie Croyle (J. Christensen kick), 4-64 1:57, ARK 3 - ALABAMA 7 3rd 13:23 ALABAMA - J. Christensen 36 yd field goal, 4--1 1:23, ARK 3 - ALABAMA 10 4th 14:15 ALABAMA - Tim Castille 1 yd run (J. Christensen kick), 10-79 4:50, ARK 3 - ALABAMA 17 13:29 ARK - Darren McFadden 70 yd run (Chris Balseiro kick), 2-82 0:46, ARK 10 - ALABAMA 17 09:53 ARK - Chris Balseiro 27 yd field goal, 4-1 1:27, ARK 13 - ALABAMA 17 02:22 ALABAMA - DJ Hall 5 yd pass from Brodie Croyle (J. Christensen kick), 8-40 3:28, ARK 13 - ALABAMA 24

Box Score (Final) #5 Florida vs #15 Alabama Crimson Tide (Oct 1, 2005 at Tuscaloosa, Alabama) Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score ----------------- -- -- -- -- ----- Florida............. 0 3 0 0 - 3 Record: (4-1,2-1) Alabama Crimson Tide 17 7 7 0 - 31 Record: (5-0,3-0) Scoring Summary: 1st 11:27 ALABAMA - Tyrone Prothro 87 yd pass from Brodie Croyle (J. Christensen kick), 1-87 0:12, UF 0 - ALABAMA 7 09:45 ALABAMA - Tim Castille 1 yd run (J. Christensen kick), 3-2 1:21, UF 0 - ALABAMA 14 05:52 ALABAMA - J. Christensen 22 yd field goal, 6-50 2:07, UF 0 - ALABAMA 17 2nd 07:32 UF - Hetland, C. 37 yd field goal, 5-45 1:22, UF 3 - ALABAMA 17 07:22 ALABAMA - Keith Brown 65 yd pass from Brodie Croyle (J. Christensen kick), 1-65 0:10, UF 3 - ALABAMA 24 3rd 11:59 ALABAMA - Tyrone Prothro 15 yd pass from Brodie Croyle (J. Christensen kick), 7-80 3:01, UF 3 - ALABAMA 31

Box Score (Final) #6 Alabama Crimson Tide vs Ole Miss (Oct 15, 2005 at Oxford, Miss.) Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score ----------------- -- -- -- -- ----- Alabama Crimson Tide 0 3 7 3 - 13 Record: (6-0,4-0) Ole Miss............ 7 0 0 3 - 10 Record: (2-4,0-3) Scoring Summary: 1st 03:47 UM - Mario Hill 27 yd pass from M. Spurlock (Robert Bass kick), 3-26 1:10, ALABAMA 0 - UM 7 2nd 11:37 ALABAMA - J. Christensen 43 yd field goal, 4--11 1:36, ALABAMA 3 - UM 7 3rd 12:07 ALABAMA - Kenneth Darby 48 yd run (J. Christensen kick), 4-82 1:17, ALABAMA 10 - UM 7 4th 11:42 UM - Robert Bass 24 yd field goal, 11-42 7:15, ALABAMA 10 - UM 10 00:00 ALABAMA - J. Christensen 31 yd field goal, 11-63 2:39, ALABAMA 13 - UM 10

Box Score (Final) #17 Tennessee vs #5 Alabama Crimson Tide (Oct 22, 2005 at Tuscaloosa, Alabama) Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score ----------------- -- -- -- -- ----- Tennessee........... 0 0 0 3 - 3 Record: (3-3,2-3) Alabama Crimson Tide 0 0 3 3 - 6 Record: (7-0,5-0) Scoring Summary: 3rd 00:00 ALABAMA - J. Christensen 33 yd field goal, 6-34 3:19, UT 0 - ALABAMA 3 4th 11:52 UT - James Wilhoit 32 yd field goal, 5-39 3:08, UT 3 - ALABAMA 3 00:13 ALABAMA - J. Christensen 34 yd field goal, 10-63 4:55, UT 3 - ALABAMA 6

Box Score (Final) Utah State vs #5 Alabama Crimson Tide (Oct 29, 2005 at Tuscaloosa, Alabama) Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score ----------------- -- -- -- -- ----- Utah State.......... 0 0 3 0 - 3 Record: (2-5,1-3) Alabama Crimson Tide 14 7 7 7 - 35 Record: (8-0,5-0) Scoring Summary: 1st 13:23 ALABAMA - Ezekial Knight 9 yd pass from Brodie Croyle (J. Christensen kick), 4-65 1:37, USU 0 - ALABAMA 7 09:56 ALABAMA - Le'Ron McClain 1 yd pass from Brodie Croyle (J. Christensen kick), 4-54 1:44, USU 0 - ALABAMA 14 2nd 04:41 ALABAMA - DJ Hall 13 yd pass from Brodie Croyle (J. Christensen kick), 8-74 3:33, USU 0 - ALABAMA 21 3rd 11:50 USU - Justin Hamblin 24 yd field goal, 9-65 3:10, USU 3 - ALABAMA 21 00:48 ALABAMA - Kenneth Darby 38 yd run (J. Christensen kick), 8-76 4:00, USU 3 - ALABAMA 28 4th 09:49 ALABAMA - Glen Coffee 9 yd pass from J.P. Wilson (J. Christensen kick), 6-23 2:01, USU 3 - ALABAMA 35

Box Score (Final) #4 Alabama Crimson Tide vs Mississippi State (Nov 05, 2005 at Starkville, Miss.) Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score ----------------- -- -- -- -- ----- Alabama Crimson Tide 0 3 14 0 - 17 Record: (9-0,6-0) Mississippi State... 0 0 0 0 - 0 Record: (2-7,0-6) Scoring Summary: 2nd 08:31 ALABAMA - J. Christensen 38 yd field goal, 12-70 5:06, ALABAMA 3 - MSU 0 3rd 14:53 ALABAMA - Matt Miller 15 yd fumble recovery (J. Christensen kick), , ALABAMA 10 - MSU 0 12:46 ALABAMA - Rudy Griffin 17 yd interception return (J. Christensen kick), , ALABAMA 17 - MSU 0

Box Score (Final) #5 LSU vs #3 Alabama Crimson Tide (Nov 12, 2005 at Tuscaloosa, Alabama) Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 OT [ 5 ] Score ----------------- -- -- -- -- -- [ - ] ----- LSU................. 0 0 10 0 6 [ 6 ] - 16 Record: (8-1,5-1) Alabama Crimson Tide 3 7 0 0 3 [ 3 ] - 13 Record: (9-1,6-1) Scoring Summary: 1st 05:15 ALABAMA - J. Christensen 28 yd field goal, 10-67 3:32, LSU 0 - ALABAMA 3 2nd 10:59 ALABAMA - DJ Hall 8 yd pass from Brodie Croyle (J. Christensen kick), 11-84 4:25, LSU 0 - ALABAMA 10 3rd 09:53 LSU - Justin Vincent 1 yd run (Colt David kick), 9-80 5:07, LSU 7 - ALABAMA 10 05:46 LSU - Chris Jackson 42 yd field goal, 5-20 1:27, LSU 10 - ALABAMA 10 OT 15:00 ALABAMA - J. Christensen 34 yd field goal, 4-8 0:00, LSU 10 - ALABAMA 13 15:00 LSU - Dwayne Bowe 11 yd pass from JaMarcus Russel, 4-25 0:00, LSU 16 - ALABAMA 13

Box Score (Final) Alabama Crimson Tide vs Auburn (Nov. 19,2005 at Auburn, AL) Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score ----------------- -- -- -- -- ----- Alabama Crimson Tide 0 7 3 8 - 18 Record: (9-2,6-2) Auburn.............. 21 7 0 0 - 28 Record: (9-2,7-1) Scoring Summary: 1st 10:05 AU - Ben Obomanu 7 yd pass from Brandon Cox (John Vaughn kick), 6-40 2:20, ALABAMA 0 - AU 7 07:24 AU - Kenny Irons 8 yd run (John Vaughn kick), 3-31 1:12, ALABAMA 0 - AU 14 04:01 AU - Ben Obomanu 45 yd run (John Vaughn kick), 4-55 1:39, ALABAMA 0 - AU 21 2nd 13:33 ALABAMA - Tim Castille 1 yd run (J. Christensen kick), 9-63 2:56, ALABAMA 7 - AU 21 02:07 AU - Cole Bennett 5 yd pass from Brandon Cox (John Vaughn kick), 8-61 4:33, ALABAMA 7 - AU 28 3rd 10:12 ALABAMA - J. Christensen 43 yd field goal, 6-9 3:39, ALABAMA 10 - AU 28 4th 00:23 ALABAMA - J.P. Wilson 1 yd run (DJ Hall pass from J.P. Wilson), 7-46 1:50, ALABAMA 18 - AU 28

Box Score (Final) #15 Texas Tech vs #13 Alabama Crimson Tide (Jan 02, 2006 at Dallas, Texas) Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score ----------------- -- -- -- -- ----- Texas Tech.......... 3 0 0 7 - 10 Record: (9-3,6-2) Alabama Crimson Tide 7 0 3 3 - 13 Record: (10-2,6-2) Scoring Summary: 1st 11:37 ALABAMA - Keith Brown 76 yd pass from Brodie Croyle (J. Christensen kick), 2-84 0:46, TECH 0 - ALABAMA 7 03:00 TECH - Alex Trlica 34 yd field goal, 10-69 2:22, TECH 3 - ALABAMA 7 3rd 06:53 ALABAMA - J. Christensen 31 yd field goal, 17-67 8:07, TECH 3 - ALABAMA 10 4th 02:56 TECH - Jarrett Hicks 12 yd pass from Cody Hodges (Alex Trlica kick), 2-38 0:16, TECH 10 - ALABAMA 10 00:00 ALABAMA - J. Christensen 45 yd field goal, 10-58 2:56, TECH 10 - ALABAMA 13