Coach Paul Bryant's unexpected death on January 26, 1983
startled his loyal supporters across the country but the
anguish was most deeply felt by the throng of Alabama
fans. It was estimated that around one-half to one million
people lined the highways of Bryant's funeral procession
from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham's Elmwood Cemetary, just
minutes from Legion Field. His legacy would continue to
live on Saturday afternoons as his successor, Ray Perkins
fielded a competitive team, finishing 8-4. The four losses
were agonizingly close throughout the year, including a
controversial 34-28 decision at Penn State. Replays
clearly showed Preston Gothard caught a Walter Lewis pass
for a touchdown in the game's final seconds. Officials
ruled otherwise. Tennessee rallied for a 41-34 victory in
an offensive shootout while Boston College did otherwise
in a 20-13 contest played in a New England icestorm. If a
torrential downpour and tornado threat were not enough to
dampen the spirit of Bama fans, the running of Bo Jackson
was worse in a 23-20 loss to Auburn. Despite the narrow
losses, the emergence of freshmen stars Cornelius Bennett,
Kerry Goode, Wes Neighbors and Curt Jarvis bode well for
the future.
Only a win over Auburn could salve a 4-6 start of the '84
squad which had lost its one long-distance threat in the
season opener vs. Boston College and its eventual Heisman
winning QB Doug Flutie. For one half and a second half
kickoff, Kerry Goode was the best player on the Legion
Field 
carpet
as he sliced
through the Golden Eagles for
297 all-purpose yards. When he went down with a
season-ending knee injury early in the third quarter, an
entire season hinged on a December 1 date with Auburn.
With a losing season clinched and a bowl streak of 25
halted, the Tide entered the Tiger game as decisive
underdogs. Paul Ott Carruth starred on offenseand a
determined defense led by Cornelius Bennett continually
repelled the Auburn wishbone. Late in the game, needing
but a field goal to win it, Pat Dye opted for a run at the
endzone from a yard out. Miraculously Bo Jackson went the
wrong direction and defensive back Rory Turner had a clear
shot at the Auburn QB Brent Fullwood. When quizzed by the
press after the game about his game-saving tackle, Turner
said, "I just waxed the dude."
Gifted newcomers enhanced the promise of a brighter '85
and opening day vs. Georgia in Athens proved to be a
showcase for one of those. Junior college transfer Al Bell
snared a game winning TD pass from Mike Shula in the final
seconds of a nationally-televised 20-16 upset of the
Bulldogs. Narrow losses to Penn State and Tennessee set
up the 7-2-1 Tide into a season finale with Auburn. A
drive featuring brilliant use of the clock and the gifted
toe of Van Tiffin proved to be the difference in a 25-23
win over the Tigers. Tiffin's 52-yarder on the game's
final play is known among Bama supporters as simply
"The Kick." While Tiffin became immortalized by Tide
fans, a
nod of appreciation should be given to Gene Jelks, who
rushed for 192 yards and earned national Back of the Week
honors. The man he outplayed that afternoon was Bo
Jackson, a week away from being named the Heisman Trophy
winner. It was the 50th game between Alabama and Auburn,
and one of the series best contests ever played. Junior
linebacker Cornelius Bennett and senior defensive tackle
Jon Hand were All-Americans. A trip to the Aloha Bowl and
a 24-3 win over Southern Cal capped a 9-2-1 year.
Facing one of its most challenging schedules ever, Alabama
rolled early but could not seem to maintain an emotional
peak down the streach of Ray Perkin's final season, one
marked by the ecstasies of wins over the likes of Ohio
State, Florida, Notre Dame and Tennessee and agonies of
the defeats to Penn State, LSU and Auburn. Adding to the
grief was the unexpected passing of defensive tackle
Willie Ryles who collapsed during an August practice
period and never regained consciousness. In April,
runningback George Scruggs had been killed in a car
accident which also left cornerback Vernon Wilkinson in
serious condition. 
Tampa Bay's flirting with Perkins near
the end of the season also became a media topic that
pervaded the airwaves of radio talk shows and inundated
the local papers. Despite the dissapointing finish,
Alabama pummelled Washington 28-6 in the Sun Bowl with
sophomore Bobby Humphrey running rampant and Cornelius
Bennett dominating on defense. 1986 will also
be
remembered as the "Year of the Tackle," with Bennett's
vicious sack of Notre Dame's QB Steve Beurlein which will
forever be etched in the memories of Crimson Tide
supporters. That play perhaps catapulted the gifted
Bennett to the Lombardi Trophy, signifying the nation's
Most Outstanding Lineman. Humphrey and placekicker Van
Tiffin also earned All-American honors. Tiffin completed
his career with a perfect mark from extra point range, 135
of 135!
Bill Curry's hiring as head coach at Alabama in '87 caused
controversy among many followers, more for the way it was
handled than for the man who was hired. Determined to earn
his niche at Alabama, Curry coached Bama to a 7-5 record,
including a 24-13 win over Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions.
Junior running back Bobby Humphrey earned All-American
honors in a roller-coaster season than included wins over
Penn State, Tennessee and LSU and losses to Memphis State,
Notre Dame and Auburn. Despite losing its final two games,
Alabama earned an invitation to play Michigan 
in the Hall of Fame Bowl. A last second
TD by the Wolverines
spoiled Bama's hopes in a 28-24 decision. Due to
renovation and
expansion at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, all of
Bama's home games were played at Legion Field in
Birmingham.
Sun Bowl, a 29-28 win over Army. One player who remained
healthy, senior linebacker Derrick Thomas (#55), parlayed his
unique skills into a season to be remembered and perhaps
statistically never duplicated. For the year, Thomas had
27 sacks, 12 other tackles for losses, 44 QB hurries and
two blocked kicks. His season was good enough to be named
the 1988 Dick Butkus Award winner for nation's most
outstanding linbacker. He was also named CBS Defensive
Player of the Year, Washington Pigskin Player of the Year
and SEC Male Athlete of the Year.
Curry's team had clinched a tie for
the school's first SEC title since 1981. The historic
showdown versus Auburn, the first matchup between the two
schools in Auburn's backyard, proved disappointing for the
second-ranked Tide which fell 30-20 to the Tigers. In the
Sugar Bowl, Alabama played inspired football but not well
enough to defeat eventual national champ Miami. Alabama's
10-2 squad featured two first team All-Americans,
linebacker Keith McCants and cornerback John Mangum. 
