The 1976 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 82nd overall and 43rd season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 19th year, and played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished season with nine wins and three losses (9–3 overall, 5–2 in the SEC) and with a victory over UCLA in the Liberty Bowl.
The Crimson Tide opened the season with an upset loss against Ole Miss. The loss ended a 20-game conference winning streak that dated back to their 1972 season. They rebounded from the loss with wins over both SMU and Vanderbilt, but then were shutout by Georgia in their fourth game. The shutout was the first for the Crimson Tide since their 1970 season, and with the loss Alabama also dropped out of the polls for the first time since 1970.
The Crimson Tide again bounced back from the loss and won their next five games. These wins included victories over Southern Miss, Tennessee, Louisville, Mississippi State and LSU. Alabama next lost their third game of the season in a much anticipated match-up at Notre Dame. They then closed the season with a victory over rival Auburn and UCLA in the Liberty Bowl.
Schedule
Stadium renaming
In September 1975, a bill sponsored by Alabama State Senator Bert Bank was passed by a margin of 88–0 to rename Denny Stadium to Bryant–Denny Stadium in honor of then head coach Bear Bryant. The stadium was then officially renamed as part of the halftime ceremonies during the 1976 A-Day game. At the time of its re-dedication, Bryant was quoted as saying "this is a tremendous honor and I am proud and humble."
Game summaries
Ole Miss
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As they entered the 1976 season, the Crimson Tide were in the No. 6 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Ole Miss at Jackson. Against the Rebels, the Crimson Tide were upset by a final score of 10–7 that ended an overall eleven game winning streak and a 20-game conference winning streak that dated back to their 1972 season. Ole Miss scored their first points early in the game when George Stuart intercepted a Jeff Rutledge pass that was tipped by Gary Turner and returned it 24-yards for a 7–0 lead. The Rebels held their lead through the third quarter when Alabama tied the game 7–7 on a three-yard Calvin Culliver touchdown run.
Ole Miss then responded early in the fourth with what was a 34-yard, game-winning field goal from Carl Langley that made the final score 10–7. For leading his team to the upset, Ole Miss head coach Ken Cooper was recognized by United Press International as the UPI National Coach of the Week. The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Ole Miss to 24–6–2.
SMU
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After their loss against Ole Miss, the Crimson Tide dropped into the No. 14 team prior to their game against Southern Methodist University (SMU). At Legion Field, Alabama ran for 419 yards and eight touchdowns in this 56–3 victory over the Mustangs in what was the first all-time meeting between the schools. The Crimson Tide had a slow start to the game offensively, and trailed 3–0 at the end of the first quarter behind a 40-yard John Dunlop field goal for SMU. However, they responded with four touchdowns in the second quarter en route to a 28–3 halftime lead after backup quarterback Jack O'Rear took over for Jeff Rutledge after the Crimson Tide offense had three turnovers on their first three possessions. O'Rear scored first on runs of seven and 19-yards, followed by Tony Nathan on a six-yard run and finally by Rutledge on a 45-yard pass to Ozzie Newsome.
Their scoring continued into the second half with a pair of touchdowns scored in each the third and fourth quarters. In the third, Johnny Davis scored on a 17-yard run and Nathan followed with his second touchdown of the game on a seven-yard run. In the fourth Lou Ikner scored first on an 11-yard run and Donald Faust made the final score 56–3 with his three-yard run late in the game. For the game, 65 players saw action on the field and Nathan led all runners with his 101 yards rushing.
Vanderbilt
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