This day in sports history

BY COLIN “BIG C” MACGUIRE

The Greenville Standard

 

Today, I will recount the University of Alabama 2024 football Season. It was the first season without Nick Saban as head coach since 2007.

This was new head coach Kalen DeBoer’s first season at Alabama. This is a break down the season.

Aug. 31, Alabama opened the season vs Western Kentucky winning 63-0. They then beat South Florida 42-16 after struggling for three quarters.

The Tide scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter. They had way too many penalties.

Next for Bama was a road win vs Wisconsin 42-10. They then had an open date.

Against Georgia, the Tide raced out to a 30-7 halftime lead. Georgia battled back to take a 34-33 lead.

A Jalen Milroe to Ryan Williams 78 yard touchdown pass secured the win. After a two point conversion completion good, Alabama intercepted a Georgia pass on two yard line to seal the win. 41-31

The next three games, Bama went 1-2, losing to Vanderbilt 40-35, beating South Carolina 27-25, and then losing to Tennessee 24-17.

Next, Missouri came to town and Alabama won 34-0, then the Tide had another open date.

Alabama then traveled to face LSU and won big 42-13. Next, they romped over Mercer 52-7.

All Alabama had to do, to most likely make it in the playoffs, was to win the next two games.

Bama hit the road to Oklahoma and on paper was a winnable game. Three turnovers did Alabama in losing 24-3. They then hosted Auburn and won 28-14.

The Tide finished 9-3, which tied another first year head coach of Alabama’s record with nine wins. That was Coach Frank Thomas in 1931.

Alabama went 3-1 against ranked teams this season. The loss to Oklahoma damaged Alabama’s chance of going to the playoffs.

Alabama should win the bowl game vs Michigan. Ten wins will be a great start for the Kalen Boer era.