1986 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

1986 Alabama Crimson Tide football
1986 Alabama Crimson Tide football
Sun Bowl champion
Sun Bowl, W 28–6 vs. Washington
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 9
AP	No. 9
Record	10–3 (4–2 SEC)
Head coach	Ray Perkins (4th season);
Offensive coordinator	George Henshaw (4th season)
Defensive coordinator	Joe Kines (2nd season)
Captains	Mike Shula; Cornelius Bennett;
Home stadium	Bryant–Denny Stadium; (Capacity: 60,210); Legion Field; (Capacity: 75,808)
	Seasons ← 1985 1987 →

1986 Southeastern Conference football standings
v t e	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 10 LSU $	5	–	1	–	0	9	–	3	–	0
No. 6 Auburn	4	–	2	–	0	10	–	2	–	0
No. 9 Alabama	4	–	2	–	0	10	–	3	–	0
Georgia	4	–	2	–	0	8	–	4	–	0
Ole Miss	4	–	2	–	0	8	–	3	–	1
Tennessee	3	–	3	–	0	7	–	5	–	0
Mississippi State	2	–	4	–	0	6	–	5	–	0
Kentucky	2	–	4	–	0	5	–	5	–	1
Florida	2	–	4	–	0	6	–	5	–	0
Vanderbilt	0	–	6	–	0	1	–	10	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1986 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA", "Bama" or "The Tide") represented the University of Alabama in the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 94th overall and 53rd season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Ray Perkins, in his fourth year, and played their home games at both Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of ten wins and three losses (10–3 overall, 4–2 in the SEC) and with a victory in the Sun Bowl over Washington.

After opening the season with a victory over Ohio State in the Kickoff Classic, the Crimson Tide won their first seven games and eventually rise to as high as No. 2 in the rankings but lost to eventual national champion Penn State^[1] and lost out on an SEC championship after losses to LSU^[2] and Auburn.^[3] Highlights of the season included their first ever victory over Notre Dame and a 56–28 victory over Tennessee that snapped a four-game losing streak to the Vols.^[4]

After the season, Ray Perkins resigned on December 31, to become head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League.^[5]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
August 27	7:00 p.m.	vs. No. 9 Ohio State*	No. 5	Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ (Kickoff Classic)	Raycom	W 16–10	68,296	^[6]
September 6	11:30 a.m.	Vanderbilt	No. 5	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	TBS	W 42–10	58,168	^[7]
September 13	1:30 p.m.	Southern Miss*	No. 4	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (rivalry)		W 31–17	73,687	^[8]
September 20	12:30 p.m.	at No. 13 Florida	No. 4	Florida Field Gainesville, FL (rivalry)		W 21–7	74,685	^[9]
October 4	2:30 p.m.	Notre Dame*	No. 2	Legion Field Birmingham, AL	ABC	W 28–10	75,808	^[10]
October 11	1:30 p.m.	Memphis State*	No. 2	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL		W 37–0	60,210	^[11]
October 18	2:30 p.m.	at Tennessee	No. 2	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN (Third Saturday in October)	ABC	W 56–28	95,116	^[12]
October 25	2:30 p.m.	No. 6 Penn State*	No. 2	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	ABC	L 3–23	60,210	^[13]
November 1	11:30 a.m.	at No. 19 Mississippi State	No. 8	Scott Field Starkville, MS (rivalry)	TBS	W 38–3	42,700	^[14]
November 8	6:45 p.m.	No. 18 LSU	No. 6	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (rivalry)	ESPN	L 10–14	75,808	^[15]
November 15	1:30 p.m.	Temple*	No. 11	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL		W 24–14	60,210	^[16]
November 29	2:30 p.m.	vs. No. 14 Auburn	No. 7	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Iron Bowl)	ABC	L 17–21	75,808	^[17]
December 25	1:30 p.m.	vs. No. 12 Washington*	No. 13	Sun Bowl Stadium El Paso, TX (Sun Bowl)	CBS	W 28–6	48,722	^[18]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[19]

Roster

1986 Alabama Crimson Tide football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
RB		Doug Allen
WR		Marco Battle
WR		Albert Bell
RB		John Cassimus
RB		David Casteal
OL		Bill Condon
TE	`85`	Howard Cross	So
RB		Kerry Goode
RB		Murry Hill
RB	`26`	Bobby Humphrey	So
RB		Gene Jelks
OL		David Johnson
OL		Joe King
OL		Wes Neighbors
WR		Greg Payne
WR	`17`	Greg Richardson	Sr
RB		Carlos Robinson
OL		Larry Rose
QB	`11`	Mike Shula (C)	Sr
QB		David Smith
TE		Angelo Stafford
WR		Clay Whitehurst
RB		Bo Wright

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
LB	`97`	Cornelius Bennett (C)	Sr
LB		George Bethune
DB		Britton Cooper
DB		Vantriese Davis
LB		Wayne Davis
LB		Greg Gilbert
CB	`36`	Chris Goode	Jr
DL		Curt Jarvis
DB		Kermit Kendrick
DB		Freddie Robinson
LB		Randy Rockwell
DL		Derrick Slaughter
DL		Cliff Thomas
LB	`55`	Derrick Thomas	So
DB		Ricky Thomas

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
P	`5`	Chris Mohr	So
K	`3`	Van Tiffin	Sr

Head coach

Ray Perkins

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Final
AP	5	4	4 (1)	3	2 (1)	2 (2)	2 (2)	2 (3)	8	6 (1)	11	9	7	13	9
Coaches	6 (1)	4 (1)	4	3 (1)	2 (1)	2	2 (3)	2 (3)	8	6	15	9	7	14	9

Season summary

Ohio State

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Alabama	3	3	0	10	16
Ohio St	0	7	3	0	10

Date: August 27
Location: Giants Stadium
Television network: Raycom Sports

Vanderbilt

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vanderbilt	0	0	3	7	10
• Alabama	3	11	14	14	42

Date: September 6
Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium
Game attendance: 58,168
Television network: TBS

Southern Mississippi

At Florida

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Alabama	0	0	14	7	21
Florida	7	0	0	0	7

Date: September 20
Location: Florida Field
Game attendance: 74,685

Notre Dame

Memphis State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Memphis St	0	0	0	0	0
• Alabama	10	7	3	17	37

Date: October 11
Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium
Game attendance: 60,210

Homecoming

At Tennessee

Penn State

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Penn St	0	14	3	6	23
Alabama	3	0	0	0	3

Date: October 25
Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium
Game attendance: 60,210
Television network: ABC

At Mississippi State

LSU

	1	2	3	4	Total
• LSU	0	14	0	0	14
Alabama	7	0	3	0	10

Date: November 8
Location: Legion Field
Game attendance: 75,808
Television network: ESPN

Temple

Auburn

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Auburn	0	7	0	14	21
Alabama	7	7	3	0	17

Date: November 29
Location: Legion Field
Game attendance: 75,808
Television network: ABC

Vs. Washington (Sun Bowl)

Washington vs. Alabama

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 12 Huskies	0	6	0	0	6
• No. 13 Crimson Tide	0	7	14	7	28

Date: December 25
Location: Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, TX
Game attendance: 48,722
Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C), Sunny, Wind NNE 4 mph (6.4 km/h)
TV announcers (CBS): Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian, John Dockery

Awards and honors

Cornelius Bennett – Lombardi Award, SEC Player of the Year, Unanimous First-team All-American

1987 NFL Draft

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL club
Cornelius Bennett	Outside Linebacker	1	2	Indianapolis Colts
Freddie Robinson	Defensive back	6	142	Indianapolis Colts
Greg Richardson	Wide receiver	6	156	Minnesota Vikings
Curt Jarvis	Defensive tackle	7	169	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Wayne Davis	Linebacker	9	229	St. Louis Cardinals
Wes Neighbors	Center	9	231	Houston Oilers
Chris Goode	Defensive back	10	253	Indianapolis Colts
Mike Shula	Quarterback	12	313	Tampa Bay Buccaneers

^[20]

References

General

"1986 Game Recaps". 1987 Alabama Football Media Guide (PDF). Tuscaloosa, Alabama: UA Athletics Media Relations Office. 1987. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2012.

Specific

^ Looney, Douglas S. (November 3, 1986). "A midseason run for respect". Sports Illustrated. SI.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
^ 1986 Game Recaps, Game No. 10
^ 1986 Game Recaps, Game No. 12
^ Maisel, Ivan (October 27, 1986). "Vol-in tears". Sports Illustrated. SI.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
^ Wheat, Jack (December 31, 1986). "Perkins takes Tampa Bay coaching job". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News. p. 1. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
^ "Alabama capitalizes on OSU's mistakes". The Akron Beacon Journal. August 28, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Bama crashes Vandy's party, 42–10". The Tennessean. September 7, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "USM falls short in bid to knock off Tide". Hattiesburg American. September 14, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Bama rules Gators for 21–7 victory". The Orlando Sentinel. September 21, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Alabama makes quick work of Irish". Chicago Tribune. October 5, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Bama overwhelms downtrodden Tigers". The Jackson Sun. October 12, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "'Bama offense destroys Vols". Johnson City Press. October 19, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Move over Miami: State bombs Bama". Sunday News. October 27, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Humphrey, Tide crush reeling 'Dogs". Clarion-Ledger. November 2, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Tigers capitalize on low Tide to gig floundering Alabama". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. November 9, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Owls can't stem Tide; Palmer gains 145 yards". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 16, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Tillman's mistake helps Auburn over Bama". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 30, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "'Bama defense shines in Sun". El Paso Times. December 26, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "1986 Alabama football archives". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
^ "1987 NFL Draft". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved September 1, 2019.

[1] Looney, Douglas S. (November 3, 1986). "A midseason run for respect". Sports Illustrated. SI.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.

[a10-2] 1986 Game Recaps, Game No. 10

[a12-3] 1986 Game Recaps, Game No. 12

[4] Maisel, Ivan (October 27, 1986). "Vol-in tears". Sports Illustrated. SI.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.

[5] Wheat, Jack (December 31, 1986). "Perkins takes Tampa Bay coaching job". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News. p. 1. Retrieved February 21, 2012.

[1986OhioState1-6] "Alabama capitalizes on OSU's mistakes". The Akron Beacon Journal. August 28, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[1986Vanderbilt1-7] "Bama crashes Vandy's party, 42–10". The Tennessean. September 7, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[1986SouthernMiss1-8] "USM falls short in bid to knock off Tide". Hattiesburg American. September 14, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[1986Florida1-9] "Bama rules Gators for 21–7 victory". The Orlando Sentinel. September 21, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[1986NotreDame1-10] "Alabama makes quick work of Irish". Chicago Tribune. October 5, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[1986MemphisState1-11] "Bama overwhelms downtrodden Tigers". The Jackson Sun. October 12, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[1986Tennessee1-12] "'Bama offense destroys Vols". Johnson City Press. October 19, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[1986PennState1-13] "Move over Miami: State bombs Bama". Sunday News. October 27, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[1986MissState1-14] "Humphrey, Tide crush reeling 'Dogs". Clarion-Ledger. November 2, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[1986LSU1-15] "Tigers capitalize on low Tide to gig floundering Alabama". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. November 9, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[1986Temple1-16] "Owls can't stem Tide; Palmer gains 145 yards". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 16, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[1986Auburn1-17] "Tillman's mistake helps Auburn over Bama". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 30, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[1986Washington1-18] "'Bama defense shines in Sun". El Paso Times. December 26, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[1986schedule-19] "1986 Alabama football archives". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved February 20, 2021.

[20] "1987 NFL Draft". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved September 1, 2019.

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v t e Alabama Crimson Tide football
Venues	University of Alabama Quad (1893–1914) Denny Field (1915–1928) Bryant–Denny Stadium (1929–present) Rickwood Field (alternate, 1912–1927) Cramton Bowl (alternate, 1922–1954) Ernest F. Ladd Stadium (alternate, 1948–1968) Legion Field (alternate, 1927–2003)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Auburn: Iron Bowl (James E. Foy, V-ODK Sportsmanship Trophy) Clemson Florida Georgia Georgia Tech LSU Mississippi State Ole Miss Penn State Tennessee: Third Saturday in October
Culture & lore	History Saban era Traditions Big Al "Yea Alabama" "Dixieland Delight" A-Day 1922 Penn game Million Dollar Band Walk of Fame Paul W. Bryant Museum The Bear The Bear Bryant Show Porter Cup 1943 Informals Forrest Gump Punt Bama Punt Bo Over the Top 1992 SEC Championship Game 2009 SEC Championship Game 2011 "Game of the Century" Kick Six (Kick Bama Kick) 2019 "Game of the Century" 2024 Vanderbilt game
People	Head coaches All-Americans College Football Hall of Fame inductees NFL draftees Starting quarterbacks Statistical leaders Yearly leaders Champ Pickens
Seasons	1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
National championship seasons in bold