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Alabama Football: A Tie Is Like Kissing Your Sister – 10 Crimson Tide Tie Games

By Ronald Evans

Sep 10, 2016; Bristol, TN, USA; Fans gather around the College Gameday set prior to the Battle at Bristol football game between the Virginia Tech Holies and Tennessee Volunteers at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Bristol, TN, USA; Fans gather around the College Gameday set prior to the Battle at Bristol football game between the Virginia Tech Holies and Tennessee Volunteers at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 4, 2017; Houston, TX USA; General overall view of the Astrodome and Carruth Plaza at NRG Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2017; Houston, TX USA; General overall view of the Astrodome and Carruth Plaza at NRG Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Alabama Football – Bluebonnet Bowl – Dec. 31, 1970

Alabama 24 – Oklahoma 24

By the end of 1970, Alabama football, Paul “Bear” Bryant, and the legion of Alabama fans had suffered mightily going back to September of 1967. In the1967, 1968, 1969, and 1970 seasons, Alabama had struggled to average seven wins per season.

The early 1960’s Alabama dynasty had faded into mediocrity. Even Bryant the Athletic Director agreed that Bryant the Head Football Coach had to do better or some changes would be made.

The last SEC Championship had come in 1966 from a team that was denied its due, the 1966 National Championship. Going into the 1970 Bluebonnet Bowl, the Tide had lost its last three bowl games.

What happened New Year’s Eve in Houston must have been hard for Bryant to watch. What happened was certainly hard for fans to watch.

Bryant had always been a disciple of the philosophy that defense and a good kicking game were the most important ingredients to winning. In 1961 the Alabama National Champions gave up 25 points, in 1962, 39 points. From 1961-1966 the average points yielded PER SEASON was 61 points.

In September 1967, a weak Florida State team in the pre-Bobby Bowden era scored 37 points against the Tide. In 1969 and 1970 seasons, Alabama football surrendered 532 points.

Allowing the Oklahoma Sooners to only score 24 points in the Bluebonnet Bowl was a better than average performance for the Tide. The Tide could have won the game, should have won the game, but it did not.

In a back and forth game, the Sooners tied it at 24-24 with a long field goal. With 59 seconds remaining, Oklahoma coach Chuck Fairbanks did not settle for a tie. He tried an onside kick that due to a crazy hop went almost nowhere. Alabama got the ball just outside the Sooner forty.

Bryant ran the clock down with running plays for a game-winning field goal. With five seconds remaining, Richard Ciemny lined up for a 34-yard field goal.  The Ciemny kick was a low knuckle-baller. Oklahoma claimed it was blocked, but the kick never had a chance. The ball went out-of-bounds, short of the end zone.

Final score Alabama 24 – Oklahoma 24.

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