Alabama Football: How the Aggies changed the Crimson Tide
By Ronald Evans
The bonds between Alabama football and the Aggies go way back but recent history had the most impact on the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Fans of both Alabama football and the Texas A&M Aggies are well versed in the history shared by the two schools. The main actors in that history have been Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant and Gene Stallings.
There are other coaching connections as well. Dennis Franchione was the third coach to lead both the Crimson Tide and the Aggies. Former Bryant player, Jackie Sherrill is fourth in wins among Aggies’ head coaches. Arguably the best Aggie football player ever, John David Crow was Bryant’s only Heisman Trophy winner. Crow was later an Alabama football assistant coach.
The playing connections between the two schools are not deep. They go back to 1942 but includes only 11 games. Only two of them have been Crimson Tide losses, in 1968 and 2012. Bear Bryant and Nick Saban share many traits. One of them is hating losing more than loving winning. An exception for Bryant was the 1968 Cotton Bowl loss. Bryant’s joy for his former player and then Aggies head coach, Gene Stallings was so strong, he hoisted Stallings to his shoulder after the game.
Among fans of both schools, there is genuine affection. The ‘Junction Boys’ were honored at Bryant-Denny Stadium several years ago. They received a standing ovation. For the Alabama football fans who cherish the Tide’s history, it was a special moment.
The more recent history between the two programs tells a different story.
In 2007, Nick Saban’s Alabama football defense was introduced to a Texas-style, no-huddle offense. The Crimson Tide prevailed but the Art Briles led Houston Cougars gained 404 yards to the Tide’s 347 yards. The Cougars had a chance to win late and probably would have won the game if not for three turnovers.
In 2012, Johnny Manziel shocked the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. The Aggies would not have won if not for a couple of magical (some say fluke) plays by Manziel. The following season in College Station was a different outcome. The Crimson Tide bested the Aggies 49-42 with Kevin Sumlin’s team staging a fourth-quarter, almost-comeback win by scoring 21 points on a tired Crimson Tide defense.
Nick Saban’s defense had a reason to be tired. It surrendered 628 yards to the Aggies. If there had been any doubt in Nick Saban’s mind about the evolution of college football offenses, that doubt was erased in 2013.
Saban’s response was a fundamental change that began the next season with Lane Kiffin as Offensive Coordinator. The evolution of the Alabama football offenses during 2014-2019 has been extraordinary.
Next. More Crimson Tide and Aggies History. dark
It is interesting to consider this Saturday when the Tide meets the Aggies – the most Texas-style offense in the game will belong to the Alabama Crimson Tide.