Alabama Football: Crimson Tide record against Texas embarrassing

There is no point in sugar-coating the history. Except for one game, Alabama Football has been owned by Texas.

The Crimson Tide has its worst team vs. team record against Texas when counting all teams the Tide has played four or more times. The record is one win in nine games. There is solace in the fact the one win was the biggest of the nine games. As all Crimson Tide fans know that win was in the Rose Bowl Stadium in 2010, giving the Tide the 2009 BCS National Championship.

Five of the other games have been bowl games. The most bitter defeat in the bowl games came in January 1965 in the Orange Bowl. Alabama was No. 1 going into the game and Texas was ranked No. 5.

The Longhorns took a 14-0 lead as a limping Joe ‘Willie’ Namath watched from the sideline. Earlier in the season, rolling out to pass and untouched, Namath collapsed to the ground. The sensational Crimson Tide quarterback suffered knee and cartilage damage. Though he had a great NFL career, Namath never fully recovered from that first injury.

Late in the regular season, after Namath returned to action, in talking about how the injury changed Namath, Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant said, without a hint of exaggeration,

"He moves like a human now. He did move like a cat."

Namath was hurt again, in practice leading up to the Orange Bowl. Steve Sloan started instead and Namath was not expected to play. In the second quarter, trailing by two scores, Bryant called on Namath. Joe Willie led a long scoring drive cutting the Texas lead to 14-7. Without Namath, the Alabama offense had not made a first down in the first quarter. With him, it went 87 yards for a score, 83 of those yards through the air.

Namath could not run on the heavily wrapped knee. He could hobble in the pocket and he could throw.

Texas responded with another touchdown, putting them up 21-7 at halftime. Namath led the Crimson Tide on two second-half scoring drives, cutting the score to 21-17. In the second half, the Texas offense never made it past midfield.

Late in the fourth quarter, Namath took the Tide to a first-and-goal at the Texas six. Three Steve Bowman runs gained five yards and two feet. On fourth down, Namath called a QB sneak. At the bottom of the pile, it appeared he had scored. One official signaled he had but was overruled by the Referee. Texas won 21-17.

Bryant’s post-game comment was if you can’t punch it in from the six, you don’t deserve to win. Months later, Atlanta Falcon linebacker, Tommy Nobis was asked about the fourth down play. Nobis was the Texas tackler that stopped Namath. Nobis admitted he thought Joe Willie had scored.

Because the National Championship was awarded before the bowl games in 1964, Alabama was a National Champion anyway.

The other seven Alabama Football vs. Texas games

• 1902 – (Home) Texas 10 – Alabama 0
• 1915 – (Away) Texas 20 – Alabama 0
• 1922 – (Away) Texas 19 – Alabama 10
• 1948 – Sugar Bowl – Texas 27 – Alabama 7
• 1960 – Bluebonnent Bowl – Texas 3 – Alabama 3
• 1973 – Cotton Bowl – Texas 17 – Alabama 13
• 1982 – Cotton Bowl – Texas 14 – Alabama 12

Note: Game records from the exceptional site for Alabama football information, mccubed.net.

Almost no one, including many Texas fans, expects a Longhorns’ victory on Saturday in Austin.

Upon further reflection, maybe the 2010 game more than made up for all the other disappointments.