Alabama Football: Tide and Aggies rivalry that isn’t

1968 Cotton Bowl – The 1967 season was when the Alabama Football 1960s Dynasty ended. It was an impressive run with National Championships in 1961, 1964, 1965 and what should have been another in 1966.

The wheels started coming off in 1967. The season opened with an embarrassing 37-37 tie to lowly Florida State. The Crimson Tide lost only one regular season game but scraped by LSU and Auburn, scoring single touchdowns in each game. Going into the 1968 Cotton Bowl, Alabama was ranked No. 8 and Texas A&M, coached by Gene Stallings was unranked.

This Cotton Bowl, it was poor tackling and turnovers that did in the Crimson Tide. Bryant’s teams were known for discipline and being organized, but on one A&M touchdown, the Tide had only ten defenders on the field.

Texas A&M deserved to win, if only on toughness alone. Bebes’ boys played like Bryant’s boys were supposed to play. A late rally, led by Tide quarterback, Kenny Stabler fell short and the Aggies won 20-16.

With a huge smile on his face, Paul Bryant rushed to midfield and picked up Gene Stallings in celebration. Bryant was proud of Stallings and had no problem admitting the best team won the game. After the loss, Alabama teams would play in eight more bowl games without a win until the 1976 Sugar Bowl.

Note: Along with the Cotton Bowl site, sports-reference.com and mcubed.net provided historical data for this post.

Alabama football fans can enjoy the history, while also relishing a ‘put the Aggies in their place’ beatdown.