1974 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

The 1974 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 80th overall and 41st season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 17th year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished season with eleven wins and one loss (11–1 overall, 6–0 in the SEC), as SEC champions and with a loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.

1974 Alabama Crimson Tide football
SEC champion
Orange Bowl, L 11–13 vs. Notre Dame
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 2
APNo. 5
Record11–1 (6–0 SEC)
Head coach
Captains
Home stadiumDenny Stadium
Legion Field
Seasons
← 1973
1975 →
1974 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 5 Alabama $ 6 0 0 11 1 0
No. 8 Auburn 4 2 0 10 2 0
Georgia 4 2 0 6 6 0
No. 17 Mississippi State 3 3 0 9 3 0
No. 15 Florida 3 3 0 8 4 0
Kentucky 3 3 0 6 5 0
No. 20 Tennessee 2 3 1 7 3 2
Vanderbilt 2 3 1 7 3 2
LSU 2 4 0 5 5 1
Ole Miss 0 6 0 3 8 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

As they entered the 1974 season, the Crimson Tide were one of the favorites to compete for the national championship. In their first game of the season, Alabama narrowly escaped with a win at Maryland in what was Bryant's first visit to College Park since he resigned as the Terrapins' head coach after their 1945 season. They followed with victories over Southern Miss, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss before they played in their closest game of the season against Florida State. Although the Crimson Tide entered their contest against the 0-4 Seminoles as a heavy favorite, they trailed for nearly the entire game until Bucky Berrey connected on the game-winning field goal from 36-yards out with only 0:33 left in the game. It was the closest Florida State would come to victory until scoring their only win at Miami in their ninth game to break a 20-game losing streak dating back to 1972.

In their next game, Alabama defeated rival Tennessee. After the Vols scored on a second quarter touchdown run, the Crimson Tide defense did not surrender another for 17 consecutive quarters against TCU, Mississippi State, LSU, and Miami. Alabama then closed the season with an Iron Bowl victory over Auburn, but then failed to capture the national championship after they lost to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. The loss extended their winless streak in bowl games to eight (0–7–1), which ended the following year.

Schedule

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DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 14at No. 14 Maryland*No. 3W 21–1654,412
September 21Southern Miss*No. 5W 52–065,181
September 28VanderbiltNo. 4W 23–1058,419
October 5at Ole MissNo. 3ABCW 35–2145,500
October 12Florida State*No. 3
  • Denny Stadium
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
W 8–758,394
October 19at TennesseeNo. 4W 28–674,286
October 26TCU*No. 4
  • Legion Field
  • Birmingham, AL
W 41–363,191
November 2No. 17 Mississippi State No. 4
  • Denny Stadium
  • Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)
W 35–059,069
November 9LSUNo. 3
  • Legion Field
  • Birmingham, AL (rivalry)
ABCW 30–070,364
November 16at Miami*No. 2W 28–726,265
November 29vs. No. 7 AuburnNo. 2
ABCW 17–1371,224
January 1, 1975vs. No. 9 Notre Dame*No. 2
NBCL 11–1371,801
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[1]

Game summaries

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Maryland

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1 234Total
#3 Alabama 7 770 21
#14 Maryland 0 637 16
  • Date: September 14
  • Location: Byrd Stadium
    College Park, Maryland
  • Game attendance: 54,412

As they entered their first game of the 1974 season, Alabama was ranked as the USA's No. 3 team and Maryland as the No. 14 team in the AP Poll.[4] Before what was then the largest crowd to ever attend a college football game in the state of Maryland, the Crimson Tide entered the game as a two-touchdown favorite, but struggled to a 21–16 win over the Terrapins.[2][3][5] Alabama took a 14–0 lead in the second quarter behind a pair of Calvin Culliver touchdown runs. He scored one in each of the first two quarter with the first from seven and the second from 73-yards.[2][3] The Terrapins responded with a pair of Steve Mike-Mayer field goals from 32 and 35-yards in the second and one from 40-yards in the third that cut the lead to 14–9.[2][3]

After Richard Todd extended the Crimson Tide lead to 21–9 with his one-yard touchdown run in the third, Louis Carter made the final score 21–16 with his one-yard touchdown run for Maryland in the fourth.[2][3] This game also marked the first for coach Bryant at College Park since he resigned as the Terrapins' head coach after their 1945 season.[2] For his two touchdown, 169 yard performance, Culliver was recognized as the AP Southeastern Back of the Week.[6] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Maryland to 2–1.[7]

Southern Miss

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1 234Total
Southern Miss 0 000 0
#5 Alabama 7 14724 52
  • Date: September 21
  • Location: Legion Field
    Birmingham, Alabama
  • Game attendance: 65,181

After their closer than expected victory over Maryland, Alabama dropped into the No. 5 position of the AP Poll prior to their game against Southern Miss.[10] Against the Golden Eagles the Crimson Tide amassed 643 yards of total offense en route to this 52–0 victory at Legion Field.[5][8][9] Alabama took a 7–0 first quarter lead on an 11-yard Richard Todd touchdown run. They then extended it to 21–0 at halftime behind a 42-yard Todd touchdown pass to Russ Schamun and a five-yard Randy Billingsley touchdown run.[8][9]

A 30-yard Jack O'Rear touchdown run in the third made the score 28–0 as they entered the fourth quarter. In the final period, Danny Ridgeway connected on a 27-yard field goal and touchdowns were scored on runs of 25, 11 and 50-yards by Ralph Stokes, Rick Watson and John Boles respectively.[8][9] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Southern Miss to 14–2–1.[11]

Vanderbilt

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1 234Total
Vanderbilt 3 007 10
#4 Alabama 7 3103 23
  • Date: September 28
  • Location: Denny Stadium
    Tuscaloosa, Alabama
  • Game attendance: 58,419

After their victory over Southern Miss, Alabama moved into the No. 4 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Vanderbilt.[14] Against the Commodores, Vanderbilt kept it close, but ultimately fell to the Crimson Tide 23–10 in the first Tuscaloosa game of the season.[5][12][13] After Calvin Culliver gave Alabama a 7–0 lead with his 85-yard touchdown run, Mark Adams connected on a 20-yard field goal for Vanderbilt that made the score 7–3 at the end of the first quarter. A 36-yard Bucky Berrey field goal in the second quarter gave the Crimson Tide a 10–3 halftime lead.[12][13]

In the third, Richard Todd threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Russ Schamun and Berrey connected on a 42-yard field goal that made the score 20–3 as the teams entered the final quarter. In the fourth, Danny Ridgeway connected on a 27-yard field goal for Alabama and Fred Fisher threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Walter Overton for the Commodores that made the final score 23–10.[12][13] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 31–17–4.[15]

Ole Miss

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1 234Total
#3 Alabama 7 7147 35
Ole Miss 0 7140 21
  • Date: October 5
  • Location: Memorial Stadium
    Jackson, Mississippi
  • Game attendance: 45,500

After their victory over Vanderbilt, Alabama moved into the No. 3 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Ole Miss.[18] Playing before a televised audience, the Crimson Tide defeated the Rebels 35–21 at Jackson.[5][16][17] Alabama took an early 7–0 lead on a three-yard James Taylor run in the first quarter. After the Rebels tied the game 7–7 on a nine-yard Kenneth Lyons touchdown run in the second, the Crimson Tide responded with a three-yard Willie Shelby touchdown run for a 14–7 halftime lead.[16][17]

In the third, Ole Miss briefly took a 21–14 lead after touchdowns were scored on a one-yard Lyons run and a 42-yard Gary Turner interception return.[16][17] Alabama responded with a pair of third quarter touchdowns of their own on runs of 58-yards by Shelby and eight-yards by Rick Watson. A one-yard Richard Todd touchdown run in the fourth quarter made the final score 35–21.[16][17] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Ole Miss to 23–5–2.[19]

Florida State

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1 234Total
Florida State 7 000 7
#3 Alabama 0 035 8
  • Date: October 12
  • Location: Denny Stadium
    Tuscaloosa, Alabama
  • Game attendance: 58,394

After their victory over Ole Miss, Alabama retained their No. 3 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Florida State.[22] Against the Seminoles, the Crimson Tide trailed until the final minute of regulation when Bucky Berrey converted the game-winning field goal for the 8–7 victory.[5][20][21] The Seminoles took the opening kickoff and drove 78-yards on nine plays for a 7–0 lead behind a six-yard Larry Key touchdown run.[20][21]

Florida State continued to hold their touchdown lead through the third quarter when the Crimson Tide scored their first points on a 44-yard Berrey field goal. With just 1:27 left in the game, Seminoles head coach Darrell Mudra elected to take an intentional safety instead of attempting a punt out of the endzone. He made this decision as Alabama had been close on a couple of previous attempts to block punts during the game, and did not want a block to occur in the endzone.[20] Down now 7–5, the Crimson Tide drove into field goal territory and Berrey hit the game winner from 36-yards out with only 0:33 left in the game.[21] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Florida State to 2–0–1.[23]

Tennessee

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Third Saturday in October
1 234Total
#4 Alabama 0 7147 28
Tennessee 0 600 6
  • Date: October 19
  • Location: Neyland Stadium
    Knoxville, Tennessee
  • Game attendance: 74,286

After their closer than expected victory over Florida State, Alabama dropped into the No. 4 position prior to their game at Tennessee.[26] Both Willie Shelby and Calvin Culliver each scored a pair of touchdowns for the Crimson Tide in this 28–6 victory over the Volunteers.[5][24][25] After a scoreless first, Alabama took a 7–0 on a 13-yard touchdown run by Willie Shelby in the second quarter. Tennessee responded with their only points on a 64-yard Stanley Morgan touchdown run and made the halftime score 7–6.[24][25]

The Crimson Tide extended their lead to 21–6 at the end of the third behind touchdown runs of 19-yards by Shelby and 30-yards by Calvin Culliver. Culliver then scored the final points of the game with his six-yard touchdown run that made the final score 28–6.[24][25] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 27–23–7.[27]

1 234Total
TCU 0 300 3
#4 Alabama 14 7713 41
  • Date: October 26
  • Location: Legion Field
    Birmingham, Alabama
  • Game attendance: 63,191

After their victory over Tennessee, Alabama retained their No. 4 position prior to their out of conference match-up against Texas Christian University (TCU) at Legion Field.[30] Against the Horned Frogs of the Southwest Conference, Alabama won 41–3 for their first all-time victory over TCU.[5][28][29] The Crimson Tide took a 14–0 lead in the first quarter behind touchdown runs of four and one-yard by Robert Fraley and Rick Watson before TCU scored their only points on a 30-yard Tony Biasatti field goal in the second. Alabama responded with a five-yard Robert Fraley touchdown pass to George Pugh just prior to the break that made the score 21–3 at halftime.[28][29]

The Crimson Tide continued their scoring with three second half touchdowns en route to their 41–3 victory. Ozzie Newsome scored on a 15-yard Fraley pass in the third and Jack O'Rear threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Brown and scored on a 21-yard run in the fourth.[28][29] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against TCU to 1–3.[31]

Mississippi State

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1 234Total
#17 Mississippi State 0 000 0
#4 Alabama 6 13016 35
  • Date: November 2
  • Location: Denny Stadium
    Tuscaloosa, Alabama
  • Game attendance: 59,069

As they entered their game against Mississippi State, Alabama retained their No. 4 position in the AP Poll and the Bulldogs were in the No. 17 position.[34] On homecoming and before what was then the largest crowd in the history of Denny Stadium, the Crimson Tide shutout Mississippi State 35–0 for the second consecutive season.[5][32][33] Alabama took a 6–0 first quarter lead behind a one-yard Robert Fraley touchdown run. They then extended it to 19–0 at halftime behind touchdown runs of one-yard by Calvin Culliver and two-yards by Richard Todd.[32][33]

After a scoreless third, the Crimson Tide closed the game with 16 fourth quarter points for the 35–0 win. Touchdowns were scored in the final period on runs of seven-yards by Randy Billingsley and five-yards by Ray Sewell with a 42-yard Bucky Berrey field goal providing for the final margin.[32][33] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State to 46–10–3.[35]

1 234Total
LSU 0 000 0
#3 Alabama 7 1607 30
  • Date: November 9
  • Location: Legion Field
    Birmingham, Alabama
  • Game attendance: 70,364
  • Television network: ABC

After their victory over Mississippi State, Alabama moved into the No. 3 position in the AP Poll prior to their nationally televised game against LSU.[38] With their 30–0 victory over the rival Tigers, the Crimson Tide secured both a share of the 1974 conference championship and a place in the Orange Bowl.[5][36][37]

Alabama took a 7–0 first quarter lead behind a one-yard Calvin Culliver touchdown run. They extended it further to 23–0 at halftime after points were scored on a 20-yard Danny Ridgeway field goal, a 29-yard Ricky Davis fumble return and on a three-yard Richard Todd touchdown run.[36][37] After a scoreless third, the Crimson Tide closed with a two-yard Jack O'Rear touchdown run in the fourth for the 30–0 win.[36][37] For their performances, Willie Shelby was recognized as the SEC Back of the Week and Leroy Cook was recognized as the SEC Lineman of the Week.[39] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against LSU to 24–10–4.[40]

Miami (FL)

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1 234Total
#2 Alabama 14 707 28
Miami 0 007 7
  • Date: November 16
  • Location: Orange Bowl
    Miami, Florida
  • Game attendance: 26,265

As they entered their game against Miami, Alabama moved into the No. 2 position in the AP Poll.[43] Before a relatively small crowd, Alabama defeated the Hurricanes 28–7 and secured Bryant's 150th victory as head coach of the Crimson Tide.[5][41][42] The Crimson Tide opened the game with a pair of eight-yard Richard Todd touchdown passes to George Pugh and Jerry Brown for a 14–0 lead. They then extended their lead to 21–0 at halftime behind a 12-yard Gary Rutledge touchdown run in the second quarter.[41][42]

After a scoreless third, Miami scored their only points on a one-yard Johnny Williams touchdown run in the fourth that marked the first touchdown scored against the Crimson Tide defense in 17 quarters.[41] Alabama responded with a 62-yard Willie Shelby punt return late in the fourth that made the final score 28–7.[41][42] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Miami to 11–2.[44]

Auburn

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Iron Bowl
1 234Total
#2 Alabama 7 370 17
#7 Auburn 0 706 13
  • Date: November 29
  • Location: Legion Field
    Birmingham, Alabama
  • Game attendance: 71,224
  • Television network: ABC

As they entered the annual Iron Bowl, Alabama retained the No. 2 position and Auburn the No. 7 in the AP Poll prior to their match-up at Legion Field.[47] Against the Tigers, the Crimson Tide were victorious as they edged out a 17–13 win at Birmingham.[5][45][46] Alabama scored on a 45-yard Richard Todd touchdown pass to Willie Shelby in the first and on a 36-yard Bucky Berrey field goal in the second for a 10–0 lead. Auburn responded with a one-yard Secdrick McIntyre touchdown run late in the second that made the halftime score 10–7.[45][46]

The Crimson Tide extended their lead to 17–7 early in the third with their only second half points on a 13-yard Calvin Culliver touchdown run. The Tigers then brought the final margin to 17–13 with a two-yard Phil Gargis touchdown run in the fourth.[45][46] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Auburn to 21–17–1.[48]

Notre Dame

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Orange Bowl
1 234Total
#9 Notre Dame 7 600 13
#2 Alabama 0 308 11
  • Date: January 1, 1975
  • Location: Orange Bowl
    Miami, Florida
  • Game attendance: 71,801
  • Television network: NBC

Playing for what would have been a second consecutive national championship against Notre Dame, Alabama was upset by the Fighting Irish 13–11 in the Orange Bowl.[49][50] Notre Dame took a 13–0 lead behind touchdown runs of four-yards by Wayne Bullock in the first and nine-yards by Mark McLane in the second quarter. A 21-yard Danny Ridgeway field goal for Alabama made the halftime score 13–3.[49][50] After a scoreless third, the Crimson Tide scored the final points of the game on a 48-yard Richard Todd touchdown pass to Russ Schamun that made the final score 13–11.[49][50] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Notre Dame to 0–2.[51]

Roster

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1974 Alabama Crimson Tide football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
G Bo Batey So
RB 26 Randy Billingsley Sr
RB 38 Duffy Boles Jr
RB Joey Bolton So
OT Jim Bradford So
TE Jerry Brown Jr
OT Woody Buchanan So
C 59 Sylvester Croom Sr
FB 33 Calvin Culliver So
OT Bobby Davis So
RB Bobby Duke So
RB Donnie Faust So
QB Les Fowler So
QB 12 Robert Fraley Jr
G David Gerasimchuk So
HB Dennis Gramann So
HB John Gunnels So
G Gary Hanrahan Jr
RB 84 Joe Dale Harris Jr
FB Bob Haught So
FB Ronnie Kuykendall So
HB John LaBue So
C 58 Rand Lambert Sr
C K. J. Lazenby So
OT Ralph McElreath So
OT Barry McGee Jr
C David McIntyre So
TE Rick McLain So
G Ray Maxwell Jr
TE 28 Tom Nelson Jr
QB Jack O'Rear So
OT Gary Oser So
G 71 Steve Patterson Sr
HB Lefty Perry Jr
OT Buddy Pope Jr
TE 88 George Pugh Jr
G Mark Reese So
QB 15 Danny Ridgeway Jr
G 61 John Rogers Sr
G Larry Ruffin Jr
QB 11 Gary Rutledge Sr
SE 25 Russ Schamun So
RB 30 Willie Shelby Jr
HB Jimbo Smith Jr
C Sid Smith So
RB Mike Stock Jr
RB 42 Ralph Stokes Sr
WR Sam Tate Jr
RB 27 James Taylor Jr
OT Chip Tillman So
QB 14 Richard Todd Jr
HB Jim Ward So
OT Jerry Washco Jr
FB Rick Watson So
G 72 Richard Whitley Sr
WR Darrell Owen Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
SS Tom Baggett So
DT Ronnie Joe Barnes Jr
DT 91 Bob Baumhower So
S 17 Ray Bolden Jr
LB Tom Bouck So
LB Neil Callaway So
DB Pete Cavan So
DE Mike Christian So
DE Danny Collins So
DE 98 Leroy Cook Jr
S John Crowe So
DB 19 Ricky Davis Sr
LB 54 Mike DuBose Sr
LB Conley Duncan Jr
DB Thad Flanagan So
DB Steve Ford Jr
DT 62 Randy Hall Sr
DT Charles Hannah So
DE Paul Harris So
DT Bill Harrison So
DT Bill Henderson So
DE Bruce Hodges So
LB Colenzo Hubbard So
DT Tim Hurst So
DB Chuck Justice So
J Tyrone King So
DT 66 Steve Kulback Jr
LB Mark Lipari So
LB Woodrow Lowe Jr
DE James McArthur So
DE Sam Maddox So
J Greg Montgomery So
LB Danny Neal So
DE John Niehaus So
S Alan Pizzitola Jr
SS Mark Prudhomme Jr
DB Wayne Rhodes Jr
DB 23 Mike Riley Sr
LB 55 Ronnie Robertson Sr
LB John Sheehan So
LB Jack Smalley So
DE Dick Turpin Jr
DB 34 Mike Washington Sr
DT Gus White So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
PK Bucky Berrey So
PK Mike Davis So
PK Ron Dichiara Jr
WR 82 Darrell Owen Sr
PK Rod Nelson So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Roster
Last update: February 24, 2024

NFL Draft

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Several players that were varsity lettermen from the 1974 squad were drafted into the National Football League (NFL) in the 1975, 1976 and 1977 drafts. These players included:

Year Round Overall Player name Position NFL team
1975 NFL draft

[54]
3 53 Mike Washington Defensive back Baltimore Colts
8 195 Ricky Davis Defensive back Cincinnati Bengals
1976 NFL draft
[54]
1 6 Richard Todd Quarterback New York Jets
4 108 Wayne Rhodes Defensive back Chicago Bears
5 131 Woodrow Lowe Linebacker San Diego Chargers
5 138 Willie Shelby Running back Cincinnati Bengals
10 290 Leroy Cook Defensive end Dallas Cowboys
12 341 Joe Dale Harris Wide receiver Cincinnati Bengals
1977 NFL draft
[54]
2 40 Bob Baumhower Nose tackle Miami Dolphins
3 57 Charley Hannah Offensive guard Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6 159 Paul Harris Linebacker Pittsburgh Steelers
8 212 Calvin Culliver Running back Denver Broncos

References

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General

  • "1974 Season Recaps" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 26, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  • "2012 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book" (PDF). Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2014.

Specific

  1. ^ "1974 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on November 25, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Browning, Al (September 15, 1974). "Terps pull plug, Alabama seals a leak". The Tuscaloosa News. p. B1. Retrieved July 5, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  3. ^ a b c d e Kennedy, Ray (September 23, 1974). "Rare scare for the Bear". Sports Illustrated. SI.com. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  4. ^ "Notre Dame rises, Alabama sits at No. 3". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. September 11, 1974. p. 13. Retrieved July 4, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 1974 Season Recap
  6. ^ McKenzie, Mike (September 17, 1974). "Calvin Culliver carries the ball to SE back honors". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 9. Retrieved July 5, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  7. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Maryland". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d McKenzie, Mike (September 22, 1974). "52 to zero: What more can anybody say?". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 1B. Retrieved July 5, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  9. ^ a b c d "Alabama rolls to 52–0 win". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Associated Press. September 22, 1974. p. B2. Retrieved July 5, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  10. ^ "Tide drops two spots; ND is No. 1". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. September 17, 1974. p. 9. Retrieved July 4, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  11. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Southern Mississippi". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  12. ^ a b c d Martin, Steve (September 29, 1974). "Vandy proves it can play too". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 1A. Retrieved July 5, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  13. ^ a b c d Johnson, Randy (September 29, 1974). "Alabama passing is key factor in 23–10 victory over Vandy". The Gadsden Times. p. 37. Retrieved July 5, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  14. ^ "Winning Irish take drop, Alabama moves to fourth". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. September 24, 1974. p. 11. Retrieved July 5, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  15. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  16. ^ a b c d e Browning, Al (October 6, 1974). "Willie Shelby has the last laugh in Tide win". The Tuscaloosa News. p. B1. Retrieved July 5, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Alabama gains victory over Ole Miss, 35–21". Daily News. Associated Press. October 6, 1974. p. 12. Retrieved July 5, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  18. ^ "Tide third in college..." The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. October 1, 1974. p. 10. Retrieved July 5, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  19. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  20. ^ a b c d Browning, Al (October 13, 1974). "Prayer vs. The Bear". The Tuscaloosa News. p. B1. Retrieved July 5, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  21. ^ a b c d "1974 Flashback: Alabama 8, Florida State 7". RollTide.com. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  22. ^ "Alabama remains third". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. October 8, 1974. p. 11. Retrieved July 5, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  23. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Florida State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  24. ^ a b c d Browning, Al (October 20, 1974). "Tide answers some dissenters' questions". The Tuscaloosa News. p. B-1. Retrieved August 2, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  25. ^ a b c d "Shelby, Culliver lead Alabama on 28–6 route". Rome News-Tribune. UPI. October 20, 1974. p. 2C. Retrieved August 2, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  26. ^ "Alabama drops a notch". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. October 15, 1974. p. 11. Retrieved August 2, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  27. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tennessee". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  28. ^ a b c d Martin, Steve (October 27, 1974). "Frogs flunk it, 41–3". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 1A. Retrieved August 2, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  29. ^ a b c d Furlong, Jim (October 27, 1974). "Alabama carves Frogs, 41–3". The Gadsden Times. p. 37. Retrieved August 2, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  30. ^ "Alabama remains fourth". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. October 22, 1974. p. 8. Retrieved August 2, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  31. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Texas Christian". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  32. ^ a b c d Browning, Al (November 3, 1974). "Tide dunks 'Dogs". The Florence Times. p. 1. Retrieved August 22, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  33. ^ a b c d Smothers, Jimmy (November 3, 1974). "Defense shines in Tide romp". The Gadsden Times. p. 37. Retrieved August 22, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  34. ^ "Alabama remains fourth, Ohio State remains on top". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. October 29, 1974. p. 8. Retrieved August 22, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  35. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  36. ^ a b c d Browning, Al (November 10, 1974). "Cook gets a nice birthday present". The Tuscaloosa News. p. B1. Retrieved August 22, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  37. ^ a b c d "Alabama clinches tie for SEC title". Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal. Associated Press. November 10, 1974. p. 2C. Retrieved August 22, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  38. ^ "Crimson Tide up to third in AP Poll". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. November 5, 1974. p. 11. Retrieved August 22, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  39. ^ McKenzie, Mike (November 12, 1974). "Tide's Cook, Shelby sweep AP honors". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 9. Retrieved August 22, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  40. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Louisiana State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  41. ^ a b c d e McKenzie, Mike (November 17, 1974). "50,000 who stayed away made Tide win". The Tuscaloosa News. p. B1. Retrieved August 22, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  42. ^ a b c d "Tide stifles Miami, 28–7". Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal. Associated Press. November 17, 1974. p. B1. Retrieved August 22, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  43. ^ "Tide is second, Sooners No. 1". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. November 12, 1974. p. 9. Retrieved August 22, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
  44. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Miami (FL)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
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