1991 Temple vs. #20 Alabama Highlights

09/07/1991. Legion Field (Birmingham, AL). The Temple Owls (0-0) vs. the #20 Alabama Crimson Tide (0-0).

Broadcast on VideoSeat PPV

John Sullins, the leading tackler from a year ago. Antonio London coming off that surgery on his jaw in the 1991 season has kicked off. This is Temple fielding the ball at their four yd line and they are brought down at the 17. Anthony Richardson is the Temple quarterback. He rolls out to the right and has some room. He’ll run himself. Ball on the 25 yd line. Third down and two. It’s Richardson. Same play as the first play. And it looks like he gets the first down. An all-American preseason pick at punter for Temple. He’s also their backup quarterback. But this kid can boot the ball and he lets one fly as David Palmer, the freshman from Jackson High School here in Birmingham. Fields it at his seven. He breaks it up the middle and runs into his own man where he’s dropped at about the 24. Second down and 12. Danny Woodson with Saran Stacy behind him will get brought down for a loss at his 15 yd line. That’s James Harris, the big 68 linebacker. Let’s see what he can do now. Woodson straight back and he’s going for the goal. A scramble and it looks like he’s going to go for it all. Could Woodson break it? It looks like he will. The senior from Mobile is going to go all the way and the tide is up 6. And
there you have it. Woodson scored on a broken play. That’s that’s what they like about his ability to run and he turns it into a touchdown. Richardson again seems to be audibleizing at the line. And it’s again, this is the fullback Swanson brought down for no gain. Steve Ro on the tackle.
Like there’s a fumble, Doug. Alabama’s recovered it. Kevin Turner and Saran Stacy. This is Stacy going through another fairly big hole. Gains five. Martin Houston and Kevin Turner, the two fullbacks are in the ball game. And Martin Houston goes over the right side for a first down. Good blocking and again over the right side where John Stevenson is. Good work from the Alabama offensive line. Woodson hands off to Saran Stacy goes around the left side and hammers his way down to the six-yd line. Second down and seven for a touchdown. Five minutes to play. The Tide already up 7 nothing. Warren in motion. The pitch goes to Stacy who has a huge hole. He cuts it back for his first touchdown of the year. And Stacy looked a lot like Saran of 1989.
He sure did. All right, kicking off for the Tide. Steve Cole, he handles the kickoff chores while Matt Weatherington does the field goal and extra point duties. And busting it up the middle for Temple is Raphael Mack in the back field for Temple along with quarterback Anthony Richardson. Richardson being harassed rolling out to the right. Free throws a desperation pass which is picked off by Alabama and Tolio Langga.
You know the credit of that interception really goes to that defensive front because they had excellent pursuit on that quarterback was when he intercepted that ball against Tennessee at the goal line and ran it back 33 yds which helped the Tide preserve that 6-3 win over the Volunteers. Woodson on the roll out. Finds a wideopen Donnie Fininkley who breaks the tackle and goes all the way up to the 38 yd line. Temple has nine men on the line. Tank gets it away trying to pooch it inside the 10 and he might get lucky. He does. Alabama downs it at the two yd line. There’s another handoff and Temple found a hole up to the 12 for the folks around the state who never saw play in high school. What a treat. Played all his home games right here at Legion Field on this turf. Line drive. Not a nice punt at all. We brag about the guy and he lets us down. David Palmer goes left, comes back right and look at the good maneuver. [Applause] Binkley and Lee are the wide outs. This is Saran Stacy cutting back. Little juke step, falls forward for a gain of four. Alabama takes over on the 46. Woodson. There’s the fake and the reverse to David Palmer who finds a seam. Cuts back. Brought down at the 34 yd line and Alabama first down. Saran Stacy lines up behind Kevin Turner. And Saran takes the pitch, goes wide, shows some speed. Nice hit. Alabama on the 28. Woodson back to pass. Has a man open. It’s complete. Donnie Fininkley grabs it for a first down depending on the mark. Martin Houston in at fullback replacing Kevin Turner. Saran Stacy the tailback. Houston the lead blocker. Saran cuts back and he gets close to the first down. Not quite, maybe a yard short, stays in bounds. All right, Danny Woodson comes to the line. Kevin Turner back in along with Martin Houston. This is their short yardage offense. And Martin Houston, as he always does, just rams forward for another first down. Martin Houston and Saran Stacy are in the back field. This is Saran. hours his way down to the seven, maybe the sixyd line. Second down and six. They can still get a first down without scoring. Woodson to Saran Stacy who gets bottled up but squirts outside for the touchdown. Wow. Saran just found an opening and he is quick. Matt Weatherington trying to make it three out of three as we have a blowout on our hands. At least it seems that way early on. It’s 21- nothing and Temple has shown us an inability that’s no good. Well, I jumped the gun and Matt Weatherington misses. Three down lineman for the tide. Anthony Richardson. Second and 10. Back to pass and he finds a wideopen receiver Rob Graph. First down Temple up to the 48. Trent Thompson back to punt again for Temple. The last time a line shot off his foot. This time another line drive which bounces over David Palmer’s head and out of bounds at the one yd line. Third down and eight. We’re under seven minutes to play in the second quarter. Alabama ahead 20 to nothing. Martin Houston off the left side gets wrapped up and Alabama will punt. That’s really that’s a critical mistake there because here you got
a foul against the defense. It’s
late. You got fourth and five forcing Alabama to punt out of their own end zone. Danny Woodson has gone all the way.
Jay Barker is supposed to get some playing time as Saran Stacy just hammers his way close to a first down right now. Just a murmur in the crowd. They’re waiting for Danny Woodson or Saran Stacy or somebody to do something exciting. Woodson turns to Martin Houston who gets brought down for a loss. That was third and inches and they did not get it. Tony Schmidz. Jamie Macowski deep for Temple. [Music] Tank didn’t hit that real solid. A fair catch by Jamie Macowski at the Temple 34 yd line. Fact they have three people on the right side. Richardson looks left to Conrad Swanson and he has some open room. Is he going to be fast enough? No. He gets knocked out of bounds at the 20 at the 19 yd line by Mark McMillan. But there’s the fullback Swanson who we told you earlier is a very good pass receiver. Second down and 10. No gain on that last play by McNair. Here’s Richardson rolling right. He is brought down by Eric Curry, but it looks like he might have grabbed the face mask. Last year’s shutouts happened quite often for this tie defense. Will it continue? Swanson carries it to the five. I don’t think I’d say that to Trey Johnson’s face, but uh 314 lbs. You got to carry the baggage somewhere. Conrad Swanson carries it up to the three. Robert Stewart clogging things up. Mike Canouth is the kicker for Temple. He’ll try to get him on the board. He wears number 10, 5’11, 180lb junior from South Dakota. And the junior from Dakota makes it 20-3. And Saran again cuts to the outside, gets close to the first down. He’ll be brought down about a yard short. Jean Stallings was quoted as saying Santos Stevens on the tackle. Coach Stallings was quoted as saying Saran Stacy is the most talented running back I’ve ever coached. That’s the end of the first half with Alabama leading it 20-3. Jean Stallings in much better shape than he was a year ago in his opener against Southern Mississippi. Let’s go down to Scott Hunter. In just a moment, we’ll hear from Scott and Jerry Burn. First first half not bad for the tie.
Good first half. I know uh the Alabama offensive line, Steve, was one of the big question marks, but they came through and did a good job. Turner Stacy in the back field. Danny back to pass rolls out and finds a wide open tight end Derek Warren. Woodson the pitch back to Sahan Stacy. We’ve seen that play a few times and he breaks a tackle and gets knocked out of bounds. Tank Williamson. You have to like a guy named Tank. His third punt of the day. The last one was brought down inside the five. And this time he sends Temple deep. It’s brought out to the seven. Leslie Shepard. Under 12 minutes to play here in the third quarter. 20-3 Alabama. McNair has had a miserable day. No, that can really hurt you too as an offensive line. Size is great until it starts to take away from your speed and then it really can hurt you with especially with a fast team like Alabama.
McNair on the draw finds an opening on the outside. Is that Antonio Langum again?
Yeah, sure was.
Good open field tackle.
Here comes Mr. Thompson. Trent Thompson hasn’t shown us much. A lot of height so far. A lot of line drives. This one a short punt, relatively short. David Palmer at his own 49 and he goes the wrong way. Hey David, you got to go forward, not backwards. Fielded it at the 49. Danny Woodson tries to be sensational. Twirls around and throws to the man of the hour, David Palmer. Nice move to the outside. First down, David Palmer. Doesn’t even involve offensive lineman releasing.
Tony Schmidz made the tackle there. Saran Stacy then comes back to the left side.
Gain of about five. Second and five. Ball on the 32 yd line. Warren in motion. Flip back to number 27 Saran Stacy who battles his way toward the first down marker. I think they’re going to mark it just about a half a yard short. He’s backed up by Roosevelt Patterson, a sophomore. Matt Hammond, a sophomore left tackle. Danny Woodson falls forward for what looks like an Alabama first down. Eight minutes to play now in the third quarter. First and 10. Halfback pass. Sarah Stacy. Touchdown Alabama. Prince Wimbley. Unbelievable reception there. Trent Thompson the punter. There’s a line shot off the side of his foot. David Palmer fields at the 24. He just wants to touch the football and he gets brought down right away. Maybe you should have let that one go, huh? Well, Holland, the injured player for uh Temple being wheeled off the sidelines and Alabama wheels with a reverse. David Palmer takes the hand off from Saran Stacy goes all the way up to the 45 yd line and the freshman is disappointed he didn’t go farther. Alabama on the 44. Martin Houston blocking for Saran Stacy. Runs on the right side. I was wondering if they would ever go back to the right side. Second down and five. Right on the 50 yd line. Martin Houston fumbles and Temple recovers on the 50 yd line. The Owls have good field position for the first time in the second half. Looked like Kevin Kerry might have caused that fumble. Number 49, the middle linebacker. And that’s a procedure penalty. This is really a crucial drive, I think, for Temple. And that if Alabama stops them here, I think it’s going to really demoralize their offense. Second down and 15. So far, Temple has been uh bottled up here at midfield. And that goes nowhere. A gain of just a few. Who battled the punter Trent Thompson for the number one job? Richardson won out. Named him the starter about a week ago. and he’s about to go down and he does.
Great penetration there by Alabama’s defensive line. That’s that penetration by Copeland is just really what’s devastated their offensive line. Richardson was raw meat in the middle of that sandwich. And there’s another shank, if you will. It doesn’t look pretty, but it’s effective. It pins Alabama down inside the 10 yd line.
321 to play here in the third quarter. And Danny Woodson calm as can be as if he’s done this for a long time. playing. Uh-oh. Don’t make me look bad, Danny, as he gets sacked on the three yd line.
Looks like Harris is locked up with Martin Houston. That’s what started it all.
Danny Woodson back to pass. Third and 16. Looks down the middle and it’s intercepted. Temple brings it back to the 24 yd line. Flag on the play. We’ll see what the flag is all about. That’s Kea Christina with the interception. Clipping on the return be a first down. 146 to play. Third quarter. Anthony Richards back to pass. Richardson and it’s intercepted by Alabama. George T brings it back and he has him some room to the 20. High stepping it to the 25 yd line. Alabama’s defense answers Temple with a big interception. He’s been watching Saran Stace. See, he started high stepping it over near the goal line or over near the sideline. This is Derek Lassic. Oh, and he gets hit hard but spins out of it. Gains about 5 yds. There’s a late hit. The flag doesn’t go down. It should. Martin Houston, the fullback. Martin pounds up the middle for a first down. Again, it depends on the mark, but it looks like he might have a first down. Scott, wipe that smile off your face. He’s having too much fun. Yeah. Who Who is Debbie anyway? Danny Woodson completes a pass to Prince Wimbley over the middle. It’s been a good matchup those seniors against Alabama’s young line. Derek Lassic with a big hole up the middle. Close to a first down. Saw a shot of Jay Barker there on the sidelines as Derek walked off. Danny Woodson goes across for the first down. He just kind of falls forward. Davos Swinny in from Pelum, Alabama. Number 88. He’s checked in for the first time. Chris Anderson. There’s a good shot of Jay Barker. Fumble Alabama. Looks like the Tide pounces on it. Chris Anderson only about 5’9 and that ball landed right up near his neck up in his shoulder pads. Danny not with a very good fake there. Things are getting a bit sloppy and and a completed pass and a touchdown. Hey, it’s sloppy, but it works. Rick Brown on the receiving end of a touchdown. Hey, there those guys are. They’re on every telecast Alabama ever has. Guys with the tide boxes and the toilet paper. [Applause] Fielded at the 14. Temple finds a hole up the middle and a fumble. Pounced on immediately by Leslie Shepard. Sam Jenkins had a lane. He’s been doing that the entire game. Coughed it up, but Shepard Johnny on the spot. Alabama substituting pretty heavily now on that defensive line. That’s McNair moving forward for about five yardds. [Music] Temple to the ground. Todd McNair gets close to a first down. It appears that Temple is starting to wave the white flag as they’re running the ball up the middle. Down 34 to three. Here’s McNair breaking a tackle. Another tackle running over Antonio Langum who won’t let him go. Third and 11. Richardson with the draw. McNair. Bruce McNair’s about nine. John Sullins finally wrestles him down. Big play that 80 y beautiful play. The offensive line has has performed well and McNair is performing much better now against some of the younger players for Alabama. Antonio Langum brings him down. We should say though, Scott did not do that when the front line guys are in there for the tide. Flags down everywhere and McNair is brought down.
John Sullins coming over to make the tackle on the offense. It’ll be down right. We’ll back it up five first and replay the down. George T covering a lot of ground breaking on the ball. I know Bill Oliver loves to see that. Here’s McNair battling his way to the nine yd line. Richardson back to pass. Third down. Intercepted by John Sullins. Great play there by Sullins. Danny Davis has checked in for the Tide. No, make that Chad Key. No, make that Danny Davis. And all sorts of flags are down.
Offensive holding there. Moves it back to the 5 yd line. First down and 12. Irving spikes in the game. First time we’ve seen Irving today. Four and a half minutes to play in the ball game. Chris Anderson takes it in the end zone. Finds a big gaping hole. Breaks free. Hey, he’s fast. He might and he will go all the way for a touchdown. Chris Anderson sees daylight. Anderson is in the end zone. Great play there. Great blocking up front. That’s a record that’s lasted a while. 1945. [Applause] Showing those pearls, those white pearls Scott is so famous for. There’s a fumble picked up by Alabama. Charles Gardner. Tell you what kind of kid he really is. Danny Davis pitches right. Irving spikes, finds a hole down to the seven. Close to a first down. I’m tenacious. I cannot overpower people. So, I have to stay after him until the whistle blows. Second down and 20. Under three minutes to play. Terren Lynch in the ball game now for Alabama. First time we’ve seen Tarant today. Taran Lynch one of the fastest fullbacks you’ll see. He can really move it. That’s Sherman Williams. Now he’s a freshman.
Here’s the punter Trent Thompson getting his shot at quarterback with a minute 15 to go. Pitches back. Wonder if an ice bucket will come today. Probably not. Too early to celebrate a game like this. Here’s a completed bass. Thompson to Arando Davidson. Temple moves on to Pittsburgh to play at pit. Under 30 seconds to play. Thompson will scramble. Gets hit hard. Really are. Alabama had a great great recruiting class last year. A lot of those guys getting in and playing, getting a lot of playing time today. It’s in the books. Alabama a 41-3 winner over Temple in the 1991 season opener. Things start off better for Jean Stallings in 1991 compared to 1990 when he lost to Southern Miss 2724. [Applause]