1972 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

1972 Alabama Crimson Tide football
SEC champion
Cotton Bowl Classic, L 13–17 vs. Texas
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 4
AP	No. 7
1972 record	10–2 (7–1 SEC)
Head coach	Bear Bryant (15th year)
Captain	Terry Davis
Captain	John Mitchell
Home stadium	Denny Stadium Legion Field

1972 SEC football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#7 Alabama $	7	–	1	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
#5 Auburn	6	–	1	–	0			10	–	1	–	0
#11 LSU	4	–	1	–	1			9	–	2	–	1
#8 Tennessee	4	–	2	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
Georgia	4	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Florida	3	–	3	–	1			5	–	5	–	1
Ole Miss	2	–	5	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Kentucky	2	–	5	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Mississippi State	1	–	6	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Vanderbilt	0	–	6	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1972 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1972 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 78th overall season and 39th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 15th year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with ten wins and two losses (10–2 overall, 7–1 in the SEC), as SEC champions and with a loss to Texas in the Cotton Bowl Classic.

Alabama opened the season with a non-conference victory over Duke. They then shut out Kentucky in their conference opener, and then easily won their next three games, over Vanderbilt, Georgia and Florida. In a top-ten match-up against rival Tennessee, they scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns en route to a 17–10 victory. Next, the Crimson Tide defeated Southern Miss and Mississippi State to set up a top-ten match-up against LSU.

With a 35–21 victory over the Tigers, Alabama captured the SEC championship for the 1972 season. The Crimson Tide next defeated Virginia Tech on homecoming and set up another top ten match-up Iron Bowl to close the regular season. Auburn defeated Alabama behind a pair of fourth-quarter blocked-punt returns in a game referred to as simply "Punt Bama Punt". The Crimson Tide then closed their season with a second-consecutive defeat, this time against Texas in the Cotton Bowl Classic.

Schedule

Date	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 9	Duke*	No. 7	Legion Field • Birmingham, AL		W 35–12	71,281
September 23	Kentucky	No. 7	Legion Field • Birmingham, AL		W 35–0	71,433
September 30	Vanderbilt	No. 6	Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL		W 48–21	56,179
October 7	at Georgia	No. 4	Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA		W 25–7	60,013
October 14	Florida	No. 3	Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL		W 24–7	57,631
October 21	at No. 10 Tennessee	No. 3	Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN (Third Saturday in October)		W 17–10	72,049
October 28	Southern Miss*	No. 2	Legion Field • Birmingham, AL		W 48–11	57,090
November 4	Mississippi State	No. 2	Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL (Rivalry)		W 58–14	57,171
November 11	No. 6 LSU	No. 2	Legion Field • Birmingham, AL (Rivalry)	ABC	W 35–21	72,039
November 18	Virginia Tech*	No. 2	Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL		W 52–13	57,162
December 2	vs. No. 9 Auburn	No. 2	Legion Field • Birmingham, AL (Iron Bowl)		L 16–17	72,386
January 1, 1973	vs. No. 7 Texas*	No. 4	Cotton Bowl • Dallas, TX (Cotton Bowl Classic)	CBS	L 13–17	70,000
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. ^#Rankings from AP Poll.

• Source: Rolltide.com: 1972 Alabama football schedule^[1]

Game notes

Duke

1 2 3 4 Total Duke 0 12 0 0 12 • #7 Alabama 14 0 7 14 35 Date: September 9 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 71,281 Sources:[2][3]

Alabama opened the 1972 season ranked as the No. 7 team in the preseason AP Poll as they entered their game against Duke.^[4] At Legion Field, the Crimson Tide scored 21 unanswered points in the second half en route to a 35–12 victory over the Blue Devils to open the 1971 season.^[2][3][5] Alabama opened the game with a 14–0 lead after they scored on their first two possessions, on a pair of touchdown runs of eight-yards by Paul Spivey and one-yard by Joe LaBue. However, Duke was able to make the halftime score 14–12 after they scored on a pair of Robert Albright touchdown passes. The first was from 11-yards to Mark Landon and the second to Mike Bomgardner from eight-yards out.^[2][3]

After Terry Davis extended the Crimson Tide lead to 21–12 with his two-yard run in the third, Alabama closed the game with a pair of touchdown runs in the fourth quarter.^[2][3] The first was scored by Steve Bisceglia on a 39-yard run and the second by Wilbur Jackson on a 12-yard run.^[2][3] In the game, Alabama outgained the Blue Devils in rushing yards 333 to 156.^[2] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Duke to 1–1.^[6]

Kentucky

1 2 3 4 Total Kentucky 0 0 0 0 0 • #7 Alabama 14 0 7 14 35 Date: September 23 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 71,433 Source:[7][8]

Coming off their bye week, the Crimson Tide retained their No. 7 team in the AP Poll prior to their game against Kentucky.^[9] In what was the first meeting against the Wildcats since their victory in 1947, Alabama won 35–0 at Birmingham.^[5][7][8] The Crimson Tide took a 14–0 lead in the first quarter after Terry Davis threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Wayne Wheeler and then scored himself on a three-yard run.^[7][8] Still up only 14–0 as the teams entered the second half, Alabama extended their lead to 21–0 on a three-yard Steve Bisceglia touchdown run.^[7][8]

The Crimson Tide then closed the game with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns. The first came on a nine-yard Bisceglia run and the second on a 48-yard Gary Rutledge pass to Ralph Stokes that made the final score 35–0.^[7][8] In their previous meeting, Kentucky was led by head coach Bear Bryant, who since that time had moved on and was Alabama's head coach for this game.^[7] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Kentucky 25–1–1.^[10]

Vanderbilt

1 2 3 4 Total Vanderbilt 7 0 7 7 21 • #6 Alabama 6 28 7 7 48 Date: September 30 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 56,179 Sources:[11][12]

After their victory over Kentucky, Alabama moved into the No. 6 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Vanderbilt.^[13] Behind a 28-point second quarter, the Crimson Tide defeated the Commodores 48–21 in the first Denny Stadium game of the season.^[5][11][12] After Alabama took a 6–0 lead on a four-yard Wilbur Jackson touchdown run, Vanderbilt responded and took a 7–6 lead on a one-yard Walter Overton later in the first quarter.^[11][12] The Crimson Tide responded with four touchdowns in the second quarter and took a 34–7 halftime lead. The points were scored on runs of three and 16-yards by Ellis Beck, one-yard by Terry Davis and one-yard by Steve Dean.^[11][12]

In the second half, both teams traded touchdowns in each of the final two quarters. In the third, Gary Rutledge scored on a seven-yard run for Alabama and Steve Burger responded for Vanderbilt with his three-yard run.^[11][12] Finally in the fourth quarter, Rutledge scored on a five-yard run for the Crimson Tide and Stephen Lainhart followed with a 51-yard touchdown pass to Douglas Martin for the Commodores that made the final score 48–21.^[11][12] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 29–17–4.^[14]

Georgia

1 2 3 4 Total • #4 Alabama 7 0 12 6 25 Georgia 0 0 0 7 7 Date: October 7 Location: Sanford Stadium Athens, GA Game attendance: 60,013 Sources:[15][16]

After their victory over Vanderbilt, Alabama moved into the No. 4 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Georgia.^[17] Playing for the first time since a loss to Georgia in 1965, the Crimson Tide defeated the Bulldogs 25–7 in their first road game of the season.^[5][15][16] Alabama scored their only points in the first half on a five-yard Wilbur Jackson touchdown run in the first quarter.^[15][16]

In the third quarter, Terry Davis first threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Wayne Wheeler and later scored on a one-yard run that made the score 19–0.^[15][16] After Jimmy Poulos scored Georgia's only points with his 17-yard touchdown run in the fourth, Alabama closed the game with a two-yard Steve Bisceglia that made the final score 25–7.^[15][16] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 29–19–4.^[18]

Florida

1 2 3 4 Total Florida 7 0 0 0 7 • #3 Alabama 7 3 7 7 24 Date: October 14 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 57,631 Sources:[19][20]

After their victory over Georgia, Alabama moved into the No. 3 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Florida.^[21] Against the Gators, the Crimson Tide rallied from an early 7–0 deficit and defeated Florida 24–7 at Denny Stadium.^[5][19][20] Florida took an early 7–0 lead behind a 60-yard Nat Moore touchdown run. However, the Gators were unable to score again as Alabama responded with 24 unanswered points.^[19][20] After a 13-yard Paul Spivey touchdown run tied the game 7–7 later in the first, a 31-yard Bill Davis field goal in the second gave the Crimson Tide a 10–7 halftime lead.^[19][20] They then closed the game with a pair of touchdown runs that made the final score 24–7. The first came on a four-yard Terry Davis run in the third and then on a one-yard Ralph Stokes run in the fourth.^[19][20] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Florida to 12–5.^[22]

Tennessee

Third Saturday in October

1 2 3 4 Total • #3 Alabama 0 3 0 14 17 #10 Tennessee 0 0 7 3 10 Date: October 21 Location: Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN Game attendance: 72,049 Sources:[23][24]

After their victory over Florida, Alabama retained their No. 3 position and Tennessee moved into the No. 10 position in the AP Poll prior to their game at Neyland Stadium.^[25] Against the Volunteers, Alabama scored two touchdowns in the final 2:39 of the game for a 17–10, come-from-behind victory at Knoxville.^[5][23][24] After a scoreless first quarter, the Crimson Tide took a 3–0 lead into halftime after Bill Davis connected on a 31-yard field goal in the second.^[23][24] Tennessee then took a 7–3 lead on a two-yard Condredge Holloway touchdown run in the third, and extended it to 10–3 with a 36-yard Ricky Townsend field goal in the fourth quarter.^[23][24]

With 2:39 left in the game, Alabama took possession at the Vols 48-yard line, and three plays later Wilbur Jackson scored on a two-yard run.^[23][24] On the Tennessee possession that ensued, John Mitchell recovered a Holloway fumble at the Vols' 17-yard line. On the next play, Terry Davis gave Alabama a 17–10 lead with his touchdown run with just over one minute left in the game.^[23][24] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 25–23–7.^[26]

Southern Miss

1 2 3 4 Total Southern Miss 0 3 0 8 11 • #2 Alabama 7 0 21 20 48 Date: October 28 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 57,090 Sources:[27][28]

After their come-from-behind victory over Tennessee, Alabama moved into the No. 2 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Southern Miss.^[29] Although they only led the Golden Eagles 7–3 at halftime, 41 second half points resulted in a 48–11 Alabama victory at Legion Field.^[5][27][28] In what was a very low scoring first half, the Crimson Tide scored on a two-yard Steve Bisceglia touchdown run and the Golden Eagles on a 32-yard Ricky Palmer field goal for a 7–3 halftime score.^[27][28]

Alabama then dominated the second half and scored five offensive touchdowns in six total possessions en route to the 48–11 victory.^[27][28] Third quarter touchdowns were scored on runs of 12, 16 and five-yards by Bisceglia, Wilbur Jackson and Paul Spivey. Southern Miss responded with their lone points of the second half early in the fourth when Buddy Palazzo connected with Marshall Veal on a 12-yard touchdown pass.^[27][28] The Crimson Tide then closed the game with touchdowns on a 64-yard Gary Rutledge pass to Wayne Wheeler, a 15-yard Robin Cary interception return and on a 13-yard Robert Farley pass to Pete Pappas for the 48–11 win.^[27][28] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Southern Miss to 13–2–1.^[30]

Mississippi State

1 2 3 4 Total Mississippi State 0 6 8 0 14 • #2 Alabama 17 13 7 21 58 Date: November 4 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 57,171 Sources:[31][32]

As they entered their game against Mississippi State, Alabama retained their No. 2 position in the AP Poll.^[33] Against the Bulldogs, the Crimson Tide won 58–14 en route to their 25th consecutive victory at Denny Stadium.^[5][31][32] Alabama took a 17–0 lead in the first quarter behind touchdown runs of 28 and one-yard by Terry Davis and Steve Bisceglia and a 22-yard field goal by Bill Davis.^[31][32] After the Bulldogs responded with a one-yard Wayne Jones touchdown run early in the second, the Crimson Tide extended their lead to 30–6 at halftime behind a 15-yard David McMakin blocked punt return and one-yard Ellis Beck touchdown run.^[31][32]

In the third, both teams traded touchdowns. Alabama scored first on a 44-yard Davis pass to Wayne Wheeler and State followed with a 47-yard Frank Dowsing punt return that made the score 37–14.^[31][32] The Crimson Tide then closed the game with a trio of fourth quarter touchdowns on a 20-yard Gary Rutledge pass to Wheeler and runs of one and two-yards by Robert Farley and Vern Wilmot.^[31][32] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State to 44–10–3.^[34]

LSU

1 2 3 4 Total #6 LSU 7 0 7 7 21 • #2 Alabama 0 7 14 14 35 Date: November 11 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 72,039 Sources:[35][36]

After their victory over Mississippi State, Alabama retained their No. 2 position and LSU was in the No. 6 position in the AP Poll prior to their match-up at Birmingham.^[37] Playing in a regionally televised game on ABC, Alabama defeated the previously undefeated Tigers 35–21 at Legion Field and captured the 1972 conference championship.^[5][35][36] LSU took a 7–0 first quarter lead on a 21-yard Bert Jones touchdown pass to Jimmy LeDoux. Alabama responded with a 25-yard Terry Davis touchdown pass to Wayne Wheeler in the second that tied the game 7–7 at halftime.^[35][36]

In the third, the Crimson Tide took a 21–7 lead behind touchdowns scored on a 29-yard Davis pass to Wheeler and on a 25-yard Davis run. LSU then cut the lead to 21–14 on a five-yard Jones pass to Charles Williamson later in the quarter.^[35][36] In the fourth, Alabama scored on touchdown runs of one and 52-yards by Steve Bisceglia and Joe LaBue, and LSU scored on a three-yard Jones run that made the final score 35–21.^[35][36] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against LSU to 22–10–4.^[38]

Virginia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total Virginia Tech 0 0 6 7 13 • #2 Alabama 14 17 7 14 52 Date: November 18 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 57,162 Sources:[39][40]

After their victory over LSU, Alabama retained their No. 2 position prior to their match-up against Virginia Tech at Tuscaloosa.^[41] After their 52–13 victory over the Hokies on homecoming at Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide accepted an invitation to play in the Cotton Bowl Classic.^[5][39][40] Alabama opened with a pair of first quarter touchdowns on runs of 67-yards by Wilbur Jackson and two-yards by Terry Davis. They next extended their lead to 31–0 at halftime behind a 36-yard Bill Davis field goal and touchdown runs of nine-yards by Jackson and two-yards by Randy Billingsley.^[39][40]

After the Crimson Tide extended their lead on a one-yard Steve Bisceglia touchdown run in the third, the Hokies scored their first points on a five-yard J. B. Barber touchdown run that made the score 38–6.^[39][40] The game concluded after both teams traded touchdowns in the final quarter. After Gary Rutledge scored for Alabama with his one-yard run, Don Strock threw a ten-yard touchdown pass to Craig Valentine.^[39][40] The Crimson Tide then made the final score 52–13 after Robert Farley threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Pete Pappas late in the fourth quarter.^[39][40] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Virginia Tech to 7–0.^[42]

Auburn

Iron Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total • #9 Auburn 0 0 0 17 17 #2 Alabama 0 9 7 0 16 Date: December 2 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 72,386 Sources:[43][44]

As they entered their annual rivalry game against Auburn, Alabama retained their No. 2 position and the Tigers were in the No. 9 position in the AP Poll prior to their match-up in the Iron Bowl.^[45] In what was one of the most memorable games in the history of the rivalry, Auburn won 17–16 after they scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns on blocked punt returns in a game subsequently deemed "Punt Bama Punt".^{[5][43][44][46]} After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama took a 9–0 halftime lead after Steve Bisceglia scored on a three-yard touchdown run and Bill Davis connected on a 24-yard field goal.^[43][44] The Crimson Tide extended their lead to 16–0 after Wilbur Jackson scored on a six-yard touchdown run in the third before Auburn started their dramatic comeback in the fourth.^[43][44]

The Tigers scored their first points on a 42-yard Gardner Jett field goal that cut the lead to 16–3.^[43][44] Late in the quarter, Bill Newton blocked a Greg Gantt punt and David Langner returned it 25-yards for an Auburn touchdown and cut the lead further to 16–10. After the Tigers defense forced another Alabama punt on the next series, Newton blocked a second Greg Gantt punt and Langner returned it 20-yards for the 17–16 victory.^[43][44] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Auburn to 19–17–1.^[47]

Texas

Cotton Bowl Classic

1 2 3 4 Total • #7 Texas 0 3 7 7 17 #4 Alabama 10 3 0 0 13 Date: January 1 Location: Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX Game attendance: 72,000 Source:[48][49]

In what was the finale of the 1972 season, Alabama was upset by the Texas Longhorns 17–13 in the Cotton Bowl.^[48][49] The Crimson Tide took a 10–0 first quarter lead behind a 50-yard Greg Gantt field goal and a 31-yard Wilbur Jackson touchdown run.^[48][49] Second quarter field goals of 24-yards by Billy Schott of Texas and 30-yards by Bill Davis of Alabama made the halftime score 13–3.^[48][49]

In the third, the Longhorns scored on a three-yard Alan Lowry touchdown run and Lowey then scored the game-winning points with his 34-yard touchdown run in the fourth.^[48][49] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Texas to 0–6–1.^[50]

NFL Draft

Several players that were varsity lettermen from the 1972 squad were drafted into the National Football League (NFL) in the 1973, 1974 and 1975 drafts. These players included:

Year	Round	Overall	Player name	Position	NFL team
1973 NFL Draft [51]	1	4	Hannah, JohnJohn Hannah	Offensive guard	New England Patriots
	7	174	Mitchell, JohnJohn Mitchell	Defensive end	San Francisco 49ers
	12	309	Krapf, JimJim Krapf	Guard	Oakland Raiders
1974 NFL Draft [51]	1	9	Jackson, WilburWilbur Jackson	Running back	San Francisco 49ers
	3	54	Wheeler, WayneWayne Wheeler	Wide receiver	Chicago Bears
	6	138	Raines, MikeMike Raines	Defensive tackle	San Francisco 49ers
	8	187	Gantt, GregGreg Gantt	Punter	New York Jets
	16	2	Brown, BuddyBuddy Brown	Guard	New York Giants
1975 NFL Draft [51]	3	53	Washington, MikeMike Washington	Defensive back	Baltimore Colts
	8	195	Davis, RickyRicky Davis	Defensive back	Cincinnati Bengals

Freshman squad

Prior to the 1972 college football season, NCAA rules prohibited freshmen from participating on the varsity team, and as such many schools fielded freshmen teams.^[52][53] The Alabama freshmen squad was led by coach Clem Gryska for the 1972 season and finished with a record of four wins and one loss (4–1).^[54] The Baby Tide opened the season with a 14–7 loss to Georgia Tech before 7,000 fans at Grant Field.^[55] Ray Bolden scored Alabama's only points with his two-yard touchdown run and the offense had six turnovers in the loss.^[55] Although they had eight fumbles in their game at Vanderbilt, the Baby Tide won the game 21–13.^[56] After Vandy took a 7–0 lead on a six-yard Larry Polston touchdown run in the first, Alabama responded three minutes later and tied the game when Alan Pizzitola returned an interception 25-yards for a score.^[56] The Commodores retook a 13–7 lead early in the second quarter after Ed Oaks threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Matt Gossage and retained their lead through halftime.^[56] The Baby Tide then closed the game with a pair of third quarter touchdown runs for the 21–13 victory. The first came on a six-yard Joey Bolton run and the second on a five-yard Willy Shelby run.^[56]

In their first home game of the season, Alabama defeated Tennessee 34–21 at Denny Stadium.^[57] With just over four minutes left in the game and the score tied 21–21, the Baby Tide scores a pair of late touchdowns after Tennessee turnovers for a 34–21 victory. Both touchdowns were scored by, Richard Todd first from 35-yards and the second from two-yards out.^[57] Against Tulane, Alabama rallied from a 10-point deficit with just under six minutes left in the game for a 21–20 victory at Denny Stadium.^[58] Alabama took a 7–0 lead on the third play of the game when Willy Shelby scored on an 82-yard touchdown run. However, The Green Wave responded with a pair of touchdowns on a one-yard Gary Rudick run and a 67-yard Wyatt Washington punt return that made the score 14–7 in their favor at the end of the first quarter.^[58] A 39-yard Mike Davis field goal cut the Tulane lead to 14–10 at halftime.^[58] After a one-yard Wally Harris touchdown run early in the fourth extended the Green Wave lead to 20–10, Alabama closed the game with a 29-yard Davis field goal and an 11-yard Mike Stock touchdown run for the 21–20 victory.^[58]

In their final game at Auburn, the Baby Tide for the third consecutive game came from behind and defeated the Tigers 17–14.^[54] After a scoreless first, a 24-yard Mike Davis field goal gave Alabama a 3–0 lead in the second quarter. However, Auburn took a 7 halftime lead after Mitzie Jackson scored on a short run in the final second of the first half.^[54] The Tigers then extended their lead to 14–3 early in the third quarter when Jack Verucchi scored on a 40-yard touchdown run that capped their opening drive of the second half.^[54] Alabama then closed the game with touchdowns on a short Richard Todd run in the third and on a Stock run in the fourth.^[54] This game also marked the final played by a freshmen team at Alabama as the NCAA changed their rules and allowed freshmen to compete with the varsity squad starting in 1973.^[52][53]

Roster

1972 Alabama Crimson Tide football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class FB 35 Beck, EllisEllis Beck Jr RB 22 Billingsley, RandyRandy Billingsley So FB 44 Bisceglia, SteveSteve Bisceglia Sr RB 38 Boles, DuffyDuffy Boles So OG 65 Brown, BuddyBuddy Brown Jr OT 70 Bryan, BobBob Bryan So FB 43 Bryan, RichardRichard Bryan So C 59 Burke, ChipChip Burke So TE 47 Cotton, WayneWayne Cotton Jr OT 75 Cox, AllenAllen Cox Jr TE 94 Croom, SylvesterSylvester Croom So QB 10 Davis, TerryTerry Davis Sr RB 46 Dean, SteveSteve Dean Jr OG 79 Denson, MikeMike Denson Jr RB 41 Doughty, JoeJoe Doughty So TE 86 Dyar, WarrenWarren Dyar Jr C 69 Eckenrod, MikeMike Eckenrod Jr QB 12 Farley, RobertRobert Farley So OG 62 Ford, TommyTommy Ford Jr OT 73 Hannah, JohnJohn Hannah Sr RB 84 Harris, Joe DaleJoe Dale Harris So QB 17 Hobson, ButchButch Hobson Sr FB 31 Holmes, BobBob Holmes So OT 60 Hunt, MorrisMorris Hunt Jr WR 80 Jackson, WilburWilbur Jackson Jr WR 19 Keever, PatPat Keever So RB 39 Knapp, DavidDavid Knapp Sr OT 66 Kulback, SteveSteve Kulback So RB 30 LaBue, JoeJoe LaBue Sr C 58 Lambert, RandRand Lambert So C 54 Krapf, JimJim Krapf Sr TE 87 Moore, RandyRandy Moore Jr RB 20 Murphy, PhilPhil Murphy So TE 28 Nelson, TomTom Nelson So WR 6 Pappas, PetePete Pappas So OG 71 Patterson, SteveSteve Patterson So C 53 Raines, PatPat Raines Sr QB 15 Ridgeway, DannyDanny Ridgeway So OG 61 Rogers, JohnJohn Rogers So OG 68 Rogers, RickRick Rogers Jr QB 11 Rutledge, GaryGary Rutledge So QB 14 Sexton, BillyBilly Sexton Jr SE 16 Sharpless, JohnnyJohnny Sharpless Jr RB 24 Spivey, PaulPaul Spivey Jr OT 78 Sprayberry, SteveSteve Sprayberry Jr WR 34 Steakley, TommyTommy Steakley Sr RB 42 Stokes, RalphRalph Stokes So WR 88 Taylor, DannyDanny Taylor Jr RB 27 Taylor, JamesJames Taylor So WR 82 Wheeler, WayneWayne Wheeler Jr OG 72 Whitley, RichardRichard Whitley So WR 92 Wood, DexterDexter Wood Jr OT 67 Wooten, RudyRudy Wooten So	Defense Pos. # Name Class S 21 Atkinson, WayneWayne Atkinson Sr DE 96 Barnes, Ronnie JoeRonnie Joe Barnes So LB 25 Blitz, JeffJeff Blitz Jr DB 48 Cary, RobinRobin Cary Jr DT 98 Capan, DaveDave Capan So LB 52 Cross, AndyAndy Cross Sr DE 83 Croyle, JohnJohn Croyle Jr DB 19 Davis, RickyRicky Davis So DB 37 Dawson, JimmyJimmy Dawson So DB 41 Doughty, JoeJoe Doughty So LB 57 DuBose, MikeMike DuBose So DT 76 Faust, DougDoug Faust Jr DE 91 Groves, DonDon Groves So DT 62 Hall, RandyRandy Hall So LB 50 Hall, WayneWayne Hall Jr DE 89 Hines, EdEd Hines Sr DT 95 Kubelius, SkipSkip Kubelius Jr DE 81 Lusk, TomTom Lusk Sr DT 99 Mantooth, GregGreg Mantooth So DE 85 Meadows, RickRick Meadows So LB 77 Maxwell, RayRay Maxwell So DB 26 McKinney, BobBob McKinney Sr DB 18 McMakin, DavidDavid McMakin Jr LB 51 Miller, NoahNoah Miller So DE 97 Mitchell, JohnJohn Mitchell Sr DE 90 Norman, ButchButch Norman Jr DB 40 Norris, LannyLanny Norris Sr SO 33 Prudhomme, MarkMark Prudhomme Sr DT 74 Raines, MaxMax Raines Jr DB 23 Riley, MikeMike Riley So LB 55 Robertson, RonnieRonnie Robertson So LB 56 Rouzie, JeffJeff Rouzie Sr DB 29 Rowan, RobbyRobby Rowan Jr LB 36 Strickland, ChuckChuck Strickland Jr S 32 Wade, SteveSteve Wade Sr DB 34 Washington, MikeMike Washington So DE 93 Watkins, DavidDavid Watkins So LB 49 Yelvington, GaryGary Yelvington So	Special teams Pos. # Name Class PK 1 Davis, BillBill Davis Jr PK 8 Gantt, GregGreg Gantt Jr	Head coach Bear Bryant (15th year, Alabama) Coordinators/assistant coaches Ken Donahue (9th year, Tennessee) Pat Dye (8th year, Georgia) Danny Ford (1st year, Alabama) Jim Goostree (16th year, Tennessee) Clem Gryska (13th year, Alabama) Dude Hennessey (13th year, Kentucky) Bobby Marks (1st year, Texas A&M) Ken Martin (2nd year, Alabama) Bud Moore (1st year, Alabama) Mal Moore (9th year, Alabama) Bill Oliver (2nd year, Alabama) Dee Powell (9th year, Texas A&M) Jack Rutledge (7th year, Alabama) Jimmy Sharpe (10th year, Alabama) References:[59][60] Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: October 15, 2013

References

General

• "1972 Season Recaps" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
• "2012 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book" (PDF). Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2014.

Specific

1. "1972 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
2. Reed, Delbert (September 10, 1972). "Tide leaves Devils Blue as expected". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. B1. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
3. Martin, Steve (September 10, 1972). "Bama unleashes host of runners". The Gadsden Times. Google News Archives. p. 13. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
4. "Devaney "stirred" by poll". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. September 5, 1972. p. 6. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
5. 1972 Season Recap
6. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Duke". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
7. Reed, Delbert (September 24, 1972). "Galloping Tide leaves Cats behind, 35–0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. B1. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
8. "Alabama, Tennessee breeze to easy victories". Eugene Register-Guard. Google News Archives. Associated Press. September 24, 1972. p. 7B. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
9. "Trojans easily on top". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. September 19, 1972. p. 13. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
10. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Kentucky". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
11. Reed, Delbert (October 1, 1972). "Tide runs Vandy down, wins 48–21". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. B1. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
12. "Bama crushes Vanderbilt, 48–21". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Google News Archives. Associated Press. October 1, 1972. p. B2. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
13. Nissenson, Herschel (September 26, 1972). "USC keeps grid lead". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 9. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
14. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
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