Close Games. 1992

[Bamacracker]

09/05/1992 vs Vanderbilt (Tuscaloosa, AL) W 25–8

09/12/1992 vs Southern Miss (Birmingham, AL) W 17–10

09/19/1992 at Arkansas (Little Rock, AR) W 38–11

09/26/1992 vs Louisiana Tech (Birmingham, AL) W 13–0

10/03/1992 vs South Carolina (Tuscaloosa, AL) W 48–7

10/10/1992 at Tulane (New Orleans, LA) W 37–0

10/17/1992 at Tennessee (Knoxville, TN) W 17–10

10/24/1992 vs Ole Miss (Tuscaloosa, AL) W 31–10

11/07/1992 at LSU (Baton Rouge, LA) W 31–11

11/14/1992 at Mississippi State (Starkville, MS) W 30–21

11/26/1992 vs Auburn (Birmingham, AL) W 17–0

12/05/1992 vs Florida (SEC Championship, B’ham) W 28–21

01/01/1993 vs Miami (Sugar Bowl — New Orleans, LA) W 34–13

One of the best and most celebrated teams in Alabama history. A lot of competitive low scoring games. A win is a win. RTR.

 

[TideEngineer08]

That was a different era and those games were close by design. Of course you see several blowouts too. The only game Alabama was in any real danger of losing was the Florida game. That defense put a choke hold on every single other opponent.

But I agree, a win is a win.

 

[Bamacracker]

That was a different era and those games were close by design. Of course you see several blowouts too. The only game Alabama was in any real danger of losing was the Florida game. That defense put a choke hold on every single other opponent.

But I agree, a win is a win.

Yes sir. I’m just pointing out final scores. That’s what everybody gets so hung up on…the point differential.

 

[RammerJammer15]

I think the 2025 team is closer to the 2023 team but with better QB play, lots of 4 quarter games that year as well

 

[Elefantman]

At the start of the 1992 season, we were not considered a front runner. But as the season progressed, our D was gaining notoriety as one of the best D in college football history. We didn't have to score a lot of points to win.

But to your point, blowout wins are not required to make the playoffs today, get the wins, look good at the end of the season

 

[selmaborntidefan]

That was a different era and those games were close by design. Of course you see several blowouts too. The only game Alabama was in any real danger of losing was the Florida game. That defense put a choke hold on every single other opponent.

But I agree, a win is a win.

There's a couple of ways to look at this.

1) Padded Score Games
- led Vandy, 16-8, entering the 4th quarter
- USM tied at 10 entering the 4th quarter (however, USM had 3 first downs and 54 yards total O)
- led La Tech, 6-0, midway through the 4th quarter
- led Tulane, 9-0, midway through 3rd quarter
- tied at 0 with 5-5-1 Auburn at halftime (Pat Dye's last game)

2) Really Close Calls
- tied at 21 with Florida with less than 4 minutes remaining
- Vols had ball with 1:33 left down by 7
- trailed MSU, 21-20, entering 4th quarter

3) But Yes, It Was a Different Time
The leading passer in CFB in 1992 was Jimmy Klingler, of Houston's system offense (3818 yards, 347.1 ypg). That would have been no better than 9th (total) last year, although it would have been second (a good 20 yards behind) in ypg. The AVERAGE offensive ppg has gone up about five points overall despite adding 27 FBS teams; if you take the average of the top 107, the average has gone up by about a touchdown per game.

That may not sound like much, but figured over 12-14 games a year, it's huge. It can turn 8-point wins into 14-point wins that necessitate hurry-up and, yes, more turnovers.

Alabama is currently averaging 431 yards and 34.8 points per game, which is above average at best. On the other hand, we've had THREE tough road games in those totals, too. And Mizzou fwiw is the #2 defense in yardage allowed - and we topped their average by over 100 yards.

The biggest difference, of course, is that this defense isn't the 1992 powerhouse. That team's whole approach almost seemed to be, "OK, Jay and Derrick and Deuce, just don't turn the ball over and eventually we'll figure out a way to win."

 

[TideEngineer08]

There's a couple of ways to look at this.

1) Padded Score Games
- led Vandy, 16-8, entering the 4th quarter
- USM tied at 10 entering the 4th quarter (however, USM had 3 first downs and 54 yards total O)
- led La Tech, 6-0, midway through the 4th quarter
- led Tulane, 9-0, midway through 3rd quarter
- tied at 0 with 5-5-1 Auburn at halftime (Pat Dye's last game)

2) Really Close Calls
- tied at 21 with Florida with less than 4 minutes remaining
- Vols had ball with 1:33 left down by 7
- trailed MSU, 21-20, entering 4th quarter

3) But Yes, It Was a Different Time
The leading passer in CFB in 1992 was Jimmy Klingler, of Houston's system offense (3818 yards, 347.1 ypg). That would have been no better than 9th (total) last year, although it would have been second (a good 20 yards behind) in ypg. The AVERAGE offensive ppg has gone up about five points overall despite adding 27 FBS teams; if you take the average of the top 107, the average has gone up by about a touchdown per game.

That may not sound like much, but figured over 12-14 games a year, it's huge. It can turn 8-point wins into 14-point wins that necessitate hurry-up and, yes, more turnovers.

Alabama is currently averaging 431 yards and 34.8 points per game, which is above average at best. On the other hand, we've had THREE tough road games in those totals, too. And Mizzou fwiw is the #2 defense in yardage allowed - and we topped their average by over 100 yards.

The biggest difference, of course, is that this defense isn't the 1992 powerhouse. That team's whole approach almost seemed to be, "OK, Jay and Derrick and Deuce, just don't turn the ball over and eventually we'll figure out a way to win."

I considered including that Mississippi State game as one we “were in danger of losing.”

We led Tennessee 17-0 at halftime and they couldn’t stop Derrick Lassic. In classic Gene Stallings fashion he went super conservative in the second half. But UT was never scoring 17 on that defense. Still, it did get a bit nerve wracking.

(I’m not really disagreeing with any of your points, I’m just reminiscing).

 

[dabamafan]

The S Miss game was close, scorewise, but they couldn't move the ball much,period. David Palmer punt return if memory serves me.
The MissSt game was the worst imo. Alabama was playing awful and got a couple fortunate breaks and calls. ( is this blasphemy )

 

[arthurdawg]

We all breathed a sigh of relief at Legion Field when Palmer returned the punt against La Tech.

They wouldn't have scored if they played 20 quarters straight, but you hate to have a 6-0 lead late and have somebody slip and break a big one on a punt or such.

 

[mikeua69]

The only times I remembered being worried were the Miss State and Florida games.

 

[mdb-tpet]

As I recall, there was a team only meeting at the half for Tulane, and they came out of the locker room playing with a lot more fire. And the only real worry I had was Florida, were we needed Langham (corrected) to grab an interception to seal the win.

 

[arthurdawg]

As I recall, there was a team only meeting at the half for Tulane, and they came out of the locker room playing with a lot more fire. And the only real worry I had was Florida, were we needed Teague to grab an interception to seal the win.

It was Langham in 1992 that had the pick six... And then signed a stupid cocktail napkin.

 

[CajunCrimson]

10 point lead was a near lock in the second half

10 point lead now is no where near safe even with 5 minutes left.

it’s why I hate the NFL so much now. Too many opportunities to come back and win at the end despite one team dominating for 55 minutes. CF is moving that way.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

The S Miss game was close, scorewise, but they couldn't move the ball much,period.

3 first downs
54 yards
Only TD for USM was a Pick Six
They got a FG - IIRC - recovering a fumble near our red zone and didn't gain a yard.
We fumbled six times, lost two
Our early TD was a fake punt

David Palmer punt return if memory serves me.

That was La Tech.
But yeah, he bailed us out.
I think he sat out USM suspended.

The MissSt game was the worst imo. Alabama was playing awful and got a couple fortunate breaks and calls. ( is this blasphemy )

We had a horrid sequence of possessions and they caught a damn miracle for a TD.

But it also showed we could handle adversity so in that sense it was important, too.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

I considered including that Mississippi State game as one we “were in danger of losing.”

We led Tennessee 17-0 at halftime and they couldn’t stop Derrick Lassic. In classic Gene Stallings fashion he went super conservative in the second half. But UT was never scoring 17 on that defense. Still, it did get a bit nerve wracking.

(I’m not really disagreeing with any of your points, I’m just reminiscing).

MSU had me worried because we blew a 17-point lead and were trailing on the road with a fired up crowd. And MSU was pretty good in 1992. They entered the game at 7-2 ranked #19 and smashed Texas on the road and then routed Spurrier's Florida team, 30-6. They had an easier time with Florida than the Seminoles did and a lot of folks thought FSU was the best team in the country.

Of course, they also got blown out by the worst team in the SEC (LSU, who won only one other game in 1992) and mediocre SCAR.

 

[davefrat]

10 point lead was a near lock in the second half

10 point lead now is no where near safe even with 5 minutes left.

it’s why I hate the NFL so much now. Too many opportunities to come back and win at the end despite one team dominating for 55 minutes. CF is moving that way.

I don't hate the NFL, but you are correct that the offenses are darn near unstoppable a lot of the time anymore.

A team can be up by two scores with 4 minutes left and all of a sudden the other team scores two TDs in the span of 3 minutes.

It's pretty crazy.

The Bucs have made a living off that this season.

 

[TideEngineer08]

We all breathed a sigh of relief at Legion Field when Palmer returned the punt against La Tech.

They wouldn't have scored if they played 20 quarters straight, but you hate to have a 6-0 lead late and have somebody slip and break a big one on a punt or such.

I realize Alabama's offense in 1992 was conservative, putting it mildly - I know, but it turned out La Tech had one of the best defenses outside of Tuscaloosa that year.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

10 point lead was a near lock in the second half

10 point lead now is no where near safe even with 5 minutes left.

it’s why I hate the NFL so much now. Too many opportunities to come back and win at the end despite one team dominating for 55 minutes. CF is moving that way.

The general rule of thumb - even in the NFL back then - was if your defense held and you led by 14 at the half, you only needed a field goal in the entire second half, and there was no way you could lose.

But you're right - I've seen some world class insanity in the last 15-20 years, and it's why I abandoned the NFL a long time ago other than playoffs (and sometimes even then). And yep, CFB is getting there and in some cases already has. In fact, it's easier in CFB if you have a Joe Burrow or a Tua because the clock doesn't stop to reset the chains on first down in the NFL in the last two minutes.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

I realize Alabama's offense in 1992 was conservative, putting it mildly - I know, but it turned out La Tech had one of the best defenses outside of Tuscaloosa that year.

Our rushing offense was 23rd that year (208.9).
Our passing offense was 80th (153.9).
Our scoring offense was 26th (27.7).
Our TOTAL offense was 53rd out of 107 teams, so we were almost precisely an AVERAGE offense. That's funny to me because it always felt we were BELOW average.

But there's ALWAYS a second side to any statistic in sports.

We faced the following defenses:
Auburn - #11 rush defense, #7 pass defense, #5 total
Ole Miss - #3 rush, #6 pass, #6 total, #16 scoring
Miami - #8 rush, #5 pass, #8 total, #3 scoring
Florida - #25 rush
Tennessee - #26 total, #15 scoring
Southern Miss - #8 pass defense, #27 scoring defense (17.7 ppg)
La Tech - #10 scoring defense
Miss St - #17 scoring defense

Everyone looks at Auburn's 5-5-1 record and says, "They were lousy," but the fact is their defense was REALLY good. They gave up a lot of their points because their offense kept turning the ball over in their own side of the field. The "worst" scoring defense was faced was Tulane (98).

SCORING DEFENSE STATS 1992 (WHAT WE GOT)
Miami - 11.5 (34, granted, we had a Pick Six but we also got robbed 4 points on a dumb penalty)
La Tech - 15.2 (13)
Tennessee - 15.7 (17)
Ole Miss - 15.8 (31)
Miss St - 16.0 (30)
USM - 17.7 (17)
Auburn - 18.6 (17)
Arkansas - 19.0 (38)
S Carolina - 21.8 (48)
Florida - 22.8 (28)
LSU - 23.7 (31)
Vandy - 25.2 (25)
Tulane - 31.7 (37)

So.....three times we were held BELOW a team's average point surrendered (I don't count Vandy since you can't score .2 points, round down). But we were not held MUCH BELOW it, so those are essentially average performances. On the other hand, we doubled (or nearly doubled) the average surrender four times and TRIPLED it in a national championship game where the other team knew we were running it and still couldn't stop it.

What I'm saying is this: viewed in the context of the schedule, the 1992 offense wasn't nearly as bad as everyone remembers/thinks it was. It wasn't exactly the 1999 Rams, but it wasn't the 2000 Ravens, either.

Well, on offense it wasn't.

 

[TDBama78]

I remember coach stallings saying that if we can put 17 on the board we expect to win, he knew his defense was pretty good. The miss st game was probably the toughest game of the season, I knew then that team was going to be special.