For the 2017 University of Alabama football season, TideSports intern Terrin Waack will provide select stellar stats, obscure facts and notable quotes from the most recent game to show how the Crimson Tide uses “The Process” against its opponents.
NASHVILLE — No. 1 Alabama destroyed Vanderbilt, 59-0, at Vanderbilt Stadium on Saturday in front of 40,350 people.
Stellar stats
- Early in the second quarter, a false start was called on Alabama offensive lineman Matt Womack. That was the offensive line’s first false-start infraction, its second penalty overall.
- Vanderbilt has never been able to pull off the upset. It is 0-8 now against top-ranked teams.
- Nick Saban has only lost one SEC road opener while with Alabama. Now, the head coach has won 10. The Crimson Tide has also shut out 20 opponents during the Saban era.
- While Alabama racked up 677 total offensive yards, it held Vanderbilt to 78. This low tops the previous of 84 yards by Chattanooga in 2009. The Crimson Tide has kept opponents under 200 yards of total offense 45 times in the last 128 games.
- Alabama fumbled three times but recovered them all. It hasn’t turned the ball over in 30 quarters, the longest streak in documented program history.
- Running back Damien Harris had a career-high three rushing touchdowns. His 151 yards on the ground is also a new high and the first time he has broken the centennial mark this season. He’s the only member of the Crimson Tide to score by foot every game, too.
Obscure facts
- Vanderbilt’s postgame notes say the Commodores have lost 13 consecutive games against the Crimson Tide and the last time they won was because the UA forfeited in 1993. Alabama’s postgame notes say the Crimson Tide has won the last 22 contests since 1985.
- The Commodores entered the game allowing a nation-best 4.3 points per game. The Crimson Tide scored 59.
- Alabama had the ball for 42 minutes and 55 seconds of game clock. Vanderbilt did 17 minutes and 5 seconds.
- Running back Bo Scarbrough’s 6-yard touchdown run in the first quarter marked the first time Vanderbilt trailed this season. It clearly didn’t come back.
- The Crimson Tide finished with a program-high 38 first downs. The Commodores had 38 offensive snaps overall.
- Fifteen true freshmen have played this season for the Crimson Tide.
LOL moments
- Without naming names, a Vanderbilt fraternity was blasting “All I Want For Christmas” at its tailgate.
- Vanderbilt Stadium seemed to have been about 80 percent Alabama fans.
- Oh, and Tennessee barely defeated Massachusetts, 17-13. #UMass
Quoting Nick Saban
On using a six-man offensive line package (sarcastically):
“If we wouldn’t have done that, we would have never won the game. How in the hell would we have ever won the game? ‘Cause we did it like two plays, gained like 5 yards. I don’t think we’ll win another game this year if we don’t use it.”
Quoting the Crimson Tide
Quarterback Jalen Hurts on Vanderbilt players’ talk before the game:
“At Alabama, we want to be respected, and we don’t feel like they were showing us respect. So, we came out here and tried to play Alabama football.”
Quoting the opponent
Vanderbilt wide receiver Trent Sherfield on outsiders voicing opinions:
“People are going to say, ‘Back to same ole Vandy,’ whatever the case may be, but we have to block that out.”
Name of the game
VU: Dare and Dayo Odeyingbo
The junior and freshman, respectively, are defensive linemen for the Commodores and are brothers.
GAME LEADERS
Top 3 rushers
- UA: Damien Harris, 12 carries for 151 yards and three touchdowns
- UA: Bo Scarbrough, 11 carries for 79 yards and two touchdowns
- UA: Najee Harris, 10 carries for 70 yards
Top 3 receivers
- UA: Jerry Jeudy, three receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown
- UA: Calvin Ridley, five receptions for 43 yards
- UA: DeVonta Smith, one reception for 27 yards and a touchdown
Top 3 passers
- UA: Tua Tagovailoa, 8-10-0 for 103 yards and two touchdowns
- UA: Jalen Hurts, 9-17-0 for 78 yards (sacked once)
- VU: Deuce Wallace, 3-7-0 for 20 yards
Top 3 defenders
- VU: LaDarius Wiley, 14 total tackles
- VU: Ryan White, 13 total tackles
- VU: Emmanuel Smith, nine total tackles
NEXT UP
Alabama (4-0) hosts Ole Miss (2-1) on Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game will kick off at 8 p.m. and air on ESPN.
