For the 2018 University of Alabama football season, TideSports’ 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.
No. 1 Alabama defeated The Citadel 50-17 at Bryant-Denny Stadium last Saturday in front of 101,681 people.
Stellar stats
• All of the Crimson Tide’s wins this season have featured a 20-point margin of victory. That’s the most to start a season in NCAA history.
• Alabama has now won 25 straight games at home in Bryant-Denny Stadium, setting a new program record. The previous long streak of 24 games was back in the 1970s and was split between Bryant-Denny Stadium and Legion Field.
• That marked the Alabama seniors’ 52nd career win. They’re 52-3, ranking them second in NCAA history. Last year’s graduating class maintains the No. 1 spot with a 53-5 record.
• The Crimson Tide has won 81 consecutive games against unranked opponents.
• Alabama has hit 11 wins for the eighth season in a row, marking the longest streak in SEC history.
Obscure facts
• The Citadel ran the ball 60 times for 275 yards.
• Citadel quarterback Brandon Rainey attempted only two passes, tying for fewest by an opponent in a single game in Alabama history. Neither was a completion. So the Bulldogs had 0 total passing yards.
• Alabama’s Joseph Bulovas missed two PATs. That’s eight kicks this season that didn’t go through the uprights after a touchdown.
• Despite missing five extra points this season, Bulovas is now tied for fifth on the UA single-season PAT list. He has made 56. The record is 69.
• The Crimson Tide and the Bulldogs were tied come halftime. That was a first for Alabama, which had at least a double-digit lead over every other opponent this season.
Extra tidbit
Citadel running back Lorenzo Ward’s father played for Alabama from 1896-89 and was a graduate assistant in 1991. The older Ward is Louisville’s interim coach now since Bobby Petrino was fired about a week ago. The younger Ward picked up 27 rushing yards on 10 carries against his dad’s alma mater over the weekend.
The spread
OddSharks.com had Alabama as a 53.5-point favorite. The Crimson Tide did not cover, for the first time in the last five games. It won by 33 points.
Quoting Nick Saban
On how The Citadel was able to hang in there the first half …
“Every team that comes here and plays us is going to give us their best shot. These guys have everything to gain and nothing to lose. If you can’t motivate yourself to be the best player that you be, then you’re not going to be ready to play.”
Quoting the Crimson Tide
Defensive back Deionte Thompson on whether the team was nervous at halftime …
“We didn’t panic. We just went to the sideline, listened to adjustments and calmed down. I feel like a lot of guys had to refocus, just because we were seeing different motion and different formations coming out, and it was just new to us.”
Quoting the opponent
Citadel quarterback Brandon Rainey on being tied at halftime …
“I hope people now start to give us a little more respect. We were just happy to be in that position.”
GAME LEADERS
Top 3 rushers
1. CIT: Dante Smith, nine carries for 130 yards and two touchdowns
2. ALA: Damien Harris, seven carries for 83 yards
3. CIT: Brandon Rainey, 25 carries for 79 yards
Top 3 receivers
1. ALA: Henry Ruggs III, six receptions for 114 yards
2. ALA: Jaylen Waddle, six receptions for 77 yards and two touchdowns
3. ALA: Jerry Jeudy, six receptions for 77 yards
Top 3 passers
1. ALA: Tua Tagovailoa, 18-22-0 for 340 yards and three touchdowns
2. ALA: Jalen Hurts, 3-4-0 for 31 yards and a touchdown
3. CIT: Brandon Rainey, 0-2-0 for no yards (sacked once)
Top 3 defenders
1. ALA: Anfernee Jennings, 11 total tackles (a fumble recovery)
2. ALA: Mack Wilson, nine total tackles
3. ALA: Deionte Thompson, eight total tackles (a forced fumble)
NEXT UP
Alabama (11-0) is back in Bryant-Denny Stadium again, this time to host Auburn (7-4) on Saturday for the in-state rivals’ annual Iron Bowl. The game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. and air on CBS. This is UA’s final regular-season matchup. Last year, the Tigers beat the Crimson Tide 26-14 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
