1997 Outback Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1997 Outback Bowl
, part of the 1996 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1997, at Houlihan's Stadium in Tampa
, Florida
. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide
, representing the Southeastern Conference
(SEC), and the Michigan Wolverines
of the Big Ten Conference
(Big 10). Alabama was victorious in by a final score of 17–14.
and . Following their victory against Auburn
in the Iron Bowl
, head coach Gene Stallings announced his retirement effective following the bowl game. One week later, Alabama lost to Florida
in the SEC Championship Game
, to finish the regular season with a 9–3 record. The following day, university officials announced a bid to play in the Outback Bowl was accepted. The appearance marked the second for Alabama in the Outback Bowl, and their 48th overall bowl game
.
, Purdue
and Penn State to finish with a record of 8–3. Their appearance marked the third for Michigan in the Outback Bowl, and their 28th overall bowl game.
of Michigan answered in the second quarter with 44 and 22-yard field goals to take a 6–3 advantage at the half. In the fourth quarter, Michigan was driving for another touchdown, when Brian Griese
threw a pass that was intercepted at the 12-yard line by Dwayne Rudd
of Alabama, and returned 88-yards for a touchdown, and a 10–6 Alabama lead. Running back
Shaun Alexander
put the game out of reach with 2:46 left, by running for a 46-yard touchdown run, increasing Alabama's lead to 17–6. Griese threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Russell Shaw
to close the gap to 17–14, but that would be the final score.
Outback Bowl
The Outback Bowl is an annual New Year's Day college football bowl game played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The event was originally called the Hall of Fame Bowl from 1986 to 1994 until being renamed in 1995 for its new title sponsor, Outback Steakhouse...
, part of the 1996 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1997, at Houlihan's Stadium in Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide
1996 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 1996 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 1996–97 college football season, competing in the Western Division in the Southeastern Conference. Gene Stallings led the Crimson Tide to a 10–3 record in his final year with the program...
, representing the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC), and the Michigan Wolverines
1996 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1996 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1996 college football season. The team's head coach was Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium. That year Michigan Wolverines football competed in the Big Ten Conference in...
of the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
(Big 10). Alabama was victorious in by a final score of 17–14.
Alabama
The 1996 Alabama squad finished the regular season as the SEC Western Division champions with losses to Tennessee1996 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 1996 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. The offense scored 437 points and the defense allowed only 185 points. Quarterback Peyton Manning was in his junior year and Phillip Fulmer was the head coach of the...
and . Following their victory against Auburn
1996 Auburn Tigers football team
The 1996 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season.Coached by Terry Bowden, they tallied an 8–4 record, played in the , and finished the season ranked #22 in the AP Poll and #21 in the Coaches' Poll.-Schedule:...
in the Iron Bowl
Iron Bowl
The Iron Bowl is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and the Auburn Tigers football team of Auburn University. The series is considered one of the best and most hard-fought rivalries in all of sports...
, head coach Gene Stallings announced his retirement effective following the bowl game. One week later, Alabama lost to Florida
1996 Florida Gators football team
The 1996 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. This was the team's seventh season under head coach Steve Spurrier...
in the SEC Championship Game
1996 SEC Championship Game
The 1996 SEC Championship Game was won by the Florida Gators 45-30 over the Alabama Crimson Tide. The game was played in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on December 7, 1996 and was televised to a national audience on ABC.-External links:**...
, to finish the regular season with a 9–3 record. The following day, university officials announced a bid to play in the Outback Bowl was accepted. The appearance marked the second for Alabama in the Outback Bowl, and their 48th overall bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
.
Michigan
The 1996 Michigan squad finished the regular season with losses to Northwestern1996 Northwestern Wildcats football team
The 1996 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A college football season.-Season:...
, Purdue
1996 Purdue Boilermakers football team
The 1996 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season.-Schedule:-Staff:Head Coach: Jim Colletto...
and Penn State to finish with a record of 8–3. Their appearance marked the third for Michigan in the Outback Bowl, and their 28th overall bowl game.
Game summary
Alabama scored first on a 43-yard field goal from placekicker Jon Brock to take an early 3–0 lead. Remy HamiltonRemy Hamilton
Remy Martin Hamilton is an American football kicker who played in the National Football League and Arena Football League . In college, he was an All-American for the Michigan Wolverines football team. As a professional, he played for the Detroit Lions of the NFL in addition to exhibition and...
of Michigan answered in the second quarter with 44 and 22-yard field goals to take a 6–3 advantage at the half. In the fourth quarter, Michigan was driving for another touchdown, when Brian Griese
Brian Griese
Brian David Griese is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played high school football at Christopher Columbus High School and later college football at Michigan....
threw a pass that was intercepted at the 12-yard line by Dwayne Rudd
Dwayne Rudd
Dwayne Rudd is an American football linebacker who is a free agent in the National Football League, having not played in the NFL since 2003. During his career he played for the Minnesota Vikings, the Cleveland Browns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
of Alabama, and returned 88-yards for a touchdown, and a 10–6 Alabama lead. Running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Shaun Alexander
Shaun Alexander
Shaun Edward Alexander is a former American football running back who played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by the Seahawks 19th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama.- Early career :Alexander was born and...
put the game out of reach with 2:46 left, by running for a 46-yard touchdown run, increasing Alabama's lead to 17–6. Griese threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Russell Shaw
Russell Shaw
Russell Lee Shaw, Jr. is an American football wide receiver/defensive back most recently playing for the Chicago Rush in the Arena Football League. He attended the University of Michigan.-External links:*...
to close the gap to 17–14, but that would be the final score.