Mike DuBose
Encyclopedia
Mike DuBose is a former University of Alabama football
player and the current defensive line coach for the Memphis Tigers
. DuBose came to Memphis from Millsaps College
, where he was the Majors
' head coach from 2006 to 2009. He resurrected the school's struggling football program by winning outright or sharing a conference
title in each of his four seasons there. DuBose is most recognizable from his four year stint as the head football coach at his alma mater, the University of Alabama
, where he led the Crimson Tide to an SEC
championship in 1999.
Prior to coaching, DuBose played for Alabama under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant
, where he was a teammate of other noted players such as John and Charley Hannah
and Sylvester Croom
and was a part of the Crimson Tide's 1973 national championship team.
. He earned four varsity letters as an athlete at Opp High School, before going to the University of Alabama Crimson Tide
where he played on the defensive line under head coach Bear Bryant
from 1972 to 1974. The highlight of DuBose's career was a performance against the Tennessee Volunteers
in which he caused a fumble and had twenty tackles and was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week. His career totals included 129 total tackles, eight forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries.
in Prattville, Alabama
.
in 1980. After two years at UTC, he was offered a job on the staff at Southern Mississippi. DuBose wanted to reject the job offer in hopes of working for Bear Bryant at Alabama, but Bryant told DuBose to go for one year and he'd get a call for a new job the following year (see Ivan Maisel
, War In Dixie). DuBose went to USM and was the defensive line coach. He was on the opposite sideline of the game that ended Alabama's then college record 57-game home unbeaten streak in November 1982. Two months later, Bryant died, and DuBose was invited to Alabama as a defensive line coach on the staff of new coach Ray Perkins. He coached the defensive line for four years and followed Perkins to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
for three years, 1987–1989. He returned to Alabama as the defensive line coach under Gene Stallings
from 1990 to 1996, including the Crimson Tide's national championship season in 1992.
since 1922, blowout losses at the hands of Tennessee and LSU
, and a shocking loss to Louisiana Tech
. The 1997 Iron Bowl presented DuBose an opportunity to salvage at least a piece of a lost season, but Alabama lost in a heartbreaker after the Crimson Tide led the game 17–15 with less than a minute to go. Faced with a third and a long one and the prospect of having to punt the ball to Auburn if they did not convert, leaving Auburn an opportunity to get into field goal range, the Tide ran a screen pass resulting in a fumble and Auburn recovery that led to the game-winning field goal for the Tigers. Much controversy surrounded the apparent fact that DuBose not only didn't call the play, but didn't know what play was being run. DuBose reacted by firing four assistants including the ones who called the play, Bruce Arians and Woody McCorvey. The Tide finished with the school's worst record since 1957, the year before Bryant arrived.
The following year, 1998, DuBose led the team to a 7–5 record and a berth in the inaugural Music City Bowl
against Virginia Tech
. The Tide lost with a poor performance on a day with even worse weather, 38–7, and DuBose went back to the drawing board. After pulling off a shocking comeback over LSU in Tiger Stadium
, and defeating Auburn in Legion Field
, which coincidentally was the last time the Iron Bowl
would ever be played at the location, many felt that DuBose was beginning to grow into the job and was on the right path to being a successful head coach. Unfortunately for DuBose and Tide fans, the Music City Bowl showed things were not going as smoothly as hoped.
stunned Alabama again, scoring a touchdown on the last play from scrimmage, a 29-yard pass by Brian Stallworth, who replaced an injured Tim Rattay
on the previous play, to complete a shocking upset. Calls for DuBose's head reached a fevered pitch, and the administration responded by firing Athletic Director Bob Bockrath. Many Alabama fans and graduates were openly upset when the following week had passed and DuBose was still the head coach. Rumors persisted that DuBose would be fired in the off week of October 9, 1999, right after the Tide was expected to be routed by the Florida Gators
. However, Alabama suddenly took off behind All-American tailback
Shaun Alexander
and Outland Trophy
winner Chris Samuels
, who played left tackle. DuBose pulled the team together and beat Arkansas
, then stunned Florida in a 40-39 overtime thriller that ended Florida's five-year home winning streak and put Alabama back in the top ten. They went the rest of the regular season losing only to Tennessee, 21-7, and earned the right to meet Florida again for the SEC
Championship after a dominating fourth quarter in Jordan-Hare Stadium
to beat Auburn. Coincidentally, the win over Auburn marked the first time since 1992 that either Alabama or Auburn had won the Iron Bowl in consecutive years, and it was first time Alabama had ever beaten Auburn in Jordan-Hare Stadium
.
On December 4, 1999, Alabama and Florida played a rematch at the Georgia Dome
in Atlanta. Florida was expected to return the favor of Alabama's October win. The Gators scored in five plays to start the game but never scored the rest of the night. The game was close, 15-7 Alabama, until the early fourth quarter when a broken play ran by Freddie Milons
, a wide receiver
lined up at quarterback
, bolted for a 77-yard touchdown after reversing his field. Two plays later, defensive lineman Reggie Grimes tipped, intercepted, and scored a touchdown on a pass from Jesse Palmer
. The final score was Alabama 34, Florida 7.
After the game, the two years removed from DuBose's contract after the Gibson settlement were restored. This angered some Alabama fans and alumni, some of whom believed he should have been fired in the first place. Alabama then faced Michigan
in the Orange Bowl where the Tide lost 35-34 on a missed PAT
in the first overtime. Alabama ended the year ranked 8th in both major polls, its first top-10 finish in five years.
For the Tide's 10–3 performance, DuBose was named SEC Coach of the Year.
against UCLA
and the national title hopes were quickly shattered as Alabama lost in a stunning upset, 35-24. After a lackluster win against Vanderbilt
the following week, the Tide played a miserable game against Southern Mississippi and lost, 21–0. DuBose offered his resignation to Athletic Director Mal Moore after the game, but Moore refused it. After a controversial loss to Arkansas - where two disputed calls kept alive the Razorbacks' game-winning drive - the Tide rebounded to beat South Carolina
and Ole Miss
to raise its record to 3-3. As it turned out, the 45-7 thumping of Ole Miss was the last game DuBose would win. Things reached a nadir on October 28, 2000, when the Tide lost to underdog Central Florida at home, 40-38. On the Tuesday after the game, the announcement was made that DuBose would be gone at the end of the year. The 2000 season ended disastrously as Alabama lost a close contest to LSU
in Tiger Stadium
, thus ending the 31-year winning streak over the Bayou Bengals in their home stadium, was dominated in Starkville by Mississippi State
, and was shut out 9-0 by Auburn in the Iron Bowl on a miserable day in which Tuscaloosa had sleet and snow in the first installment of the rivalry played on the Alabama campus since 1901.
Years later, DuBose said that he never talked with Stallings after becoming Alabama's coach, a decision he still regrets.
After a long coaching search in which Butch Davis
, Frank Beamer
, Tommy Bowden
, and others were considered for the job, Alabama Athletics Director Mal Moore
hired Dennis Franchione
to replace DuBose.
Unfortunately for Alabama, the effects of the DuBose era would not dissipate so quickly. The NCAA would, shortly thereafter, begin investigating the recruitment of Albert Means
, a star defensive lineman recruited out of Memphis, Tennessee
. Although DuBose was not implicated in any wrongdoing, Alabama was nevertheless hammered for the violations that occurred on his watch, which included a loss of 21 scholarships over three years, a two-year bowl ban, and five years of probation.
. During his only year there in 2002, the team had an 0-10 record.
After leaving Northview, DuBose was named head coach of the Luverne High School football program in Luverne, Alabama
in 2003. During his two seasons at Luverne, 2003 and 2004, he led the Tigers to a 20-7 record and the 2003 state runner-up in the 2-A classification. In the 2-A state championship game at Legion Field
, the Tigers lost a heartbreaker to Randolph County, who was led to victory on the heels of Ezekiel Knight's 31-yard touchdown run, and 77-yard punt return for a touchdown. Weeks later, Knight would sign a letter of intent
to play for Alabama.
for the Millsaps College
Majors
. In his first season at Millsaps, the team struggled to a 2-7 record.
After the 2005 season, DuBose became the Majors' head coach.
by finishing undefeated in conference play and earning the conference's automatic playoff bid for the first time since 1975.
DuBose was named the SCAC
's 2006 coach of the year for engineering the Majors' remarkable turn-around. Sophomore quarterback
Juan Joseph
was named the league's offensive player of the year and Senior wide receiver
Chris Jackson was honored as the league's special teams player of the year (and a first team All-American) for his role as the team's return specialist
. In all, 20 Majors were named to the All-SCAC first team, second team and honorable mention lists.
. However, because Trinity defeated Millsaps
head-to-head, with the Tigers winning on the game's legendary final play, "The Mississippi Miracle," it was they, not Millsaps, who received the automatic playoff bid reserved for the SCAC champions. Despite the Majors finishing with the program's best win-loss record since 1996, they failed to receive an at-large bid into the playoffs.
As in 2006, the Majors' success on the field was reflected in the 2007 all-conference superlatives. Junior Quarterback Juan Joseph was the SCAC's offensive player of the year for the second consecutive season, Senior defensive tackle Casey Younger was the league's co-defensive player of the year and sophomore return specialist John Milazzo was the SCAC's special teams player of the year. In all, 19 Majors were named to the All-SCAC first team, second team and honorable mention lists.
, the 2008 Majors won every game they played by 17 or more points, with just one team completing a game within 20 points of Millsaps. The team climbed to their highest national ranking ever, #3, before finishing the season ranked #12.
Once again, DuBose was named the conference's coach of the year and Senior Quarterback Juan Joseph was the SCAC's offensive player of the year for the third consecutive season. Sophomore Wide Receiver and return specialist Michael Galatas was named the conference's special teams player of the year and freshman Running Back
Shane Bowser was the SCAC's co-newcomer of the year. In all, 20 Majors were named to the All-SCAC first team, second team and honorable mention lists.
Junior return specialist Michael Galatas was named the SCAC's Special Teams Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, the fourth consecutive season the award went to a Millsaps player, and junior linebacker
Will Hawkins was the conference's Defensive Player of the Year, and a first team All-American. A total of 20 Majors were voted to the all-conference first, second and honorable mention teams.
In December, DuBose announced he was leaving Millsaps to join new Memphis
coach Larry Porter
's staff. DuBose's tenure ended with 33 victories in four seasons, prior to which the Majors won just 37 games in the 10 years, and DuBose's four conference championships came after the Majors had won only two since joining the SCAC in 1989. Through 43 games, DuBose's teams scored more than 37 points per game and allowed just over 17 points per game. DuBose's .767 winning percentage is the highest of any coach in the school's history and only Harper Davis, who led Millsaps football for a quarter century from 1964 to 1988, won more games as the Majors' head coach.
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
player and the current defensive line coach for the Memphis Tigers
Memphis Tigers football
The Memphis Tigers football team represents the University of Memphis in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Tigers compete in Conference USA...
. DuBose came to Memphis from Millsaps College
Millsaps College
Millsaps College is a private liberal arts college located in Jackson, Mississippi. Founded in 1890, the college is recognized as one of the country's best private colleges dedicated to undergraduate teaching and educating the whole individual. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Millsaps...
, where he was the Majors
Millsaps Majors
The Millsaps Majors is the nickname for the sports teams of Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi and their colors are purple and white. They participate in the NCAA's Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference....
' head coach from 2006 to 2009. He resurrected the school's struggling football program by winning outright or sharing a conference
Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference , founded in 1962, is an athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member institutions are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas...
title in each of his four seasons there. DuBose is most recognizable from his four year stint as the head football coach at his alma mater, the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, where he led the Crimson Tide to an SEC
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...
championship in 1999.
Prior to coaching, DuBose played for Alabama under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant
Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
, where he was a teammate of other noted players such as John and Charley Hannah
Charley Hannah
Charley Hannah is a former American football offensive guard and defensive end who played in the National Football League from 1977 to 1988. Charley played six years for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and six years for the Los Angeles Raiders...
and Sylvester Croom
Sylvester Croom
Sylvester Croom, Jr. is the former football head coach at Mississippi State University and current running backs coach of the St. Louis Rams. He was the first African American head football coach in the Southeastern Conference...
and was a part of the Crimson Tide's 1973 national championship team.
Playing career
DuBose was born in Opp, AlabamaOpp, Alabama
Opp is a city in Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 6,607. -Geography:Opp is located at . According to the U.S...
. He earned four varsity letters as an athlete at Opp High School, before going to the University of Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
where he played on the defensive line under head coach Bear Bryant
Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
from 1972 to 1974. The highlight of DuBose's career was a performance against the Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
in which he caused a fumble and had twenty tackles and was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week. His career totals included 129 total tackles, eight forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries.
Early coaching career
DuBose's coaching career began as a graduate assistant with the Crimson Tide in 1975.High school coaching career
DuBose was an assistant coach in 1976 and 1977 at Fairhope High School in Alabama. In 1978 and 1979, he was the head coach as well as athletic director of Prattville High SchoolPrattville High School
Prattville High School, formerly Autauga County High School, is a high school in Prattville, Alabama and forms part of the Autauga County School System...
in Prattville, Alabama
Prattville, Alabama
Prattville is a city in Autauga and Elmore counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 33,960. Nicknamed "The Fountain City" due to the many artesian wells in the area, Prattville is part of the Montgomery metropolitan statistical area and serves as...
.
Assistant coaching in college/pros
DuBose began his collegiate coaching career as a defensive line coach at the University of Tennessee at ChattanoogaUniversity of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a public university located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The University, often referred to as UTC or simply "Chattanooga" , is one of three universities and two other affiliated institutions in the University of Tennessee System; the others being in...
in 1980. After two years at UTC, he was offered a job on the staff at Southern Mississippi. DuBose wanted to reject the job offer in hopes of working for Bear Bryant at Alabama, but Bryant told DuBose to go for one year and he'd get a call for a new job the following year (see Ivan Maisel
Ivan Maisel
Ivan Maisel is a senior writer for ESPN, covering college football. He has been at ESPN since 2002, but had occasional appearances on the network before then....
, War In Dixie). DuBose went to USM and was the defensive line coach. He was on the opposite sideline of the game that ended Alabama's then college record 57-game home unbeaten streak in November 1982. Two months later, Bryant died, and DuBose was invited to Alabama as a defensive line coach on the staff of new coach Ray Perkins. He coached the defensive line for four years and followed Perkins to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
for three years, 1987–1989. He returned to Alabama as the defensive line coach under Gene Stallings
Gene Stallings
Eugene Clifton Stallings, Jr. is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at Texas A&M University , where he was one of the "Junction Boys", and later served as the head coach at his alma mater from 1965 to 1971. Stallings was also the head coach of the St...
from 1990 to 1996, including the Crimson Tide's national championship season in 1992.
University of Alabama
On December 9, 1996, sixteen days after Stallings announced his retirement, DuBose was named as head coach of Alabama.Slow start
In 1997, DuBose's first season at Alabama, the Crimson Tide won its first two games. However, they soon began feeling the strain of the loss of 30 scholarships as a result of NCAA violations from the Stallings era. They lost seven of the last nine games including their first loss to KentuckyKentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
since 1922, blowout losses at the hands of Tennessee and LSU
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
, and a shocking loss to Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football program represents Louisiana Tech University in Western Athletic Conference. The team currently competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. Since the Bulldogs first season in 1901, Louisiana Tech has compiled an all-time record of 554 wins, 422...
. The 1997 Iron Bowl presented DuBose an opportunity to salvage at least a piece of a lost season, but Alabama lost in a heartbreaker after the Crimson Tide led the game 17–15 with less than a minute to go. Faced with a third and a long one and the prospect of having to punt the ball to Auburn if they did not convert, leaving Auburn an opportunity to get into field goal range, the Tide ran a screen pass resulting in a fumble and Auburn recovery that led to the game-winning field goal for the Tigers. Much controversy surrounded the apparent fact that DuBose not only didn't call the play, but didn't know what play was being run. DuBose reacted by firing four assistants including the ones who called the play, Bruce Arians and Woody McCorvey. The Tide finished with the school's worst record since 1957, the year before Bryant arrived.
The following year, 1998, DuBose led the team to a 7–5 record and a berth in the inaugural Music City Bowl
1998 Music City Bowl
The 1998 Music City Bowl was a postseason college football game between the and Alabama Crimson Tide. It was the inaugural competition of the annual Music City Bowl. Virginia Tech represented the Big East and the University of Alabama represented the Southeastern Conference . The game was the...
against Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hokies football
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over...
. The Tide lost with a poor performance on a day with even worse weather, 38–7, and DuBose went back to the drawing board. After pulling off a shocking comeback over LSU in Tiger Stadium
Tiger Stadium (LSU)
Tiger Stadium is an outdoor stadium located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is best known as the home stadium of the Louisiana State University football team.Tiger Stadium opened with a capacity of 12,000 in 1924...
, and defeating Auburn in Legion Field
Legion Field
Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak...
, which coincidentally was the last time 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...
would ever be played at the location, many felt that DuBose was beginning to grow into the job and was on the right path to being a successful head coach. Unfortunately for DuBose and Tide fans, the Music City Bowl showed things were not going as smoothly as hoped.
Alleged harassment
In May 1999, rumor leaked out on the internet that DuBose was accused of having an affair with Deborah Gibson, his secretary. DuBose flatly denied the charges, but three months later reached an out-of-court settlement that paid over $300,000 out of his own pocket, removed the final two years of his contract (leaving him without a job after the upcoming 1999 season unless either an extension was granted or a new contract was reached), and gave the administration the chance to fire him at any time they desired.SEC champions
After a 2-0 start, Louisiana TechLouisiana Tech Bulldogs football
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football program represents Louisiana Tech University in Western Athletic Conference. The team currently competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. Since the Bulldogs first season in 1901, Louisiana Tech has compiled an all-time record of 554 wins, 422...
stunned Alabama again, scoring a touchdown on the last play from scrimmage, a 29-yard pass by Brian Stallworth, who replaced an injured Tim Rattay
Tim Rattay
Timothy F. Rattay [] is a former professional American football quarterback who played in the National Football League and United Football League. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
on the previous play, to complete a shocking upset. Calls for DuBose's head reached a fevered pitch, and the administration responded by firing Athletic Director Bob Bockrath. Many Alabama fans and graduates were openly upset when the following week had passed and DuBose was still the head coach. Rumors persisted that DuBose would be fired in the off week of October 9, 1999, right after the Tide was expected to be routed by the Florida Gators
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
. However, Alabama suddenly took off behind All-American tailback
Tailback
Tailback can mean:* Halfback * A line of motor vehicles caught up in traffic congestion; a traffic jam...
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...
and Outland Trophy
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...
winner Chris Samuels
Chris Samuels
-Washington Redskins:Samuels immediately became the starting left tackle for the Redskins and has since been selected to six Pro Bowls. In 2000, Samuels was one of only four players on offense to start every game, joining Jon Jansen, Mark Fischer and Stephen Alexander. Samuels won co-Offensive...
, who played left tackle. DuBose pulled the team together and beat Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
, then stunned Florida in a 40-39 overtime thriller that ended Florida's five-year home winning streak and put Alabama back in the top ten. They went the rest of the regular season losing only to Tennessee, 21-7, and earned the right to meet Florida again for the SEC
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...
Championship after a dominating fourth quarter in Jordan-Hare Stadium
Jordan-Hare Stadium
Jordan–Hare Stadium is the playing venue for Auburn University's football team located on campus in Auburn, Alabama, USA. The stadium is named for Ralph "Shug" Jordan, the University's winningest football coach, and Cliff Hare, a member of Auburn's first football team as well as Dean of the Auburn...
to beat Auburn. Coincidentally, the win over Auburn marked the first time since 1992 that either Alabama or Auburn had won the Iron Bowl in consecutive years, and it was first time Alabama had ever beaten Auburn in Jordan-Hare Stadium
Jordan-Hare Stadium
Jordan–Hare Stadium is the playing venue for Auburn University's football team located on campus in Auburn, Alabama, USA. The stadium is named for Ralph "Shug" Jordan, the University's winningest football coach, and Cliff Hare, a member of Auburn's first football team as well as Dean of the Auburn...
.
On December 4, 1999, Alabama and Florida played a rematch at the Georgia Dome
Georgia Dome
The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...
in Atlanta. Florida was expected to return the favor of Alabama's October win. The Gators scored in five plays to start the game but never scored the rest of the night. The game was close, 15-7 Alabama, until the early fourth quarter when a broken play ran by Freddie Milons
Freddie Milons
Freddie Milons is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
, a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
lined up at quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, bolted for a 77-yard touchdown after reversing his field. Two plays later, defensive lineman Reggie Grimes tipped, intercepted, and scored a touchdown on a pass from Jesse Palmer
Jesse Palmer
Jesse James Palmer is a Canadian-born sports commentator and former college and professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League for four seasons in the early 2000s...
. The final score was Alabama 34, Florida 7.
After the game, the two years removed from DuBose's contract after the Gibson settlement were restored. This angered some Alabama fans and alumni, some of whom believed he should have been fired in the first place. Alabama then faced Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
in the Orange Bowl where the Tide lost 35-34 on a missed PAT
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
in the first overtime. Alabama ended the year ranked 8th in both major polls, its first top-10 finish in five years.
For the Tide's 10–3 performance, DuBose was named SEC Coach of the Year.
The 2000 debacle and firing/resignation
Alabama came into the 2000 regular season with very high expectations. The Tide was ranked third in the country in the pre-season polls, and many felt that Alabama was, as a result of the previous year's success and highly-rated recruiting classes, about to re-establish itself as one of the nation's elite programs. The Crimson Tide opened the 2000 season in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
against UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
and the national title hopes were quickly shattered as Alabama lost in a stunning upset, 35-24. After a lackluster win against Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Commodores football
The Vanderbilt Commodores football program is a college football team that represents Vanderbilt University. The team currently competes in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Southeastern Conference...
the following week, the Tide played a miserable game against Southern Mississippi and lost, 21–0. DuBose offered his resignation to Athletic Director Mal Moore after the game, but Moore refused it. After a controversial loss to Arkansas - where two disputed calls kept alive the Razorbacks' game-winning drive - the Tide rebounded to beat South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks football
The South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college football. The Gamecocks have been a member of the Southeastern Conference since 1992. Steve Spurrier is the current head coach, and the team plays its home games at Williams-Brice...
and Ole Miss
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
to raise its record to 3-3. As it turned out, the 45-7 thumping of Ole Miss was the last game DuBose would win. Things reached a nadir on October 28, 2000, when the Tide lost to underdog Central Florida at home, 40-38. On the Tuesday after the game, the announcement was made that DuBose would be gone at the end of the year. The 2000 season ended disastrously as Alabama lost a close contest to LSU
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
in Tiger Stadium
Tiger Stadium (LSU)
Tiger Stadium is an outdoor stadium located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is best known as the home stadium of the Louisiana State University football team.Tiger Stadium opened with a capacity of 12,000 in 1924...
, thus ending the 31-year winning streak over the Bayou Bengals in their home stadium, was dominated in Starkville by Mississippi State
Mississippi State Bulldogs football
The Mississippi State Bulldogs football program represents Mississippi State University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State has produced 38 All-Americans, 171 All-SEC selections, and 124...
, and was shut out 9-0 by Auburn in the Iron Bowl on a miserable day in which Tuscaloosa had sleet and snow in the first installment of the rivalry played on the Alabama campus since 1901.
Years later, DuBose said that he never talked with Stallings after becoming Alabama's coach, a decision he still regrets.
After a long coaching search in which Butch Davis
Butch Davis
Paul Hilton "Butch" Davis, Jr. is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He was the head coach at the University of Miami from 1995 to 2000, the Cleveland Browns of the NFL from 2001 to 2004, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2007 to 2011.-Early...
, Frank Beamer
Frank Beamer
Frank Beamer is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , a position he has held since 1987. From 1981 to 1986, Beamer served as the head coach at Murray State University...
, Tommy Bowden
Tommy Bowden
Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008...
, and others were considered for the job, Alabama Athletics Director Mal Moore
Mal Moore
Mal M. Moore is the current Director of Athletics for the University of Alabama. On November 23, 1999, he was hired to his current position after spending almost thirty years in other areas with the university...
hired Dennis Franchione
Dennis Franchione
Dennis Wayne Franchione , also known as Coach Fran, is an American football coach. He is currently the head football coach at Texas State University, a position he held from 1990 to 1991, when the school was known as Southwest Texas State University, and resumed in 2011...
to replace DuBose.
Unfortunately for Alabama, the effects of the DuBose era would not dissipate so quickly. The NCAA would, shortly thereafter, begin investigating the recruitment of Albert Means
Albert Means
Albert Means was a high school football star and later a college football player. Means became well known because of the rule breaking that surrounded his recruitment by college programs....
, a star defensive lineman recruited out of Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. Although DuBose was not implicated in any wrongdoing, Alabama was nevertheless hammered for the violations that occurred on his watch, which included a loss of 21 scholarships over three years, a two-year bowl ban, and five years of probation.
After Alabama
After a brief respite from coaching, DuBose was hired as head coach of the Northview High School football program in Dothan, AlabamaDothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
. During his only year there in 2002, the team had an 0-10 record.
After leaving Northview, DuBose was named head coach of the Luverne High School football program in Luverne, Alabama
Luverne, Alabama
Luverne is a city in Crenshaw County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,635.The city is the county seat of Crenshaw County.-History:...
in 2003. During his two seasons at Luverne, 2003 and 2004, he led the Tigers to a 20-7 record and the 2003 state runner-up in the 2-A classification. In the 2-A state championship game at Legion Field
Legion Field
Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak...
, the Tigers lost a heartbreaker to Randolph County, who was led to victory on the heels of Ezekiel Knight's 31-yard touchdown run, and 77-yard punt return for a touchdown. Weeks later, Knight would sign a letter of intent
National Letter of Intent
The National Letter of Intent is a document used to indicate a student athlete's commitment to participating NCAA colleges and universities in the United States. The NCAA Eligibility Center manages the daily operations of the NLI program while the Collegiate Commissioners Association provides...
to play for Alabama.
Millsaps
In 2005, DuBose became the defensive coordinatorDefensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the Millsaps College
Millsaps College
Millsaps College is a private liberal arts college located in Jackson, Mississippi. Founded in 1890, the college is recognized as one of the country's best private colleges dedicated to undergraduate teaching and educating the whole individual. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Millsaps...
Majors
Millsaps Majors
The Millsaps Majors is the nickname for the sports teams of Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi and their colors are purple and white. They participate in the NCAA's Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference....
. In his first season at Millsaps, the team struggled to a 2-7 record.
After the 2005 season, DuBose became the Majors' head coach.
2006
In his first season as head coach, Millsaps shocked the SCACSouthern Collegiate Athletic Conference
The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference , founded in 1962, is an athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member institutions are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas...
by finishing undefeated in conference play and earning the conference's automatic playoff bid for the first time since 1975.
DuBose was named the SCAC
Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference , founded in 1962, is an athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member institutions are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas...
's 2006 coach of the year for engineering the Majors' remarkable turn-around. Sophomore quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Juan Joseph
Juan Joseph
Juan Joseph is a former professional Arena football quarterback who has also played American and Canadian football. He last played for the Lafayette Wildcatters of the SIFL. He was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
was named the league's offensive player of the year and Senior wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Chris Jackson was honored as the league's special teams player of the year (and a first team All-American) for his role as the team's return specialist
Return specialist
A Return Specialist is a player on American football or Canadian football special teams who specializes in returning punts and kickoff returns. There are few players who are exclusively return specialists; most play other positions as well. The special teams counterpart of a return specialist is a...
. In all, 20 Majors were named to the All-SCAC first team, second team and honorable mention lists.
2007
In 2007, DuBose's Majors repeated as conference champions, this time sharing the title with TrinityTrinity Tigers
The Trinity Tigers is the nickname for the sports teams of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. They participate in the NCAA's Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. The school mascot is LeeRoy, a Bengal Tiger...
. However, because Trinity defeated Millsaps
2007 Trinity vs. Millsaps football game
The 2007 Trinity vs. Millsaps football game is best known for the memorable play that occurred in the game's last minutes. On October 27, 2007, the NCAA Division III 19th-ranked Trinity University Tigers threw 15 lateral passes and scored a 61-yard touchdown to win a game against the 24th-ranked...
head-to-head, with the Tigers winning on the game's legendary final play, "The Mississippi Miracle," it was they, not Millsaps, who received the automatic playoff bid reserved for the SCAC champions. Despite the Majors finishing with the program's best win-loss record since 1996, they failed to receive an at-large bid into the playoffs.
As in 2006, the Majors' success on the field was reflected in the 2007 all-conference superlatives. Junior Quarterback Juan Joseph was the SCAC's offensive player of the year for the second consecutive season, Senior defensive tackle Casey Younger was the league's co-defensive player of the year and sophomore return specialist John Milazzo was the SCAC's special teams player of the year. In all, 19 Majors were named to the All-SCAC first team, second team and honorable mention lists.
2008
The 2008 season was DuBose's best at Millsaps. His veteran squad finished the season 11-1 after an undefeated regular season and captured a third consecutive SCAC crown. Prior to the team's season-ending playoff loss to Washington & JeffersonWashington & Jefferson Presidents football
The Washington & Jefferson Presidents football team represents Washington & Jefferson College in collegiate level football. The team competes in NCAA Division III and is affiliated with the Presidents' Athletic Conference...
, the 2008 Majors won every game they played by 17 or more points, with just one team completing a game within 20 points of Millsaps. The team climbed to their highest national ranking ever, #3, before finishing the season ranked #12.
Once again, DuBose was named the conference's coach of the year and Senior Quarterback Juan Joseph was the SCAC's offensive player of the year for the third consecutive season. Sophomore Wide Receiver and return specialist Michael Galatas was named the conference's special teams player of the year and freshman 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...
Shane Bowser was the SCAC's co-newcomer of the year. In all, 20 Majors were named to the All-SCAC first team, second team and honorable mention lists.
2009
In 2009, Millsaps again earned a share of the SCAC championship, giving DuBose and the Majors four conferences titles in as many years.Junior return specialist Michael Galatas was named the SCAC's Special Teams Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, the fourth consecutive season the award went to a Millsaps player, and junior linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Will Hawkins was the conference's Defensive Player of the Year, and a first team All-American. A total of 20 Majors were voted to the all-conference first, second and honorable mention teams.
In December, DuBose announced he was leaving Millsaps to join new Memphis
Memphis Tigers football
The Memphis Tigers football team represents the University of Memphis in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Tigers compete in Conference USA...
coach Larry Porter
Larry Porter
Larry Porter is the former head coach of the Memphis Tigers football team. Porter was named the new head football coach at the University of Memphis on November 29, 2009...
's staff. DuBose's tenure ended with 33 victories in four seasons, prior to which the Majors won just 37 games in the 10 years, and DuBose's four conference championships came after the Majors had won only two since joining the SCAC in 1989. Through 43 games, DuBose's teams scored more than 37 points per game and allowed just over 17 points per game. DuBose's .767 winning percentage is the highest of any coach in the school's history and only Harper Davis, who led Millsaps football for a quarter century from 1964 to 1988, won more games as the Majors' head coach.