The Alabama Crimson Tide football team represents the University of Alabama (variously Alabama, UA, or 'Bama) in the sport of American football. The Crimson Tide competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Crimson Tide is among the most storied and decorated programs in NCAA history. Since beginning play in 1892, the program has accepted 14 of the national championships awarded to the team, including 9 wire-service (AP or Coaches) national titles in the poll-era, the most of any current FBS program. From 1958 to 1982, the team was led by Hall of Fame coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, who won six national championships with the program. Despite numerous national and conference championships, it was not until 2009 that an Alabama player received a Heisman Trophy, when running back Mark Ingram became the university's first winner.
As of the completion of the 2011 season, Alabama has 814 official victories in NCAA Division I (an additional 21 victories were vacated and 8 victories and 1 tie were forfeited), has won 27 conference championships (4 Southern Conference and 23 SEC championships) and has made an NCAA-record 59 postseason bowl appearances. Other NCAA records include 23 10-game+ win streaks, and 18 seasons with a 10–0 start. The program has 31 10–win seasons (32, one vacated), and has 33 (34, one vacated) bowl victories, both NCAA records. Alabama has completed 12 undefeated seasons, 10 of which were perfect seasons. The Crimson Tide leads the SEC West Division with eight division titles and eight appearances in the SEC Championship Game. Alabama holds a winning record against every current and former SEC school, except for SEC newcomer Missouri (2-2). The Associated Press (AP) ranks Alabama 4th in all-time final AP Poll appearances, with 49 through the 2011 season.
Alabama currently plays their home games at Bryant-Denny Stadium, located on the campus in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. With a capacity of 101,821, Bryant-Denny is the 7th largest non-racing stadium in the world and the fifth largest stadium in the United States, behind only Michigan Stadium, Beaver Stadium (Penn State), Neyland Stadium (Tennessee), and Ohio Stadium.
Read more about Alabama Crimson Tide Football: All-time Record Vs. Current SEC Teams, Bowl Games, Current Coaching Staff, Media, Future Non-conference Opponents
Famous quotes containing the words alabama, crimson, tide and/or football:
“While over Alabama earth
These words are gently spoken:
Serve—and hate will die unborn.
Love—and chains are broken.”
—Langston Hughes (20th century)
“The Queen turned crimson with fury, and, after glaring at her for a moment like a wild beast, began screaming “Off with her head! Off with—”
“Nonsense!” said Alice loudly and decidedly, and the Queen was silent.”
—Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson] (1832–1898)
“The ordinary night was graced
For them by the swift tide of blood
That silently they took at flood,
And for a little time they prized
Themselves emparadised.”
—Howard Nemerov (b. 1920)
“... in the minds of search committees there is the lingering question: Can she manage the football coach?”
—Donna E. Shalala (b. 1941)