Last season @AlabamaFTBL beat Louisiana-Monroe 73-0 for the most points scored by the Crimson Tide since 77 that happened 53 years ago today in a rout over Virginia Polytechnic Institute on Oct. 27, 1973, inside Denny Stadium. No. 2-ranked Alabama crushed the VPI Gobblers, 77-6, with its wishbone offense piling up a then-record 748 yards rushing on 63 carries. Today VPI is better known as Virginia Tech and the Gobblers have been renamed the Hokies. The Crimson Tide has scored more than 77 points but those were all before 1922 and against programs that are considered much lower tiers than Division I. Four players rushed for 100 yards against the Gobblers that night in Tuscaloosa led by James Taylor (142 yards), Wilbur Jackson (138), Calvin Culliver (127) and Richard Todd (102). Paul “Bear” Bryant emptied the bench against VPI, but the free-flowing substitutions did not curb the scoring. “I didn’t want the score to be like that,” Bryant said afterwards. “They just got tired and we played over 70 people who were rested. They’ve got nothing to be ashamed of and I hope people realize that. We definitely were not trying to run up the score.”

Full Tide Machine episode here 👇 youtu.be/5Q1G5B7KJY8?is=rKfJ…

Not pretty. Didn’t have to be. 🐘 @AlabamaFTBL 31, @AggieFootball 20. The Tide needed a win, and it got one heading into the bye week. @CBranchIV and @msouthern17 break it down on today’s Tide Machine recap.

While Kent Waldrep did not play for @AlabamaFTBL very few touched the program and Paul “Bear” Bryant more than the former TCU running back, who suffered an injury that left him paralyzed while playing the Crimson Tide 52 years ago today on Oct. 26, 1974, at Legion Field. In the second quarter of a 41-3 victory by Alabama, Waldrep injured his neck while being tackled and almost died following the play. The horrific event affected Bryant so much that he made sure to be at Waldrep’s bedside when he awoke from surgery. “I can remember so well waking up in intensive care, in the first few days after the injury and looking up and seeing Coach Bryant’s face,” Waldrep described to author Keith Dunnavant in his autobiography of Bryant. “My mama later told me that he was near tears out in the hall waiting to see me.” The special relationship between Waldrep and the Alabama football program grew from that tragic moment. He became an honorary member of the Crimson Tide’s A-Club letterman’s association, and later helped champion the Americans with Disabilities Act. When Waldrep’s two sons, Trey and Charley, were ready for college in the mid-2000s, The University granted them Bryant scholarships, a program established for children of former Bryant players. Waldrep passed away on Feb. 27, 2022, at the age of 67.

For today’s younger generation, it would be hard to imagine @AlabamaFTBL having a stretch of five years without beating a ranked opponent, but that’s how far the program had fallen before Paul “Bear” Bryant returned to restore the honor of his alma mater. Led by Gary O’Steen’s kicking and running, Alabama upset No. 19-ranked Mississippi State, 9-7, and ruined the homecoming festivities in Starkville 68 years ago today on Oct. 25, 1958. The Bulldogs entered the game favored by two touchdowns, but O’Steen rushed for 66 yards and his five quick-kicks kept Mississippi State off balance. Alabama scored its nine points on a 21-yard field goal by Fred Sington and a 21-yard pass from Bobby Jackson to Norbie Ronsonet. The Crimson Tide finished the 1958 season with a 5-4-1 record, but Bryant had poured the foundation for a championship program. Alabama also stunned No. 20 Georgia Tech, 17-8, later in the season. Prior to Bryant’s arrival, the last time Alabama had beaten a ranked opponent occurred when the Crimson Tide beat No. 16 Auburn, 10-7, in 1953.

INSTANT REACTION: @AlabamaFTBL 31, @AggieFootball 20 It wasn’t pretty, but with all the injuries today’s homecoming victory was all about surviving.

Homecoming usually brings warm memories to Tuscaloosa, but today it brings uncomfortable questions. No. 13 @AlabamaFTBL hosts @AggieFootball at 2:30 p.m. with Kalen DeBoer facing an upset fan base whose goodwill took a beating in Tennessee’s 26–10 victory last week. Can the coaching staff give returning alumni something to believe in again? A convincing performance would be a start in soothing the current emotional wounds. Re-establishing the dominance the Crimson Tide displayed in wins over South Carolina and Mississippi State may not erase all questions, but it most certainly wouldn’t add more. Injuries complicate today’s task. Ryan Coleman-Williams and Terrance Green remain out, while center Racin Delgatty, cornerback Zabien Brown and running back EJ Crowell are doubtful. Texas A&M enters with its own disgruntled fanbase, a disappointing 4-3 record and shattered preseason playoff expectations. The Aggies have failed to score a touchdown in their two previous road games, and a Crimson Tide defense extending their offensive woes would be a nice homecoming surprise. And if Alabama loses a third consecutive game for the first time in 19 years would it be the worst homecoming loss since 1988? A loss engrained in Crimson Tide lore for involving a brick tossed through the window of Bill Curry’s office over the weekend.

No style points. @AlabamaFTBL just needs to beat @AggieFootball and reach the bye week. 🐘 @CBranchIV and @msouthern17 both pick Alabama—but neither expects homecoming to be easy. Our scores👇

Perhaps today’s flashback from 16 years ago will help erase the most recent Third Saturday in October as we remember when No. 8-ranked @AlabamaFTBL rolled into Knoxville and left with a 41-10 victory on Oct. 23, 2010. Alabama blew open a 13-10 halftime lead with four second-half touchdowns to trounce the Volunteers and enjoy the cigar-lighting tradition in Neyland Stadium. Despite a fractured his left hand, Julio Jones had 221 yards receiving after having a metal plate and screws inserted, while Trent Richardson rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown and also scored on a 5-yard pass. Mark Ingram rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Dont’a Hightower led the defense with six tackles and two quarterback pressures.