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.

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.

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.

For those that had the privilege to see the greatness of linebacker Derrick Thomas in person, they will remember the significance of what happened 38 years ago today when the @AlabamaFTBL legend ensured the Crimson Tide would not lose in an 8-3 victory over Penn State on Oct. 22, 1988, inside Legion Field. Thomas terrorized Penn State’s Tony Sacca all afternoon and finished with three sacks, nine quarterback hurries, eight tackles and almost outscored the Nittany Lions by himself with a fourth-quarter safety. Led by the heroic performance, the Crimson Tide defense allowed just 21 yards in the second half. In the 1988 season, Thomas won the Butkas Award as the nation’s top linebacker and finished with a staggering 27 sacks. To put that in perspective, Alabama as a team had 25 sacks last season with one extra game. “We made some changes at halftime to free Derrick Thomas,” Alabama head coach Bill Curry said. “Once Derrick Thomas is flying around, all kinds of things happen. They start looking for him. It’s a real nightmare when there’s a player like that on the other team.” CBS televised the defensive slugfest and announcer Brent Musburger described Thomas’s afternoon as, “the most dominating performance I’ve ever seen by a college player.” Philip Doyle scored the only offensive points for Alabama with a 39-yard field goal in the second quarter, before giving the Crimson Tide a 6-3 lead with a 35-yard field goal in the third quarter. Thomas added his safety early in the fourth quarter and a late quarterback hurry ended Penn State’s final offensive series when Lee Ozmint intercepted Sacca. Penn State finished with just 169 yards of total offense (98 passing, 71 rushing) and eight first downs.