NCAA Football Preview (So Mississippi-Alabama)
Posted: Sat September 27, 1997 at 6:45 a.m EDT
So Mississippi (2-1) at Alabama (2-1) 3:00 pm EDT
A pair of 2-1 teams, Southern Mississippi and Alabama,
face off at Birmingham's Legion Field in a game pivotal to each
school's season.
Alabama fell in the polls after a 17-16 home loss to Arkansas
last week. The loss put Alabama a game behind the Razorbacks
and rival Auburn in the SEC West race, so a loss to Southern
Miss could hurt the Crimson Tide when they are looking for a
major bowl bid.
Southern Miss takes another crack at upsetting an SEC power,
which would go a long way in helping secure a bowl bid. In its
season opener, The Golden Eagles gave Florida fits
before falling at Gainesville, 21-6. Then came a road trip to
illinois and a 24-7 win before a 35-19 home rout of Nevada last
week.
Alabama has battered Southern Miss in most of the 33 previous
meetings, holding a 27-4-2 advantage, including five straight
victories. Alabama later forfeited its 40-0 win in the 1993
season because of NCAA sanctions. Each game has been played in
the state of Alabama, with the Crimson Tide holding an 11-1-1
advantage at Legion Field. The Golden Eagles forged a 13-13 tie
there in 1980 and a 27-24 upset in Birmingham in 1990, spoiling
the debut of coach Gene Stallings.
Both coaches are guiding their respective alma maters, as Mike
DuBose is a 1974 graduate of Alabama and Jeff Bower finished up
at Southern Miss two years later. DuBose is in his first season
at the helm, while Bower has compiled a 36-33-1 in seven years.
Alabama has won 24 straight non-conference games since a 34-7
loss to Louisville in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl. The last time they
lost outside of the conference in the regular season was a 9-0
defeat to Penn State on October 27th, 1990.
Curtis Alexander has 135 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries,
while Shaun Alexander had 132 yards and a pair of scores on 24
rushes for Alabama. Dennis Riddle has 80 yards on 25 carries,
but was suspended for the first game of the season.
Freddie Kitchens is 32-of-54 for 376 yards and two touchdowns
with three interceptions, while backup Lance Tuicker is 12-of-24
for 181 yards and two touchdowns. Quincy Jackson, with 109
yards, and Calvin Hall, with 107, are the only Alabama wideouts
in triple digits.
Lee Roberts leads the Golden Eagles' attack, having thrown at
least one scoring pass in each of his nine starts. Roberts is
59-of-109 for 635 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions.
Sherrod Gideon has 14 catches for 235 yards and two scores,
while Eddie Shaw also has 14 grabs but for 111 yards. Harold
Shaw has rushed for 234 yards and three scores on 61 carries.
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