Interesting Facts Put the 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide in Perspective

Larry Burton (Panama City Beach, Fl) Before this year's A-Day Game kicks off the frenzy of the 2010 team, let's put the accomplishments of the 2009 team in perspective. When you look at these accomplishments, it's laughable to think Texas would have won with a healthy Colt McCoy.

With great thanks to my friend Yellowhammer for finding all these stats for me, take one last look at the accomplishments and records that fell at the feet of this team.

National Records

Alabama became the first team in major college football history to defeat the last four previous national champions in the same season:

32-13 vs. '08 champion Florida
24-15 vs. '07 champion LSU
32-13 vs. '06 champion Florida
37-21 vs. '05 champion Texas

Alabama became the first team in major college football history to defeat two straight opponents with at least a 12-0 record (defeated 12-0 Florida in SEC title game and 13-0 Texas in BCS title game).

Alabama placed six players on the Associated Press All-American first team. That's the most ever selected from one team (previously five by Oklahoma in '87 & '03).

Alabama defeated 10 bowl opponents in 2009. That's the most ever recorded in major college football history.

Season Records

Alabama 34 - Virginia Tech 24

* The 34 points scored against VT were the most the Hokies allowed all season (next most was 28 to Georgia Tech).
* The 10-point defeat was the largest margin of victory recorded against the Hokies in 2009.
* One would have to go back to Sept. 8, 2007, to find the last time a team scored 34+ points on the Hokies (LSU, 48).
* Alabama put up 498 yards of total offense. That was the most given up by the Hokies in 2009.
* VT was held to 155 yards of total offense. That was the fewest yards gained by the Hokies in 2009.

Alabama 35 - Arkansas 7

* The 28-point margin of victory was the largest recorded against the Razorbacks in 2009.
* The Razorbacks' 7 points was the fewest it scored in 2009.
* Alabama held Arkansas to 254 yards of total offense. That was the Razorbacks' lowest total in 2009.

Alabama 22 - Ole Miss 3

* Ole Miss was held to its lowest point total (3) in 2009.
* The 19-point margin of victory was the largest recorded against the Rebels in 2009.
* The Rebels' 212 yards of total offense its lowest total yards gained in 2009.

Alabama 20 - South Carolina 6

* Alabama held the Gamecocks to its lowest point total (6) in 2009.

Alabama 12 - Tennessee 10
* The Vols' 10 points were the fewest scored in a game in 2009.

Alabama 24 - LSU 15

* The nine-point margin of victory was the second-largest recorded against the Tigers in 2009 ( Florida: 10).

Alabama 31 - Mississippi State 3

* The Bulldogs' 3 points were the fewest scored in a game in 2009.
* The 28-point margin of victory was the largest recorded against the Bulldogs in 2009.
* The loss was the biggest blowout at home for the Bulldogs since the opening game of 2007 (LSU, 45-0).

Alabama 32 - Florida 13

* The Crimson Tide's 32 points were the most scored against the Gators in 2009.
* The Gators' 13 points were tied for the fewest scored in a game in 2009 (LSU).
* The 19-point blowout was the most lopsided win over the Gators since 2005 (Bama 31-3).
* The Gators' loss was their first loss in the SEC championship game since 1999 (Bama 34-7).
* No other team has ever defeated the Gators in the SEC title game (the Gators are 3-0 vs. non-Tide teams).

Alabama 37 - Texas 21

* The Crimson Tide's 16-point margin of victory was the largest vs the Longhorns in the 2009 season.
* The Crimson Tide became the first team ever to defeat the Longhorns in the Rose Bowl.
* The Longhorns' suffered its worst bowl defeat since Jan. 1, 2000 ( Arkansas 26-7 in Cotton Bowl).

University Records

* The Tide defeated 10 teams with winning records (greater than .500) in 2009. That's the most ever recorded in Crimson Tide history.

* The Crimson Tide defeated Tennessee, LSU, Auburn, and Florida in the same season for the first time since 1992. Before 2009, Alabama had never before defeated all four of those teams in the season when they each had winning records (close in '73, but Auburn was 6-6).

Southeastern Conference Records

* Alabama is the first undefeated and untied National Champion from the SEC since 1998 (Tennessee 13-0).

* In fact, the '98 Vols and '80 Georgia Bulldogs are the only SEC teams not named Alabama to finish a perfect season and win an undisputed National Championship since Paul Bryant's second season at Alabama.

* The Crimson Tide has accomplished this feat four times during that span: '61, '79, '92, and '09.