Tampa Bay Football History Network

1997 Outback Bowl

As the game began its second decade, the Outback Bowl featured the first rematch of a previous game. Alabama and Michigan, who had appeared in the second Hall of Fame Bowl, came to Tampa for this year's contest. The sixteenth ranked Alabama Crimson Tide were 9-3 and the fifteenth ranked Michigan Wolverines were 8-3. It would be the 48th bowl game for Alabama and the 28th for Michigan. Gene Stallings was appearing in his final game as head coach of Alabama and Michigan's head coach was Lloyd Carr. The attendance for the game was 53,161.

The first half was a battle of field goals, as Alabama's John Brook kicked one in the first quarter and Michigan's Remy Hamilton kicked two in the second. After a scoreless third quarter, Michigan still lead 6-3. In the final period, the Wolverines were threatening inside the Alabama fifteen yard line. When a Brain Griese pass was deflected, Alabama linebacker Dwayne Rudd returned the interception for a bowl record 88 yard touchdown. A short time later, with 2:15 to go in the game, a 46 yard run by Shawn Alexander put Alabama up 17-6. Griese (21 of 37 for 287 yards with a touchdown and an interception) threw for a TD with 76 seconds left, and Michigan added the two point conversion, but Alabama recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock. Rudd was named MVP in the 17-14 victory. Gene Stallings finished with a 70-13-1 record with the Crimson Tide and five straight bowl game victories.

Back to Outback Bowl History Page

Back to Outback Bowl Main Menu

Back to Home Page