Alabama Crimson Tide Football History
The Alabama Crimson Tide have won 18 national championships, earning their first in 1925 under Wallace Wade, and continuing into the Nick Saban era. Some of the greatest college football coaches of all time have led the Tide, including Frank Thomas, Gene Stallings and Paul "Bear" Bryant, the latter of whom led Alabama to six national titles from 1958 to 1982. Alabama is also home to four Heisman Trophy winners: Mark Ingram Jr. in 2009, Derrick Henry in 2015, DeVonta Smith in 2020 and Bryce Young in 2021. Other legendary Alabama players include Bart Starr, Joe Namath, Ken Stabler, Ozzie Newsome and Derrick Thomas.
Coach Nick Saban has led the Tide to new heights within the last decade, taking Alabama to BCS Championships in 2009, 2011 and 2012, and to appearances in the first five College Football Playoffs, winning in 2015, 2017 and 2020.
Alabama has plenty of rivals in and out of the Southeastern Conference, but their biggest nemesis by far are the Auburn Tigers, who they play annually in the Iron Bowl. The rivalry began in 1893 and grew with the prestige of both football programs. Auburn coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan is credited for coining the Iron Bowl name in 1964. The Iron Bowl has become a top-line matchup in college football in the 21st century, with at least one team ranked in the Top 25 entering the game every year since 2004. Between 2008 and 2018, at least one team in the Auburn-Alabama rivalry had been ranked either first or second going into the Iron Bowl, giving national title implications to an already bitter in-state feud.
Alabama Crimson Tide Football Team Info
Conference: Southeastern Conference
Division: Western
Team Colors: Crimson, White
Team Rivals: Auburn Tigers, Tennessee Volunteers, LSU Tigers, Ole Miss Rebels, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Clemson Tigers, Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs
Alabama Crimson Tide Football at Bryant-Denny Stadium
Alabama plays at Bryant-Denny Stadium, which originally opened in 1929 and has over the years expanded to a capacity of 100,077. Before recent expansions, Alabama split its home matchups between Bryant-Denny Stadium and the mythic Legion Field until 2004. It is now ranked the eighth largest stadium in college football.