Alabama Football: Ranking 5 worst losses in program history

1. Lousiana-Monroe 21, Alabama 14 (2007)

Nick Saban came to Alabama after a rocky stint as head coach of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

Transitions from one head coach to another are rarely seamless affairs, and Saban’s debut season as head coach at Alabama was no exception. Despite the return of many key starters, a new way of doing things coupled with a new offensive coordinator meant that there were going to be some growing pains.

The season was ultimately a winning one, with Alabama achieving a 7-6 result. It was not the kind of year the Tide like, but certainly better than the 6-7 mark they mustered the following year. Other than a seventh straight defeat at the hands of arch-rival Auburn, there was one loss in particular that stuck in the Tide’s craw more than any other.

The Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks are not exactly considered an elite college football program. As is the case with several of the games on this list so far, Alabama fans were not exactly nervous ahead of this one. The game was expected to be a nice little tune-up ahead of the Auburn game the following week.

It would turn out to be a struggle.

The upstart Warhawks were able to stay neck and neck with the Tide; the game was tied 14-14 at the half. The Warhawks took a 21-14 lead on a third quarter touchdown, and Alabama fans were counting on their team to answer that score. It never happened.

Alabama lost to a Sun Belt school. To add to the disaster, Saban made a major faux paus during a postgame press conference, with a statement (quoted here) that one could interpret as comparing the loss to major tragedies like Pearl Harbor and 9/11. While his statement was meant to motivate his team after a downturn in success, the choice of words was certainly ill-advised.

The 2007 season was one to forget for the Tide, despite the fact that they defeated Colorado in the Independence Bowl. But 2008 would see Alabama make the turnaround onlookers expected upon Saban’s hire.

In closing, even powerhouse programs have their low points and the Crimson Tide are no exception.

There were plenty of honorable mentions for this list. The 1970 USC game is one. However, because of the positive effect that game wound up having on the program, we chose to leave it off. One could also argue that the 2010 South Carolina game is a good candidate, but the Gamecocks actually had some talent on the field that day. The 1965 Orange Bowl was not a fun way for Joe Namath’s time with the Tide to end, but Texas was a nationally renowned powerhouse.

These are our choices for the five worst losses in Alabama history, and we’d love to hear yours.