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| Alabama quarterback Steadman Shealy's 16 yard run set up the field goal that gave the Tide a 3-0 win at LSU, enabling 12-0 Alabama to finish #1 over 11-0-1 Southern Cal. |
By Chris Welch
News Sports Writer
The Tuscaloosa News
November 10, 1979
BATON ROUGE - The University of Alabama football's team hard fought 3-0 shutout over Louisiana State in a steady rainstorm Saturday night may not rank as one of the Crimson Tide's biggest win ever, but cornerback Ricky Tucker won't ever forget it.
It was Tucker's first game under the lights at the legendary Tiger Stadium alias "Deaf Valley," and even though he was cold, his red jersey drenched with rain and his hair soaking wet, a smile came easily afterwards.
"This is a game I'll remember all my life," he said after the Alabama defense held LSU on its final charge with 52 seconds left.
"It was a great win like coach (Jim) Goosetree said," 'It was a low scoring and butt swinging game'
"It was the hardest hitting game I've ever played in and something I can tell my grandchildren about."
"Just beating LSU in Tiger Stadium at night is something. Anytime you shut out LSU you have done something. I don't think they've been shut out in a long time."
Tucker was a big force on the Alabama defense as he threw his body at defenders like a human missile. The Crimson Tide defenders didn't allow the LSU offense any closer than Alabama's 43 yard line all night. LSU only managed 164 yards of total offense with 67 coming on the ground and 97 through the air.
"I was really proud of our defense," Tucker said. "I think this game helped us tell what we are made of. We would have taken a one point win in Baton Rouge."
"We had heard that they were really fired up, with the bumper stickers and buttons. I was just happy to win."
Tuckers teammates in the defensive secondary proved just as valuable during the Alabama win, the Tide's ninth of the season.
Mike Clements intercepted a key pass in the third quarter and Jim Bob Harris stole one late in the fourth quarter to halt the driving Tigers.
"Those were the biggest plays of the year," Tucker said. "Clements and Harris both had to have them."
"The rain had an effect on the game, but we didn't think about it. It was just a good nose-to-nose game the whole night."
The Alabama defensive unit also proved a big point to Harris on this cold and soggy night. It was Harris interception that really closed the door on the final LSU threat.
"This game proves that when we have to, we'll come together as a team," Harris said after the contest. "We came together and jelled as a team tonight.
"The interception was one of the biggest plays I've made all year. I was just glad to hold onto it. I think it helped us out a little."
"Everybody on the team played good and it was a hard fought game. It was one of the hardest games I've ever been in. I think this game will payoff down the road for us.
"If not the best, this is one of the best games the defense has played all year."
Senior defensive end Wayne Hamilton (Leesburg High School, Okahumpka Florida) knew the game would fall on the defense's shoulders with the soggy turf preventing much offense.
"To say the game was tough was a big understatement," Hamilton said. "The weather was terrible, when I saw it raining I knew the team that made the fewest mistakes would win.
"The last two or three games the defense has had to suck it up. I knew tonight the defense would have to win this game."
Tackle Byron Braggs and linebacker Randy Scott led Alabama in tackles with seven, followed by end E.J. Junior and tackle David Hannah with six. Tucker had five tackles. Scott and Hannah also had tackles for losses
Alabama's defense has only allowed 40 points in nine games.
Team Statistics
Alabama LSU
First Downs 19 9
Rushing 18 2
Passing 1 6
Penalty 0 1
Rushing Attempts 71 30
Yards Rushing 284 83
Yards Lost Rushing 32 26
Net Yards Rushing 252 67
Net Yards Passing 26 67
Passes Attempted 26 89
Passes Completed 2 11
Had Intercepted 1 2
Total Offensive Plays 79 59
Total Net Yards 278 164
Average Gain Per Play 3.5 2.8
Fumbles: Number Lost 1-1 2-0
Penalties: Number Yards 4-19 2-10
Interceptions Number-Yards 2-3 1-13
Number of Punts Yards 5-202 10-342
Average Per Punt 40.4 32.4
Punt Returns-Number of Yards 4-23 2-4
Kickoff Return-Number of Yards 0-0 3-53
Time of Possession Alabama LSU
1Q 7:56 7:04
2Q 9:24 5:36
3Q 8:09 6:51
4Q 10:34 4:26
GAME 35:13 24:47
Conversions Alabama LSU
3rd Down 10-18 3-14
4th Down 1-2 0-1
HOW THEY SCORED
THIRD QUARTER
Alabama took over the ball on it's own 44-yard line to begin the game's only scoring drive. Two key rushing plays set up the eventual field goal, the first a 19-yard gain by Major Ogilive to the LSU 25-yard line, and the second a Steadman Shealy 16-yard run to the LSU nine-yard line. The Crimson Tide was hit with a illegal procedure penalty on the next play, and two plays later, was called for delay of game. The Tide had to hope for a 27-yard field goal by Alan McElroy, who came through with 8:43 left in the third quarter. The drive went 46-yards on nine plays, and left the final score Alabama 3, LSU 0.
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