Before Ken Stabler was a star for the Oakland Raiders, he was a starting quarterback for Alabama, leading the Tide to an 11-0 record as a junior in 1966 and an 8-2-1 record in 1967 while producing memorable plays such as his 53-yard game-winning touchdown run through the mud to help Alabama beat Auburn as a senior.
College Years
Alabama Crimson Tide 1964-68Alabama Crimson Tide
Run in The Mud
In the 1967 Iron Bowl, with Alabama down 3-0 in a rain-drenched Legion Field, Ken Stabler broke loose for a 53-yard game-winning touchdown. The play is immortalized in Alabama football history as the “Run in the Mud.” Stabler would go on to compile a 28-3-2 record at Alabama as a starter.
In the 1970s when Alabama was running roughshod over college football opponents with the wishbone offense, Coach Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant was asked an interesting question: How would Kenney Stabler have done as a wishbone quarterback? “They would have to put another number on the scoreboard,” Paul Bryant responded.
“Coach Bryant always taught us we were special and never to accept being ordinary.”
ROLL TIDE
In 1964 encouraged by the Legendary Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant, Ken Stabler signed on with the Crimson Tide. Coach Bryant considered him to be one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game of football. Voted “Quarterback of the Century” at The University of Alabama, Stabler was also a member of the 1965 National Championship team. He quarterbacked the 1966 team to an undefeated 11-0 season, and the 1967 squad went 8-1-1.
These Tide teams captured two SEC titles and won two of three bowl games, the Orange Bowl and the Sugar Bowl during the Stabler era. They compiled an overall record of 28-3-2. One of Alabama’s all-time career passing leaders, he was both an All-American and All-SEC selection. Stabler also earned the 1967 Sugar Bowl’s MVP award for guiding the Crimson Tide to its crushing 34-7 triumph over powerful Nebraska.
