Alabama Crimson Tide’s Home Opener Dominance
This past week has been quite challenging for the Alabama Crimson Tide football program, but they managed to bounce back during their home opener at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night.
After a tough loss to Florida’s Seminoles in their season opener, Alabama faced off against Louisiana Monroe and definitely made a strong statement right from the start.
Ultimately, they secured a staggering 73-0 victory, marking the program’s largest shutout win since a massive 89-0 triumph over Delta State back in 1951.
Shutouts are always a positive takeaway, no matter the caliber of the opponent. However, the real highlight was Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, who had an impressive first half. He appeared not only confident but also incredibly dominant on the field.
By the end of the night, he boasted a flawless 17 completions out of 17 attempts—making him the first quarterback in Alabama’s history to start a game with such an achievement. He racked up 226 yards, three touchdown passes, and even a rushing touchdown.
The Tide’s first two drives ended with star wide receiver Germie Bernard crossing the goal line. Bernard, one of the few who shined in Tallahassee, ended the night with four catches, three for touchdowns, and over 100 receiving yards, solidifying his role as the team’s leading wideout.
Simpson’s rushing touchdown pushed the score to 28-0 early in the second quarter. The Tide went on to find the end zone twice more, including a touchdown pass from Simpson to Isaiah Houghton.
The second half had its own excitement, especially with freshman sensation Kieron Russell getting some playtime and Austin Mack completing two touchdown passes.
Though Louisiana Monroe was a relatively weak opponent, there’s definitely more work to be done for the Tide. Still, they were really close to delivering a perfect game—a commendable goal, considering the circumstances.
Simpson showcased that gunslinger mentality fans have been longing for. If this progression continues, it seems that Alabama and coach Karen DeBoer could redeem themselves from that rough outing in Tallahassee.
