In an effort to best comply with the NCAA’s pointless sanction of making the Alabama football team forfeit wins we are doing our part.  Clearly, now that there are 21 less wins for the Tide, there should be 21 less positive game recaps for the team.  Now, we start with what Alabama thought was a 2-0 start to the 2005 season.

9/3/05 - Middle Tennessee State upsets Alabama 17-16

With the Tide only up by a slim margin of 9-7 at halftime, the Raiders gain confidence from an inspired locker room speech by their head coach.  While Alabama drives for what looked like a touchdown to put the game out of reach. Brodie Croyle’s 13 yard pass to Tyrone Prothro is actually intercepted by a MTSU defensive back and returned 100 yards for a score, giving the visitor’s a 14-9 lead with 10:25 remaining in the third.   Alabama answers with a long drive to take a 16-14 lead on a touchdown by Tim Castille with 2:53 to play in the 3rd.  Bama fans sit in amazement as coach Mike Shula opts to not go for the 2-point conversion and extend the lead to 3.  The decision to kick the PAT comes back to haunt Shula, as MTSU’s Colby Smith knocks home a 35-yard field goal with 7:00 to play to provide the winning margin.  Shula decides to punt from midfield on 4th-and-2 with 2:02 remaining in hopes of getting the ball back, but the Raiders earn one first down and run out the clock for the huge upset.

9/10/05 - Prothro Almost Saves The Day, But Bama Loses to USM 

With the Crimson Tide down 21-10 and time running out in the first half, Croyle lofted a long ball down to Tyrone Prothro who very nearly made one of the greatest catches of all time.  Had Prothro hung on, the Tide likely would have scored to cut the lead to 21-17, and the catch would have been featured on top 10 lists across the nation for years to come.  Instead, instant replay shows that the ball hit the ground without Prothro controlling it.  Taking an 11-point lead into the half, the Golden Eagles slow down the game in the second half, controlling the ball en route to a 24-17 win.

9/17/05 - Shula Looks For Statement Win, Spurrier Teaches Him A Lesson

Reeling from two early losses to non-conference opponents, Alabama never threatens in a road contest versus South Carolina.  Spurrier’s Gamecocks show up ready to play and the Tide was still clearly feeling the effects from the two losses to open the season.  A balanced passing and rushing attack from South Carolina lead the home team to an easy 37-14 win.   Spurrier rejoices as he finally gets revenge for the Crimson Tide upsetting his Gators in Gainesville in 1999.