Story by
The Tuscaloosa News
Inside Alabama football's disastrous start in ugly loss vs Michigan in ReliaQuest Bowl
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Inside Alabama football's disastrous start in ugly loss vs Michigan in ReliaQuest Bowl
TAMPA, Fla. — Alabama football's first quarter turned the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl into an entirely different game than Kalen DeBoer was wanting to play.
Fifteen plays. Two total yards. Three turnovers in the middle of the pouring rain at Raymond James Stadium. A 16-point deficit, as large of a first-quarter deficit the Crimson Tide has seen in the past 12 years.
Advertisement
Simply, Alabama played itself into "a hole," Alabama's coach said.
"All of a sudden it takes on another game of its own because you are down 16-0," DeBoer said after Alabama's 19-13 loss to Michigan . "You're just fighting and scrapping just trying to give yourself a chance like we did at the very end."
In the first quarter, Alabama was just trying to survive.
What happened in Alabama football 's first quarter of ReliaQuest Bowl?
After starting the game with a turnover on downs, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe fumbled a snap, giving Michigan possession the Crimson Tide 12-yard line. Two offensive plays later, Milroe threw a pass intended for Rico Scott that bobbled into the hands of Michigan corner Wesley Walker , giving the Wolverines the football at the Alabama 16. One offensive snap later, Michigan defensive back Aamir Hall stripped the ball from Milroe, giving the Wolverines the ball at the Crimson Tide 6.
Advertisement
Ten Alabama offensive plays led to a 16-0 first-quarter deficit. The weather was a factor, DeBoer said, forcing Alabama in "a rut" and into "a different style."
Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker said he's "not too keen on the coach's play-calling if they're scared to call certain plays because of the rain."
"But, like I said, we can't let the rain be the reason we can't execute," Booker said. "It's football. We knew we were coming to Florida. It rains every day here."
Milroe said he changed his cleats in the first quarter due to the "slippery grass" and the different surface at Raymond James Stadium he was not used to.
Advertisement
"External factors that pour into the game, we just had to limit," Milroe said. "No matter what goes on in a game, we have to limit turnovers despite anything."
The rain was one thing. But that was not the major factor that led to the 16-point deficit.
"The losses were the ones that hurt us," DeBoer said. "Being behind the chains, that's what they thrive on. Their defense does a good job of thriving on being physical, forcing you into down-and-distances where you can be behind the chains. When that happens, it's hard to overcome against a team that understands its identity, plays team football."
Dec 31, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) throws under pressure from Michigan Wolverines defensive end Derrick Moore (8) during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Alabama rallied in the second quarter, using 12 plays for 161 yards to cut its deficit to six points at halftime. Three points and 97 second-half yards proved to be the difference for the Crimson Tide, which was unable to cut into Michigan's lead further.
Advertisement
Was Alabama's first quarter the worst in Crimson Tide history?
In Alabama's 2012 home loss to Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M , the Aggies took a 20-point first-quarter lead, one where they limited the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide to 34 yards on 12 plays including an interception.
It was a worse first quarter than in Alabama's 2024 road losses to Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma .
But during the struggle, Booker said the message remained the same for Milroe, for the offense.
"Go 1-0," Booker said. "That's the message to everybody. You can't control what happened on the last play, but you can control what you do moving forward. Go 1-0. That was my message to him, to everybody."
Advertisement
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Inside Alabama's disastrous start in ugly loss vs Michigan in ReliaQuest Bowl
