Alabama's Mark Ingram (Photo by UA)
Alabama's Mark Ingram (Photo by UA)

Alabama crowned its homecoming queen and Mark Ingram saved a careless Alabama Crimson Tide offense. Here are the official game notes homecoming queen information courtesy of UA.

Post-Game Notes via UA
Alabama vs. South Carolina
Bryant-Denny Stadium – Saturday, October 17, 2009

Ingram Posts 2nd Best Rushing Performance In the Nation
Mark Ingram’s 246-yard performance is the second best single-game rushing performance in the FBS ranks this season. Ingram’s outing trails only UTEP’s Donald Buckram who rushed for 260 yards against Houston on October 3. Ingram is only the 10th player to rush for 200 or more yards in a game this season and did so in 24 carries, the fourth fewest on the list. It is also the first 200-yard game an SEC defense has allowed to an opposing rusher this season. Below are the top five rushing performances this season

Player, School Opponent Date Yards
1. Donald Buckram, UTEP Houston Oct. 3 262
2. Mark Ingram, Alabama South Carolina Oct. 17 246
3. Curtis Steele, Memphis UTEP Oct. 10 240
4. Ralph Bolden, Purdue Toledo Sept. 5 234
Ryan Mathews, Fresno State Boise State Sept. 18 234

CAREER HIGH FOR INGRAM – 2ND STRAIGHT GAME
For the second consecutive game, sophomore running back Mark Ingram constructed a career-best rushing performance with 246 yards on 24 attempts against South Carolina – the third-highest single-game rushing total in Alabama history. The yardage exceeded Ingram’s 172-yard outing last week at Mississippi, his previous career high. Ingram became only the third Alabama player ever to exceed 200 rushing yards at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama’s Top Rushing Performances
291………… Shaun Alexander at LSU (20 att.)……………………………………………….. Nov. 9, 1996
284………… Bobby Humphrey at Mississippi State (30 att.)………………….. Nov. 1, 1986
246…….. Mark Ingram vs. South Carolina (24 att.)………………… Oct. 17, 2009
233………… Bobby Marlow vs. Auburn (25 att.)…………………………………………… Dec. 2, 1951
221………… Johnny Musso vs. Auburn (42 att.)……………………………………………. Nov. 28, 1970
220………… Bobby Humphrey at Penn State (27 att.)………………………………. Sept. 12, 1987
218………… Glenn Coffee vs. Kentucky (25 att.)……………………………………………. Oct. 4, 2008
217………… Bobby Humphrey at Tennessee (36 att.)……………………………….. Oct. 18, 1986
216………… Harry Gilmer at Kentucky (6 att.)………………………………………………… Nov. 3, 1945
214………… Shaun Alexander at Mississippi (36 att.)……………………………….. Oct. 16, 1999
211………… Siran Stacy at LSU (28 att.)………………………………………………………………. Nov. 11, 1989
206………… Shaun Alexander vs. Vanderbilt (20 att.)………………………………. Sept. 12, 1998

The outing Saturday night gave Ingram his third consecutive 100-yard rushing performance and his fourth of the 2009 season. It was Alabama’s first 200-yard rushing performance since Glen Coffee’s 218-yard outing against Kentucky on Oct. 4, 2008, in Tuscaloosa. In three games versus ranked opponents this season, Ingram has averaged 189.3 yards per game (150 vs. Virginia Tech, 172 at Mississippi, 246 tonight). For the season, Ingram has rushed for 905 yards.

Mark Ingram 2009 Game-By-Game
Game Rushes Yards TD
vs. Virginia Tech………………………. 26……………. 150………… 1
FIU…………………………………………………….. 10……………. 56……………. 1
North Texas………………………………… 8………………. 91……………. 1
Arkansas……………………………………….. 17……………. 50……………. 1
at Kentucky…………………………………. 22……………. 140………… 2
at Mississippi……………………………… 28……………. 172………… 1
South Carolina…………………………… 24……………. 246………… 1
Totals 109 905 8

Ingram has not lost a fumble in 278 career rushing attempts and 26 career receptions for a total of 304 career touches. He has only put the ball on the ground one time (at LSU in 2008), which was recovered by the Tide. He has 1,633 rushing yards in those 21 games with 20 rushing touchdowns while also catching 26 passes for 243 yards and three scores.

Ingram has scored at least one rushing touchdown in 10 of his last 11 games and at least one in each game of the 2009 season. He also has a receiving touchdown in three games this season. Overall, Ingram has scored at least one touchdown in 16 of his 21 career games for the Tide. He has 23 career touchdowns (three receiving), including a freshman record 12 (all rushing) in 2008. He has eight rushing touchdowns and three receiving scores this season.

DEFENSE HAS NOT ALLOWED A TOUCHDOWN IN 8 QUARTERS
Alabama held South Carolina without a touchdown in the victory tonight, the second consecutive game in which the Crimson Tide defense has prevented the opponent from scoring a touchdown. Overall, Alabama has not allowed a touchdown in eight quarters. The last touchdown allowed by Alabama was by Kentucky with 12:52 left in the fourth quarter of a 38-20 win at Lexington on October 3. That span now covers a total of 132:52 of game time since the last touchdown allowed – a 2-yard run by UK’s Alfonso Smith.

TIDE DEFENSE HAS NOW GONE 5 GAMES WITHOUT ALLOWING A FIRST HALF TOUCHDOWN
Alabama held South Carolina to two field goals in the first half of tonight’s game, marking the fifth consecutive game that the Crimson Tide has held opponents without a first-half touchdown. That stretch began the Florida International game, the 2009 season’s second game.

ALABAMA IMPROVES TO 24-1 WHEN LEADING AT HALFTIME
With a lead at the half tonight, Alabama has led at the half of its last six games. The Crimson Tide is 24-1 when leading at halftime under head coach Nick Saban, including an 18-game winning streak. The only loss came against LSU during the 2007 season when UA held a 20-17 halftime lead before losing, 41-34, on Nov. 3, 2007, at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide is 1-5 under Saban when trailing at halftime and 1-2 when tied at halftime. The lone win when trailing at the half came in the 34-24 win over No. 7 Virginia Tech in the 2009 season opener in Atlanta. Alabama’s lone win when tied at halftime came last year at LSU.

ALABAMA-SOUTH CAROLINA SERIES
With the victory, Alabama leads the series with South Carolina, 12-2. Alabama holds a 9-1 series lead in games played in the state of Alabama, including an 8-1 mark in Tuscaloosa.

BEATING THE BEST
With the win over 22nd-ranked South Carolina, Alabama is 6-2 against the Associated Press Top 25 over the 2008 and 2009 seasons. The Crimson Tide’s 34-24 win over Virginia Tech in the season opener was the Tide’s third win over a top-10 team dating back to the start of the 2008 season. Alabama is 3-0 against the AP Top 25 in 2009.

Alabama vs. Top 25 Opponents (since the start of the 2008 season)
Date Team Rank Result
Aug. 30, 2008 vs. Clemson 9 W, 34-10
Sept. 27, 2008 at Georgia 3 W, 41-30
Nov. 8, 2008 at LSU 15 W, 27-21 (OT)
Dec. 6, 2008 vs. Florida 2 L, 31-20
Jan. 2, 2009 vs. Utah 7 L, 31-17
Sept. 5, 2009 vs. Virginia Tech 7 W, 34-24
Oct. 10, 2009 at Mississippi 20 W, 22-3
Oct. 17, 2009 South Carolina 22 W, 20-6

ALABAMA IMPROVES TO 75-13-1 IN HOMECOMING GAMES
The South Carolina game was Alabama’s 89th Homecoming football game. Alabama has compiled a 75-13-1 (.848) all-time homecoming record, including Saturday’s win over the Gamecocks. The Crimson Tide is riding an eight-game homecoming winning streak dating back to the 2002 season. UA has not lost on homecoming since a 35-21 loss to LSU (coached by Nick Saban) on Nov. 3, 2001. Alabama’s current eight-game homecoming winning streak is the longest streak since a school-record 26-game winning streak from 1958-83. The first homecoming game took place on Armistice Day during the 1920 season.

BARRON’S INTERCEPTION RETURN IS 11TH-LONGEST IN ALABAMA HISTORY
Mark Barron intercepted a South Carolina pass on the first play of the game and returned it 77 yards for a touchdown to give Alabama a 7-0 lead. That ranks as the 11th-longest interception return in Crimson Tide history and marks the second consecutive game that an Alabama defensive back has produced a long interception return that ranks among all-time Crimson Tide leaders for distance. Last week, Kareem Jackson returned an interception 79 yards against Mississippi.

LONGEST INTERCEPTION RETURNS IN ALABAMA HISTORY
98……………. Mark McMillian vs. Tennessee-Chattanooga…………………………. Oct. 5, 1991
96……………. Corky Tharp at Tennessee………………………………………………………………… Oct. 16, 1954
92……………. Tommy Johnson vs. Tulane………………………………………………………………. Oct. 12, 1991
91……………. Reggie Myles at UCLA…………………………………………………………………………… Sept. 2, 2000
88……………. Jimmy Nelson vs. Howard………………………………………………………………….. Oct. 12, 1940
87……………. Joe Gambrell vs. Southwestern Louisiana……………………………….. Oct. 12, 1946
87……………. Fred Grant vs. Mississippi State…………………………………………………….. Nov. 18, 1944
80……………. Steve Higginbotham at Houston……………………………………………………. Oct. 24, 1970
80……………. Dixie Howell vs. Vanderbilt………………………………………………………………. Nov. 24, 1932
79……………. Kareem Jackson at Mississippi……………………………………………………….. Oct. 10, 2009
77………. Mark Barron vs. South Carolina………………………………. Oct. 17, 2009
76……………. Don Salls at Kentucky…………………………………………………………………………… Nov. 2, 1940
74……………. Benny Perrin at Vanderbilt………………………………………………………………. Sept. 26, 1981

FIRST TD INTERCEPTION RETURN OF 2009 SEASON
Barron’s interception return for a touchdown is Alabama’s first of 2009 and the second defensive touchdown by the Crimson Tide this season, joining a 45-return of a fumble by linebacker Courtney Upshaw at Kentucky on October 3. Barron’s play marks Alabama’s first interception return for a touchdown since Rashad Johnson returned one 54 yards for a score at LSU on November 8, 2008.

TIFFIN’S FG STREAK ENDS AT 9; CONTINUES MARCH UP ALABAMA CAREER LISTS
Senior placekicker Leigh Tiffin’s field goal in the first quarter gave Alabama a 10-0 lead while stretching his streak of consecutive successful field goal attempts to nine straight, a streak that ended with a miss on a 49-yard attempt in the second quarter. Tiffin’s first half totals added to his impressive career totals in several statistical categories.

Field Goals Made & Attempted
The two first-half field goals gave Tiffin 67 in his Alabama career, moving him past Michael Proctor (65 from 1992-95) for second place on the Crimson Tide career field goals list. Tiffin is now 67 of 92 (.725) for his career in field goals. Tiffin also ranks second in Alabama annals for career field goal attempts with 92 as he also moved ahead of Proctor in that category tonight.

Career Scoring
Tiffin’s 8 points (two field goals, two point-after touchdown kicks) against South Carolina moved Tiffin’s career scoring total to 319 points, passing Van Tiffin who scored 312 points (59 FGs, 135 PATs) from 1983-86. For his career, Tiffin has made 67 field goals and 118 PATs.

ALABAMA CAREER SCORING LEADERS
345………… Philip Doyle (1 TD, 78 FGs, 105 PATs)…………………………………….. 1987-90
326………… Michael Proctor (65 FGs, 131 PATs)………………………………………….. 1992-95
319…….. Leigh Tiffin (67 FGs, 118 PATs)………………………………. 2006-09
312………… Van Tiffin (59 FGs, 135 PATs)……………………………………………………….. 1983-86

Career Point-After Touchdown Kicks
Tiffin’s two successful point-after touchdown conversions against South Carolina solidify him in fifth place on the Alabama career PATs list with 118. The record is held by his father, Van Tiffin, for the career record for PAT conversions with 135. Here are the all-time Alabama leaders:

ALABAMA CAREER POINT-AFTER TOUCHDOWN LEADERS
135………… Van Tiffin (135 attempts)…………………………………………………………………. 1983-86
133………… Bill Davis (143 attempts)…………………………………………………………………… 1971-73
131………… Michael Proctor (132 attempts)……………………………………………………. 1992-95
120………… Hugh Morrow (148 attempts)……………………………………………………….. 1944-47
118…….. Leigh Tiffin (122 attempts)……………………………………… 2006-09
105………… Philip Doyle (108 attempts………………………………………………………………. 1987-90

ARENAS SITS OUT
Senior cornerback and return specialist Javier Arenas did not play against South Carolina, ending his streak of games started at 20 games and missing a game entirely for the first time in his Alabama career (ending a streak of 45 consecutive games played dating back to the 2006 opener vs. Hawaii). Arenas’ starting streak began with the 2008 opener against Clemson. At cornerback, Marquise Johnson started for Arenas, while receiver Julio Jones took Arenas’ role at punt returner.

McELROY’S FLAWLESS STRETCH ENDS
Junior quarterback Greg McElroy threw an interception on his first pass attempt against South Carolina, ending his streak of pass attempts without an interception at 141 dating back to the second quarter of the Virginia Tech game. That 141-pass stretch ranks third in Alabama history behind Brodie Croyle’s 190 and Jay Barker’s 155.

GAME CAPTAINS
Tonight’s game captains for Alabama were senior offensive lineman Mike Johnson, junior running back Terry Grant, senior linebacker Cory Reamer and junior linebacker Rolando McClain. South Carolina won the toss and elected to receive. Alabama chose to defend the south end zone.

Alabama Senior Sarah Gieger Crowned Homecoming Queen at Halftime
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Senior accounting major Sarah Gieger, who hails from Birmingham, was crowned the 2009 University of Alabama Homecoming Queen during halftime of Saturday’s football game against South Carolina by Governor Bob Riley and 2008 Homecoming Queen Caroline Gwaltney. A total of 8,566 students voted on Tuesday for the five-member court that recognizes leadership and contributions to the Capstone.

Joining Gieger on the Court was senior Morgan Dennis, a psychology major and Crimson Tide gymnast, from Westampton, N.J.; senior Brandi Freeman, a metallurgical engineering major from Tuscaloosa; senior Meg Greer, a dance major from LaGrange, Ga. and senior Hayley Ray McNeill, a musical theater major from Houston, Texas.

Former Alabama quarterback Richard Todd, who led the Tide to three straight Southeastern Conference championships and the 1973 national championship before going onto a career in the NFL, served as this year’s Grand Marshall.

Also honored at halftime were the winners of the annual Homecoming parade competition and Spirit Cup and Spirit Bowl recipients. Placing first in the large division for the parade competition was Alpha Delta Pi, followed by Pi Beta Phi in second and Delta Zeta in third. In the small division, the MBA Program came out victorious, while Theta Tau took second place and the College of Nursing earned third. Chi Omega was presented the 2009 Spirit Cup, which is awarded to an organization with more than 100 members that has exhibited the most pride and spirit during the week of Homecoming. The Spirit Bowl, which symbolizes the same characteristics, is presented to an organization with less than 100 members. This year’s winner was Capstone College of Nursing.