Game notes: Alabama defeats Chattanooga

POSTGAME NOTES – ALABAMA VS. CHATTANOOGA (courtesy of UA Media Relations)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21,2009

INGRAM QUICKLY OVER 100 YARDS RUSHING
Running back Mark Ingram eclipsed the 100-yard barrier quickly in today’s game, rushing 11 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns before seeing his final action of the first half on a 40-yard touchdown run with 9:53 left in the second quarter. The 102 yards gives Ingram six 100-yard rushing performances in 2009 and seven for his Alabama career.

FAST START FOR ALABAMA
Alabama’s 21 first-quarter points against Chattanooga are the most scored by the Crimson Tide in a quarter this season. The previous high came in the 2009 season opener when the Tide scored 18 fourth-quarter points in a 34-24 win over No. 7 Virginia Tech on September 5 in Atlanta. Alabama scored 17 points during the third quarter of its 38-20 win at Kentucky on Oct. 3.

DEFENSE CONTINUES STINGY WAYS
Alabama has tallied an interception in eight straight games and now has at least one interception in nine of the 11 contests in 2009. Alabama had an interception in eight games in 2008 and has now strung together 18 straight wins in games in which the Crimson Tide tallies at least one pick dating back to a win over Colorado in the 2007 Independence Bowl.

Alabama held Chattanooga scoreless today. The Alabama defense has not allowed a touchdown in the first quarter in the last seven games dating back to the FIU game (when Alabama allowed 7 points in the first quarter and 14 points in the first half). Alabama has not allowed a point in opening quarter of its last five games.

With three forced turnovers (all interceptions) against Chattanooga, Alabama has produced 19 turnovers in the last seven games. The Tide has picked off 16 passes in those six games and recovered three fumbles.

The Crimson Tide has forced 72 turnovers in 38 games under head coach Nick Saban, an average of 1.9 per game. The Crimson Tide has forced 23 turnovers in 11 games this season, while the UA offense has only turned the ball over 10 times (4 interception, 6 fumbles).

Alabama has recorded at least one turnover in 33 of 38 games under Saban. UA is 27-6 under Saban when it gains at least one turnover. Alabama is 3-2 in games without a turnover over the last three seasons.

CRIMSON TIDE RECOGNIZES 27 SENIORS ON SENIOR DAY
Twenty-seven seniors suiting up for the final time at Bryant-Denny Stadium were honored by the Alabama football team Saturday in pregame festivities. The senior class, which entered Saturday’s game with a record of 45-17 in their Alabama careers, has constructed a 29-6 record at Bryant-Denny Stadium entering the Chattanooga game. The following players were recognized prior to kickoff: LB Eryk Anders (San Antonio, Texas), CB Javier Arenas (Tampa, Fla.), LB Alex Benson (Trussville, Ala.), OL Evan Cardwell (Killen, Ala.), NG Terrence Cody (Fort Myers, Fla.), OT Drew Davis (Evergreen, Ala.), DE Brandon Deaderick (Elizabethtown, Ky.), P P.J. Fitzgerald (Coral Springs, Fla.), S Hampton Gray (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), TE Baron Huber (Knoxville, Tenn.), CB Marquis Johnson (Sarasota, Fla.), OG Mike Johnson (Pensacola, Fla.), S Tyrone King (Birmingham, Ala.), WR Mike McCoy (Rankin, Miss.), TE Colin Peek (Ponte Vedra, Fla.), LB Cory Reamer (Hoover, Ala.), CB Chris Rogers (Lakeland, Fla.), LS Brian Selman (Vestavia Hills, Ala.), S Ali Sharrief (Stevenson, Ala.), P Heath Thomas (Montgomery, Ala.), K Leigh Tiffin (Muscle Shoals, Ala.), RB Roy Upchurch (Tallahassee, Fla.), Jacob Vane (Oak Ridge, Tenn.), WR A.J. Walker (Huntsville, Ala.), DL Byron Walton (Trinity, Ala.), DE Lorenzo Washington (Loganville, Ga.), and S Justin Woodall (Oxford, Miss.).

INGRAM 2nd ON ALABAMA’S SINGLE-SEASON RUSHING LIST
Ingram rushed for 102 yards in the first half against Chattanooga, giving him 1,399 rushing yards this season. With his totals, Ingram has moved into second place on the Alabama single-season rushing list (see below).

MARK INGRAM ON ALABAMA SEASON & CAREER LISTS
RUSHING YARDS – SEASON
1,471 Bobby Humphrey (236 att.)………………………………………………………………….. 1986
1,399 Mark Ingram (205 att.)…………………………………………….. 2009
1,383 Shaun Alexander (302 att.)……………………………………………………………………… 1999
1,367 Shaud Williams (280 att.)………………………………………………………………………… 2003
1,341 Sherman Williams (291 att.)………………………………………………………………….. 1994

RUSHING YARDS – CAREER
3,565 Shaun Alexander (727 att.)………………………………………………………………. 1996-99
3,420 Bobby Humphrey (615 att.)…………………………………………………………… 1985-88
3,324 Kenneth Darby (702 att.)…………………………………………………………………. 2003-06
2,741 Johnny Musso (574 att.)…………………………………………………………………… 1969-71
2,645 Dennis Riddle (612 att.)……………………………………………………………………. 1994-97
2,560 Bobby Marlow (408 att.)…………………………………………………………………. 1950-52
2,519 Johnny Davis (447 att.)……………………………………………………………………… 1974-77
2,486 Sherman Williams (535 att.)…………………………………………………………… 1991-94
2,288 Shaud Williams (410 att.)…………………………………………………………………. 2002-03
2,270 Ricky Moore (469 att.)……………………………………………………………………… 1981-84
2,127 Mark Ingram (348 att.)……………………………………….. 2008-09

YARDS PER RUSH – SEASON
(Min. 100 attempts)
7.5 Bobby Marlow (882 yards on 118 attempts)……………………………………. 1950
6.8 Mark Ingram (1,399 yards on 205 attempts)……………….. 2009
6.7 Johnny Davis (820 yards on 123 attempts)……………………………………….. 1975

(Min. 200 attempts)
6.8 Mark Ingram (1,399 yards on 205 attempts)……………….. 2009
6.2 Bobby Humphrey (1,471 yards on 236 attempts)………………………….. 1986
5.9 Glen Coffee (1,383 yards on 233 attempts)………………………………………… 2008

YARDS PER RUSH – CAREER
(Min. 200 attempts)
7.2 Wilbur Jackson (1,529 yards on 212 attempts)………………………… 1971-73
6.4 Tony Nathan (1,997 yards on 310 attempts)…………………………….. 1975-78
6.3 Dixie Howell (1,508 yards on 238 attempts)……………………………… 1933-34
6.1 Mark Ingram (2,127 yards on 348 attempts)………….. 2008-09
6.0 Lowell Tew (1,829 yards on 304 attempts)……………………………….. 1944-47

ALL-PURPOSE YARDS – SEASON
2,016 Bobby Humphrey ………. (1,471 rushing, 201 receiving, 344 kickoff returns)……………………………………………………… 1986
1,961 David Palmer…………………. (278 rushing, 1,000 receiving, 439 kickoff returns, 244 punt returns)……………….. 1993
1,796 Shaun Alexander…………… (1,383 rushing, 323 receiving, 90 kickoff returns)………………………………………………………… 1999
1,781 Bobby Humphrey……….. (1,255 rushing, 170 receiving, 356 kickoff returns)……………………………………………………… 1987
1,724 Shaud Williams……………… (1,367 rushing, 161 receiving, 133 PR, 63 kickoff returns)……………………………………….. 2003
1,624 Mark Ingram…………. (1,399 rushing, 225 receiving)……………………………………………………….. 2009

ALL-PURPOSE YARDS PER GAME –SEASON
168.0 Bobby Humphrey (2,016 yards in 12 games)………………………………… 1986
163.4 David Palmer (1,961 yards in 12 games)………………………………………….. 1993
163.3 Shaun Alexander (1,796 yards in 12 games)…………………………………… 1999
161.9 Bobby Humphrey (1,781 yards in 11 games)………………………………… 1987
147.6 Mark Ingram (1,624 yards in 11 games)……………………. 2009

INGRAM SCORES 12TH RUSHING TOUCHDOWN OF 2009
Ingram scored two rushing touchdowns in the first half today, moving his 2009 season total to 12 and his career total for rushing touchdowns to 24. That career total ranks seventh in Alabama history. Shaun Alexander (1996-99) holds the Alabama career rushing touchdowns record with 41.

ARENAS SETS SEC RECORD
Javier Arenas returned a Chattanooga punt 66 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, the seventh punt return touchdown of Arenas’ Alabama career – setting a new SEC career record breaking the previous mark of 6 by Derek Abney of Kentucky (2000-03). In the category of combined punt and kickoff return touchdowns, Arenas ranks second in SEC history with seven (all on punt returns). Abney holds that combined SEC mark with eight (six via punt returns, two via kickoff returns).

ARENAS APPROACHING SEC & NCAA CAREER PUNT RETURN YARDS MARK
Javier Arenas returned two punts for 68 yards to elevate his career punt return yardage total to 1,658, ranking him second in SEC history behind Vanderbilt’s Lee Nalley, who had 1,695 punt return yards from 1947-49. The NCAA record for career punt return yardage is held by Wes Welker of Texas Tech, who gained 1,751 yards on punt returns from 2000-03. He now ranks third in NCAA history for punt return yardage:

NCAA PUNT RETURN YARDS LEADERS
Rank Name School Years Returns Yards
1. Wes Welker Texas Tech 2000-03 152 1,761
2. Lee Nalley Vanderbilt 1947-49 109 1,695
3. Javier Arenas Alabama 2006-09 119 1,658
4. Ryne Robinson Miami-Ohio 2003-06 121 1,677
5. David Allen Kansas State 1997-2000 103 1,646
6. Steve Breaston Michigan 2003-06 127 1,599
7. Leodis McKelvin Troy 2004-07 112 1,471
8. Antonio Perkins Oklahoma 2001-04 113 1,424
9. Jim Leonhard Wisconsin 2001-04 105 1,347
10. Greg Myers Colorado State 1992-95 X 1,333

JAVIER ARENAS ON SEASON & CAREER LISTS

PUNT RETURN YARDS – SEASON
650 Javier Arenas (41 returns)………………………………………………………………………… 2008
436 Harry Gilmer (37 returns)………………………………………………………………………… 1946
396 Willie Shelby (45 returns)…………………………………………………………………………. 1975
393 Greg Richardson (42 returns)…………………………………………………………………. 1986
386 David Palmer (24 returns)………………………………………………………………………… 1991
381 Harry Gilmer (21 returns)………………………………………………………………………… 1947
331 Javier Arenas (24 returns)………………………………………….. 2009

PUNT RETURN YARDS – CAREER
1, 590 Javier Arenas (117 returns)………………………………… 2006-09
1,119 Harry Gilmer (83 returns)……………………………………………………………… 1944-47
997 Greg Richardson (125 returns)……………………………………………………. 1983-86
866 David Palmer (102 returns)…………………………………………………………… 1991-93
861 Willie Shelby (89 returns)………………………………………………………………. 1973-75

PUNT RETURN AVERAGE – SEASON
(Minimum 10 Returns)
20.0 Gordon Pettus (10 returns, 200 yards)……………………………………………….. 1948
(Minimum 20 Returns)
18.1 Harry Gilmer (21 returns, 381 yards)…………………………………………………. 1947
16.1 David Palmer (24 returns, 386 yards)………………………………………………….. 1991
15.9 Javier Arenas (41 returns, 650 yards)………………………………………………….. 2008
15.4 Javier Arenas (21 returns, 323 yards)………………………………………………….. 2007
13.8 Javier Arenas (24 returns, 331 yards)…………………………. 2009
11.8 Harry Gilmer (37 returns, 436 yards)…………………………………………………. 1946
11.0 Hootie Ingram (30 returns, 329 yards)……………………………………………….. 1952

PUNT RETURN AVERAGE – CAREER
13.6 Javier Arenas (117 for 1,590)………………………………… 2006-09
13.4 Harry Gilmer (83 for 1,119)………………………………………………………………. 1944-47
10.6 Tony Nathan (46 for 489)…………………………………………………………………… 1975-78
10.4 David Palmer (83 for 866)………………………………………………………………….. 1991-93

TIFFIN TIES SEASON & CAREER MARKS FOR FIELD GOALS MADE
Senior placekicker Leigh Tiffin’s 41-yard field goal with 11:43 left in the third quarter tied Tiffin for a pair of important Alabama records. Already the Alabama career scoring leader, Tiffin’s field goal gave him 78 career field goals, tying the school record held by Philip Doyle (78 from 1987-90). Tiffin has made 25-of-28 field goal attempts this season, tying his own record of 25 field goals made, a record he set in 2008 when he made 25 of 34 attempts.

With eight kicking points against Chattanooga, Tiffin has scored 109 points this season via field goals or extra-point conversions. That ranks second on the Alabama single-season list for kicking points. A look at how Tiffin stands on several Alabama season and career charts:

KICKING POINTS – SEASON
111 Leigh Tiffin (25 FGs, 36 PATs)………………………………………………………………….. 2007
109 Leigh Tiffin (25 FGs, 34 PATs)……………………………………… 2009
106 Leigh Tiffin (20 FGs, 46 PATs)………………………………………………………………….. 2008
100 Philip Doyle (22 FGs, 34 PATs)………………………………………………………………… 1989

KICKING POINTS – CAREER
362 Leigh Tiffin (78 FGs, 128 PATs)………………………………. 2006-09
339 Philip Doyle (78 FGs, 105 PATs)………………………………………………………. 1987-90
326 Michael Proctor (65 FGs, 131 PATs)……………………………………………… 1992-95
312 Van Tiffin (59 FGs, 135 PATs)…………………………………………………………… 1983-86

POINT-AFTER TOUCHDOWNS – CAREER
135 Van Tiffin (135 attempts)……………………………………………………………………. 1983-86
133 Bill Davis (143 attempts)……………………………………………………………………. 1971-73
131 Michael Proctor (132 attempts)………………………………………………………. 1992-95
128 Leigh Tiffin (132 attempts)……………………………………. 2006-09

FIELD GOALS – SEASON
25 Leigh Tiffin (34 att.)………………………………………………………………………………………. 2007
25 Leigh Tiffin (28 att.)……………………………………………………. 2009
24 Philip Doyle (29 att.)…………………………………………………………………………………….. 1990
22 Philip Doyle (25 att.)…………………………………………………………………………………….. 1989
22 Michael Proctor (29 att.)……………………………………………………………………………. 1993

FIELD GOALS – CAREER
78 Philip Doyle (105 att.)…………………………………………………………………………… 1987-90
78 Leigh Tiffin (104 att.)…………………………………………….. 2006-09
65 Michael Proctor (91 att.)…………………………………………………………………….. 1992-95
59 Van Tiffin (88 att.)………………………………………………………………………………….. 1983-86