FOOTBALL POST GAME NOTES: Alabama defeats Michigan in Cowboys Classic

Via UA Media Relations GENERAL NOTES
REWRITING THE RECORDS: Alabama set five Cowboys Classic records in the first half of Saturday night’s game. AJ McCarron’s 51-yard touchdown pass to DeAndrew White goes down as the longest pass for a touchdown, while Dee Milliner’s 35-yard interception return also marked the longest in that category. In addition, the Tide’s 31 points were the most in the first half as well as the most in a half since the start of the Cowboys Classic and 41 points total were the most scored in a game.

FOURTH ANNUAL COWBOYS CLASSIC SETS ATTENDANCE RECORD: Saturday night’s attendance of 90,413 set the Cowboys Stadium record for attendance in a college football game.

OFFENSIVE NOTES
YELDON FIRST TRUE FRESHMAN TO GO OVER 100 IN DEBUT: True freshman T.J. Yeldon became the first true freshman to rush for more than 100 yards in his debut at Alabama. He finished the game with 111 yards on 11 carries and one rushing touchdown. Yeldon also added 26 yards receiving for a total of 137 yards.

OPPENING DAY SCORING SPREE: Alabama has scored 439 points in its last 11 season openers for an average of 39.9 points per game. The Tide has now scored 40 or more points in its last three openers as it beat Kent State, 48-7, in 2011 and San Jose State, 48-3, in 2010.

BALANCED OFFENSE: The Tide had a balanced offensive attack in its 2012 season opener against Michigan collecting 232 yards rushing in addition to 199 yards receiving.

TRUE FRESHMEN IN THE OPENER: Six true freshmen made their debuts in Saturday night’s season opener against Michigan including defensive back Landon Collins, wide receiver Amari Cooper, linebacker Dillon Lee, linebacker Reggie Ragland, defensive back Geno Smith and running back T.J. Yeldon.

TIDE SCORES 70 UNANSWERED: Alabama had scored 70 unanswered points in its last three games dating back to the 14:49 mark of the third quarter against Auburn on Nov. 26, 2011. The run was ended by a six-yard touchdown rush by Denard Robinson with 2:20 to go in the first half.

SCORING STREAK CONTINUES: With its first touchdown of the game at the 6:56 mark of the opening quarter, Alabama raised its current total of games in which it scored to 143. The 143 straight games marks the longest streak in program history.

TONIGHT’S GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama’s game captains for the 2012 season opener were seniors Barrett Jones, Nico Johnson and Robert Lester.

DEFENSIVE NOTES
GROUND DEFENSE: Limiting opposing running backs to less than 100 yards is nothing new for the Crimson Tide. Alabama has surrendered only 10 individual 100-yard rushing games dating back to the 2005 season, a mark that leads the nation. Since head coach Nick Saban’s arrival, the Tide has allowed just five players to rush for more than 100 yards in a game.

FIRST HALF DEFENSE: With Michigan’s seven first half points, the Crimson Tide has now allowed seven points or less in 17 of its last 18 first halves of play.

LEE GRABS INTERCEPTION IN FIRST CAREER GAME: True freshman Dillon Lee intercepted a pass with 1:19 left on the clock in the fourth quarter, giving Alabama its third interception of the game.

MILLINER COMES UP BIG IN THE FIRST HALF: Junior Dee Milliner had a solid first half for the Tide defensively, coming up with a career-high four pass breakups as well as one interception and two tackles. He added two more tackles in the second half for a total of four tackles.

MOSLEY TIES SCHOOL RECORD IN INTERCEPTIONS FOR A TOUCHDOWN: Junior C.J. Mosley intercepted a pass and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown with 4:31 left in the second period. Shelley’s kick made it 31-0 for Alabama. The touchdown was the third interception return for a score for Mosley in his Alabama career, tying Antonio Langham’s (1990-93) school record. Mosley had two touchdown returns in 2010.

NON-OFFENSIVE TDs IN THE SABAN ERA: C.J. Mosley’s 16-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter marked the 26th non-offensive touchdown of the Nick Saban era. The Tide has scored on 12 interceptions, two fumble returns, three kickoff returns, seven punt returns and two blocked punt returns.