TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Bear Bryant said the bitterness of losing to Southern Mississippi 38-29 Saturday was compounded by knowing the loss snapped 15th-ranked Alabama's 57-game home winning streak.
'It's not a very good feeling,' Bryant said of his team's first loss in Bryant-Denny Stadium since 1963. 'I took a long look back as we walked off. We haven't had this experience too many times and I'm thankful for that.'
The last time Alabama lost at home was 10-6 to Florida on Oct. 12, 1963.
Southern Miss, behind the running and passing of quarterback Reggie Collier, jumped on the Crimson Tide for 21 first-quarter points, then held off a dogged second-half rally that brought the Tide to within six points early in the fourth quarter.
'It didn't look too good for us going into the fourth quarter,' said Eagles' defensive end George Tillman, who had nine tackles. 'Today we managed to play the best fourth quarter we've played all year and that was the difference between victory and defeat.'
It was the first time Alabama suffered back-to-back losses since 1972. The Crimson Tide was defeated by LSU 20-10 a week ago. The Tide, 7-3, had not lost three games in a season since 1976.
Alabama players said Collier was the catalyst that led to the Tide's demise.
'I can't explain it, I just don't know what to say,' said Tide linebacker Robbie Jones, who had six tackles. 'Collier, Collier, Collier. That's all I have to explain it.'
The Golden Eagle quarterback directed all of the scoring drives and ran for three touchdowns himself on the way to gaining 81 yards on the ground. Collier also hit six of 16 passes for 68 yards.
'We were tight two years ago coming into Bryant-Denny because we knew about the record,' said Collier. 'The last two years we've been loose and the only basic difference between last year and this year is last year we tied and this year we went on and won the ball game.'
Running back Sam Dejarnette, who scored the Eagles' other two touchdowns and pounded out 152 yards on 26 rushes, said the win was a sweet homecoming for him. The sophomore from Selma transferred from Auburn.
'This is probably the greatest victory for me, coming back to my home state and winning one,' Dejarnette said. 'I like the stadium here because this is where I was a high school all-star MVP.'
Southern Mississippi, 7-3, took a 35-14 lead early in the third quarter, but Alabama, also 7-3, refused to quit and roared back behind the deft passing and scrambling of quarterback Walter Lewis.
The Tide came within six points at 35-29 but couldn't mount another scoring threat before the Eagles' Steve Clark kicked a 23-yard field goal with 5:10 left to play to put the game out of reach at 38-29.
Southern Mississippi, which scored on its first four possessions, opened an early 14-0 lead. Collier darted 22 yards for the first TD to cap a 48-yard drive in eight plays. Dejarnette, who had 117 yards rushing in the first half, raced 60 yards on the Eagles' next possession to set up his own 11-yard scoring run.
Alabama went 88 yards in six plays to cut the margin to 14-7. Lewis, who passed for 197 yards, flipped a short toss to fullback Joe Carter, who ran unmolested for a 33-yard touchdown.
Southern Mississippi, slapped with NCAA probation earlier in the week, answered with its third score of the first quarter. Collier ended the 80-yard, 18-play drive with an 8-yard run. The gritty quarterback then went five yards midway through the second quarter to make the lead 28-7.
Ken Coley subbed for Lewis and directed an 80-yard scoring drive, ending with his 1-yard touchdown run to close the lead to 28-14 at the half.
Ricky Moore fumbled on the Tide's first play of the second half and Greg Haeusler recovered on the Tide 21. Dejarnette scored five plays later from three yards out.
The Tide's last two touchdowns came on a 1-yard dive by fullback Craig Turner and a 4-yard run by Paul Carruth.
