The setting was perfect, the result was not.
With Legion Field awash in red, chants of "Roll Tide" drowning out the Million Dollar Band and Gene Stallings making his coaching debut, Alabama went out and lost to Southern Mississippi 27-24.Naturally, it didn't take long for some Alabama followers to voice their displeasure.
"They ought to fire that Stallings, he's a loser!" began the first caller to Saturday's post-game show in Montgomery, Ala.
The majority of callers, though, were sympathetic toward Stallings, who played and coached under Bryant. Just a year ago, Alabama fans were celebrating the departure of Bill Curry - 26-10 in three years but not a Bryant disciple - in favor of Stallings.
A crowd of about 76,000 turned out in sweltering, 100-degree weather to see 13th-ranked Alabama hammer the Golden Eagles. But it was Southern Miss that stunned the crowd by pulling off its second major upset in two years. Last season, Coach Curley Hallman's team upset Florida State 30-26.
Alabama did everything but win on Saturday, including outgaining Southern Miss 442-195 in total yards. The Tide also committed several blunders, like being called for a penalty that nullified a 48-yard punt return for a score, a fumbled punt and two interceptions.At Tuscaloosa, Ala., Siran Stacy, Alabama's leading rusher and an All-Southeastern Conference pick in 1989, suffered a season-ending injury in the Crimson Tide's loss to Southern Mississippi, a team spokesman said Sunday.
Rob Davis, an assistant in the sports information department, said Stacy tore a ligament in his left knee in the third quarter Saturday.