2001 - Week 2

Hey, I'll take a close win over a close loss any day. Here's some statistics on the win.

This is the second 12-9 win in Alabama's history, the other being a 1933 win over Georgia Tech. It's the 24^th three-point win in Alabama's history, and the first since October 24, 1998 (20-17 over Ole Miss).
It's the second three-point win over Vanderbilt (1982 being the other) and tied for the second-closest margin of victory for Bama over Vandy (a 9-7 win in 1937 being the closest).
Interesting fact: it's only the third time that Bama has won a game by as many points as they lost the previous one; the previous two occurred in 1942 (Ga. N. Pre-Flight 19-35; Boston College 37-21) and 1996 (Mississippi State 16-17; Auburn 24-23).
Alabama wins against Vanderbilt for the 17^th straight time, and the 16^th straight time in Nashville against them.
Alabama records their 57^th win against the Commodores, most against any team other than Mississippi State (67).
It's the 20^th time Bama has started a season 1-1. Finishing records have ranged anywhere from last year's 3-8 debacle to 1975, 1977, and 1991, when Bama teams finished 11-1.
When Bama scores 12 points, they're 12-5. When they allow 9, they're 8-4. When the two teams combine for 21 points, Bama is 28-11.
Bama is only 2-3 on games played on September 8.

On to Arkansas, a team that we've had mixed luck against in the past. Here's some information...

Alabama's all-time record against Arkansas is 7-4. Bama has only won two of the past six games against the Hogs, however. In the state of Alabama, our record is 2-2 against them.
In Arkansas' pre-SEC times, Bama played the Hogs in two Sugar Bowls, winning both. So Bama's record against Arkansas in SEC play is only 5-4.
But here's an interesting fact: each of the five years Bama's beaten Arkansas since they joined the SEC, the Tide has wound up in the SEC Championship game.
Bama is 4-2 on games played on September 22.