Alabama’s DuBose Wins Debut

Mike DuBose’s first 20 minutes as Alabama’s coach were better than he ever could have dreamed.

There were no problems, just touchdown after touchdown, as Alabama built an early 28-point lead on the way to a 42-17 victory over Houston Saturday at Birmingham, Ala., to mark a successful start to DuBose’s tenure with the 16th-ranked Crimson Tide.

“I was not as nervous today as I was Monday,” DuBose said. “But when I heard that band start up, and they were playing ‘Yea Alabama,’ I have a tendency to get a little teary-eyed. This university means so much to me and my family.”

The fast start dissipated some of the anxiousness that has built up since DuBose was hired eight months ago to replace Gene Stallings and pace the same sideline as his former coach and mentor, Bear Bryant.

Alabama played without suspended tailback Dennis Riddle, but Curtis Alexander filled in well, finishing with 88 yards rushing and 50 receiving and scoring three touchdowns.

Kentucky 38, Louisville 24--Tim Couch picked apart Louisville’s defense with short passes, setting school records with 36 completions for 398 yards, and connected on four touchdown passes in leading Kentucky at Lexington, Ky.

Couch, the national high school player of the year in 1995, attempted 50 passes and had just one intercepted as the Wildcats snapped a two-game losing streak to their intrastate rival and gave Hal Mumme a victory in his first game as Kentucky’s coach.

Mississippi 24, Central Florida 23--Central Florida, playing in only its second year in Division I-A, attempted to do what North Carolina State did earlier in the day to defeat Syracuse in overtime--win on a two-point conversion following a touchdown in overtime. Only the Golden Knights’ strategy at Oxford, Miss., didn’t work, as Central Florida quarterback Daunte Culpepper fumbled at the one on the conversion the try.

Culpepper fumble despite an open lane to the end zone.

Mississippi scored first in overtime when Stewart Patridge threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Rufus French.

Patridge was the first Rebel quarterback to throw for 300 yards in a game since 1990, completing 24 of 37 passes for 303 yards.

Vanderbilt 29, North Texas 12--Freshman running backs Jimmy Williams and Jared McGrath combined for 123 yards at Nashville, Tenn., as the Commodores presented Coach Woody Widenhofer with a victory in his debut.

Williams carried 16 times for 61 yards and McGrath added 62 yards in 10 carries. Fullback Paul Morgan ran for two touchdowns and 49 yards.

Vanderbilt quarterback Damian Allen threw for 206 yards and rushed for 51. His 68-yard touchdown pass to Tavarus Hogans capped the scoring.

Mississippi State 13, Memphis 10--Brian Hazelwood kicked a career-best 53-yard field goal on the final play of the game at Starkville, Miss., to give the Bulldogs a season-opening victory.

The Bulldogs overcame seven turnovers and an early 10-0 deficit for an emotional victory three weeks after the drowning death of tailback Keffer McGee.

Georgia 38, Arkansas State 7--Mike Bobo, a target of criticism during Georgia’s disappointing 1996 season, opened a new season by passing for two touchdowns and running for a third to lead the Bulldogs at Athens, Ga.

The game marked the debut of Arkansas State Coach Joe Hollis.