Stallings Goes Out a Winner

TAMPA, Fla. — Alabama’s Dwayne Rudd returned a fourth-quarter interception 88 yards for a touchdown and 16th-ranked Alabama closed out the Gene Stallings era with a 17-14 victory over No. 15 Michigan in the Outback Bowl on Wednesday.

Michigan (8-4) was threatening to build on a 6-3 lead in the fourth quarter when Alabama’s Kelvin Sigler hit Brian Griese as the quarterback released a pass. Rudd, a 245-pound linebacker, grabbed the ball out of the air and took off along the left sideline to put Alabama ahead, 10-6, with 12:13 left.

“I was worried about someone catching me from behind, so I kept looking back,” Rudd said. “Kelvin Sigler was waving me to the outside and at about the 10-yard line, I knew I was going to score. I coasted in from there.”

The Crimson Tide (10-3) scored again 10 minutes later on Shaun Alexander’s 46-yard run.

Griese, who came off the bench to direct Michigan’s 13-9 upset of Ohio State in the regular-season finale, threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Russell Shaw with 1:16 left. Chris Floyd’s two-point conversion run made the score 17-14, but Alabama recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.

Alabama won despite being outgained, 415-247. Alexander gained 99 yards in nine carries. Freddie Kitchens completed nine of 18 passes for 65 yards.

Michigan (8-4) finished with four losses for the second consecutive season under Lloyd Carr, who may have created a quarterback controversy by starting Griese over Scott Dreisbach.

Alabama averaged 10 victories in seven seasons under Stallings, who was 70-16-1 at Alabama and 97-61-2 in 14 college seasons.

* MORE STALLINGS: C6