1997 Outback Bowl
The 1997 Outback Bowl, part of the 1996 [NCAA Division I-A football season#Bowl Games|1996 bowl game] season, took place on January 1, 1997, at Houlihan's Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The 11th edition of the Outback Bowl featured the 1996 [Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama Crimson Tide], representing the Southeastern Conference, and the 1996 [Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan Wolverines] of the Big Ten Conference. Alabama was victorious in by a final score of 17–14.Teams
Alabama
The 1996 Alabama squad finished the regular season as the SEC Western Division champions with losses to 1996 [Tennessee Volunteers football team|Tennessee] and 1996 [Mississippi State Bulldogs football team|Mississippi State]. Following their victory against 1996 [Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn] in the Iron Bowl, head coach Gene Stallings announced his retirement effective following the bowl game. One week later, Alabama lost to 1996 [Florida Gators football team|Florida] in the SEC Championship Game, to finish the regular season with a 9–3 record. The following day, university officials announced a bid to play in the Outback Bowl was accepted. The appearance marked the second for Alabama in the Outback Bowl, and their 48th overall bowl game.Michigan
The 1996 Michigan squad finished the regular season with losses to 1996 [Northwestern Wildcats football team|Northwestern], 1996 [Purdue Boilermakers football team|Purdue] and 1996 [Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State] to finish with a record of 8–3. Their appearance marked the third for Michigan in the Outback Bowl, and their 28th overall bowl game.Game summary
Alabama scored first on a 43-yard field goal from placekicker Jon Brock to take an early 3–0 lead. Remy Hamilton of Michigan answered in the second quarter with 44 and 22-yard field goals to take a 6–3 advantage at the half. In the fourth quarter, Michigan was driving for another touchdown, when Brian Griese threw a pass that was intercepted at the 12-yard line by Dwayne Rudd of Alabama, and returned 88-yards for a touchdown, and a 10–6 Alabama lead. Running back Shaun Alexander put the game out of reach with 2:46 left, by running for a 46-yard touchdown run, increasing Alabama's lead to 17–6. Griese threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Russell Shaw to close the gap to 17–14, but that would be the final score.