The Crimson Tide picked the final game of the season to fire on all cylinders and the result was a 49-7 thrashing of the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl to finish the season with a record of 10-3.
Alabama dominated the Spartans (especially both lines of scrimmage) and turned the game into nothing more than a Crimson Tide showcase of excellence.
The Alabama defense held the Spartans to a negative rushing total (-48) and reduced Michigan State to only 171 yards of total offense.
‘Bama linebacker Courtney Upshaw was awarded MVP honors for his defensive efforts against MSU. Upshaw recorded two sacks, five individual tackles and one forced fumble.
On the offensive side of the ball, Alabama came to play!
‘Bama amassed 546 yards of total offense (275 rushing, 271 passing) and earned a place in the record books in the process.
The 49-7 triumph is the second-largest victory in Alabama bowl history. The largest margin came against Syracuse in the 1953 Orange Bowl where the Crimson Tide recorded a resounding 61-6 victory.
Five different Tide players scored touchdowns against the Spartans and due to the offensive productivity, several records were broken.
Tide running back Mark Ingram scored two rushing touchdowns and in the process set the school record for most rushing touchdowns in a career with 42. Ingram broke the old record of 41 held by former Alabama great Shaun Alexander who played from 1996-99.
Alabama scored a total of seven touchdowns in the game, six of which were on the ground. The six rushing touchdowns against the Spartans set an Alabama bowl record breaking the old mark of four (BCS title game one year ago and the 1953 Orange Bowl).
‘Bama senior quarterback Greg McElroy threw for 220 yards against MSU which allowed him to set the school record for most passing yards in a single season with 2,987. The old mark of 2,846 was set in 2007 by former Tide quarterback John Parker Wilson.
Alabama scored 28 points in the first-half against the Spartans which tied a ‘Bama bowl record matching the total set by the Tide during the 1983 Sun Bowl.
As champions of the 2011 Capital One Bowl, Alabama earned a third consecutive
10-plus win season.
NOTE: I'm currently without a picture provider for this site. After 16 months of service, (the time I've been online), the site I use has decided to pull the plug (Jan. 1) on the feature I use for my pictures. Needless to say...I'm VERY upset! I hope to find a new picture outlet in the near future.
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