Crimson Tide won 29-28 thriller over Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium 30 years ago
Alabama quarterback Jay Barker had a career night vs. Georgia in 1994, throwing for 396 yards and two touchdowns in a 29-28 victory at Bryant-Denny Stadium. It may be difficult to believe now, but night games at Bryant-Denny Stadium weren’t all that common 30 years ago.
Barker threw for a career-best 396 yards and two touchdowns — both to Malone in the second half — on a night the normally ground-and-pound Crimson Tide rushed for just 55 yards . It was a breakout performance for Alabama’s senior quarterback, who had worn the “game-manager” label up to that point in his career.
Heading into the 1994 Georgia game, Alabama didn’t look like a team that was capable of such a comeback. Though unbeaten at 4-0 and ranked No. 11 nationally, the Crimson Tide had struggled to put away inferior opponents for much of the season to that point. Coach Ray Goff and Georgia came into the Alabama game at 3-1, its only loss to Tennessee in Week 2. With Zeier at the controls and a fleet of receivers led by Hason Graham, Brice Hunter and versatile freshman Hines Ward, the Bulldogs were capable of big numbers — as they showed in a 70-6 victory over Louisiana-Monroe in their second game of the year.
The Crimson Tide defense did have one big moment, with freshman linebacker Dwayne Rudd popping the ball loose from Bulldogs fullback Larry Bowie in Alabama territory late in the first quarter. The Crimson Tide cashed in the turnover with a 16-play drive for Tarrant Lynch’s 6-yard touchdown run early in the second, and later added Proctor’s 33-yard field goal — which hit the upright and went through — to cut Georgia’s lead to 21-10 at halftime.
After Tommy Johnson picked off Zeier in Alabama territory, Proctor’s second field goal — a 35-yarder — cut Georgia’s advantage to 21-19 with 4:04 left in the third. But Zeier brought the Bulldogs right back, hitting Marisa Simpson on a 6-yard touchdown pass to give Georgia a 28-19 lead headed into the fourth quarter.
On his second touchdown, Malone ran a simple post route. The Georgia safety responsible for covering him was Muschamp, a future SEC head coach who is now a defensive analyst for the Bulldogs. The junior from Pelham split the uprights from 33 yards out with 1:12 remaining to put Alabama on top for the first time in the game, 29-28. As the ball sailed into the Bryant-Denny Stadium student section, Proctor was swarmed by his teammates.
The Georgia victory became the signature moment of Proctor’s time at Alabama. While perhaps not as dramatic as Van Tiffin’s 52-yarder at the end of the 1985 Iron Bowl or Philip Doyle’s 47-yarder to beat Tennessee in 1990, it was no less decisive.
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