Alabama gets off to rought start

If Alabama needed a wake-up call for the game, it came right away.

Quarterback Greg McElroy was looking to throw long on the Crimson Tide’s first play from scrimmage.

Defensive end Sam Owusu-Hemeng had other ideas. Owusu-Hemeng — despised by headline writers across the country — hit McElroy just before he released. The ball squirted forward, and most of the players eased up, assuming an incomplete pass. But Brandon Akpunku jumped on the ball for the visitors.

After some confusion, officials ruled it a fumble and a replay review upheld the call.

“Mike Johnson said he swore he heard a whistle,” said McElroy, who tried to go after the ball even as his teammates stopped. “I didn’t hear anything. I was just getting up off the ground. All I know is I don’t have the ball — so I’ve got to go find it.”

The turnover gave North Texas the ball at its own 48. The Mean Green promptly went three-and-out.

That first-play fumble was the first time this season Alabama failed to score on its opening drive. Of course, on its second march, McElroy drove the team 95 yards in 13 plays for a touchdown.

Where’s P.J.?
Punter P.J. Fitzgerald wasn’t easy to spot on Saturday. Alabama punted just one time — and the senior was wearing No. 7, instead of his usual No. 97.

Alabama officials said Fitzgerald changed jersey numbers for the game because defensive end Lorenzo Washington — who also wears No. 97 — was put on the extra point and field goal unit, where Fitzgerald is the holder.

Players with the same jersey can’t be on the field at the same time. So Fitzgerald wore No. 7.

The punter’s lone attempt — which came late in the third quarter — was a 49-yard punt that sailed into the end zone for a touchback.

Shut down defense
North Texas managed just 61 yards rushing. Alabama has held 15 of its last 17 opponents under 100 yards on the ground. No individual running back has cracked the 100-yard mark since Mississippi’s BenJarvus Green-Ellis went for 131 on Oct. 13, 2007, a span of 22 games. James Hamilton led North Texas with 31 yards on seven carries.

Seven beats three
Alabama was a perfect 7-for-7 in the red zone on Saturday. More importantly, the Crimson Tide was able to put touchdowns on the scoreboard instead of field goals.

In its last two games, Alabama has scored each time it has entered the red zone, improving to a perfect 12-of-12 at home.

But Saturday, the Crimson Tide had four touchdowns in the red zone to go with two Leigh Tiffin field goals. They had been 10-for-12 in the red zone in the first two games, but half those scores came on field goals.

Late crowd
Twenty minutes before the kickoff, the stadium appeared maybe half full. Dreary weather, the early start, regional television and an underdog, non-conference opponent were all factors that contributed to fans hitting the snooze bar a couple extra times Saturday morning. There were thousands of empty seats at kickoff.

Champs honored

Alabama’s 1989 SEC championship football team, celebrating its 20th reunion, was honored at halftime. That team started 10-0, went 10-2 and lost to national champion Miami in the Sugar Bowl. Siran Stacy was the leading rusher on that team. Gary Hollingsworth was the quarterback. John Mangum and Efrum Thomas each had five interceptions that season. The permanent captains were Marco Battle and Willie Wyatt.

The series
Alabama now leads North Texas 3-0. The Tide won 33-7 in the most recent meeting in 2002. In the first game between the schools, Alabama won 38-19 in 1995.
BY THE NUMBERS
4 — The number of third-down conversions recorded by North Texas in the game — on 14 chances. It’s also the number of third-down conversions Alabama made in the first quarter. The Tide was 4-for-4 in the first 15 minutes.
11 — The number of Alabama players who caught passes in the game. 
65 — The number of players who played for Alabama on Saturday. Several of those not in the starting 22 got to play a lot.
126 — The number of seats lost this season while Alabama’s south end zone project is beginning. The official capacity is 92,012 this season — down from the normal 92,138. Every ticket was sold for Saturday’s game, although there were plenty of empty seats. Bryant-Denny’s capacity will exceed 101,000 when the project is completed in time for the 2010 season opener against San Jose State.