The 1964 Alabama football team was the seventh under Paul “Bear” Bryant. The Tide came into the season ranked in the top ten with several returning starters from the 9-2 1963 squad, including starting QB Joe Willie Namath. Namath was coming off an infamous suspension by Coach Bryant for the Tide’s final two games of 1963, for staying out too late drinking.
The 1964 season was highly successful. The Tide rolled to a 10-0 record behind a defense that allowed only 6.7 points per game. The Namath-led offense got off to a roaring start as well, scoring 101 points in the first three games of the season.