COLLEGE FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT : HOW ‘BOUT THEM ‘DAWGS?

Alabama seems to have trouble in the first half with dogs. The Tide had moved the ball 30 yards in seven plays and had the momentum in the first quarter of the Citrus Bowl against Ohio State. Then out of the south tunnel came a dog, of seemingly mixed heritage, causing officials to stop the game for five minutes as a rather inept group of observers tried to get the animal off the field.

Even Stallings made a run at the dog.

“I just thought we’d fooled around long enough and didn’t want to lose momentum,” Stallings said. “I wish I had a net but I don’t know what I would have done if I caught him.”

The dog finally grew tired and ran back into the tunnel. But Alabama’s momentum was stopped. It proceeded to take a four-yard loss followed by two incompletions. Its field-goal attempt was then blocked.

The Tide’s last canine encounter was against Georgia, when the ‘Dogs took a 21-10 halftime lead. Alabama came back to win that game, though, 29-28.