COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Crimson Tide Battles Back to Defeat Vanderbilt : SEC: No. 11 Alabama makes the big plays in fourth quarter of 33-25 victory.

Alabama needed three quarters Saturday night to concentrate on football again.

Trailing, 19-10, entering the fourth quarter, the No. 11 Crimson Tide rallied for 23 points, 133 yards on offense and two key interceptions to gain a 33-25 victory over Vanderbilt in a season opener at Nashville, Tenn.

The effort kept Alabama from losing in its first-ever game while under NCAA probation. The Tide endured a rough off-season, being placed on probation last month for violations related to former players Gene Jelks and Antonio Langham.

Brian Burgdorf completed a four-yard touchdown pass to Toderick Malone with 4:33 remaining to provide a 26-25 lead for Alabama. Brad Ford then clinched the victory when he intercepted Damian Allen’s pass and ran untouched 46 yards for the touchdown that put the Tide up, 33-25.

Alabama hadn’t lost to Vanderbilt in Nashville since 1969, and last lost to the Commodores in 1984.

The Crimson Tide survived despite having four passes intercepted and losing one fumble. The four interceptions were the most for Alabama since 1993 against Louisiana State.

“It was amazing that we turned the ball over as much as we did and still won the football game,” Alabama Coach Gene Stallings said.

The Tide offense, which finished with 372 yards, came to life early in the fourth quarter with a one-yard touchdown run by Dennis Riddle and a 32-yard field goal by Michael Proctor for a 20-19 lead. Riddle, however, fumbled on his next carry and Vanderbilt safety Eric Vance returned it 37 yards for a touchdown and a 25-20 lead with 8:19 remaining.

Vanderbilt’s defense forced Alabama to fourth and four on the drive’s ninth play when Burgdorf tossed the touchdown pass to Malone in the right corner.

Vanderbilt, still learning a multiple offense from first-year Coach Rod Dowhower, gave Alabama all it could handle. The Commodores finished with 208 yards on offense but turned the ball over six times as their quarterbacks combined to complete only 13 of 39 passes for 96 yards with five interceptions.

“We can play with the best of them,” Dowhower said. “We had our chances.”