Ken Stabler

Kenneth Michael Stabler (December 25, 1945 – July 8, 2015) was an American professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons, primarily with the Oakland Raiders.

Stabler was on the freshman team in 1964, when the Crimson Tide won the National Championship with quarterbacks Joe Namath and Steve Sloan.

Despite being named National Champions, Alabama lost their bowl game, falling to the Texas Longhorns in the 1965 Orange Bowl.

As a sophomore in 1965, Stabler was used sparingly as a back-up to Sloan at quarterback, following Namath's departure to the AFL.

That year, the Crimson Tide won their second consecutive National Championship, finishing the season with a record of 9–1–1.

The team defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Orange Bowl, 39–28.

As a junior in 1966, he took over the starting quarterback position.

He led the team to an undefeated, 11–0 season which ended in a 34–7 rout of Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl.

Despite the unblemished record, Alabama was snubbed by the polls, finishing third behind Notre Dame and Michigan State, neither of which played in a bowl.

Expectations were high in Stabler's senior season, though those expectations would not be completely fulfilled.

He was also drafted to play baseball by the New York Yankees in 1966, the New York Mets in 1967, and the Houston Astros in 1968.

The offense often struggled in 1967, and the defense's performance slipped.

During the season, Bryant kicked Stabler off the team for cutting class and partying, though he was given a second chance.

The Tide finished with an 8–2–1 record, including a loss to rival Tennessee.

Though the season was lackluster, Stabler would provide a memorable moment in the Iron Bowl.

Trailing 3–0 in a game drenched by rain, Stabler scampered through the mud for a 47-yard, game-winning touchdown which gave the Tide a 7–3 victory over rival Auburn at Legion Field.

The play is commonly referred to as the "Run in the Mud" in Alabama football lore.

Nicknamed "Snake", he played college football at Alabama and was selected by the Raiders in the second round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft.

Stabler was selected in the second round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft by the Oakland Raiders, the reigning AFL champions.

He was the fifth quarterback taken, after Greg Landry, Eldridge Dickey, Heisman Trophy winner Gary Beban, and Mike Livingston.

Stabler signed a two-year contract with the Raiders in March 1968.

In November, the Raiders sent Stabler to Spokane, Washington, to play for the Spokane Shockers of the Continental Football League.

He played in two games for the Shockers before being recalled by the Raiders in late November.

In July 1969, Stabler left the Raiders.

However, in November 1969, Stabler said "I'll be back in pro football come June."

In January 1970, it was reported that Stabler and Raiders head coach John Madden agreed that Stabler would return to the Raiders for training camp in July.

Stabler made his first regular season appearance as a Raider in 1970.

He first attracted attention in the NFL in a 1972 playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

After entering the game in relief of a flu-ridden Daryle Lamonica, he scored the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter on a 30-yard scramble.

The Steelers, however, came back to win on a controversial, deflected pass from Terry Bradshaw to Franco Harris, later known in football lore as the Immaculate Reception.

During his 10 seasons in Oakland, Stabler received four Pro Bowl selections and was named Most Valuable Player in 1974.

Stabler also helped the Raiders win their first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XI.

He was posthumously inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

Stabler became a highly touted football player at Foley High School in Foley, Alabama.

He led Foley to a win–loss record of 29–1 over his high school football career—the only loss coming against Vigor High School.

He was an all-around athlete in high school, averaging 29 points a game in basketball and excelling enough as a left-handed pitcher in baseball to receive minor-league contract offers from the Houston Astros and New York Yankees.

He was an all-American athlete.

During his high school career, he earned his nickname "Snake" from his coach following a long, winding touchdown run.

Stabler was recruited by head coach Bear Bryant at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Due to NCAA regulations at the time, freshmen were ineligible to play on the varsity in the University Division.