Former Buccaneer Helped Tide to Title 30 Years Ago
by Wayne Wood

There have been some great linebackers come through the Buccaneer football program through the years. Mike Kolen (Berry Class of 1966) who starred for Auburn and later the Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins comes to mind. So does Kurt Crain (Berry Class of 1983) who also made All-American for Auburn and later played briefly in the pros. Kolen from the 1960's and Crain from the 1980's who outstanding in their own right. However, there was one Buccaneer from the 1970's sandwiched between Kolen and Crain who can claim a college national championship ring. His name was Rickey Gilliland.

Gilliland played for legendary Buccaneer Coach Bob Finley from 1972-1974 starting all 3 seasons at the positions of offensive guard, defensive tackle and linebacker. It was expected when he signed with Alabama in 1975 that he would play on the offensive line yet in the spring before his sophomore year linebacker became his position.

The season of 1976 gained Gilliland some playing experience. He came into his own as a junior in 1977 managing to become the team's third leading tackler and would do the same statistical thing the following year. That season of 1977 saw the Tide finished 11-1 after an early season loss to Nebraska, an upset of then #1 Southern Cal at L.A. and conclude with a 35-6 Sugar Bowl win over Ohio State. Yet it was a disappointing 2nd place national championship finish to Notre Dame.

Rickey solidified his starting linebacker position going into his 1978 senior season. Alabama opened the year at Legion Field with a revenge win over Nebraska. The second game was a trip to a team which had beaten Bama twice in previous years, ­the Missouri Tigers. On a hot early September day game it seemed that the Tide would coast while opening with a 17-0 first quarter lead. However, the Tigers came roaring back in the second quarter to take a 20-17 lead into halftime.

Throughout the third quarter Bama continued to struggle offensively. The Tide defense held at mid-field and then good fortune came for the Crimson Tide. Future All-American and pro player E.J. Junior came hard from the right side to block the punt. Senior linebacker Gilliland picked up the ball and rambled 35 yards for a touchdown. The pivotal play not only gave Alabama the lead but needed new life.

"It was a great feeling," said Gilliland. "I'd never scored a touchdown before. This is definitely the highlight of my career. Coach Bryant always says the kicking game can win or lose a game for you real quick. That blocked punt might not have won it for us today but it sure put us in the right direction. I swear I just can't believe it. I never dreamed of anything like this at all. It is the biggest thrill I've ever had." Appropriately enough, Gilliland had served as kicking game captain against Missouri. On the following Tuesday (his 21s birthday) he learned he had been named the Associated Press Southeastern Lineman of the Week.

Teaming with future pro players Barry Krauss and Rich Wingo at the linebacker positions, Gilliland helped the Tide defense. Although the Tide returned to Legion Field after the Missouri win to suffer a loss to revenge minded Southern Cal team, it finally got on a struggling winning track. Southern Cal lost their first game a few weeks later and by season's end the Alabama team positioned itself into the number 2 spot in the national polls behind undefeated Penn State.

The Crimson Tide played the #1 Nittany Lions in an outstanding classic championship game highlighted by the famous 4th quarter goal line stand. Alabama won 14-7 and former Berry Buccaneer Rickey Gilliland gained a coveted national championship ring closing out his playing career.

Gilliland returned to his hometown of Hoover where he and his wife raised three daughters who all graduated from Hoover High School and later attended Alabama. The girls just like their old man also claim to be "Forever a Buccaneer!"

*Parts of this article were obtained from the January-1979 issue of a magazine dedicated to Alabama's 1978 team titled "The Road to Number 1" published by The Sports Page in Birmingham, Alabama. It was composed by Ben Cook with photographs by Bill Killian and R.D. Moore.