Alabama celebrates its atypical champions, the 1999 Crimson Tide

Freddie Milons and teammates to be honored during 20-year reunion this weekend

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — So many memories, it’s still hard to put them into order or perspective even after all this time.

But Freddie Milons is going to try this weekend.

It’s been 20 years since the former wide receiver helped the University of Alabama football team win the 1999 Southeastern Conference championship, and probably 10 since he last stepped on campus.

So it’s been a long time. Stopping has never been his thing.

However, with Alabama hosting Southern Miss, he’ll be back for the official 20-year team reunion and get a chance to do more than reminisce. Not only is he eager to introduce and show off his family to his former teammates, Milons is looking forward to just soaking in the atmosphere and being around everyone again.

“We all share those memories,” he said. “But it takes certain individuals to bring those memories back to light.”

There’s going to be a lot to talk about.

When it comes to atypical seasons, there’s been nothing in Alabama’s history quite like that 1999 team.

It’s hard to know where to begin.

On paper, the Crimson Tide looked good, especially on offense. Despite coming off a 7-5 season, Alabama had 20 starters returning, including Shaun Alexander, who many thought could be in the running for the Heisman Trophy.

There was Andrew Zow at quarterback along with Tyler Watts, with Milons and Antonio Carter at the receiver positions, plus veteran Paul Hogan in the middle of the offensive line. But the player who was the key to the offense was Chris Samuels, who won the program’s first Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in college football.

“It wouldn’t have worked without Chris Samuels at left tackle,” Milons said. “Being able to control the line of scrimmage with the offensive line … We had seniors in [key] positions, and then we had a bunch of knuckleheads like myself and AC, freshmen and sophomores, we didn’t know what was going on. We were kids. But we knew the offense. We knew what we needed to do.

“We were just playing.”

To understand the context of that statement, one has to take into consideration some of the turmoil surrounding the team

When Alabama lost to Louisiana Tech for the second time in three years, 29-28 on Sept. 18, athletic director Bob Bockrath subsequently resigned. There was obviously more to it than the loss, and the role was eventually filled by Mal Moore. Coach Mike DuBose was also on the hot seat for a variety of reasons, all of which hung over the team.

Yet the Crimson Tide rallied.

“We were good soldiers,” Milons said. “It’s cliché, but we were good soldiers. The orders were given and we went out and we played as hard as we could.”

The turning point occurred in Gainesville, Fla., where Steve Spurrier and the No. 3 Florida Gators had won 31 straight games in The Swamp. Alexander had an epic game, scoring four touchdowns as the No. 21 Crimson Tide pulled off a stunning 40-39 victory in overtime.

Alabama lost another regular-season game, against Tennessee after Alexander suffered a sprained ankle, but finished with four straight wins to secure the division title and a spot in the SEC Championship Game.

The rematch with Florida wasn’t nearly as close.

“I didn’t come back to win the Heisman Trophy,” Alexander said after the 34-7 victory. “I came back to play in games like this. The guys on this team wanted this championship so badly.”

Milons ran for 116 yards, including a game-breaking 77-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, to be named game MVP.

1999: Freddie Milons waterbugs🥶 his way to 77 yard TD run against Florida in the SEC Championship🏆. The Tide rolled 34-7, giving Mike Dubose his only SEC title.#RollTide#BuiltByBama#WhereLegendsAreMade pic.twitter.com/f5yq5ylvmE

— BamaHammer (@Bama_Hammer) June 14, 2019

He finished his 12-game sophomore season, which was his best statistically, with 65 receptions for 733 yards along with 178 rushing yards, plus had a 62-yard punt return for touchdown in Alabama’s shootout with Michigan in the Orange Bowl – against some guy named Tom Brady.

He’s one of those people that Milons can’t help but think about how he’s crossed paths with over the years. Another was his position coach, Dabo Swinney.

When Milons was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft he went to work for Andy Reid, who is now helping revolutionize the game with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ironically, that selection has made him the answer to a Crimson Tide trivia questions as the Eagles haven’t selected an Alabama player since Milons. That’s out of 108 Alabama players who have since been drafted. It’s the program’s longest draft drought, with the Denver Broncos second (wide receiver Triandos Luke, sixth round in 2004).

“Really?” he said. “They’re missing out.”

So has Milons a little when it comes to his alma mater and his former teammates, although not by design. He’s not that far away, and guys like defensive lineman Kendal Moorehead and Watts are obviously close to the program, he’s just never been one to reach out much.

The closest he gets is when occasionally cutting through Tuscaloosa en route to somewhere else, usually going from where he lives in Mississippi to Birmingham. He’s seen the construction from afar (“It’s terrible!” he said), but that’s about it.

“They’re not going to mess with Denny Chimes, I’m sure,” he joked. “That’s a staple. I’m quite sure president’s house is still right near the stadium. Other than that, I’ll probably get lost.”

Regardless, Milons is hoping for a big turnout for the reunion, and even though he wants to see everyone it’s especially true of the other wide receivers. He and guys like Tim Bowens and Jason McAddley didn’t just get up and work out and eat together, they spent countless hours working to improve.

“’99 was the year we were going to, quote-unquote, sling the ball more, open it up,” Milons said. “That was one of the main reasons why I signed my letter of intent to the university. There was supposedly a shift from run-the-ball, run-the-ball, run-the-ball, run-the-ball. They were going to open it up.”

The 1999 team did end up being pretty balanced, gaining 2,145 yards on the ground, compared to 2,145 in the air.

In the process they got rings, and a whole lot more. Like how many teams can say they defeated Spurrier’s Gators in their prime not just once, but twice?

“We were not able to beat him at his own game, but we were able to throw the ball just as much as they did and excel with it,” Milons said.

“It was a lot of fun.”