The Alabama Crimson Tide got back on the right track on Saturday night during the home opener at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa after what was, no doubt, a very difficult week for the program.

After being embarrassed in the first game last weekend against the Florida State Seminoles, the Tide came into the matchup against Louisiana-Monroe ready to roll, and they showed it from the opening whistle.

Once it was all said and done, Alabama went over the 70-point mark and came away with a 73-0 victory.

It was the largest shutout win for the Tide since 1951 when they defeated Delta State by a score of 89-0.

Of course, a shutout is always nice no matter who the opponent is, but the story of the game was Tide quarterback Ty Simpson, who put up some historic numbers in the first half. Simpson did not just look comfortable and confident, he looked completely dominant.

By the time his night was over, he finished 17 of 17 — the first quarterback in Alabama history to start a game with 17 straight completions — along with 226 yards and three touchdowns as well as a rushing score.

The first two drives of the game ended the same way: with star wide receiver Germie Bernard finding the end zone after he was one of the only members of the team to truly show up in a big way in Tallahassee. Bernard finished the night with just four catches, but three of them were for touchdowns and he went over 100 yards once again, establishing himself firmly as the team’s top wide receiver:

Simpson’s rushing score came early in the second quarter to put Alabama up 28-0:

They weren’t done there though, finding the end zone two more times before the half including a Simpson touchdown to Isaiah Horton which was the best throw he’s made so far in his young career on an absolute dart to find pay dirt:

The second half was exciting in its own right with new faces seeing the field for the first time, capped off by freshman phenom Keelon Russell getting some action and throwing two touchdowns along with Austin Mack tossing two as well.

Even though the opponent was weak and there is still a ton of work to do for the Tide, the team did play about as close to a perfect game as can realistically be asked for.

Simpson looked like the type of gunslinger fans hoped all offseason he can be, and if he can keep on improving, this Alabama team and head coach Kalen DeBoer will have a chance to make their ugly effort in Tallahassee a distant memory.