NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Mike DuBose is hoping that a tumultuous summer for him and his team can become a breakout season as the 20th-ranked Crimson Tide open the Southeastern Conference campaign against Vanderbilt.

Each of the other teams in the SEC are playing outside of the conference this weekend.

The Crimson Tide have struggled in recent seasons and are coming off a 7-5 year that ended with a 38-7 loss to Virginia Tech in the Music City Bowl.

Despite the bad ending to the 1998 season, DuBose was given a contract extension. The good feelings were short-lived, however, as the coach was forced to deal with sexual harrassment charges in recent weeks and might now be fighting for his job.

"I don't think (the off-field trouble) had an effect one way or another as far as preparation from a staff standpoint or from a playing-coaching standpoint," DuBose said. "I'm glad that's behind us or hopefully that part is behind us, but as far as the football team, it has not been a factor."

With DuBose on the hot seat, the Crimson Tide must play the Commodores without three of their linebackers, including starter Miguel Merritt. Merritt, Chris Horne and Canary Knight were suspended for the first game by DuBose for violating team rules.

Although the school would not say what the three players did, the Tuscaloosa News reported over the weekend that they missed classes last year and the issue is still being resolved.

Merritt underwent surgery this summer for a malignant tumor on his vocal cords, began working out in August and had reclaimed his starting inside spot.

Alabama might have some lingering problems, but it also is a more talented team than in recent years. Running back Shaun Alexander is a Heisman Trophy contender and sophomore quarterback Andrew Zow appears set to have a breakout season.

The Crimson Tide's chore will be to move the ball against a defense that slumped badly last season. The Commodores have switched to a 3-4 defense because of a lack of depth on the line and nose guard Ryan Aulds was to be in the middle, but was suspended indefinitely after a run-in with the law.

Coach Woody Widenhofer's defense was tops in the SEC two seasons ago but was an uncharacteristic last in 1998.

"I know there are certain things that he'll do, but that doesn't give us any comfort going into the game because he does it better than anybody in football," DuBose said of Widenhofer. "I think he's the best defensive mind in football, and I've said that each year, and I mean it. I truly do."

Widenhofer's defensive mind has not helped the Commodores against Alabama, however. The Tide have beaten them 14 straight times on the field and are 39-2 against Vanderbilt since 1960. Alabama has not lost on the field to the Commodores since 1984. However, NCAA sanctions forced the Crimson Tide to forfeit their 1993 win over Vanderbilt.

Alabama claims a 54-19-4 advantage in the all-time series, while Vanderbilt credits the Tide with one less win. Vanderbilt also is drifting farther from the Tide. After dropping a 33-25 decision in 1995, it has lost by scores of 36-26, 20-0, and 32-7.

ALABAMA Season schedule and results	VANDERBILT Season schedule and results
Sep. 4 @Vanderbilt 12:40pm ET Sep. 11 Houston TBA Sep. 18 Louisiana Tech 2:00pm ET Sep. 25 Arkansas TBA Oct. 2 @Florida 1:00pm ET Oct. 16 @Mississippi TBA Oct. 23 Tennessee TBA Oct. 30 Southern Mississippi TBA Nov. 6 LSU TBA Nov. 13 Mississippi State TBA Nov. 20 @Auburn TBA	Sep. 4 Alabama 12:40pm ET Sep. 11 Northern Illinois 4:00pm ET Sep. 18 @Mississippi TBA Sep. 25 @Duke TBA Oct. 2 Mississippi State TBA Oct. 9 The Citadel 2:00pm ET Oct. 16 Georgia TBA Oct. 23 @South Carolina TBA Nov. 6 @Florida 1:00pm ET Nov. 13 Kentucky TBA Nov. 27 @Tennessee TBA