later, defensive lineman Reggie Grimes tipped, intercepted, and scored a touchdown on a pass from Jesse Palmer. The final score was Alabama 34, Florida 7. After the game, the two years removed from DuBose's contract after the Gibson settlement were restored. This angered some Alabama fans and alumni, some of whom believed he should have been fired in the first place. Alabama then faced Michigan in the Orange Bowl where the Tide lost 35-34 on a missed PAT in the first overtime. Alabama ended the year ranked 8th in both major polls, its first top-10 finish in five years. For the Tide's 10–3 performance, DuBose was named SEC Coach of the Year. 2000 debacle and firing/resignation Alabama came into the 2000 regular season with its highest expectations since the 1992 national championship season. The Tide was ranked third in the country in the pre-season polls and was expected to pick up where it left off in 1999. It had also signed a highly rated recruiting class. The Crimson Tide opened the 2000 season in Pasadena against UCLA, but their national title hopes were quickly shattered in a 35-24 loss. After a win against Vanderbilt the following week, Alabama lost badly to Southern Miss, 21-0. DuBose offered his resignation to Athletic Director Mal Moore after the game, but Moore refused it. After a controversial loss to Arkansas -- in which two disputed calls allowed the Razorbacks to continue what would be the game-winning drive -- the Tide rebounded to beat South Carolina and Ole Miss to raise its record to 3-3. As it turned out, the 45-7 thumping of Ole Miss was the last game DuBose would win. Things reached a nadir on October 28, 2000, when the Tide lost to underdog Central Florida at home, 40-38. On the Tuesday after the game, it was announced that DuBose had been fired, but would be allowed to finish out the season. The 2000 season ended disastrously. Alabama lost a close contest to LSU in Tiger Stadium, the team's first loss in Baton Rouge in 31 years. They were then dominated in Starkville by Mississippi State and shut out 9-0 by Auburn on a miserable day in which Tuscaloosa had sleet and snow in the first installment of the Iron Bowl played on the Alabama campus since 1901. Years later, DuBose said that when he was hired at Alabama, he should have talked