Alabama's ranking highest since 1974

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - Alabama&#39;s No. 5 ranking in this week&#39;s Associated Press poll is the program&#39;s highest since 1974. <br> <br> The 1974 team, coached by C.M Newton and including freshman All-American T.R. Dunn, achieved the Crimson Tide&#39;s highest ever ranking at No. 4. <br> <br> Dunn is now an Alabama assistant. <br> <br> ``I think it&#39;s exciting,&#39;&#39; coach Mark Gottfried said Monday. ``It shows you that we&#39;ve made some progress here. I think our players are hungry to do a lot more and they&#39;re not going to be content with that.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Alabama (19-3, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) is in first place in the overall league standings. <br> <br> The Tide play Mississippi on Wednesday night with a chance to secure a second straight 20-win season. <br> <br> Alabama is off to its best start since 1977, when it began 20-3. The 1974 team won 21 of its first 24 games before finishing the season 22-4.