1911 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

1911 Alabama Crimson Tide football
Conference	Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record	5–2–2 (2–2–2 SIAA)
Head coach	D. V. Graves (1st season)
Captain	Robert Bumgardner
Home stadium	The Quad Birmingham Fairgrounds
Seasons ←  1910 1912  →

1911 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Vanderbilt $	5	–	0	–	0			8	–	1	–	0
Auburn	4	–	0	–	1			4	–	2	–	1
Georgia	5	–	1	–	1			7	–	1	–	1
Georgia Tech	5	–	2	–	1			6	–	2	–	1
Kentucky State	2	–	1	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
LSU	2	–	1	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Mississippi A&M	4	–	2	–	1			7	–	2	–	1
Alabama	2	–	2	–	2			5	–	2	–	2
Ole Miss	2	–	2	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Tulane	3	–	3	–	0			5	–	3	–	1
Sewanee	2	–	3	–	0			6	–	3	–	1
Clemson	2	–	4	–	0			3	–	5	–	0
The Citadel	1	–	1	–	0			5	–	2	–	2
Mercer	2	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	1
Central University	0	–	2	–	1			3	–	2	–	1
Tennessee	0	–	2	–	0			3	–	4	–	2
Mississippi College	0	–	4	–	0			1	–	5	–	0
Howard (AL)	0	–	6	–	0			1	–	6	–	1
$ – Conference champion

The 1911 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1911 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 19th overall and 16th season as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA). The team was led by head coach D. V. Graves, in his first year, and played their home games at the University of Alabama Quad in Tuscaloosa and the Birmingham Fairgrounds in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of five wins, two losses and two ties (5–2–2 overall, 2–2–2 in the SIAA).

In June 1911, Guy Lowman resigned from his position of head coach and athletic director at Alabama, and one month later the hiring of Graves to serve in both capacities was announced by the university president. Under Graves, Alabama opened their season with a pair of victories over Howard and Birmingham College at Tuscaloosa. They were then upset by Georgia at Birmingham before playing both Mississippi A&M and Georgia Tech to ties on the road. After a victory over Marion Military Institute in their final road game of the season, Alabama closed the season with victories over both Tulane and Davidson and an upset loss to Sewanee.

Before the season

On June 21, 1911, Kansas State Agricultural College (now known as Kansas State University) announced Alabama head coach and athletic director Guy Lowman had been hired to serve in the same capacities at Kansas State. ^[1] After a month-long search, on July 21, university president John Abercrombie offered the job of professor of physical training and athletic director to D. V. Graves to which he accepted immediately via telegraph. ^[2] The appointment was inclusive of him serving as head coach of all athletic teams at Alabama, including football. Graves was selected as he was the most highly recommended candidate, and he also played baseball for a single-season under Lowman while in college at the University of Missouri. ^[2]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Source
September 30	Howard (AL)	The Quad Tuscaloosa, AL	W 24–0	[3]
October 7	Birmingham *	The Quad Tuscaloosa, AL	W 47–5	[4]
October 14	Georgia	Birmingham Fairgrounds Birmingham, AL (rivalry)	L 3–11	[5]
October 20	at Mississippi A&M	Columbus Fairgrounds Columbus, MS (rivalry)	T 6–6	[6]
October 28	at Georgia Tech	Ponce de Leon Park Atlanta, GA (rivalry)	T 0–0	[7]
November 4	at Marion *	Marion, AL	W 35–0	[8]
November 11	Tulane	The Quad Tuscaloosa, AL	W 22–0	[9]
November 18	Sewanee	Birmingham Fairgrounds Birmingham, AL	L 0–3	[10]
November 30	Davidson *	Birmingham Fairgrounds Birmingham, AL	W 16–6	[11]
*Non-conference game

^{[12] [A 1]}

Game summaries

Howard (AL)

Week 1: Howard at Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total Howard 0 0 0 0 0 •Alabama 0 6 0 18 24 Date: September 30 Location: The Quad Tuscaloosa, AL Referee: Donnelley Sources: [3] [13]

Alabama opened the season with a 24–0 shutout victory over Howard (now Samford) at Tuscaloosa. ^{[3] [13] [14]} After a scoreless first quarter, the Crimson Tide took a 6–0 lead into halftime after Farley Moody scored on a 40-yard punt return for a touchdown. ^{[3] [13]} After a scoreless third, Alabama then closed the game with a trio of fourth quarter touchdowns. Robert Bumgardner scored first on a five-yard run, Moody on a one-yard run and Charlie Joplin on a 65-yard reception. ^{[3] [13]}

The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against Howard to 4–0. ^[15]

The starting lineup was Hargrove Vandegraaff (left end), Harold Mustin Powell (left tackle), Phillip Brooks Keller (left guard), Henry Barnett (center), Julius Clorefeline (right guard), C. C. Countess (right tackle), W. S. Pritchard (right end), Farley Moody (quarterback), Robert Bumgardner (left halfback), Edward Judson Finnell (right halfback), Adrian Vandegraaff (fullback). ^[3]

Birmingham College

Week 2: Birmingham College at Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total Birmingham 5 0 0 0 5 •Alabama 6 11 6 24 47 Date: October 7 Location: The Quad Tuscaloosa, AL Referee: Corleaux (Washington) Sources: [4] [16]

In their second game of the season, Alabama defeated Birmingham College (now Birmingham–Southern College) 47–5 at The Quad. ^{[14] [4] [16]} Adrian Vandegraaff gave Alabama an early 6–0 lead behind his short touchdown run within the first three minutes of the game. Birmingham responded with their only points of the day on the drive that ensued on a short Taylor run and made the score 6–5. ^[16] In the second, Alabama extended their lead to 17–5 behind a short touchdown run by Vandegraaff and a 30-yard run by Robert Bumgardner. ^[16]

After Farley Moody scored on a short touchdown run early in the third, Alabama closed the game with four touchdowns in the fourth quarter. ^[16] Hargrove Van de Graaff scored first after he blocked a Birmingham punt and returned it 22-yards for the score. Adrian Van de Graaff next scored on an 85-yard kickoff return followed by a fourth Adrian Vandegraaff touchdown run and a 70-yard C. W. Greer run that made the final score 47–5. ^[16] The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against Birmingham College to 2–0. ^[17]

The starting lineup was Robert Bumgardner (left end), Harold Mustin Powell (left tackle), Phillip Brooks Keller (left guard), Henry Barnett (center), Julius Clorefeline (right guard), C. C. Countess (right tackle), W. S. Pritchard (right end), Farley Moody (quarterback), Hargrove Vandegraaff (left halfback), Edward Judson Finnell (right halfback), Adrian Vandegraaff (fullback). ^[4]

Georgia

Week 3: Georgia at Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total •Georgia 5 0 0 6 11 Alabama 0 3 0 0 3 Date: October 14 Location: Fairgrounds Birmingham, AL Referee: Ed Hamilton Sources: [5] [18]

In what was their first Birmingham game of the season, the Crimsons lost to Georgia 11–3 at the Fairgrounds. ^{[14] [5] [18]} Bob McWhorter scored the first Georgia points of the game after he recovered a punt fumbled by Farley Moody and returned it for a touchdown and 5–0 lead. Farley then cut the Bulldog lead to 5–3 at halftime behind his 35-yard drop kick field goal in the second quarter. ^{[5] [18]} McWhorter then made the final score 11–3 behind his 12-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. ^{[5] [18]} The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 3–4–3. ^[19]

The starting lineup was: Hargrove Vandergraaf (left end), Harold Mustin Powell (left tackle), Phillip Brooks Keller (left guard), Henry Barnett (center), Julius Clorefeline (right guard), C. C. Countess (right tackle), William L. Harsh (right end), Farley Moody (quarterback), Courtney (left halfback), Holt Andrews McDowell (right halfback), Adrian Vandegraaff (fullback). ^[20]

Mississippi A&M

Week 4: Alabama at Mississippi A&M

1 2 3 4 Total Alabama 0 0 6 0 6 MS A&M 0 6 0 0 6 Date: October 20 Location: Fairgrounds Columbus, MS Referee: George Watkins Sources: [6] [21]

In their first road game of the season, the Alabama played the Mississippi A&M Aggies to a 6–6 tie before 3,000 fans at the Fairgrounds in Columbus, Mississippi. ^{[14] [6] [21]} After a scoreless first, the Aggies took a 6–0 lead behind a four-yard Morley Jennings touchdown run. Alabama responded with their lone points after Adrian Vandegraaff returned a Mississippi fumble 25-yard and tied the game 6–6. ^{[6] [21]} The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi A&M to 6–1–1. ^[22]

The starting lineup was: Hargrove Vandergraaf (left end), Harold Mustin Powell (left tackle), Phillip Brooks Keller (left guard), Henry Barnett (center), Julius Clorefeline (right guard), J. W. Hicks (right tackle), Robert Bumgardner (right end), Farley Moody (quarterback), Holt Andrews McDowell (left halfback), Edward Judson Finnell (right halfback), Adrian Vandegraaff (fullback). ^[6]

Georgia Tech

Week 5: Alabama at Georgia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 Ga. Tech 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 28 Location: Ponce de Leon Park Atlanta, GA Referee: Brown (Vanderbilt) Sources: [23] [7]

The Georgia Tech game ended in a scoreless tie after time expired as Alabama drove to the Tech three-yard line. ^{[14] [23] [7]} Following a hard-fought scoreless tie with Georgia Tech in 1911, coach John Heisman declared that he had never seen a player "so thoroughly imbued with the true spirit of football as Hargrove Vandegraaff." ^[24] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 1–3–1. ^[25]

The starting lineup was: Hargrove Vandergraaf (left end), Harold Mustin Powell (left tackle), Phillip Brooks Keller (left guard), Henry Barnett (center), Julius Clorefeline (right guard), C. C. Countess (right tackle), Robert Bumgardner (right end), Farley Moody (quarterback), Holt Andrews McDowell (left halfback), Edward Judson Finnell (right halfback), Adrian Vandegraaff (fullback). ^[7]

Marion Military Institute

In what was their third consecutive road game, Alabama shutout the Marion Military Institute 35–0. ^{[14] [8]} In what was also the only game played by Alabama at Marion, the win improved Alabama's all-time record against Marion to 3–0. ^[26]

Tulane

Week 7: Tulane at Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total Tulane 0 0 0 0 0 •Alabama 0 5 0 17 22 Date: November 11 Location: The Quad Tuscaloosa, AL Referee: George Watkins Sources: [27] [9]

In what was their final Tuscaloosa game of the season, Alabama shutout Tulane 22–0 at The Quad. ^{[14] [27] [9]} After a scoreless first, Alabama took a 5–0 lead in the second quarter on a 40-yard Farley Moody punt return. ^{[27] [9]} The score remained the same through the fourth quarter when Alabama scored a trio of touchdowns for the 22–0 victory. Touchdowns were scored on short runs by both Adrian and Hargrove Vandergraaf as well as on a 25-yard Robert Bumgardner run. ^{[27] [9]} The win improved Alabama's all-time record against Tulane to 4–2–1. ^[28]

The starting lineup was: Hargrove Vandergraaf (left end), Harold Mustin Powell (left tackle), Phillip Brooks Keller (left guard), Henry Barnett (center), Julius Clorefeline (right guard), C. C. Countess (right tackle), Robert Bumgardner (right end), Farley Moody (quarterback), Holt Andrews McDowell (left halfback), William L. Harsh (right halfback), Adrian Vandegraaff (fullback). ^[27]

Sewanee

Week 8: Sewanee at Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total •Sewanee 0 0 0 3 3 Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 18 Location: Fairgrounds Birmingham, AL Referee: Elgin (Nashville) Sources: [10] [29]

In extremely muddy conditions at Birmingham, Alabama was upset by Sewanee 3–0 at the Fairgrounds. ^{[14] [10] [29]} The game remained scoreless through the final minutes of the game when Jenks Gillem connected on a 15-yard drop kick field goal that gave the Tigers the 3–0 victory. ^{[10] [29]} The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Sewanee to 1–7. ^[30]

The starting lineup was: Hargrove Vandergraaf (left end), Harold Mustin Powell (left tackle), Phillip Brooks Keller (left guard), Henry Barnett (center), Julius Clorefeline (right guard), C. C. Countess (right tackle), Robert Bumgardner (right end), Farley Moody (quarterback), Holt Andrews McDowell (left halfback), William L. Harsh (right halfback), Adrian Vandegraaff (fullback). ^[10]

Davidson

Week 9: Davidson at Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total Davidson 0 6 0 0 6 •Alabama 0 5 0 11 16 Date: November 30 Location: Fairgrounds Birmingham, AL Referee: George Watkins Source: [11]

In their only all-time meeting against Davidson, Alabama Alabama rallied with a pair of late touchdowns and defeated the Wildcats 16–6 at the Birmingham Fairgrounds in their season finale. ^{[14] [11] [31]} After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama took a 5–0 lead behind a long Adrian Vandegraaff touchdown reception from Farley Moody on a fake punt. Davidson responded on the drive that ensued and took a 6–5 lead behind a 55-yard Q. D. Williford interception return for a touchdown. ^[11]

The Wildcats retained the lead through the fourth quarter when Alabama won the game behind a pair of late touchdowns. Adrian Vandegraaff scored first on a 27-yard touchdown run and was followed with a second touchdown run from Vandegraaff that made the final score 16–6. ^[11]

The starting lineup was: Hargrove Vandergraaf (left end), Harold Mustin Powell (left tackle), Phillip Brooks Keller (left guard), Henry Barnett (center), J. W. Hicks (right guard), C. C. Countess (right tackle), Robert Bumgardner (right end), Farley Moody (quarterback), Holt Andrews McDowell (left halfback), William L. Harsh (right halfback), Adrian Vandegraaff (fullback). ^[11]

Roster

Alabama Crimson Tide 1911 roster [14]
	Backs Edward Judson Finnell Charles West Greer William L. Harsh Victor John Heard Holt Andrews McDowell Farley Moody Adrian Van de Graaff		Ends Robert Bumgardner Hargrove Van de Graaff Charlie Joplin M. Cammack Tackles James Gibbons Harold Mustin Powell W. S. Pritchard		Guards Julius Clorefeline J. W. Hicks Phillip Brooks Keller P. W. Shumate Center Henry Barnett C. C. Countess	Coaching staff D. V. Graves – Head coach Auxford Burks – Assistant coach George Barnett – Manager

Notes

1. For the 1911 season, point values were different from those used in contemporary games. In 1911 a touchdown was worth five points, a field goal was worth three points and an extra point (PAT) was worth one point.

References

General

• Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. Vol. 1.
• "1911 Season Recap" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved January 22, 2017.

Specific

1. "K. S. A. C. football coach is named". The Topeka Daily Capital. June 22, 1911. p. 2. Retrieved January 23, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
2. "Graves named Alabama coach". The Atlanta Constitution. July 22, 1911. p. 8. Retrieved January 23, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
3. "Howard is easy for Alabama". The Atlanta Constitution. October 1, 1911. p. B5. Retrieved January 22, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
4. Feibieman, H. U. (October 8, 1911). "Alabama walks over Birmingham". The Atlanta Constitution. p. B6. Retrieved January 22, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
5. Roberts, Hugh W. (October 15, 1911). "Alabama gives Georgia a scrap". The Atlanta Constitution. p. B1. Retrieved January 22, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Both fight hard but neither win". Clarion-Ledger. Associated Press. October 21, 1911. p. 2. Retrieved January 22, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
7. "Alabama fights draw with Yellow Jackets". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 29, 1911. p. 15.
8. "Alabama beats Marion". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 5, 1911. p. 14.
9. "Tulane goes to pieces in last period and Alabama wins 22–0". The New Orleans Item. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 12, 1911. p. 23.
10. Roberts, Hugh W. (November 19, 1911). "By place kick Sewanee wins". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 5. Retrieved January 22, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
11. "Alabama spurts in final moments and passes Davidson in the stretch". The Charlotte Observer. December 1, 1911. p. 9. Retrieved January 22, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
12. "1911 Alabama football archive". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
13. "Joplin features University win". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 1, 1911. p. 13.
14. 1911 Season Recap
15. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Sanford (AL)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
16. "Alabama smothers Birmingham College". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 8, 1911. p. 14.
17. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Birmingham College (AL)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
18. "Georgia, heavier, is conqueror of Alabama". The Tennessean. October 15, 1911. p. 34. Retrieved January 22, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
19. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
20. Woodruff 1928 , p. 252
21. "Alabama ties A&M of Mississippi". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 21, 1911. p. 11.
22. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
23. "Alabama 0, Georgia 0". The Times-Democrat. October 29, 1911. p. 34. Retrieved January 22, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
24. "Coleman Hargrove Van de Graaff, 1893-1938".
25. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia Tech". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
26. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Alabama vs Marion Military Institute (AL)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
27. Feibieman, H. U. (November 12, 1911). "Alabama team easy winners". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 1B. Retrieved January 22, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
28. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tulane (LA)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
29. "Gillem's toe wins for Sewanee team". The Courier-Journal. November 19, 1911. p. 32. Retrieved January 22, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
30. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Sewanee (TN)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
31. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Davidson (NC)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2017.