1935 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

1935 Alabama Crimson Tide football
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Record	6–2–1 (4–2 SEC)
Head coach	Frank Thomas (5th season)
Captain	James Walker
Home stadium	Denny Stadium Legion Field
Seasons ←  1934 1936  →

1935 Southeastern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
LSU $	5	–	0	–	0			9	–	2	–	0
Vanderbilt	5	–	1	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
Ole Miss	3	–	1	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Auburn	5	–	2	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Alabama	4	–	2	–	0			6	–	2	–	1
Tulane	3	–	3	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Kentucky	3	–	3	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Georgia Tech	3	–	4	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Mississippi State	2	–	3	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
Tennessee	2	–	3	–	0			4	–	5	–	0
Georgia	2	–	4	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Florida	1	–	6	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Sewanee	0	–	6	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
$ – Conference champion

The 1935 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1935 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 42nd overall and 3rd season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Frank Thomas, in his fifth year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of six wins, two losses and one tie (6–2–1 overall, 4–2–0 in the SEC).

After Alabama opened the season with an "upset" tie against Howard, Alabama shutout George Washington at Griffith Stadium. One week later, the Crimson Tide suffered their first defeat since 1933 against Mississippi State at Denny Stadium which was also both their first SEC and loss at Denny Stadium. Following this defeat, Alabama responded with five consecutive victories over Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Clemson on homecoming and Georgia Tech before they lost to Vanderbilt to close the season.

For his performance during the season, Riley Smith was a consensus selection to the 1935 College Football All-America Team. In February 1936 Smith, Bear Bryant and Kavanaugh Francis became the first Crimson Tide players selected in the NFL Draft.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 28		Howard (AL) *	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	T 7–7	8,000	[1]
October 5	1:30 p.m.	at George Washington *	Griffith Stadium Washington, DC	W 39–0	30,000	[2] [3]
October 12		Mississippi State	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	L 7–20	8,000	[4]
October 19		at Tennessee	Shields-Watkins Field Knoxville, TN (Third Saturday in October)	W 25–0	20,000	[5]
October 26		at Georgia	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (rivalry)	W 17–7	25,000	[6]
November 2		Kentucky	Legion Field Birmingham, AL	W 13–0	14,500	[7]
November 9		Clemson *	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	W 33–0	8,000	[8]
November 16		Georgia Tech	Legion Field Birmingham, AL	W 38–7	11,000	[9]
November 28		at Vanderbilt	Dudley Field Nashville, TN	L 6–14	18,000	[10]
*Non-conference game Homecoming All times are in Central time

^[11]

Game summaries

Howard

See also: 1935 Howard Bulldogs football team

1 2 3 4 Total Howard 0 0 0 7 7 Alabama 0 7 0 0 7 Date: September 28 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 8,000 Source: [12]

To open the 1935 season Alabama was almost upset by Howard College (now Samford University), but escaped with a 7–7 tie at Denny Stadium. ^{[12] [13]} After a scoreless first, Alabama took a 7–0 halftime lead after James Angelich scored on an eight-yard touchdown run. ^[12] The Bulldogs' defense continued to hold Alabama's offense in check for the remainder of the game, and in the fourth quarter, Howard tied the game. The touchdown was made on a 32-yard Ewing Harbin pass to Dan Snell late in the game. ^{[12] [14]} The tie marked the first time Alabama had not won since their loss at Fordham in 1933 and their first in an opening game since their loss at Vanderbilt to open the 1903 season. ^[12] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Howard to 13–0–1. ^[15]

George Washington

See also: 1935 George Washington Colonials football team

1 2 3 4 Total •Alabama 13 6 6 14 39 George Washington 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 5 Location: Griffith Stadium Washington, DC Game attendance: 30,000 Source: [16]

In what was the first road game of the season, Alabama shutout the George Washington Colonials 39–0 at Griffith Stadium. ^{[13] [16]} Riley Smith scored the first Crimson Tide touchdown in the first quarter on a four-yard run to cap a 92-yard drive. Joe Riley scored later in the quarter on a 70-yard punt return to give Alabama a 13–0 lead at the end of the first. ^[16] In the second, the Crimson Tide scored on a four-yard reverse by James Nesbet for a 19–0 halftime lead. ^[16] After Nesbet scored a touchdown on a five-yard run in the third, Alabama closed the game with a pair of Clarence Rohrdanz touchdown runs in the fourth quarter for the 39–0 victory. ^[16] The win improved Alabama's all-time record against George Washington to 2–0. ^[17]

Mississippi State

See also: 1935 Mississippi State Maroons football team

1 2 3 4 Total •Mississippi State 13 7 0 0 20 Alabama 0 0 7 0 7 Date: October 12 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 8,000 Source: [18]

Against their long-time rival, the Mississippi State Maroons, Alabama lost 20–7 at Denny Stadium. ^{[13] [18]} The loss was Alabama's first defeat against State since 1914, their first all-time SEC loss and their first all-time loss at Denny Stadium. ^{[13] [18]} The Maroons took a 13–0 lead in the first quarter after a pair of Charles Armstrong touchdown passes, first to Ike Pickle and then to Robert Thames. ^[18] They then extended their lead to 20–0 by halftime after two-yard Pickle touchdown run in the second. ^[18] In the third, Alabama scored their only touchdown after James Whatley blocked a Pickle punt that was returned twelve-yards by James Walker. ^[18] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State 17–5–2. ^[19]

Tennessee

See also: 1935 Tennessee Volunteers football team

Third Saturday in October

1 2 3 4 Total •Alabama 6 6 6 7 25 Tennessee 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 19 Location: Shields-Watkins Field Knoxville, TN Game attendance: 20,000 Source: [20]

Against rival Tennessee, Alabama defeated the Volunteers, 25–0 at Shields-Watkins Field and scored one touchdown in each of the four quarters in their victory. ^{[13] [20]} Riley Smith scored in the first on a four-yard run and in the second on a Joe Riley run for a 12–0 halftime lead. ^[20] Both Riley and Smoth scored touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters respectively for the 25–0 victory. ^[20] The game was also notable for the performance of Bear Bryant at end, as he competed in the game in spite of having a fractured fibula in his right leg, incurred the week before against Mississippi State. ^{[20] [21] [22]} The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee 12–5–1. ^[23]

Georgia

See also: 1935 Georgia Bulldogs football team

1 2 3 4 Total •Alabama 0 7 0 10 17 Georgia 7 0 0 0 7 Date: October 26 Location: Sanford Stadium Athens, GA Game attendance: 25,000 Source: [24]

Against Georgia, Alabama defeated the Bulldogs 17–7 before a homecoming crowd of 25,000 at Sanford Stadium. ^{[13] [24]} The Bulldogs took a 7–0 first quarter lead after John Bond threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Al Minot. ^[24] Alabama responded in the second with a two-yard Young Boozer touchdown run to make the halftime score 7–7. ^[24] After a scoreless third, in the fourth the Crimson Tide took a 10–7 lead on a 14-yard Riley Smith field goal. ^[24] Smith then scored the final points of the game later in the quarter with his one-yard touchdown run. ^[24] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 13–11–3. ^[25]

Kentucky

See also: 1935 Kentucky Wildcats football team

1 2 3 4 Total Kentucky 0 0 0 0 0 •Alabama 7 0 6 0 13 Date: November 2 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 14,500 Source: [26]

In their first game at Legion Field of the season, Alabama defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 13–0 in Birmingham. ^{[13] [26]} James Nesbet scored in the first on a four-yard run and Joe Kilgrow threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to James Walker in the third for the 13–0 victory. ^[26] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Kentucky 14–1. ^[27]

Clemson

See also: 1935 Clemson Tigers football team

1 2 3 4 Total Clemson 0 0 0 0 0 •Alabama 0 13 13 7 33 Date: November 9 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 8,000 Source: [28]

On homecoming at Denny Stadium, Alabama defeated the Clemson Tigers of the Southern Conference 33–0 in Tuscaloosa. ^{[13] [28]} After a scoreless first, the Crimson Tide scored a pair of touchdowns in the second. The first was on a Riley Smith quarterback sneak and the second on a seven-yard James Walker run. ^[28] Alabama extended their lead further to 26–0 by the end of the third period with touchdowns scored by James Walker on a one-yard run and by James Angelich on a short run. ^[28] They then closed the game with their fifth touchdown of the afternoon on a 30-yard Red Keller touchdown reception. ^[28] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Clemson to 5–3. ^[29]

Georgia Tech

See also: 1935 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

1 2 3 4 Total Georgia Tech 0 7 0 0 7 •Alabama 6 13 6 13 38 Date: November 16 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 11,000 Source: [30]

Against the Georgia Tech, Alabama defeated the Yellow Jackets 38–7 at Legion Field. ^{[13] [30]} Alabama took a 6–0 first quarter lead after James Angelich scored on a touchdown run. ^[30] In the second quarter, both teams traded touchdowns on a Riley Smith quarterback sneak and a Clarence Rohrdanz run for Alabama and on a 37-yard E. H. Gibson reception and lateral pass to E. R. Collins. ^[30] Up 19–7 at the half, Alabama closed the game with 19 unanswered second half points. Bear Bryant scored on a run in the third and on a pair of Joe Kilgrow touchdown runs in the fourth. ^[30] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 9–10–2. ^[31]

Vanderbilt

See also: 1935 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

1 2 3 4 Total Alabama 0 0 6 0 6 •Vanderbilt 0 7 0 7 14 Date: November 28 Location: Dudley Field Nashville, TN Source: [32]

In the season finale on Thanksgiving Day, Alabama lost to the Vanderbilt Commodores for the first time since 1929 with their 14–6 defeat at Dudley Field. ^{[13] [32]} After a scoreless first, Vanderbilt took a 7–0 halftime lead after Paul Dixon scored on a three-yard touchdown run. ^[32] Alabama responded in the third with a 51-yard Riley Smith touchdown pass to James Walker, however a failed extra point kept the Commodores in the lead 7–6. ^[32] Byron Beard scored the final points of the game after he recovered a fumbled punt by Joe Riley in the endzone for a touchdown. ^[32] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 7–9. ^[33]

After the season

Awards

After the season, Riley Smith was selected by consensus to the 1935 College Football All-America Team as a quarterback. ^[34]

NFL draft

Several players that were varsity lettermen from the 1935 squad were drafted into the National Football League (NFL) between the 1936 and 1938 drafts. ^{[35] [36]} These players included the following:

Year	Round	Overall	Player name	Position	NFL team
1936	1	2	Riley Smith	Blocking back	Boston Redskins
	4	31	Bear Bryant	End	Brooklyn Dodgers
	5	44	Kavanaugh Francis	Center	Detroit Lions
1937	2	14	Arthur White	Back	New York Giants
1938	2	13	Joe Kilgrow	Back	Brooklyn Dodgers

Personnel

Varsity letter winners Player Hometown Position George Adams Montgomery, Alabama End James Angelich Indiana Harbor, Indiana Halfback Ben Baswell Pell City, Alabama Tackle Young Boozer Dothan, Alabama Halfback Bear Bryant Moro Bottom, Arkansas End Tilden "Happy" Campbell Pine Bluff, Arkansas Quarterback Kavanaugh Francis Timson, Texas Center Ralph Gandy Birmingham, Alabama End Joe Kilgrow Montgomery, Alabama Halfback Samuel Hamilton Lyon Meridian, Mississippi Tackle T. A. "Son" McGahey Columbus, Mississippi Tackle Ben McLeod Leeksville, Mississippi Halfback Lamar Moyle Decatur, Alabama Center James Nisbet Bainbridge, Georgia Fullback James Radford Hartford, Alabama Tackle Joe Riley Dothan, Alabama Halfback Clarence Rohrdanz Harvey, Indiana Fullback Joe Shepherd Tuscaloosa, Alabama Guard Riley Smith Columbus, Mississippi Quarterback Charlie Stapp Birmingham, Alabama Halfback James Walker Holt, Alabama End Jim Whatley Alexander City, Alabama Tackle Arthur "Tarzan" White Atmore, Alabama Guard Temple Williamson Tuscaloosa, Alabama Quarterback Reference: [37]

Coaching staff Name Position Seasons at Alabama Alma Mater Frank Thomas Head coach 5 Notre Dame (1923) Paul Burnum Assistant coach 6 Alabama (1922) Hank Crisp Assistant coach 15 VPI (1920) Jim Dildy Assistant coach 1 Alabama (1934) Harold Drew Assistant coach 5 Bates (1916) Larry Hughes Assistant coach 1 Alabama (1934) Joe F. Sharpe Assistant coach 1 Alabama (1932) Reference: [38]

References

General

• "1935 Season Recap" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-06-04. Retrieved April 7, 2012.

Specific

1. "Howard shocks Alabama, 7–7 tie". The Birmingham News. September 29, 1935. Retrieved February 21, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
2. "G. U. in Grid Opener Tonight: Three Other D. C. Teams in Big Tests Tomorrow". The Evening Star . Washington, D.C. October 4, 1935. p. D2. Retrieved June 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
3. "Bama wallops Colonials, 39–0, in comeback". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 6, 1935. Retrieved February 21, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
4. "State flashes aerial attack to defeat Tide, 20 to 0". The Selma Times-Journal. October 13, 1935. Retrieved February 21, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
5. "Crimson Tide crushes Tennessee Vols, 25 to 0". The Knoxville Journal. October 20, 1935. Retrieved February 21, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Tide removes Georgia from unbeaten ranks". The Atlanta Constitution. October 27, 1935. Retrieved February 21, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
7. "Kentucky's errors lead to victory for Tide". Lexington Herald-Leader. November 3, 1935. Retrieved February 21, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
8. "Versatile red elephants of Bama beat Clemson, 33 to 0". The Greenville News. November 10, 1935. Retrieved February 21, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
9. "Tide powerhouse overwhelms Tech". The Atlanta Constitution. November 17, 1935. Retrieved February 21, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
10. "Vandy smashes Crimson Tide by more alert playing, 14–6". The Birmingham News. November 29, 1935. Retrieved February 21, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
11. "1935 Alabama football archives". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
12. Thornton, Jay (September 29, 1935). "Gallant Howard clan stuns opening crowd by tying Bama". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 10. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
13. 1935 Season Recap
14. Goodson, Mike (May 9, 1999). "Howard shocks Alabama". The Gadsden Times. p. 16. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
15. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Samford". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
16. "Crimson Tide flashes new form in smothering Colonials 39–0". The Tuscaloosa News. October 6, 1935. p. 10. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
17. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs George Washington". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
18. "Brilliant Mississippi State team lashes Crimson Tide, 20–7". The Tuscaloosa News. October 13, 1935. p. 10. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
19. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
20. Thornton, Jay (October 20, 1935). "Bama startles throng of 20,000 by crushing Vols, 25 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 10. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
21. Deas, Tommy (October 22, 2011). "Neyland, Bryant helped shape rivalry and the SEC". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
22. Dunnavant, Keith (2005). Coach: The Life of Paul "Bear" Bryant. New York, New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 40–41. ISBN   9780312348762 . Retrieved April 7, 2012.
23. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tennessee". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
24. "Tide stages brilliant comeback to annihilate Georgia, 17–7". The Tuscaloosa News. October 27, 1935. p. 10. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
25. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
26. Thornton, Jay (November 3, 1935). "Crimson Tide line shines in 13–0 triumph over Kentucky". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 10. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
27. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Kentucky". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
28. Thornton, Jay (November 10, 1935). "Crimson Tide swirls over Clemson 33–0 in homecoming game". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 10. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
29. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Clemson". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
30. "Crimson Tide rambles through Georgia Tech crew, 38 to 7". The Tuscaloosa News. November 17, 1935. p. 12. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
31. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia Tech". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
32. "Commodores upsets Alabama 14 to 6, first time since '29". The Tuscaloosa News. November 29, 1935. p. 9. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
33. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
34. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Award Winners (PDF). 2011 NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA.org. p. 5. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
35. "Alabama Drafted Players/Alumni". Sports Reference, LLC. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
36. "Draft History by School–Alabama". National Football League. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
37. "All-Time Tide Football Lettermen". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 127–141.
38. "All-Time Assistant Coaches". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 142–143.