1939 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

1939 Alabama Crimson Tide football
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Record	5–3–1 (2–3–1 SEC)
Head coach	Frank Thomas (9th season)
Captain	Carey Cox
Home stadium	Denny Stadium Legion Field
Seasons ←  1938 1940  →

1939 Southeastern Conference football standings
v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 2 Tennessee +	6	–	0	–	0			10	–	1	–	0
No. 16 Georgia Tech +	6	–	0	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
No. 5 Tulane +	5	–	0	–	0			8	–	1	–	1
Mississippi State	3	–	2	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Ole Miss	2	–	2	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Kentucky	2	–	2	–	1			6	–	2	–	1
Auburn	3	–	3	–	1			5	–	5	–	1
Alabama	2	–	3	–	1			5	–	3	–	1
Georgia	1	–	3	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
LSU	1	–	5	–	0			4	–	5	–	0
Vanderbilt	1	–	6	–	0			2	–	7	–	1
Florida	0	–	3	–	1			5	–	5	–	1
Sewanee	0	–	3	–	0			3	–	5	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

The 1939 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1939 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 46th overall and 7th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Frank Thomas, in his ninth 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 five wins, three losses and one tie (5–3–1 overall, 2–3–1 in the SEC).

The Crimson Tide opened the season with a victory over Howard before they upset Fordham 7–6 in an intersectional contest at the Polo Grounds in week two. After their victory over Mercer, Alabama was shut out 21–0 by Tennessee, their second consecutive shutout loss against the Volunteers. The Crimson Tide then rebounded with a homecoming victory over Mississippi State. Alabama then went winless over their next three conference games with a tie against Kentucky followed by shutout losses to both Tulane and Georgia Tech. The Crimson Tide rebounded in their final game of the season to defeat Vanderbilt.

Alabama was not ranked in the final AP poll, but it was ranked at No. 17 in the 1939 Williamson System ratings, ^[1] and at No. 22 in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939. ^[2]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 30	Howard (AL) *		Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	W 21–0	6,000	[3]
October 7	at Fordham *		Polo Grounds New York, NY	W 7–6	41,454	[4]
October 14	Mercer *		Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	W 20–0	5,000	[5]
October 21	at No. 5 Tennessee	No. 8	Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN (Third Saturday in October)	L 0–21	40,000	[6]
October 28	Mississippi State	No. 20	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	W 7–0	15,000	[7]
November 4	No. 15 Kentucky	No. 19	Legion Field Birmingham, AL	T 7–7	11,000	[8]
November 11	at No. 7 Tulane	No. 20	Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA	L 0–13	52,000	[9]
November 18	Georgia Tech		Legion Field Birmingham, AL	L 0–6	23,000	[10]
November 30	at Vanderbilt		Dudley Field Nashville, TN	W 39–0	18,000	[11]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[12]

Game summaries

Howard

See also: 1939 Howard Bulldogs football team

1 2 3 4 Total Howard 0 0 0 0 0 •Alabama 0 0 7 14 21 Date: September 30 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 6,000 Source: [13]

To open the 1939 season, Alabama defeated Howard (now Samford University) 21–0 at Denny Stadium. ^{[13] [14]} After a scoreless first half, the Crimson Tide scored their first touchdown on a one-yard Paul Spencer run in the third quarter. ^[13] Alabama then closed the game with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns for the 21–0 win. The first came on a five-yard Herschel Mosley pass to Holt Rast and the second on a second, one-yard run by Spencer. ^[13] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Howard to 17–0–1. ^[15]

Fordham

See also: 1939 Fordham Rams football team

1 2 3 4 Total •Alabama 7 0 0 0 7 Fordham 0 0 0 6 6 Date: October 7 Location: Polo Grounds New York, NY Game attendance: 41,454 Sources: [16] [17]

On the road against a favored Fordham squad, the Crimson Tide defeated the Rams 7–6 at the Polo Grounds in an intersectional matchup. ^{[14] [16] [17]} The Crimson Tide scored their only points of the game in the first quarter. Jimmy Nelson scored Alabama's only touchdown on an 18-yard run to cap a 40-yard drive, and then Hayward Sanford connected on the extra point to give the Crimson Tide a 7–0 lead. ^[16] Sanford later missed a 33-yard field goal in the first, and the Rams turned the ball over on downs at the Alabama 19-yard line to keep the score 7–0 at the end of the quarter. ^{[16] [17]} Fordham then scored their only points of the game late in the fourth after Dom Principe scored on a short touchdown run; however, Alex Yudikaitis missed the extra point which proved to be the margin in their loss. ^[17] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Fordham to 1–1. ^[18]

This game is also noted as being the second televised college football game after the 1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game played one week earlier. ^[19] The game was televised exclusively in New York City as it was broadcast over W2XBS and only a few hundred televisions were thought to be in existence at the time. ^[19]

Mercer

See also: 1939 Mercer Bears football team

1 2 3 4 Total Mercer 0 0 0 0 0 •Alabama 7 0 13 0 20 Date: October 14 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 5,000 Source: [20]

A week after the road win at Fordham, Alabama defeated the Mercer Bears 20–0 at Denny Stadium in the first all-time meeting between the schools. ^{[14] [20] [21]} The Crimson Tide took a 7–0 first quarter lead after Paul Spencer scored on a one-yard touchdown run to cap a 42-yard drive. ^[20] After a scoreless second quarter, Alabama scored a pair of third-quarter touchdowns for the 20–0 victory. Gene Blackwell scored first on an eight-yard run and Herschel Mosley scored on a four-yard run. ^[20]

Tennessee

See also: 1939 Tennessee Volunteers football team

Third Saturday in October

1 2 3 4 Total #8 Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 • #5 Tennessee 0 7 0 14 21 Date: October 21 Location: Shields-Watkins Field Knoxville, TN Game attendance: 40,000 Source: [22]

On the Monday prior to their annual game against the Volunteers, Alabama was selected to the No. 8 and Tennessee was selected to the No. 5 position in the first AP Poll of the 1939 season. ^[23] In the game, Alabama was shut out by rival Tennessee 21–0 before an overflow crowd of 40,000 at Shields-Watkins Field. ^{[14] [22]} After a scoreless first quarter, Tennessee took a 7–0 lead in the second after Johnny Butler scored on a 56-yard run. ^[22] Up by a touchdown at the end of the third, a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown runs gave the Volunteers the 21–0 win. The first was made by Bob Foxx on an 11-yard run and the second by Buss Warren om a 12-yard run. ^[22]

Although Alabama was shut out and lost by three touchdowns, Tennessee head coach Robert Neyland said of the Crimson Tide's performance that "I don't think the score indicates the difference between the teams. It should have been about 7 to 0." ^[24] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 13–7–2. ^[25]

Mississippi State

See also: 1939 Mississippi State Maroons football team

1 2 3 4 Total Mississippi State 0 0 0 0 0 • #20 Alabama 7 0 0 0 7 Date: October 28 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 15,000 Source: [26]

After their loss to Tennessee, Alabama dropped from No. 8 to No. 20 in the AP Poll as they entered their annual homecoming game. ^[27] Against Mississippi State the Crimson Tide defeated the Maroons 7–0 before 15,000 fans at Denny Stadium. ^{[14] [26]} The only points of the game came in the first quarter when Charley Boswell threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Holt Rast. ^[26] Alabama outgained the Maroons in rushing yardage 173 to 65 in the victory. ^[26] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State to 19–5–2. ^[28]

Kentucky

See also: 1939 Kentucky Wildcats football team

1 2 3 4 Total #15 Kentucky 0 0 0 7 7 #19 Alabama 0 7 0 0 7 Date: November 4 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 11,000 Source: [29]

As Alabama entered their contest against Kentucky, they gained one position the rankings to No. 19 and the Wildcats entered the rankings at No. 15 in the weekly AP Poll. ^[30] In the game, the Crimson Tide battled the Wildcats to a 7–7 tie in the first game played at Legion Field of the season. ^{[14] [29]} After a scoreless first, Holt Rast blocked a Kentucky punt that was recovered by Alabama at the Wildcats' two-yard line. ^[29] Two plays later, Paul Spencer scored on a short run and Bud Waites converted the extra point to give the Crimson Tide a 7–0 lead. ^[29] Still down by a touchdown at the end of the third, Kentucky tied the game in the fourth on a short Noah Mullins run and Jim Hardin extra point. ^[29] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Kentucky 17–1–1. ^[31]

Tulane

See also: 1939 Tulane Green Wave football team

1 2 3 4 Total #20 Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 • #7 Tulane 0 6 7 0 13 Date: November 11 Location: Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA Game attendance: 52,000 Source: [32]

After their tie with Kentucky, the Crimson Tide dropped out of the weekly AP Poll, and Tulane took the No. 7 position after their victory over Ole Miss. ^[33] In New Orleans, the Crimson Tide was shutout by the Green Wave 13–0 before a crowd of 52,000 at Tulane Stadium. ^{[14] [32]} After a scoreless first, Tulane took a 6–0 halftime lead when Harry Hays scored a touchdown on a 69-yard reverse. ^[32] Robert Kellogg then scored the Green Wave's other touchdown in the third with his three-yard run. ^[32] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Tulane to 12–4–1. ^[34]

Georgia Tech

See also: 1939 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

1 2 3 4 Total •Georgia Tech 6 0 0 0 6 Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 18 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 23,000 Source: [35]

In their final home game of the season game against Georgia Tech Alabama lost their second consecutive game by a shutout, 6–0 against the Yellow Jackets at Legion Field. ^{[14] [35]} The only score of the game was set up after R. W. Murphy recovered a John Hanson fumble at the Alabama 38-yard line. Three plays later the Yellow Jackets scored on a 24-yard E. M. Wheby touchdown reception from Johnny Bosch, and after Holt Rast blocked the extra point attempt, Georgia Tech led 6–0. ^[35] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 11–11–3. ^[36]

Vanderbilt

See also: 1939 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

1 2 3 4 Total •Alabama 13 6 7 13 39 Vanderbilt 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 30 Location: Dudley Field Nashville, TN Source: [37]

In their season finale against the Vanderbilt Commodores, Alabama won 39–0 at Dudley Field on Thanksgiving Day to end a two-game losing streak. ^{[14] [37]} In the first half touchdowns were scored on a Jimmy Nelson touchdown reception in the first and by a 77-yard Herschel Mosley run and a 67-yard Paul Spencer run in the second. ^[37] Up by three touchdowns at halftime, the Crimson Tide scored three second half touchdowns in the 39–0 victory. Second half touchdowns were scored on a 20-yard Jimmy Nelson reception and by Spencer on an eight-yard run and by Hal Newman on an 18-yard reception from Billy Harrell as time expired. ^[37] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 12–9. ^[38]

After the season

NFL draft

Several players that were varsity lettermen from the 1939 squad were drafted into the National Football League (NFL) between the 1940 and 1942 drafts. ^{[39] [40]} These players included the following:

Year	Round	Overall	Player name	Position	NFL team
1940	4	30	Bobby Wood	Tackle	Cleveland Rams
	5	34	Walt Merrill	Tackle	Brooklyn Dodgers
	11	93	Cary Cox	Center	Pittsburgh Steelers
	11	138	Hayward Sanford	End	Washington Redskins
1941	3	25	Fred Davis	Tackle	Washington Redskins
	7	58	Hal Newman	End	Brooklyn Dodgers
	10	90	Ed Hickerson	Guard	Washington Redskins
1942	14	123	John Wyhonic	Guard	Philadelphia Eagles
	18	170	Holt Rast	End	Chicago Bears
	19	174	Jimmy Nelson	Back	Chicago Cardinals

Personnel

Varsity letter winners Player Hometown Position Warren Averitte Greenville, Mississippi Center Gene Blackwell Blytheville, Arkansas End Tom Borders Birmingham, Alabama Tackle Charley Boswell Birmingham, Alabama Halfback Carey Cox Bainbridge, Georgia Center Fred Davis Louisville, Kentucky Tackle John Hanson Roanoke, Alabama Fullback Walter Merrill Andalusia, Alabama Tackle Herschel Mosley Blytheville, Arkansas Halfback Jimmy Nelson Live Oak, Florida Halfback Hal Newman Birmingham, Alabama End Holt Rast Birmingham, Alabama End Perron Shoemaker Birmingham, Alabama End Paul Spencer Hampton, Virginia Fullback Joseph Sugg Russellville, Alabama Guard W. L. Waites Tuscaloosa, Alabama Halfback Erin Warren Montgomery, Alabama End Dallas Wicke Pensacola, Florida Quarterback John Wyhonic Connorville, Ohio Guard Reference: [41]

Coaching staff Name Position Seasons at Alabama Alma Mater Frank Thomas Head coach 9 Notre Dame (1923) Bear Bryant Assistant coach 4 Alabama (1935) Paul Burnum Assistant coach 10 Alabama (1922) Tilden Campbell Assistant coach 4 Alabama (1935) Hank Crisp Assistant coach 19 VPI (1920) Harold Drew Assistant coach 9 Bates (1916) Joe Kilgrow Assistant coach 2 Alabama (1937) Reference: [42]

References

General

• "1939 Season Recap" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-06-04. Retrieved April 15, 2012.

Specific

1. Paul Williamson (December 8, 1941). "Texas Aggies Ranked Nation's Top". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
2. E. E. Litkenhous (December 31, 1939). "Vols Second In Final Litkenhous Grid Rankings; Southern California Tenth". Johnson City Sunday Press. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Tide works to beat Howard, 21–0". The Birmingham News. October 1, 1939. Retrieved February 22, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
4. "Alabama nips Fordham, 7 to 6". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. October 8, 1939. Retrieved February 22, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
5. "Crimson Tide machine rolls over Mercer, 20–0". The Montgomery Advertiser. October 15, 1939. Retrieved February 22, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Mighty Vols batter Alabama Tide, 21–0". Johnson City Press. October 22, 1939. Retrieved February 22, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
7. "Tide conquers 7–0". The Clarion-Ledger. October 29, 1939. Retrieved February 22, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
8. "Kentucky ties Alabama, 7 to 7". The Birmingham News. November 5, 1939. Retrieved February 22, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
9. "Tulane overcomes three year Alabama jinx to overpower Crimson Tide before 52,000 fans". The Shreveport Times. November 12, 1939. Retrieved February 22, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
10. "Jackets trip Tide, holds S.E.C. pace". The Atlanta Constitution. November 19, 1939. Retrieved February 22, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
11. "Alabama dazzles in smashing Vandy, 39 to 0". The Birmingham News. December 1, 1939. Retrieved February 22, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
12. "1939 Alabama football archives". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
13. "Slow starting Tide turns back game Howard crew, 21 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. October 1, 1939. p. 6. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
14. 1939 Season Recap
15. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Samford". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
16. Boni, Bill (October 8, 1939). "Inspired Tide overpowers Rams to edge out 7 to 6 victory". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 10. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
17. Danzig, Allison (October 8, 1939). "Ram is outplayed". The New York Times. ProQuest Historical Newspapers. p. 85.
18. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Fordham". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
19. "Televised Games". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book (PDF). Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. p. 131. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 23, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
20. "Uninspired Tide rolls over Mercer, 20 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. October 15, 1939. p. 10. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
21. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mercer". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
22. Gregory, Kenneth (October 22, 1939). "40,000 see Vols triumph over Crimson Tide, 21 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 10. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
23. Boni, Bill (October 17, 1939). "Pitt wins top in grid poll". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 8. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
24. "Should have been 7–0 says Major Neyland". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. October 22, 1939. p. 10. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
25. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tennessee". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
26. "Alabama pass turns back strong Maroon invaders, 7 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. October 29, 1939. p. 10. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
27. White, Bill (October 24, 1939). "Vols acclaimed best in nation". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 8. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
28. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
29. "Alabama, Kentucky battle to spectacular tie, 7–7". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. November 5, 1939. p. 11. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
30. Boni, Bill (October 31, 1939). "Vols continue in No. 1 spot". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 8. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
31. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Kentucky". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
32. Green, Ben A. (November 12, 1939). "52,000 see Green Wave roll over Crimson Tide, 13 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 10. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
33. Fullerton, Hugh S. Jr. (November 7, 1939). "Vols increase lead in voting". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 8. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
34. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tulane". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
35. "Tornado breaks Alabama jinx with thrilling 6 to 0 victory". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. November 19, 1939. p. 11. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
36. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia Tech". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
37. "Tide overwhelms Vandy 39–0 to close season". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. November 30, 1939. p. 9. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
38. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
39. "Alabama Drafted Players/Alumni". Sports Reference, LLC. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
40. "Draft History by School–Alabama". National Football League. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
41. "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.
42. "All-Time Assistant Coaches". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 142–143.