1949 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

1949 Alabama Crimson Tide football
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Record	6–3–1 (4–3–1 SEC)
Head coach	Harold Drew (3rd season)
Captain	Doug Lockridge
Home stadium	Denny Stadium Legion Field Ladd Stadium
Seasons ←  1948 1950  →

1949 Southeastern Conference football standings
v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Tulane $	5	–	1	–	0			7	–	2	–	1
No. 11 Kentucky	4	–	1	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
No. 17 Tennessee	4	–	1	–	1			7	–	2	–	1
Georgia Tech	5	–	2	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
No. 9 LSU	4	–	2	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
Alabama	4	–	3	–	1			6	–	3	–	1
Vanderbilt	4	–	4	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Auburn	2	–	4	–	2			2	–	4	–	3
Ole Miss	2	–	4	–	0			4	–	5	–	1
Florida	1	–	4	–	1			4	–	5	–	1
Georgia	1	–	4	–	1			4	–	6	–	1
Mississippi State	0	–	6	–	0			0	–	8	–	1
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1949 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1949 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 55th overall and 16th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Harold Drew, in his third year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and Ladd Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. They finished with a record of six wins, three losses and one tie (6–3–1 overall, 4–3–1 in the SEC).

Alabama opened the season with losses against Tulane and at Vanderbilt before they notched their first win of the season against Duquesne at Denny Stadium. A week later, the Crimson Tide played Tennessee to a tie before they won five consecutive games over Mississippi State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Mississippi Southern and Florida. Alabama then closed their season with a 14–13 loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl after Ed Salem missed an extra point that would have tied the game with less than two minutes left in the game.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
September 24	Tulane	Ladd Stadium Mobile, AL	L 14–28	37,500
October 1	at Vanderbilt	Dudley Field Nashville, TN	L 7–14	27,500
October 7	Duquesne *	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	W 48–8	15,000
October 15	Tennessee	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Third Saturday in October)	T 7–7	41,000
October 22	Mississippi State	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	W 35–6	26,000
October 29	at Georgia	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (rivalry)	W 14–7	35,000
November 12	Georgia Tech	Legion Field Birmingham, AL	W 20–7	43,000
November 19	Mississippi Southern *	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	W 34–26	15,000
November 26	at Florida	Florida Field Gainesville, FL (rivalry)	W 35–13	15,000
December 3	vs. Auburn	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Iron Bowl)	L 13–14	44,000
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^[1]

Game summaries

Tulane

See also: 1949 Tulane Green Wave football team

1 2 3 4 Total •Tulane 0 7 7 14 28 Alabama 0 0 0 14 14 Date: September 24 Location: Ladd Stadium Mobile, AL Game attendance: 37,500 Source: [2]

To open the 1949 season, Alabama traveled to Mobile and were defeated 28–14 by the Tulane Green Wave to open the second consecutive season with a loss. ^{[2] [3]} After a scoreless first quarter, Tulane took a 7–0 halftime lead after George Kinek scored on a four-yard touchdown run. ^[2] The Greenies extended their lead further in the third quarter to 14–0 when Eddie Price scored on an 11-yard run. ^[2] In the fourth quarter, Bill Svoboda scored a pair of touchdowns on a one-yard run and on an 85-yard kickoff return for Tulane. Alabama scored both of their touchdowns on a pair of passes; the first on a 78-yard pass from Ed Salem to Bill Abston and the second on a 23-yard Butch Avinger pass to Tom Calvin to make the final score 28–14. ^{[2] [3]} The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Tulane to 15–7–1. ^[4]

Vanderbilt

See also: 1949 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

1 2 3 4 Total Alabama 0 7 0 0 7 •Vanderbilt 0 7 0 7 14 Date: October 1 Location: Dudley Field Nashville, Tennessee Game attendance: 27,500 Source: [5]

The Crimson Tide lost for the second consecutive week against the Vanderbilt Commodores by a final score of 14–7 at Dudley Field. ^{[3] [5]} After a scoreless first quarter, both teams scored second-quarter touchdowns in a span of just one minute to make the halftime score 7–7. The Commodores scored first on a 29-yard Dean Davidson run and the Crimson Tide responded with a nine-yard Ed Salem pass to Tom Calvin. ^[5] Joe Hicks then scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run. ^[5] Alabama then drove to the Vandy 12-yard line late in the fourth when a fourth down pass went incomplete to preserve the Commodores victory. ^[5] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 16–12–1. ^[6]

Duquesne

See also: 1949 Duquesne Dukes football team

1 2 3 4 Total Duquesne 0 6 0 2 8 •Alabama 20 14 14 0 48 Date: October 7 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 15,000 Sources: [7] [8]

In their first Tuscaloosa game of the season, Alabama defeated the Duquesne Dukes, for the third consecutive season, by a final score of 48–8 on a Friday evening. ^{[3] [7]} The Crimson Tide opened the scoring with three first-quarter touchdowns on a 36-yard Tom Calvin run, a 61-yard James Melton run and on a 20-yard Butch Avinger pass to Al Lary for a 20–0 lead. ^{[7] [8]} In the second quarter, Alabama scored first on a one-yard Ralph Cochran run, and then the Dukes responded with their only touchdown of the game on a three-yard Chuck Rapp run to make the score 27–6. ^{[7] [8]} The Crimson Tide then scored on the kickoff that ensued when a 101-yard Jim Burkett return made the halftime score 34–6. ^{[7] [8]}

Alabama then closed the scoring for the evening with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns. The first came on a 76-yard J. D. Roddam run and the second on a 22-yard Lary run to make the score 48–6. ^{[7] [8]} The Dukes then scored the final points of the game in the fourth quarter when Frank Yacina tackled George McCain for a safety to make the final score 48–8. ^{[7] [8]} The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Duquesne to 3–0. ^[9]

Tennessee

See also: 1949 Tennessee Volunteers football team

Third Saturday in October

1 2 3 4 Total Tennessee 7 0 0 0 7 Alabama 0 7 0 0 7 Date: October 15 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 41,000 Sources: [10]

Alabama played the rival Tennessee Volunteers to a 7–7 tie at Legion Field in a driving rainstorm. ^{[3] [10]} The only points of the game came on a pair of one-yard touchdown runs in the first half. Bernie Sizemore scored for the Volunteers in the first quarter and James Melton scored for the Crimson Tide in the second quarter. ^[10] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 17–10–4. ^[11]

Mississippi State

See also: 1949 Mississippi State Maroons football team

1 2 3 4 Total Mississippi State 0 0 0 6 6 •Alabama 7 14 7 7 35 Date: October 22 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 26,000 Source: [12]

On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide scored touchdowns in all four quarters and defeated the Mississippi State Maroons 35–6 at Denny Stadium. ^{[3] [12]} Lionel W. Noonan scored the initial Alabama touchdown on a two-yard run in the first. In the second, Ed Salem scored on a three-yard run and later threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Al Lary for a 21–0 halftime lead. ^[12] The Crimson Tide further extended their lead with touchdown runs of three-yards by J. D. Roddam in the third and of two-yards by Jim Burkett in the fourth to make the score 35–0. ^[12] The Maroons then ended the shutout attempt with just 0:02 remaining in the game when Max Stainbrook returned an interception 60-yards for a touchdown as time expired to make the final score 35–6. ^[12] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State to 25–7–2. ^[13]

Georgia

See also: 1949 Georgia Bulldogs football team

1 2 3 4 Total •Alabama 0 7 0 7 14 Georgia 0 7 0 0 7 Date: October 29 Location: Sanford Stadium Athens, GA Game attendance: 35,000 Sources: [14]

One year after Georgia gave the Crimson Tide their worst defeat since the 1910 season, Alabama upset the Bulldogs 14–7 on homecoming in Athens. ^{[3] [14]} In the second quarter, Alabama scored on a one-yard Butch Avinger run and Georgia on a five-yard Floyd Reid run for a halftime score of 7–7. ^[14] After a scoreless third, the Crimson Tide scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 25-yard Ed Salem pass to James Melton. ^[14] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 17–15–3. ^[15]

Georgia Tech

See also: 1949 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

1 2 3 4 Total Georgia Tech 0 7 0 0 7 •Alabama 0 0 14 6 20 Date: November 12 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 43,000 Source: [16]

Before 43,000 fans at Legion Field, Alabama defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 20–7 for their third conference victory of the season. ^{[3] [16]} After a scoreless first quarter, the Yellow Jackets took a 7–0 halftime lead when George Humphreys threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Charles Harvin late in the second. ^[16] Alabama then took the lead with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns scored by Ed Salem on a five-yard run and on a 25-yard Butch Avinger pass to Al Lary. ^[16] Salem then made the final score 20–7 late in the fourth with his three-yard touchdown run for the Crimson Tide. ^[16] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 16–12–3. ^[17]

Mississippi Southern

1 2 3 4 Total Mississippi Southern 0 0 0 26 26 •Alabama 14 13 7 0 34 Date: November 19 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 15,000 Source: [18]

Although the Golden Eagles scored 26 fourth quarter points, Alabama defeated Mississippi Southern at Denny Stadium 34–26. ^{[3] [18]} The Crimson Tide opened the scoring with a pair of first-quarter touchdown passes from Ed Salem to Ed White for a 14–0 lead. ^[18] In the second quarter, Butch Avinger scored touchdowns on a quarterback sneak and on his five-yard pass to Al Lary for a 27–0 halftime lead. ^[18] Before Southern scored their 26 fourth quarter points, Bob Cochran threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Charley Davis to give Alabama a 34–0 lead as they entered the fourth. ^[18] In the fourth quarter Southern touchdowns were scored by Morris Brown on a four-yard run, a 95-yard Bobby Holmes punt return, a 43-yard Brown run and then on a second Holmes punt return for 85-yards. ^[18] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi Southern to 3–0. ^[19]

Florida

See also: 1949 Florida Gators football team

1 2 3 4 Total •Alabama 13 9 7 6 35 Florida 7 0 0 6 13 Date: November 26 Location: Florida Field Gainesville, FL Game attendance: 15,000 Source: [20]

In their final road game of the season, Alabama defeated the Florida Gators 35–13 for their fifth consecutive win on the season. ^{[3] [20]} The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Florida to 7–3. ^[21]

Auburn

See also: 1949 Auburn Tigers football team

Iron Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total •Auburn 0 7 0 7 14 Alabama 0 7 0 6 13 Date: December 3 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 44,000 Source: [22] [23]

In the second meeting since the renewal of the series, Alabama was upset by Auburn 14–13 at Legion Field. ^{[3] [22] [23]} After a scoreless first, Auburn took a 7–0 lead in the second quarter when Johnny Wallis intercepted an Ed Salem pass and returned it 19-yards for the touchdown. ^{[22] [23]} Alabama responded with just seconds remaining in the half with a 13-yard Salem touchdown run to tie the game 7–7 at halftime. ^{[22] [23]} The Tigers retook the lead early in the fourth on a ten-yard George Davis run. ^{[22] [23]} The Crimson Tide responded with a three-yard Tom Calvin touchdown run with just under two minutes left in the game. However, Salem missed the extra point to give Auburn the 14–13 victory. ^{[22] [23]} The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Auburn to 5–8–1. ^[24]

Personnel

Varsity letter winners Player Hometown Position Bill Abston Peterson, Alabama Halfback Paul Arthur Birmingham, Alabama End Butch Avinger Montgomery, Alabama Quarterback Jack Brown Selma, Alabama Quarterback Jim Burkett Dothan, Alabama Fullback Billy Cadenhead Greenville, Mississippi Halfback Tom Calvin Athens, Alabama Halfback Bob Cochran Hueytown, Alabama Halfback Ralph Cochran Hueytown, Alabama Quarterback Joe Compton Sylacauga, Alabama Fullback L. B. Couch Southside, Alabama Center Charley Davis Uniontown, Pennsylvania Halfback Jim Franko Yorkville, Ohio Guard Herb Hannah Athens, Alabama Guard Sandy Helms Tuscaloosa, Alabama Guard Ed Holdnak Kenvil, New Jersey Guard Jug Jenkins Eufaula, Alabama End Al Lary Northport, Alabama End Ed Lary Northport, Alabama End Larry Lauer Wilmette, Illinois Center Doug Lockridge Jasper, Alabama Center Harold Lutz Clinton, Iowa End Walter May Mobile, Alabama Back Dave Mayfield Jacksonville, Florida Tackle James Melton Wetumpka, Alabama Halfback Floyd Miller Oneonta, Alabama Tackle Mike Mizerany Birmingham, Alabama Guard Lionel W. Noonan Mobile, Alabama Halfback Pat O'Sullivan New Orleans, Louisiana Linebacker J. D. Roddam Pinson, Alabama Halfback Ed Salem Birmingham, Alabama Halfback Billy Shipp Mobile, Alabama Tackle Jack Smith Hueytown, Alabama Guard Elliott Speed Selma, Alabama Center Rebel Steiner Birmingham, Alabama End Bill Theris Mobile, Alabama Tackle Ed White Anniston, Alabama End Al Wilhite Tuscumbia, Alabama Tackle Reference: [25]

Coaching staff Name Position Seasons at Alabama Alma Mater Harold Drew Head coach 16 Bates (1916) Lew Bostick Assistant coach 6 Alabama (1939) Tilden Campbell Assistant coach 10 Alabama (1935) Ben Enis Assistant coach 1 Alabama (1927) Joe Kilgrow Assistant coach 6 Alabama (1937) Malcolm Laney Assistant coach 6 Alabama (1932) Tom Lieb Assistant coach 4 Notre Dame (1923) James Nisbet Assistant coach 1 Alabama (1937) Reference: [26]

References

General

• "1949 Season Recaps" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved October 22, 2012.

Specific

1. "1949 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on November 25, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
2. "Price leads Tulane to win over Crimson Tide, 28 to 14". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. September 25, 1949. p. 10. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
3. 1949 Season Recap
4. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tulane". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
5. Ketterson, Tom (October 2, 1949). "Tide's drive in final minute fails as Vanderbilt wins, 14–7". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. United Press. p. 8. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
6. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
7. Watkins, Ed (October 8, 1949). "Tide blasts Dukes 48–8 in season's first win". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
8. Johnson, Vince (October 8, 1949). "Alabama Tide swamps Dukes, 48–8". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Google News Archives. p. 10. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
9. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Duquesne". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
10. Watkins, Ed (October 16, 1949). "Tide, Vols draw 7–7 in dual on wet turf". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
11. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tennessee". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
12. Green, Ben A. (October 23, 1949). "Tide tramples State 35–6 with 45 players". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
13. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
14. Green, Ben A. (October 30, 1949). "Alabama upsets Georgians 14–7". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
15. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
16. Watkins, Ed (November 13, 1949). "Tide wrecks Tech, 20–7 for 43,000". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
17. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia Tech". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
18. Green, Ben A. (November 20, 1949). "Tide defeats Southern 34–26". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
19. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Southern Mississippi". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
20. Watkins, Ed (November 27, 1949). "Tide runs long touchdowns in 35 to 13 romp over Gators". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 8. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
21. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Florida". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
22. Watkins, Ed (December 4, 1949). "Auburn nips Tide, 14–13". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
23. Griffin, John Chandler (2001). "1949: Yes, sports fans, miracles still happen". Alabama vs. Auburn: Gridiron Grudge Since 1893. Athens, Georgia: Hill Street Press. pp. 130–132. ISBN   1-58818-044-1.
24. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Auburn". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
25. "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.
26. "All-Time Assistant Coaches". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 142–143.