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1940 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

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1940 Alabama Crimson Tide football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Record7–2 (4–2 SEC)
Head coach
CaptainHarold Newman
Home stadiumDenny Stadium
Legion Field
Seasons
← 1939
1941 →
1940 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 4 Tennessee $ 5 0 0 10 1 0
No. 9 Mississippi State 4 0 1 10 0 1
Ole Miss 3 1 0 9 2 0
Alabama 4 2 0 7 2 0
Auburn 3 2 1 6 4 1
LSU 3 3 0 6 4 0
Georgia 2 3 1 5 4 1
Florida 2 3 0 5 5 0
Kentucky 1 2 2 5 3 2
Tulane 1 3 0 5 5 0
Vanderbilt 1 5 1 3 6 1
Georgia Tech 1 5 0 3 7 0
Sewanee 0 1 0 3 5 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1940 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1940 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 47th overall and 8th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Frank Thomas, in his tenth 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 seven wins and two losses (7–2 overall, 4–2 in the SEC).

The Crimson Tide opened the 1940 season with three consecutive, non-conference victories over Spring Hill, Mercer and Howard. However, Alabama was defeated 27–12 by Tennessee in their conference opener in week four. The Crimson Tide then rebounded with four consecutive conference victories over Kentucky, Tulane, Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt. Alabama then closed their season with a loss against Mississippi State on homecoming at Denny Stadium.

Alabama was ranked at No. 24 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.[1]

Schedule

[edit]
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 27at Spring Hill*W 26–07,500
October 5Mercer*W 20–06,000
October 12Howard (AL)*
  • Denny Stadium
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
W 31–04,500
October 19No. 5 TennesseeL 12–2724,500
November 2at KentuckyW 25–013,000
November 9Tulane
  • Legion Field
  • Birmingham, AL
W 13–620,000
November 16at Georgia TechNo. 14W 14–1325,000
November 23VanderbiltNo. 17
  • Legion Field
  • Birmingham, AL
W 25–21
November 30No. 11 Mississippi StatedaggerNo. 17
  • Denny Stadium
  • Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)
L 0–1318,500
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[2]

Game summaries

[edit]

Spring Hill

[edit]
1 234Total
Alabama 0 7136 26
Spring Hill 0 000 0
  • Date: September 27
  • Location: Murphy H. S. Stadium
    Mobile, AL
  • Game attendance: 7,500

To open the 1940 season, Alabama defeated Spring Hill College 26–0 at Murphy High School Stadium in Mobile.[3][4] After a scoreless first quarter, the Crimson Tide scored their first touchdown on a one-yard Paul Spencer run in the second quarter and held a 7–0 halftime lead.[3] In the third quarter, Alabama extended their lead to 20–0 with touchdowns scored runs of two-yards by Spencer and 31-yards by Dave Brown.[3] They then closed the game with a five-yard Herschel Mosley touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the 26–0 victory.[3] The victory was Alabama's final game played against the Badgers and improved their all-time record against Spring Hill to 3–0.[5] This contest is also notable for being the first night game ever played by an Alabama football team.[3][4][6]

Mercer

[edit]
1 234Total
Mercer 0 000 0
Alabama 6 770 20
  • Date: October 5
  • Location: Denny Stadium
    Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Game attendance: 6,000

In their first home game of the season, Alabama shutout the Mercer Bears 20–0 on an unseasonably warm afternoon that saw temperatures in excess of 90 degrees.[4][7] Paul Spencer scored both of the Crimson Tide's first half touchdowns on runs of six and five yards for a 13–0 halftime lead.[7] The final score came in the third quarter on a six-yard Dave Brown touchdown run.[7] In the victory, the Alabama defense only allowed the Bears one first down and held their offense to net yardage of minus 17.[7] The victory was Alabama's final game played against the Bears until 2017 and improved their all-time record against Mercer to 2–0.[8]

Howard

[edit]
1 234Total
Howard 0 000 0
Alabama 6 7126 31
  • Date: October 12
  • Location: Denny Stadium
    Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Game attendance: 4,500

At Denny Stadium, Alabama defeated Howard (now Samford University) 31–0 for their third consecutive shutout to open the season.[4][9] Paul Spencer scored first with his one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter followed by a six-yard Dave Brown touchdown run in the second quarter for a 13–0 halftime lead.[9] After Spencer scored again in the third on a seven-yard run, Jimmy Nelson intercepted a Jimmy Tarrant pass and returned it 88-yards for a touchdown.[9] Don Salls then scored the final points of the game in the fourth quarter on a ten-yard run for the 31–0 victory.[9] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Howard to 18–0–1.[10]

Tennessee

[edit]
Third Saturday in October
1 234Total
• #5 Tennessee 0 14013 27
Alabama 0 660 12
  • Date: October 19
  • Location: Legion Field
    Birmingham, AL
  • Game attendance: 24,500

On the Monday prior to their annual game against the Volunteers, Tennessee was selected to the No. 5 position in the first AP Poll of the 1940 season.[12] In the game, Alabama was defeated by rival Tennessee 27–12 before an overflow crowd of 24,500 at Legion Field.[4][11] After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama took their only lead of the game early in the second quarter on a 14-yard fake reverse by Jimmy Nelson for a touchdown.[11] The Volunteers responded with a pair of John Butler touchdowns to take a 14–6 halftime lead. The first came on an 11-yard Butler pass to Al Hurst and the second on a 19-yard Butler punt return.[4][11]

Alabama then cut the lead to 14–12 in the third quarter after Dave Brown returned a Tennessee punt 57-yards for a touchdown.[4][11] The Volunteers responded with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to seal the victory. The first came on a five-yard Buss Warren pass to Mike Balitsaris and the second on a 24-yard Warren to Balitsaris pass.[4][11] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 13–8–2.[13]

Kentucky

[edit]
1 234Total
Alabama 0 1366 25
Kentucky 0 000 0
  • Date: November 2
  • Location: McLean Stadium
    Lexington, KY
  • Game attendance: 13,000

On what was homecoming for Kentucky, the Crimson Tide shutout the Wildcats 25–0 at Lexington.[4][14] After a scoreless first, Alabama started their first scoring drive of the game after Joe Domnanovich recovered a Kentucky fumble to give the Crimson Tide possession at the Wildcats' ten-yard line. Dave Brown then scored on a one-yard run for a 7–0 lead.[14] Jimmy Nelson scored later in the quarter on a 63-yard touchdown run to give Alabama a 13–0 halftime lead.[4][14] The Crimson Tide then closed the game with a pair of second half touchdowns for the 25–0 victory. The first came on a 39-yard Nelson run in the third and on a 40-yard Don Salls interception return in the fourth.[14] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Kentucky 18–1–1.[15]

Tulane

[edit]
1 234Total
Tulane 0 006 6
Alabama 0 670 13
  • Date: November 11
  • Location: Legion Field
    Birmingham, AL
  • Game attendance: 20,000

In Birmingham, the Crimson Tide defeated the Green Wave 13–6 before a crowd of 20,000 at Legion Field.[4][16] After a scoreless first, Alabama took a 6–0 halftime lead when Paul Spencer scored a touchdown on a short run after Holt Rast recovered a fumbled punt at the Tulane three-yard line.[16] Early in the third quarter, Dave Brown extended the Alabama lead to 13–0 with his 12-yard touchdown run.[16] Tulane did start a comeback in the fourth quarter with a touchdown, but was stopped late in the game when Ed Hickerson intercepted a Harry Hays pass at the Alabama eight-yard line to seal the Crimson Tide win.[16] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tulane to 13–4–1.[17]

Georgia Tech

[edit]
1 234Total
• #14 Alabama 0 770 14
Georgia Tech 0 670 13
  • Date: November 16
  • Location: Grant Field
    Atlanta, GA
  • Game attendance: 25,000

Prior to their final road game of the season against Georgia Tech, Alabama entered the AP Poll for the first time of the season at No. 14.[19] Against the Yellow Jackets, the Crimson Tide won on a missed extra point 14–13 at Grant Field.[4][18] Tech scored first on a nine-yard J. W. Bosch touchdown pass to R. L. Ison; however, C. P. Goree missed the extra point that would later prove to be the final margin of loss.[18] Alabama responded on the kickoff that ensued when Jimmy Nelson scored on a 94-yard touchdown return.[4][18] Each team then traded third-quarter touchdowns. Alabama scored first on a short Paul Spencer run followed by a C. R. Bates touchdown pass to G. I. Webb.[18] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 12–11–3.[20]

Vanderbilt

[edit]
1 234Total
Vanderbilt 7 707 21
• #17 Alabama 0 01312 25
  • Date: November 23
  • Location: Legion Field
    Birmingham, AL

As a result of their unexpectedly close contest against Georgia Tech, Alabama dropped three spots to the No. 17 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Vanderbilt.[22] In their game against the Commodores, Alabama rallied from a 14–0 deficit to defeat Vanderbilt 25–21 in the final Legion Field game of the 1940 season.[4][21] The Commodores took a 14–0 halftime lead with touchdowns scored in the first on a 39-yard Charlton Davis pass to Binks Bushmiaer and in the second on a six-yard George Marlin run.[21] Alabama responded in the third quarter with a pair of touchdowns to cut the lead to 14–13. Touchdowns were scored on a 12-yard Jimmy Nelson pass to Hal Newman and on a short Dave Brown run.[21] In the fourth, Vanderbilt extended their lead to 21–13 with an Art Rebrovich touchdown run, but ten gave up a pair of late touchdowns to give Alabama the 25–21 win. Alabama's final touchdowns were scored on a pair of Nelson passes, first to Holt Rast and the second to Russ Craft for the win.[21] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 13–9.[23]

Mississippi State

[edit]
1 234Total
• # 11 Mississippi State 7 006 13
#17 Alabama 0 000 0
  • Date: November 30
  • Location: Denny Stadium
    Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Game attendance: 18,500

In the final game of the season, Alabama was shutout 13–0 against the Mississippi State Maroons on homecoming at Denny Stadium.[4][24] The Maroons scored both of their touchdowns on runs of nine-yards by Harvey Johnson in the first quarter and 23-yards by Charles Yancey in the fourth quarter.[24] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State to 19–6–2.[25]

After the season

[edit]

NFL draft

[edit]

Several players that were varsity lettermen from the 1940 squad were drafted into the National Football League (NFL) between the 1941 and 1943 drafts.[26][27] These players included the following:

Year Round Overall Player name Position NFL team
1941 3 25 Fred Davis Tackle Washington Redskins
7 58 Hal Newman End Brooklyn Dodgers
10 90 Ed Hickerson Guard Washington Redskins
1942 9 79 Noah Langdale Tackle Green Bay Packers
14 123 John Wyhonic Guard Philadelphia Eagles
18 170 Holt Rast End Chicago Bears
19 174 Jimmy Nelson Back Chicago Cardinals
1943 4 28 Joe Domnanovich Center Brooklyn Dodgers
5 33 George Hecht Guard Chicago Cardinals
14 122 George Weeks End Philadelphia Eagles
14 125 Sam Sharpe End Cleveland Rams
15 132 Russ Craft Back Philadelphia Eagles
25 236 Dave Brown Back New York Giants
29 274 Al Sabo Back Brooklyn Dodgers

Personnel

[edit]

References

[edit]

General

  • "1940 Season Recap" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 25, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2012.

Specific

  1. ^ Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 19, 1940). "Final 1940 Litkenhous Ratings". The Boston Globe. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "1940 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on November 25, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Tiders return with 26–0 win". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. September 29, 1940. p. 10. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 1940 Season Recap
  5. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Spring Hill (AL)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  6. ^ "Tiders depart for Spring Hill". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. September 27, 1940. p. 9. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d e "37 Tiders out-sweat Mercer Bears, 20 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. October 6, 1940. p. 7. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  8. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mercer (GA)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Tide subdues Howard, 31 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. October 13, 1940. p. 6. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  10. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Samford". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Vol air bombs blast victory over Tide ground attack, 27–12". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. October 20, 1940. p. 10. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  12. ^ Boni, Bill (October 15, 1940). "Cornell snares top poll rank". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 7. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  13. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tennessee". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Crimson Tide rolls over Kentucky cats, 25 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. November 3, 1940. p. 6. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  15. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Kentucky". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  16. ^ a b c d e Bassett, Norman (November 10, 1940). "Tide beats back Green Wave in thrilling dual, 13 to 6". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 6. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  17. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tulane". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  18. ^ a b c d e Gregory, Kenneth (November 17, 1940). "Georgia Tech outplays Tide to lose 14–13". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 6. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  19. ^ Boni, Bill (November 12, 1940). "Gophers gain tops in rating". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 8. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  20. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia Tech". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  21. ^ a b c d e Bassett, Norman (November 24, 1940). "Tide out-scores Vandy, 25–21, by thrilling last half rally". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 6. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  22. ^ Fullerton, Hugh S. (November 19, 1940). "Extra points save top teams". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 10. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  23. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  24. ^ a b c Bassett, Norman (December 1, 1940). "Maroons blank Tide 13 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 6. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  25. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  26. ^ "Alabama Drafted Players/Alumni". Sports Reference, LLC. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  27. ^ "Draft History by School–Alabama". National Football League. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  28. ^ "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.
  29. ^ "All-Time Assistant Coaches". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 142–143.