1940 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

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).

1940 Alabama Crimson Tide football
Conference	Southeastern Conference
1940 record	7–2 (4–2 SEC)
Head coach	Frank Thomas (10th season)
Captain	Harold Newman
Home stadium	Denny Stadium Legion Field

1940 Southeastern Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
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 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.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance
September 27	at Spring Hill*		Murphy High School Stadium Mobile, AL	W 26–0	7,500
October 5	Mercer*		Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	W 20–0	6,000
October 12	Howard*		Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	W 31–0	4,500
October 19	No. 5 Tennessee		Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Third Saturday in October)	L 12–27	24,500
November 2	at Kentucky		McLean Stadium Lexington, KY	W 25–0	13,000
November 9	Tulane		Legion Field Birmingham, AL	W 13–6	20,000
November 16	at Georgia Tech	No. 14	Grant Field Atlanta, GA	W 14–13	25,000
November 23	Vanderbilt	No. 17	Legion Field Birmingham, AL	W 25–21
November 30	No. 11 Mississippi State	No. 17	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	L 0–13	18,500
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

• Source: Rolltide.com: 1940 Alabama football schedule[1]

Game summaries

Spring Hill

See also: Spring Hill Badgers football

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 0 7 13 6 26 Spring Hill 0 0 0 0 0 Date: September 27 Location: Murphy H. S. Stadium Mobile, AL Game attendance: 7,500 Source:[2]

To open the 1940 season, Alabama defeated Spring Hill College 26–0 at Murphy High School Stadium in Mobile.[2][3] 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.[2] 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.[2] They then closed the game with a five-yard Herschel Mosley touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the 26–0 victory.[2] The victory was Alabama's final game played against the Badgers and improved their all-time record against Spring Hill to 3–0.[4] This contest is also notable for being the first night game ever played by an Alabama football team.[2][3][5]

Mercer

See also: Mercer Bears football

1 2 3 4 Total Mercer 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 6 7 7 0 20 Date: October 5 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 6,000 Source:[6]

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.[3][6] 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.[6] The final score came in the third quarter on a six-yard Dave Brown touchdown run.[6] In the victory, the Alabama defense only allowed the Bears one first down and held their offense to net yardage of minus 17.[6] The victory was Alabama's final game played against the Bears until 2017 and improved their all-time record against Mercer to 2–0.[7]

Howard

1 2 3 4 Total Howard 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 6 7 12 6 31 Date: October 12 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 4,500 Source:[8]

At Denny Stadium, Alabama defeated Howard (now Samford University) 31–0 for their third consecutive shutout to open the season.[3][8] 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.[8] 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.[8] Don Salls then scored the final points of the game in the fourth quarter on a ten-yard run for the 31–0 victory.[8] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Howard to 18–0–1.[9]

Tennessee

See also: 1940 Tennessee Volunteers football team

Third Saturday in October

1 2 3 4 Total • #5 Tennessee 0 14 0 13 27 Alabama 0 6 6 0 12 Date: October 19 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 24,500 Source:[10]

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.[11] In the game, Alabama was defeated by rival Tennessee 27–12 before an overflow crowd of 24,500 at Legion Field.[3][10] 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.[10] 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.[3][10]

Alabama then cut the lead to 14–12 in the third quarter after Dave Brown returned a Tennessee punt 57-yards for a touchdown.[3][10] 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.[3][10] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 13–8–2.[12]

Kentucky

See also: 1940 Kentucky Wildcats football team

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 0 13 6 6 25 Kentucky 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 2 Location: McLean Stadium Lexington, KY Game attendance: 13,000 Source:[13]

On what was homecoming for Kentucky, the Crimson Tide shutout the Wildcats 25–0 at Lexington.[3][13] 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.[13] Jimmy Nelson scored later in the quarter on a 63-yard touchdown run to give Alabama a 13–0 halftime lead.[3][13] 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.[13] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Kentucky 18–1–1.[14]

Tulane

See also: 1940 Tulane Green Wave football team

1 2 3 4 Total Tulane 0 0 0 6 6 • Alabama 0 6 7 0 13 Date: November 11 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 20,000 Source:[15]

In Birmingham, the Crimson Tide defeated the Green Wave 13–6 before a crowd of 20,000 at Legion Field.[3][15] 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.[15] Early in the third quarter, Dave Brown extended the Alabama lead to 13–0 with his 12-yard touchdown run.[15] 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.[15] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tulane to 13–4–1.[16]

Georgia Tech

See also: 1940 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

1 2 3 4 Total • #14 Alabama 0 7 7 0 14 Georgia Tech 0 6 7 0 13 Date: November 16 Location: Grant Field Atlanta, GA Game attendance: 25,000 Source:[17]

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.[18] Against the Yellow Jackets, the Crimson Tide won on a missed extra point 14–13 at Grant Field.[3][17] 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.[17] Alabama responded on the kickoff that ensued when Jimmy Nelson scored on a 94-yard touchdown return.[3][17] 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.[17] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 12–11–3.[19]

Vanderbilt

See also: 1940 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

1 2 3 4 Total Vanderbilt 7 7 0 7 21 • #17 Alabama 0 0 13 12 25 Date: November 23 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Source:[20]

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.[21] 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.[3][20] 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.[20] 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.[20] 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.[20] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 13–9.[22]

Mississippi State

See also: 1940 Mississippi State Maroons football team

1 2 3 4 Total • # 11 Mississippi State 7 0 0 6 13 #17 Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 30 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 18,500 Source:[23]

In the final game of the season, Alabama was shutout 13–0 against the Mississippi State Maroons on homecoming at Denny Stadium.[3][23] 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.[23] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State to 19–6–2.[24]

After the season

NFL Draft

Several players that were varsity lettermen from the 1940 squad were drafted into the National Football League (NFL) between the 1941 and 1943 drafts.[25][26] 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

Varsity letter winners Player Hometown Position Warren Averitte Greenville, Mississippi Center Dave Brown Birmingham, Alabama Halfback Russ Craft Beach Bottom, West Virginia Halfback Fred Davis Louisville, Kentucky Tackle Chuck DeShane Grand Rapids, Michigan Quarterback Joe Domnanovich South Bend, Indiana Center Elwood Gerber Naperville, Illinois Guard Cliff Hansen Gary, Indiana Tackle John Hanson Roanoke, Alabama Fullback Billy Harrell Opelika, Alabama Halfback George Hecht Chicago Heights, Illinois Guard Ed Hickerson Ventura, California Guard Noah Langdale Valdosta, Georgia Tackle Jimmy Nelson Live Oak, Florida Halfback Hal Newman Birmingham, Alabama End Holt Rast Birmingham, Alabama End James Roberts Blytheville, Arkansas End Al Sabo Los Angeles, California Quarterback Don Salls White Plains, New York Fullback Sam Sharpe Birmingham, Alabama End Paul Spencer Hampton, Virginia Fullback George Weeks Dothan, Alabama End John Wyhonic Connorville, Ohio Guard Reference:[27]

Coaching staff Name Position Seasons at Alabama Alma Mater Frank Thomas Head coach 10 Notre Dame (1923) Paul Burnum Assistant coach 11 Alabama (1922) Tilden Campbell Assistant coach 5 Alabama (1935) Hank Crisp Assistant coach 20 VPI (1920) Harold Drew Assistant coach 10 Bates (1916) Reference:[28]

References

General

• "1940 Season Recap" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved June 6, 2012.

Specific

1. "1940 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on December 2, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
2. "Tiders return with 26–0 win". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. September 29, 1940. p. 10. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
3. 1940 Season Recap
4. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Spring Hill (AL)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
5. "Tiders depart for Spring Hill". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. September 27, 1940. p. 9. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
6. "37 Tiders out-sweat Mercer Bears, 20 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. October 6, 1940. p. 7. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
7. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mercer (GA)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
8. "Tide subdues Howard, 31 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. October 13, 1940. p. 6. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
9. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Samford". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
10. "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.
11. Boni, Bill (October 15, 1940). "Cornell snares top poll rank". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 7. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
12. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tennessee". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
13. "Crimson Tide rolls over Kentucky cats, 25 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. November 3, 1940. p. 6. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
14. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Kentucky". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
15. 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.
16. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tulane". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
17. 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.
18. Boni, Bill (November 12, 1940). "Gophers gain tops in rating". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 8. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
19. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia Tech". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
23. Bassett, Norman (December 1, 1940). "Maroons blank Tide 13 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 6. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
24. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
25. "Alabama Drafted Players/Alumni". Sports Reference, LLC. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
26. "Draft History by School–Alabama". National Football League. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
27. "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.
28. "All-Time Assistant Coaches". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 142–143.