1950 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

The 1950 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1950 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 56th overall and 17th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Harold Drew, in his fourth 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 nine wins and two losses (9–2 overall, 6–2 in the SEC).

1950 Alabama Crimson Tide football
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 17
AP	No. 16
1950 record	9–2 (6–2 SEC)
Head coach	Harold Drew (4th season)
Captain	Mike Mizerany
Home stadium	Denny Stadium Legion Field Ladd Stadium

1950 Southeastern Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 7 Kentucky $	5	–	1	–	0			11	–	1	–	0
No. 4 Tennessee	4	–	1	–	0			11	–	1	–	0
No. 16 Alabama	6	–	2	–	0			9	–	2	–	0
No. 20 Tulane	3	–	1	–	1			6	–	2	–	1
Georgia Tech	4	–	2	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Georgia	3	–	2	–	1			6	–	3	–	3
Mississippi State	3	–	4	–	0			4	–	5	–	0
Vanderbilt	3	–	4	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
LSU	2	–	3	–	2			4	–	5	–	2
Florida	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Ole Miss	1	–	5	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Auburn	0	–	7	–	0			0	–	10	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

Alabama opened the season with victories over Chattanooga and Tulane before they lost their first game of the season against Vanderbilt at Ladd Stadium. The Crimson Tide rebounded the next week with a win over Furman at Denny Stadium, but lost against Tennessee at Shields-Watkins Field in week five. Alabama ten went on to win their final six games over Mississippi State, Georgia, Mississippi Southern, Georgia Tech, Florida and Auburn. Although they finished ranked in the top 20 of both major polls, the Crimson Tide did not receive a bid to play in a bowl game at the conclusion of the season.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance
September 23	Chattanooga*		Legion Field Birmingham, AL	W 27–0
September 30	at Tulane		Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA	W 26–14	45,000
October 7	Vanderbilt		Ladd Stadium Mobile, AL	L 22–27	32,000
October 13	Furman*		Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	W 34–6	12,000
October 21	at No. 18 Tennessee		Shields-Watkins Field Knoxville, TN (Third Saturday in October)	L 9–14	50,000
October 28	Mississippi State		Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	W 14–7	30,000
November 4	Georgia		Legion Field Birmingham, AL (rivalry)	W 14–7	39,000
November 11	Mississippi Southern*		Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	W 53–0	15,000
November 18	at Georgia Tech		Grant Field Atlanta, GA	W 54–19	38,000
November 25	at Florida	No. 17	Gator Bowl Jacksonville, FL	W 41–13	16,000
December 2	vs. Auburn	No. 16	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Iron Bowl)	W 34–0	39,000
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

• Source: Rolltide.com: 1950 Alabama football schedule[1]

Game summaries

Chattanooga

See also: Chattanooga Mocs football

1 2 3 4 Total Chattanooga 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 0 14 6 7 27 Date: September 23 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Source:[2]

To open the 1950 season, Alabama shutout the Chattanooga Moccasins 27–0 at Legion Field.[2][3] After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama recovered a Mocs fumble at their 14-yard line early in the second. On the next play, Ed Salem scored on a 14-yard run for a 7–0 Crimson Tide lead.[2] Alabama then extended their lead to 14–0 by halftime when Salem connected with Larry Chiodetti on a 25-yard touchdown reception.[2] In the third, Salem threw his second touchdown pass of the game to Al Lary from 53-yards out for a 20–0 lead. Bobby Wilson then closed the scoring late in the fourth quarter with his one-yard touchdown run to make the final score 27–0.[2] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Chattanooga to 5–0.[4]

Tulane

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 6 7 13 0 26 Tulane 0 0 7 7 14 Date: September 30 Location: Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA Game attendance: 45,000 Source:[5]

To open conference play for the 1950 season, Alabama traveled to New Orleans and defeated Tulane 26–14 to end a three-game losing streak against the Green Wave.[3][5] After a six-yard Ed Salem touchdown run gave Alabama a 6–0 lead in the first quarter, Al Lary was responsible for the final three Crimson Tide touchdown receptions.[5] After a 26-yard reception from Salem in the second, Lary had touchdown receptions of six-yards from Butch Avinger and 41-yards from Salem in the third to give Alabama a 26–0 lead.[5] Tulane responded with a pair of touchdowns on runs of five-yards by George Kinek and seven-yards by Alvis Batson to make the final score 26–14.[5] The win improved Alabama's all-time record against Tulane to 16–7–1.[6]

Vanderbilt

See also: 1950 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

1 2 3 4 Total • Vanderbilt 14 7 6 0 27 Alabama 7 6 0 9 22 Date: October 7 Location: Ladd Stadium Mobile, Alabama Game attendance: 32,000 Source:[7]

At Ladd Stadium, the Crimson Tide lost their first game of the season by a final score of 27–22 to the Vanderbilt Commodores.[3][7] Vandy took a 14–0 first quarter lead on a pair of Bill Wade touchdown passes. The first was an 85-yard pass to Ernest Curtis and the second a 15-yard pass to Sylbert Cook.[7] The Crimson Tide responded with a 15-yard Ed Salem touchdown run to make the score at the end of the first 14–7.[7] In the second quarter, the Commodores scored on a one-yard Mac Robinson touchdown run and Alabama scored on a 17-yard Butch Avinger touchdown pass to Al Lary to make the halftime score 21–13 in favor of Vanderbilt.[7] The Commodores scored their final points on a 21-yard Wade pass to Curtis in the third before the Crimson Tide scored nine fourth quarter points to make the final score 27–22.[7] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 16–13–1.[8]

Furman

See also: Furman Paladins football

1 2 3 4 Total Furman 0 0 6 0 6 • Alabama 0 14 7 13 34 Date: October 13 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 12,000 Source:[9]

In what was the first Denny Stadium game of the 1946 season, Alabama defeated the Furman Purple Hurricane 34–6 before a crowd of 12,000 on a Friday night.[3][9] After a scoreless first quarter, the Crimson Tide took a 14–0 halftime lead after touchdown runs of 52-yards by Butch Avinger and 21-yards by Ed Salem in the second quarter.[9] After Alabama extended their lead to 21–0 on a four-yard Salem run, Furman scored their only points of the game on a three-yard Tommy Williams run to make the score at the end of the third quarter 21–6.[9] The Crimson Tide then closed the game with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns first on a seven-yard Jim Burkett run and then on a 42-yard Clell Hobson pass to Al Lary to make the final score 34–6.[9] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Furman to 3–0.[10]

Tennessee

See also: 1950 Tennessee Volunteers football team

Third Saturday in October

1 2 3 4 Total Alabama 3 0 6 0 9 • #18 Tennessee 0 7 0 7 14 Date: October 21 Location: Shields-Watkins Field Knoxville, TN Game attendance: 50,000 Sources:[11]

Alabama lost 14–9 to the rival Tennessee Volunteers before 50,000 fans at Shields-Watkins Field in Knoxville.[3][11] Harold Lutz gave the Crimson Tide a 3–0 first quarter lead with his 20-yard field goal, Alabama's first of the season.[11] Tennessee responded with a two-yard Andy Kozar touchdown run in the second quarter to give the Vols a 7–3 halftime lead.[11] After a 43-yard Bobby Marlow touchdown run in the third gave Alabama a 9–7 lead, Kozar scored the game-winning touchdown on a fourth-and-one play, from the Alabama one-yard line, with less than one minute remaining in the game for the 14–9 Tennessee victory.[11] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 17–11–4.[12]

Mississippi State

See also: 1950 Mississippi State Maroons football team

1 2 3 4 Total Mississippi State 0 0 0 7 7 • Alabama 0 0 0 14 14 Date: October 28 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 30,000 Source:[13]

On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide defeated the Mississippi State Maroons 14–7 before the largest crowd to attend a game at Denny Stadium to date.[3][13] As the teams entered the fourth quarter, the score remained scoreless. In the fourth, Alabama took a 14–0 lead on touchdown runs of three-yards by Jim Burkett and of 53-yards by James Melton.[13] The Maroons then answered with their only touchdown of the game on a 20-yard Gil Verderver pass to Max Stainbrook and made the final score 14–7.[13] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State to 26–7–2.[14]

Georgia

See also: 1950 Georgia Bulldogs football team

1 2 3 4 Total Georgia 0 7 0 0 7 • Alabama 0 0 7 7 14 Date: November 4 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 39,000 Sources:[15]

In Birmingham, Alabama defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 14–7 in cold and rainy conditions at Legion Field.[3][15] After a scoreless first quarter, Georgia took a 7–0 halftime lead when Lewis Brunson scored on a one-yard touchdown run.[15] The Crimson Tide responded with a pair of second half touchdowns and won the game 14–7. Butch Avinger scored on a one-yard run in the third and Tom Calvin scored on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter.[15] For the game, Ed Salem passed for 193 yards on 12 completions in the win.[15] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 18–15–3.[16]

Mississippi Southern

See also: Southern Miss Golden Eagles football

1 2 3 4 Total Mississippi Southern 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 0 21 26 6 53 Date: November 11 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 15,000 Source:[17]

Against the Mississippi Southern Golden Eagles the Crimson Tide won in a 53–0 shutout at Denny Stadium.[3][17] After a scoreless first quarter for the third consecutive week, Alabama took a 21–0 halftime lead on three Al Lary touchdown receptions. The first two were thrown by Ed Salem from 10 and 51-yards with the third thrown by James Melton from 21-yards.[17] The Crimson Tide aerial attack continued into the third quarter with another three passing touchdowns, in addition to one on an interception return, to make the score 47–0 by the fourth quarter. The first was thrown 13-yards from Butch Avinger to Ed Lary; the second was thrown from three-yards from Clell Hobson to George McCain; the third was thrown nine-yards from McCain to Ed Lary; and the fourth was scored when O. E. Phillips had a 29-yard interception return.[17] The final points were then scored in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard McCain pass to Joe Curtis to make the final score 53–0.[17] For the game, the Alabama quarterbacks collectively completed 21 of 26 passes for 283 yards.[17] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi Southern to 4–0.[18]

Georgia Tech

See also: 1950 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 27 7 6 14 54 Georgia Tech 0 6 0 13 19 Date: November 18 Location: Grant Field Atlanta, GA Game attendance: 38,000 Source:[19]

After Alabama scored 27 first quarter points, the Crimson Tide went on to defeat the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 54–19 at Grant Field in Atlanta.[3][19] Bobby Marlow scored Alabama's first three touchdowns on a two-yard run, a 24-yard reception from Ed Salem and on a 91-yard run. Tom Calvin then scored the final touchdown of the quarter to give the Crimson Tide a 27–0 lead at the end of the first quarter.[19] In the second quarter, Marlow scored his fourth touchdown of the game on a 24-yard pass from Salem, and then Tech scored their first points on a 36-yard Robert North touchdown run to make the halftime score 34–6.[19] After George McCain scored on a two-yard run in the third, each team closed the game in the fourth quarter with a pair of touchdowns.[19] For the Crimson Tide, Dick Barry scored on a one-yard run and on a Salem touchdown pass. The Yellow Jackets scored on a 10-yard Joe Salome pass to Henry Ferris and on a one-yard James Patton run to make the final score 54–19.[19] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 17–12–3.[20]

Florida

See also: 1950 Florida Gators football team

1 2 3 4 Total • #17 Alabama 7 20 2 12 41 Florida 0 0 0 13 13 Date: November 25 Location: Gator Bowl Jacksonville, FL Game attendance: 16,000 Source:[21]

For the second year in a row in what was their final road game of the season, Alabama defeated the Florida Gators 41–13 in their first all-time trip to the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville.[3][21] After Bobby Marlow scored on a one-yard run in the first, Ed Salem scored three second-quarter touchdowns on runs of six, eight and five-yards to give the Crimson Tide a 27–0 halftime lead.[21] After Alabama extended their lead to 29–0 with a third quarter safety, each team scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to make the final score 41–13.[21] The Crimson Tide scored on a one-yard Butch Avinger run and on a five-yard Larry Chiodetti run; the Gators scored on a one-yard William McGowan run and on a 70-yard Haywood Sullivan pass to Dan Howell.[21] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Florida to 8–3.[22]

Auburn

See also: 1950 Auburn Tigers football team

Iron Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total Auburn 0 0 0 0 0 • #16 Alabama 6 7 14 7 34 Date: December 2 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 39,000 Source:[23][24]

A year after they were upset by Auburn 14–13, Alabama scored touchdowns in all four quarters and shutout the Tigers 34–0 at Legion Field.[3][23][24] Bobby Marlow scored the first three touchdowns for the Crimson Tide on a 26-yard reception from Ed Salem in the first, and on runs of seven and two yards in the second and third quarters.[23][24] A 31-yard Larry Chiodetti run in the third and one-yard Jim Burkett run in the fourth quarter provided the final 34–0 margin.[3][23][24] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Auburn to 6–8–1.[25]

Personnel

Varsity letter winners Player Hometown Position Butch Avinger Montgomery, Alabama Quarterback Jack Brown Selma, Alabama Quarterback Jim Burkett Dothan, Alabama Fullback Tom Calvin Athens, Alabama Halfback Larry Chiodetti Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Halfback Joe Compton Sylacauga, Alabama Fullback Bob Conway Fort Wayne, Indiana Halfback L. B. Couch Alabama City, Alabama Center Joe Curtis Birmingham, Alabama End Herb Hannah Athens, Alabama Guard Sandy Helms Tuscaloosa, Alabama Guard Clell Hobson Tuscaloosa, Alabama Quarterback Travis Hunt Albertville, Alabama Tackle Jug Jenkins Eufaula, Alabama End Lint Jordan Monticello, Georgia End Al Lary Northport, Alabama End Ed Lary Northport, Alabama End Larry Lauer Wilmette, Illinois Center Harold Lutz Clinton, Iowa End Harold Manley Winfield, Alabama End Van Marcus Birmingham, Alabama Tackle Bobby Marlow Troy, Alabama Halfback Dave Mayfield Jacksonville, Florida Tackle George McCain Clanton, Alabama Halfback James Melton Wetumpka, Alabama Halfback Fred Mims Birmingham, Alabama Guard Mike Mizerany Birmingham, Alabama Guard Pat O'Sullivan New Orleans, Louisiana Linebacker Jess Richardson Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Guard Ed Salem Birmingham, Alabama Halfback Tom Selman Rome, Georgia Tackle Roy Smalley Birmingham, Alabama Guard Elliott Speed Selma, Alabama Center Jerry Watford Gadsden, Alabama Guard Al Wilhite Tuscumbia, Alabama Tackle Bobby Wilson Bay Minette, Alabama Quarterback Reference:[26]

Coaching staff Name Position Seasons at Alabama Alma Mater Harold Drew Head coach 17 Bates (1916) Lew Bostick Assistant coach 7 Alabama (1939) Tilden Campbell Assistant coach 11 Alabama (1935) Hank Crisp Assistant coach 23 VPI (1920) Joe Kilgrow Assistant coach 7 Alabama (1937) Malcolm Laney Assistant coach 7 Alabama (1932) Tom Lieb Assistant coach 5 Notre Dame (1923) Reference:[27]

References

General

• "1950 Season Recaps" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved October 23, 2012.

Specific

1. "1950 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on December 2, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
2. "Tide bowls over Moccasins 27 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. September 24, 1950. p. 6. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
3. 1950 Season Recap
4. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tennessee-Chattanooga". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
5. Watkins, Ed (October 1, 1950). "Bama barrage buries Wave 26 to 14". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 8. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
6. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tulane". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
7. Bassett, Norman H. (October 8, 1950). "Commodores upset Crimson Tide with powerful aerial barrage, 27–22". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 12. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
8. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
9. Green, Ben A. (October 14, 1950). "Five Alabama T.D.'s stop Furman, 34 to 6". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 4. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
10. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Furman". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
11. Watkins, Edwin (October 22, 1950). "Last minute Vol T.D. defeats Alabama 14–9". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
12. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tennessee". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
13. Watkins, Edwin (October 29, 1949). "Bama rallies in final quarter to beat Mississippi State 14–7". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 10. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
14. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
15. Bassett, Norman H. (November 5, 1950). "Bama's late touchdown brings 14–7 win over Georgia". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 10. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
16. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
17. Watkins, Ed (November 12, 1950). "Tide tops Southern, 53–0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 8. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
18. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Southern Mississippi". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
19. Green, Ben A. (November 19, 1950). "Bobby Marlow leads Crimson Tide to 54–19 triumph over Georgia Tech". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 10. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
20. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia Tech". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
21. Cook, Harry (November 26, 1950). "Tide Orange Bowl stock soars with 41–13 win over Florida". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 8. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
22. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Florida". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
23. Watkins, Ed (December 3, 1950). "Bama Tide throttles Tigers, 34–0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 14. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
24. Griffin, John Chandler (2001). "1950: The Tide swamps the winless Tigers". Alabama vs. Auburn: Gridiron Grudge Since 1893. Athens, Georgia: Hill Street Press. pp. 133–135. ISBN 1-58818-044-1.
25. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Auburn". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
26. "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.
27. "All-Time Assistant Coaches". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 142–143.