1922 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

The 1922 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1922 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 29th overall and first season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). The team was led by head coach Xen C. Scott, in his fourth year, and played their home games at Denny Field in Tuscaloosa, Rickwood Field in Birmingham and the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of six wins, three losses and one tie (6–3–1 overall, 3–2–1 in the SoCon).

1922 Alabama Crimson Tide football
Conference	Southern Conference
Record	6–3–1 (3–2–1 SoCon)
Head coach	Xen C. Scott (4th season)
Captain	Ernest Cooper
Home stadium	Denny Field Rickwood Field Cramton Bowl
Seasons ← 1921 1923 →

1922 Southern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
North Carolina +	5	–	0	–	0			9	–	1	–	0
Georgia Tech +	4	–	0	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Vanderbilt * +	3	–	0	–	0			8	–	0	–	1
VPI	3	–	0	–	0			8	–	1	–	1
Florida	2	–	0	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Auburn	2	–	1	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Tennessee	3	–	2	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Alabama	3	–	2	–	1			6	–	3	–	1
Virginia	1	–	1	–	1			4	–	4	–	1
Mississippi A&M	2	–	3	–	0			3	–	4	–	2
Kentucky	1	–	2	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Clemson	1	–	2	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Washington and Lee	1	–	2	–	0			5	–	3	–	1
Maryland	1	–	2	–	0			4	–	5	–	1
LSU	1	–	2	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Georgia	1	–	3	–	1			5	–	4	–	1
Tulane	1	–	4	–	0			4	–	4	–	0
South Carolina	0	–	2	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Ole Miss	0	–	2	–	0			4	–	5	–	1
NC State	0	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions * – co-member of SIAA

Alabama opened the season with a 110–0 victory over the Marion, which still stands as the school record for largest margin of victory and as the Crimson Tide's only 100 point game. After a victory over Oglethorpe, Alabama went winless over their next three games with losses at both Georgia Tech and Texas and a tie against Sewanee at Rickwood Field. With a record of 2–2–1, Alabama entered an intersectional contest against undefeated Penn as a major underdog. Alabama managed to upset the Quakers 9–7 in a game The Plain Dealer called "intersectional history".^[1] The Crimson Tide then completed their season with a homecoming win over LSU, a loss at Kentucky, a win over Georgia in Alabama's first game at the Cramton Bowl and a win over Mississippi A&M to close the season.

Before the season

Scott coached the 1922 season while dying of oral cancer, and he spent the whole season suffering from the effects of his illness, losing weight, barely able to speak, coaching against the advice of a doctor who told him to quit immediately, and bedridden except when attending practices and games.^[2]

The 1922 season also marked the first for the Crimson Tide as a member of the SoCon, as Alabama was one of the twenty members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association that left the Association to form the SoCon following the 1921 season.^[3]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 30	Marion*	Denny Field Tuscaloosa, AL	W 110–0		[4]
October 7	Oglethorpe*	Denny Field Tuscaloosa, AL	W 41–0	3,000	[5]
October 14	at Georgia Tech	Grant Field Atlanta, GA (rivalry)	L 7–33		[6]
October 21	Sewanee	Rickwood Field Birmingham, AL	T 7–7		[7]
October 28	at Texas*	Clark Field Austin, TX	L 10–19		[8]
November 4	at Penn*	Franklin Field Philadelphia, PA	W 9–7	25,000	[9]
November 10	LSU	Denny Field Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	W 47–3	7,500	[10]
November 18	at Kentucky	Stoll Field Lexington, KY	L 0–6		[11]
November 25	Georgia	Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL (rivalry)	W 10–6	10,000	[12]
November 30	Mississippi A&M	Rickwood Field Birmingham, AL (rivalry)	W 59–0		[13]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^[14]

Game summaries

Marion Military Institute

Marion at Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total Marion 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 20 35 28 27 110 Date: September 30 Location: Denny Field Tuscaloosa, AL Source:[15]

To open the season, Alabama played the Marion Military Institute at Tuscaloosa, and defeated the Cadets 110–0 in what was the most lopsided victory in the history of the Crimson Tide football program.^[16][17] Against Marion, Alabama shutout the Cadets 55–0 at Tuscaloosa for their third consecutive win to open the season.^[18][16] Touchdowns were scored four times by Max Rosenfeld, twice by William C. Baty and once each by Al Clemens and Virgil Hawkins.^[16] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Marion to 8–0.^[19]

Oglethorpe

Oglethorpe at Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total Oglethorpe 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 7 7 13 14 41 Date: October 7 Location: Denny Field Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 3,000 Source:[20]

After their record setting victory over Marion to open the season, Alabama prepared for an Oglethorpe squad that nearly upset Georgia Tech in their opening game.^[21] In what was the first all-time meeting against the Petrels, Alabama won 41–0 before 3,000 fans at Tuscaloosa.^[18][20][22] In the game, Charles Bartlett starred for Alabama as he scored five of their six touchdowns in the victory. Bartlett scored touchdowns on a 26-yard run in the first, a 15-yard reception from Hulet Whitaker in the second, and on a pair of runs in the third and one in the fourth.^[20] Graham McClintock scored the final touchdown of the game with his short run in the fourth and made the score 41–0.^[20]

After the Oglethorpe game Scott tendered his resignation, effective at the end of the season.^[2]

Georgia Tech

Alabama at Georgia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total Alabama 0 7 0 0 7 • Ga. Tech 13 20 0 0 33 Date: October 14 Location: Grant Field Atlanta, GA Source:[23]

In what was their first road game of the season, Alabama was defeated by the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado 33–7 at Atlanta.^[18][23] All of the scoring in the game occurred in the first half and the Yellow Jackets took a 33–0 lead en route to the win. Georgia Tech scored on first quarter runs of six-yards by Jack McDonough and eight-yards by Red Barron; in the second quarter they scored on runs by Alexander Hunt and Barron.^[23] The Yellow Jackets then scored their final touchdown on a 20-yard McDonough pass to Hunt late in the second quarter.^[23] Alabama responded with their only points just prior to halftime when Country Oliver returned a McDonough kickoff 95-yards for a touchdown.^[23] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 2–7–1.^[24]

Sewanee

Sewanee at Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total Sewanee 0 0 7 0 7 Alabama 0 7 0 0 7 Date: October 21 Location: Rickwood Field Birmingham, AL Source:[25]

In the first Rickwood Field game of the season, Alabama tied the Sewanee Tigers 7–7 for their lone tie of the season.^[18][25] After a scoreless first quarter, the Crimson Tide took a 7–0 lead after Charles Bartlett threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Allen MacCartee in the second.^[25] Sewanee responded in the third when Bill Coughlan intercepted a Bartlett pass and returned it 70-yards and tied the game 7–7.^[25] Although they outplayed the Tigers throughout the game, Alabama was unable to win due to their numerous turnovers made throughout the contest.^[18] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Sewanee to 4–10–3.^[26]

Texas

Alabama at Texas

1 2 3 4 Total Alabama 7 0 3 0 10 • Texas 13 3 3 0 19 Date: October 28 Location: Clark Field Austin, TX Sources:[27][28]

In their second road game of the season, Alabama was defeated by the Texas Longhorns 19–10 at Clark Field in Austin.^[18][27][28] Alabama took an early 7–0 lead in the first two minutes of the game after Charles Bartlett threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to William Baty. Texas responded with a pair of touchdowns later in the quarter for a 13–7 lead. The first came on an Ivan Robertson pass to George Gardere and the second on a Yancy Culp run.^[27][28] A Robertson field goal in the second quarter extended the Longhorns lead to 16–7 at halftime.^[27][28]

After a 31-yard Robertson field goal in the third extended the Texas lead, Alabama scored the final points of the game on a short L. O. Wesley field goal later in the quarter and made the final score 19–10.^[27][28] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Texas to 0–3.^[29]

Penn

Main article: 1922 Alabama vs. Penn football game

Alabama at Penn

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 0 3 6 0 9 Penn 0 7 0 0 7 Date: November 4 Location: Franklin Field Philadelphia, PA Game attendance: 25,000 Sources:[30][31]

Alabama entered their intersectional contest against undefeated Penn, coached by John Heisman, with noted sports columnist Grantland Rice having predicted a 21–0 Quaker victory.^[32] Although the entered as an underdog, The Philadelphia Inquirer noted the Crimson Tide as a veteran squad that had not reached their full potential and expected them to plat Penn tough.^[33] Before 25,000 fans at Franklin Field, Alabama upset the Quakers 9–7 in what was later recognized as one of the Crimson Tide's most significant victories in the history of the program.^[30][31][34]

After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama took a 3–0 lead after L. O. Wesley connected on a 34-yard field goal. G. H. Sullivan responded later in the quarter with his 35-yard touchdown run that gave the Quakers a 7–3 halftime lead.^[30][31] In the third quarter the Crimson Tide took the lead after Pooley Hubert fumbled on third and goal and teammate Clyde Propst recovered the ball for a touchdown. The extra point failed, but Alabama took a 9–7 lead.^[30][31] Twice in the fourth quarter Alabama missed field goals, leaving Penn with a chance to win late. The Quakers drove to the Alabama 30 in the final moments but on fourth down Alabama came up with a sack to clinch a 9–7 victory.^[30][31]

The starting lineup was: Newton (left end), Hovater (left tackle), Wesley (left guard), Probst (center), Compton (right guard), Cooper (right tackle), Clemens (right end), Bartlett (quarterback), Baty (left halfback), Oliver (right halfback), and Hubert (fullback).^[35]

LSU

LSU at Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total LSU 0 3 0 0 3 • Alabama 0 27 14 6 47 Date: November 10 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 7,500 Sources:[36][37]

On the Friday after their upset victory at Philadelphia, Alabama returned to Tuscaloosa and before the then largest crowd in the history of Denny Field on homecoming and defeated LSU 47–3.^[36][37] After a scoreless first quarter, Bartlett scored on a ten-yard run for a 7–0 Crimson Tide lead. Allen Graham MacCartee then extended their lead to 13–0 with his short touchdown run, and the Tigers responded with their lone points of the game on a 28-yard Roland Kizer drop kick. Alabama then extended their lead to 27–3 at halftime behind a five-yard Hulet Whitaker run and short Bartlett pass to Al Clemens.^[36][37]

Early in the third, a Graham McClintock fumble gave LSU possession deep in Crimson Tide territory. On the play that ensued, Pooley Hubert intercepted a Kizer pass and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown.^[36] A five-yard Bartlett touchdown run later in the quarter extended the Alabama lead to 41–3 as they entered the fourth.^[36][37] Playing almost exclusively reserves in the final period, Bartlett made the final score 47–3 with his five-yard touchdown run.^[36][37] The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against LSU to 6–3–1.^[38]

Kentucky

Alabama at Kentucky

1 2 3 4 Total Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 • Kentucky 0 0 6 0 6 Date: November 18 Location: Stoll Field Lexington, KY Sources:[39][40]

In rain soaked conditions on a soggy field, Alabama was defeated 6–0 by Kentucky at Lexington.^[39][40] The Wildcats scored the only points of the game in the third quarter on a six-yard Bruce Fuller touchdown run.^[39][40] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Kentucky to 1–1.^[41]

Georgia

Charles Bartlett running around end against the Bulldogs.

Georgia at Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total Georgia 6 0 0 0 6 • Alabama 0 7 3 0 10 Date: November 25 Location: Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL Game attendance: 10,000 Sources:[42][43]

Playing their first all-time game at the Cramton Bowl, the Crimson Tide overcame an early 6–0 deficit and defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 10–6.^[42][43] The Bulldogs scored first after John Fletcher recovered an Allen Graham MacCartee fumble and returned it 96-yards for a touchdown.^[42][43]

Alabama responded with a short Charles Bartlett touchdown run in the second and with a 20-yard Bartlett field goal in the third for the 10–6 win.^[42][43] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 5–9–3.^[44]

Mississippi A&M

Mississippi A&M at Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total Mississippi A&M 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 29 9 7 14 59 Date: November 30 Location: Rickwood Field Birmingham, AL Sources:[13]

In their final game of the season, Alabama defeated the Mississippi A&M (now known as Mississippi State University) Aggies 59–0 at Rickwood Field.^[18] The Crimson Tide scored in all four quarters of the contest and touchdowns were scored by Charles Bartlett, Pooley Hubert, Hulet Whitaker, Allen Graham MacCartee, Al Clemens and Tom Newton.^[18] The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi A&M to 9–4–2.^[45]

Postseason

Scott died in April 1924 at age 41.^[46] The Tide hired Vanderbilt assistant Wallace Wade.

Alabama averaged the most points per game of any team in the SoCon.^[47] Bartlett was selected for the All-Southern team of Marvin McCarthy, sporting editor for the Birmingham Age-Herald,^[48] and given honorable mention on the All-America team of Walter Camp.^[49]

Personnel

Varsity letter winners

Line

Player	Hometown	Position	Games started	Prep school	Height	Weight	Age
Al Clemens	Scottsboro, Alabama	End					24
Ernest Cooper	St. Stephens, Alabama	Tackle
Elmer Wilbur Dany	Cleveland, Ohio	End
Clayton H. Hudson	Montgomery, Alabama	End
Ben Hunt	Scottsboro, Alabama	Guard
William Milner Kelly	Birmingham, Alabama	End
Jack Langhorne	Uniontown, Alabama	Tackle
Graham McClintock	Laurel, Mississippi	End/Back
Tom Newton	Birmingham, Alabama	End
Clyde "Shorty" Propst	Ohatchee, Alabama	Center
L. O. Wesley	Guin, Alabama	Guard

Backfield

Player	Hometown	Position	Games started	Prep school	Height	Weight	Age
Charles Bartlett	Marlin, Texas	Halfback/Quarterback
William C. Baty	Bessemer, Alabama	Halfback
J. H. Emmett	Albertville, Alabama	Halfback
Robert Poole Hinton	Uniontown, Alabama	Back
Allison "Pooley" Hubert	Meridian, Mississippi	Fullback		Meridian High			21
Allen Graham MacCartee	Washington, D.C.	Halfback
W. S. "Country" Oliver	Panola, Alabama	Back/Tackle

^[50]

Other

Name	Hometown	Position
Berney Perry		Manager

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Seasons at Alabama	Alma Mater
Xen C. Scott	Head coach	4
Hank Crisp	Assistant coach	2	VPI (1920)
William T. Van de Graaff	Assistant coach	2	Alabama (1916)

^[51]

References

General

• Kordic, Gregory (2007). A Damn Good Yankee: Xen Scott and the Rise of the Crimson Tide. Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1-4259-6018-6. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
• "1922 Season Recap" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
• 2013 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Media Guide (PDF). Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014.

Specific

1. Kordic, p. 9
2. Kordic, p. 5
3. "The History of the Southern Conference". Southern Conference. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
4. "Alabama Crimson Tide downs Marion Cadets by overwhelming score". The Tuscaloosa News. October 1, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Alabama crushes Oglethorpe 41–0". The Birmingham News. October 8, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Tech victorious over Alabama". The Birmingham News. October 15, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Sewanee ties Alabama, 7 to 7, in desperately-fought battle". Nashville Banner. October 22, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Longhorns wallop Alabama 19 to 10 in atonement vor Vandy slip". The Austin American. October 29, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Penn beaten by Alabama in grid upset". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 5, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Alabama has easy time with L.S.U. Tigers". The Birmingham News. November 11, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Kentucky University overcome conquerors of Penn eleven". The Courier-Journal. November 19, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Bama earns clean cut victory over Georgia". The Birmingham News. November 26, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Alabama swamps A&M". The Birmingham News. December 1, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "1922 Football Schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
15. "Alabama rolls up huge score against Cadets". The Birmingham News. October 1, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
16. Goodson, Mike (January 3, 2010). "Bama has opportunity to change history". The Gadsden Times. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
17. "Highest/Lowest Scoring Games". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. p. 36.
18. 1922 Season Recap
19. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Marion Military Institute (AL)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
20. "University eleven humbles Oglethorpe Petrels before audience of three thousand". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 8, 1922. p. 6.
21. "University plays crack Oglethorpe team next Saturday". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 3, 1922. p. 6.
22. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Oglethorpe (GA)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
23. "Tech defeats Alabama team". The Macon Daily-Telegraph. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 15, 1922. p. 6.
24. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia Tech". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
25. "Bill Coughlan's brilliant playing enables Sewanee to hold Alabamaians to 7–7 tie". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 22, 1922. p. 6.
26. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Sewanee (TN)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
27. "Texas aggregation wins over Alabama in tough struggle". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. Associated Press. October 29, 1922. p. 6.
28. "Texas beats Alabamaians in struggle". The Times-Picayune. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 29, 1922. p. 11.
29. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Texas". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
30. Lewis, Perry (November 5, 1922). "Alabama humbles Penn grid forces in season's upset". The Philadelphia Inquirer. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. Associated Press. p. B19.
31. "Alabama eleven gives "Pennsy" her first defeat of season". The Macon Daily Telegraph. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 5, 1922.
32. Kordic pp.1–9
33. "Alabama faces Penn with a veteran team". The Philadelphia Inquirer. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 30, 1922. p. 10.
34. Ball, Marie (December 31, 1978). "Bama football story began in 1892". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 2C. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
35. "Pennsy Beaten By Alabama In Spirited Game". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. November 5, 1922. Retrieved April 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
36. "Crimson Tide sweeps over Louisiana State Tigers in grid clash". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 11, 1922. p. 5.
37. "'Bama is held by Tigers for one period and then smashes way to victory". The New Orleans Item. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 11, 1922. p. 10.
38. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs LSU". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
39. "University of Alabama loses hard fought game to Kentucky Wildcats". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 19, 1922. p. 6.
40. "Wildcats defeat Alabama, 6 to 0". The Lexington Herald. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 19, 1922. p. 1.
41. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Kentucky". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
42. "Alabama upsets all dope: Defeats Bulldogs from Georgia". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 26, 1922. p. 1.
43. "Alabama Crimson triumphs over Red and Black 10–6". The Augusta Chronicle. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 26, 1922. p. 2.
44. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
45. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
46. Kordic, p. 169
47. "1922 Southern Conference Year Summary".
48. "Teams Selected By Various Scribes". Atlanta Constitution. December 3, 1922. p. 5. Retrieved March 7, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
49. "Camp's All America Stars Show Why They Are Winners; Have Brains, Power, Spirit". Harrisburg Telegraph. December 26, 1922. p. 15. Retrieved March 8, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
50. "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.
51. "All-Time Assistant Coaches". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 142–143.