1933 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

The 1933 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1933 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 40th overall and 1st season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Frank Thomas, in his third 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, one loss and one tie (7–1–1 overall, 5–0–1 in the SEC), and as the first SEC champions.^[1]

1933 Alabama Crimson Tide football
SEC champion
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Record	7–1–1 (5–0–1 SEC)
Head coach	Frank Thomas (3rd season)
Captain	Foy Leach
Home stadium	Denny Stadium Legion Field
Seasons ← 1932 1934 →

1933 Southeastern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Alabama $	5	–	0	–	1			7	–	1	–	1
LSU	3	–	0	–	2			7	–	0	–	3
Georgia	3	–	1	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Tennessee	5	–	2	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
Tulane	4	–	2	–	1			6	–	3	–	1
Auburn	2	–	2	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Ole Miss	2	–	2	–	1			6	–	3	–	2
Vanderbilt	2	–	2	–	2			4	–	3	–	3
Florida	2	–	3	–	0			5	–	3	–	1
Kentucky	2	–	3	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Georgia Tech	2	–	5	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Mississippi State	1	–	5	–	1			3	–	6	–	1
Sewanee	0	–	6	–	0			3	–	6	–	0
$ – Conference champion

After opening the season with victory over Oglethorpe, Alabama played Ole Miss to a scoreless tie in their first SEC matchup. One week later, the Crimson Tide defeated Mississippi State for their first SEC victory and followed that with their first SEC road victory with their win over Tennessee at Shields–Watkins Field. From Knoxville, Alabama traveled to New York City where they lost their only game of the season against Fordham in an intersectional matchup. Alabama rebounded with four consecutive victories to close the season as conference champions with wins over Kentucky, VPI (Virginia Tech) on homecoming, Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt.

Before the season

In December 1932, after the conclusion of the 1932 season, Alabama withdrew from the Southern Conference to become a charter member of the SEC.^[1][2] The Crimson Tide was joined by Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Sewanee, Tennessee, Tulane and Vanderbilt.^[1][2] Effective the start of the 1933 season, the SEC was formed in an effort to create a smaller, geographically closer conference.^[2]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 30	Oglethorpe*	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	W 34–0	12,000	[3]
October 7	Ole Miss	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (rivalry)	T 0–0	12,000	[4]
October 14	Mississippi State	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	W 18–0	5,000	[5]
October 21	at Tennessee	Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN (rivalry)	W 12–6	25,000	[6]
October 28	at Fordham*	Polo Grounds New York, NY	L 0–2	60,000	[7]
November 4	Kentucky	Legion Field Birmingham, AL	W 20–0	15,000	[8]
November 11	VPI*	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	W 27–0	10,000	[9]
November 18	at Georgia Tech	Grant Field Atlanta, GA (rivalry)	W 12–9	18,000	[10]
November 30	at Vanderbilt	Dudley Field Nashville, TN	W 7–0	15,000	[11]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^[12]

Game summaries

Oglethorpe

See also: 1933 Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels football team

1 2 3 4 Total Oglethorpe 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 14 7 7 6 34 Date: September 30 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, Alabama Game attendance: 12,000 Source:[13]

Although they played most of the game in a heavy rainstorm, Alabama opened the 1933 season with a 34–0 victory over Oglethorpe at Denny Stadium.^[13][14] The Crimson Tide took a 14–0 first quarter lead on a 12-yard Frank Moseley touchdown pass to Dixie Howell and a two-yard James McDanal touchdown run.^[13] With the lead, Alabama pulled their starters and played their second string for the second quarter. In the second, they took a 21–0 lead on a 21-yard Howard Chappell touchdown run.^[13] In the second half, the Crimson Tide closed the game with a touchdown in each of the final two quarters. McDanal scored first on a short run followed by a 12-yard Chappell run for the 34–0 win.^[13] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Oglethorpe to 2–0.^[15]

Ole Miss

See also: 1933 Ole Miss Rebels football team

1 2 3 4 Total Ole Miss 0 0 0 0 0 Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 7 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, Alabama Game attendance: 12,000 Source:[16]

In what was the first SEC game ever played by the Crimson Tide, Alabama and the rival Ole Miss Rebels battled to a 0–0 tie at Legion Field.^[14][16][17] Although Alabama outgained the Rebels in total offense 179 to 33 yards, seven fumbles kept the Crimson Tide out of the end zone.^[16] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Ole Miss 16–2–2.^[18]

Mississippi State

See also: 1933 Mississippi State Maroons football team

1 2 3 4 Total Mississippi State 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 0 6 6 6 18 Date: October 14 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, Alabama Game attendance: 5,000 Source:[19]

Against their long-time rival, the Mississippi State Maroons, Alabama won their first all-time SEC game 18–0 at Denny Stadium.^[14][19] In the game, Frank Moseley scored on a pair of touchdown runs with Dixie Howell scoring the other in the third quarter on a seven-yard run in the victory.^[19] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State 16–4–2.^[20]

Tennessee

See also: 1933 Tennessee Volunteers football team

Third Saturday in October

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 0 0 6 6 12 Tennessee 0 6 0 0 6 Date: October 21 Location: Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, Tennessee Game attendance: 25,000 Source:[21]

Against rival Tennessee, Alabama defeated the Volunteers, 12–6 at Shields–Watkins Field.^[14][21] After a scoreless first quarter, the Volunteers took a 6–0 lead in the second when Beattie Feathers scored on a touchdown run.^[21] Down six at the half, a pair of second half touchdowns gave the Crimson Tide the 12–6 victory. Erskine Walker scored in the third on a 34-yard run and Dixie Howell scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth on a four-yard run.^[21] The loss was the first at home for Tennessee in the Robert Neyland era.^[21] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee 10–5–1.^[22]

Fordham

See also: 1933 Fordham Rams football team

1 2 3 4 Total Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 • Fordham 2 0 0 0 2 Date: October 28 Location: Polo Grounds New York Game attendance: 60,000 Source:[23]

Before 60,000 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York City, Alabama was defeated the Fordham Rams, 2–0.^[14][23] The only points scored in the game came in the first quarter when Amerino Sarno blocked a Dixie Howell punt that Howell recovered in the endzone for a Fordham safety.^[23] The loss was Alabama's first intersectional loss since their 15–0 defeat against Wisconsin in 1928, and brought Alabama's all-time record against Fordham 0–1.^[23][24]

Kentucky

See also: 1933 Kentucky Wildcats football team

1 2 3 4 Total Kentucky 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 0 6 7 7 20 Date: November 4 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, Alabama Game attendance: 15,000 Source:[25]

A week after their first loss of the season, Alabama defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 20–0 at Legion Field.^[14][25] After a scoreless first quarter, the Crimson Tide took a 6–0 in the second after Dixie Howell scored on a 55-yard touchdown run.^[25] Alabama then closed the game with a five-yard Howell touchdown run in the third and a short Joe Demyanovich touchdown run in the fourth for the 20–0 win.^[25] In the first quarter, Howell punted the football 89-yards, which still stands as the Alabama record for longest punt.^[26] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Kentucky 12–1.^[27]

VPI

See also: 1933 VPI Gobblers football team

1 2 3 4 Total VPI 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 6 12 9 0 27 Date: November 11 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, Alabama Game attendance: 10,000 Source:[28]

Against the Fighting Gobblers of VPI (now known as the Virginia Tech Hokies), Alabama won 27–0 on homecoming at Denny Field.^[14][28] The Crimson Tide took a 6–0 first quarter lead after Riley Smith scored on a five-yard touchdown run.^[28] They extended their lead to 18–0 at halftime on touchdown runs of one-yard by Joe Demyanovich and ten-yards by James Angelich in the second quarter.^[28] Alabama then closed the game with a 16-yard Dixie Howell touchdown run and a tackle of the Gobblers' Ray Mills for a safety in the third for the 27–0 win.^[28] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against VPI 2–0.^[29]

Georgia Tech

See also: 1933 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 6 0 0 6 12 Georgia Tech 0 2 7 0 9 Date: November 18 Location: Grant Field Atlanta Game attendance: 18,000 Source:[30]

Against the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado, Alabama won 12–9 at Grant Field.^[14][30] The Crimson Tide took a 6–0 lead in the first quarter on a Dixie Howell touchdown run.^[30] After a Howell fumble resulted in a safety in the second, Tech took a 9–6 lead in the third quarter when W. A. Davis scored on a one-yard touchdown run.^[30] Howell then scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter on a short run.^[30] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 7–10–2.^[31]

Vanderbilt

See also: 1933 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 0 7 0 0 7 Vanderbilt 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 30 Location: Dudley Field Nashville, Tennessee Game attendance: 15,000 Source:[32]

In the season finale at Vanderbilt, Alabama defeated the Commodores 7–0 to capture the first SEC championship.^[1][14][32] The only points of the game came on a short Dixie Howell touchdown run in the second quarter.^[32] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 6–8.^[33]

Personnel

Varsity letter winners Player Hometown Position James Angelich Indiana Harbor, Indiana Halfback Troy Barker Lineville, Alabama Guard Bear Bryant Moro Bottom, Arkansas End Jeff Bush Tuscaloosa, Alabama Back Howard Chappell Sylacauga, Alabama Back Joe Demyanovich Bayonne, New Jersey Fullback Jim Dildy Nashville, Arkansas Tackle Joe Dildy Nashville, Arkansas Center Kavanaugh Francis Timson, Texas Center Calvin Frey Arkadelphia, Arkansas Tackle Ralph Gandy Birmingham, Alabama End Dixie Howell Hartford, Alabama Halfback Larry Hughes Tuscaloosa, Alabama Back John Hundertmark Washington, Pennsylvania Tackle Tom Huke East Chicago, Indiana Guard Don Hutson Pine Bluff, Arkansas End B'Ho Kirkland Columbia, Alabama Guard Foy Leach Siloam Springs, Arkansas End Bill Lee Eutaw, Alabama Tackle Charles Marr Pine Bluff, Arkansas Guard Thomas McMillian Brewton, Alabama End Frank Moseley Montgomery, Alabama Back Riley Smith Columbus, Mississippi Quarterback Erskine Walker Birmingham, Alabama Halfback Jim Whatley Alexander City, Alabama Tackle Reference:[34]

Coaching staff Name Position Seasons at Alabama Alma Mater Frank Thomas Head coach 3 Notre Dame (1923) Paul Burnum Assistant coach 4 Alabama (1922) Hank Crisp Assistant coach 13 VPI (1920) Harold Drew Assistant coach 3 Bates (1916) Jennings B. Whitworth Assistant coach 2 Alabama (1931) Reference:[35]

References

General

• "1933 Season Recap" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 4, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.

Specific

1. Richard, Scott (2008). SEC Football: 75 Years of Pride and Passion. New York: MVP Books. p. 35. ISBN 9780760332481. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
2. Graham, Dillon (December 10, 1932). "Southern Conference broken by members". The Spartanburg Herald. Associated Press. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
3. "Bama swamps Petrels under 34-to-0 score". The Atlanta Constitution. October 1, 1933. Retrieved February 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Ole Miss stuns Alabama supporters in 0–0 draw". The Birmingham News. October 8, 1933. Retrieved February 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Stubborn State eleven beaten 18 to 0 by Crimson Tide". The Clarion-Ledger. October 15, 1933. Retrieved February 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Volunteers defeated by Crimson Tide, 12 to 6". The Knoxville Journal. October 22, 1933. Retrieved February 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Fordham barely wins by 2–0". Brooklyn Times Union. October 29, 1933. Retrieved February 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Bama Tide rolls over cripples 'Cats, 20–0". Lexington Herald-Leader. November 5, 1933. Retrieved February 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Tech, clipped 27–0, fails to get 1st down". Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 12, 1933. Retrieved February 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Tech stages great battle but bows to Alabama, 12–9". The Atlanta Constitution. November 19, 1933. Retrieved February 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Alabama ascends 'Big 13' title throne as battling Commodores barely miss tie". Nashville Banner. December 1, 1933. Retrieved February 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "1933 Alabama football archives". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
13. "Tide surges over Petrels in muddy 34–0 victory". The Tuscaloosa News. October 1, 1933. p. 8. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
14. 1933 Season Recap
15. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Oglethorpe". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
16. "Ole Miss thwarts Tide's attack to achieve scoreless tie". The Tuscaloosa News. October 8, 1933. p. 8. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
17. "Tide to depart this afternoon for Magic City". The Tuscaloosa News. October 6, 1933. p. 6. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
18. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
19. "Moseley, Howell lead Bama to 18–0 victory over Miss. State". The Tuscaloosa News. October 15, 1933. p. 8. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
20. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
21. "Crimson Tide rises high to surge over mighty Vols, 12–6". The Tuscaloosa News. October 22, 1933. p. 8. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
22. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tennessee". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
23. "60,000 see Rams block punt for safety, defeat Tide 2 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. October 29, 1933. p. 8. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
24. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Fordham". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
25. "Tide drowns Wildcats 20 to 0 in wake of 'Dixie' Howell". The Tuscaloosa News. November 5, 1933. p. 10. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
26. 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book (PDF). Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 16, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
27. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Kentucky". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
28. "Tide tames Gobblers 27 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. November 12, 1933. p. 8. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
29. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Virginia Tech". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
30. "Tide keeps clean slate in Southeastern with 12–9 Tech win". The Tuscaloosa News. November 19, 1933. p. 8. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
31. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia Tech". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
32. "Tide brings back championship and Vandy scalp, 7 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. December 1, 1933. p. 6. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
33. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
34. "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.
35. "All-Time Assistant Coaches". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 142–143.