1947 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1947 Alabama Crimson Tide football Southeastern Conference SEC 6 8–3 5–2 Harold Drew 1st John Wozniak Denny StadiumLegion Field Sugar Bowl L Lost 7–27 vs. Texas The 1947 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1947 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 53rd overall and 14th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Harold Drew, in his first year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished with a record of eight wins and three losses (8–3 overall, 5–2 in the SEC) and with a loss in the Sugar Bowl. After the Crimson Tide opened the season with a victory over 1947 Southern Miss Golden Eagles Mississippi Southern, Alabama lost consecutive. games against Tulane and Vanderbilt to open the season 1–2. However, the Crimson Tide rebounded to win their final seven games against Duquesne, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, LSU and Miami. Alabama then lost to Texas in the Sugar Bowl to finish the season 8–3. The 1947 season marked the first for Harold Drew as head coach for the Crimson Tide.Drew signed as Crimson coach, Thomas director https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6_k-AAAAIBAJ&pg=6054%2C520334 The Tuscaloosa News 1 January 14, 1947 September 30, 2012 Drew was hired as the replacement for long-time head coach Frank Thomas after he resigned his post due to personal health conditions in January 1947.Legends of Alabama Football Scott Richard 2004 Sports Publishing LLC 978-1-58261-277-5 12–13 September 30, 2012 https://books.google.com/books?id=IH0LrFMKVTcC&q=Legends%20of%20Alabama%20Football&pg=PP1 To date, 1947 is the last season that the Crimson Tide did not play in-state archrival Auburn. Schedule 1947 AP September 20 w y Mississippi Southern Legion Field Birmingham, AL 34–7 30,000 September 27 l y Tulane Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA 20–21 60,000 October 4 l y Vanderbilt Dudley Field Nashville, TN 7–14 22,000 October 11 w y Duquesne Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL 26–0 25,000 October 18 w Tennessee Legion Field Birmingham, AL Third Saturday in October 10–0 32,000 October 25 w y Georgia Sanford Stadium Athens, GA rivalry 17–7 48,000 November 1 w y 18 Kentucky 13 McLean Stadium Lexington, KY 13–0 24,000 November 15 w 14 Georgia Tech 6 Legion Field Birmingham, AL rivalry 14–7 35,000 November 22 w y 8 LSU Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL rivalry 41–12 25,000 November 29 w y y 6 Miami (FL) Burdine Stadium Miami, FL 21–6 27,491 January 1, 1948 l y y 6 Texas 5 Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA Sugar Bowl 7–27 73,000 http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-results-archive.html#1947 1947 Alabama football schedule RollTide.com University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics September 26, 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111125000700/http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-results-archive.html November 25, 2011 Rankings 1947 college football rankings AP 1 10 NR NR NR 18 16 14 8 6 7 6 (1) Game summaries Mississippi Southern Mississippi Southern 0 0 7 0 Alabama 6 7 7 14 September 20 Legion FieldBirmingham, AL 30,000 Source:Crimsons pass, run to decisive victory, 34 to 7 Jim Mullins https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Yu8-AAAAIBAJ&pg=6345%2C6854737 Spartanburg Herald September 21, 1947 6 September 27, 2012 To open the 1946 season, the Crimson Tide defeated the Mississippi Southern Golden Eagles at Legion Field 34–7 in what was the first all-time meeting between the schools. The Crimson Tide took a 6–0 lead in the first quarter when Harry Gilmer threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Rebel Steiner. Norwood Hodges extended the Alabama lead to 13–0 at halftime with his eight-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Early in the third quarter, Mississippi scored their only points of the game on a 66-yard Bubba Phillips touchdown run to cut the Crimson Tide lead to 13–7. Alabama responded with 21 unanswered points for the 34–7 victory. Touchdowns were scored on a four-yard Gilmer run in the third and on a two-yard Hodges and one-yard Ed Salem run in the fourth quarter. Tulane 1947 Tulane Green Wave football team Alabama 0 6 14 0 Tulane 0 14 7 0 September 27 Tulane StadiumNew Orleans, LA 60,000 Source:Tulane out-points Tide, 21–20 in thrill-packed scoring race Jim Mullins https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ae8-AAAAIBAJ&pg=6413%2C7421991 The Tuscaloosa News September 28, 1947 6 September 27, 2012 To open conference play, Alabama traveled to New Orleans and lost to the Tulane Green Wave 21–20.1947 Season Recap After a scoreless first quarter, the Crimson Tide took a 6–0 lead after Norwood Hodges scored on a one-yard touchdown run. However, the Green Wave responded on the kickoff that ensued when Ed Price returned it 101-yards for a 7–6 Tulane lead. A Bennie Ellender touchdown pass as the second quarter ended gave the Green Wave a 14–6 halftime lead. Ray Prats extended the Tulane lead to 21–6 early in the third quarter after he returned an interception 65-yards for a touchdown. The Crimson Tide responded with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns, but lost by a single point. Alabama touchdowns in the third were scored by Hodges on a two-yard run and by Billy Cadenhead on an eight-yard run. Vanderbilt 1947 Vanderbilt Commodores football team Alabama 0 0 0 7 Vanderbilt 7 0 0 7 October 4 Dudley FieldNashville, TN 22,000 Source:Vandy pass defense stops Tide for 14–7 triumph Jim Mullins https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AiY_AAAAIBAJ&pg=6570%2C265884 The Tuscaloosa News October 5, 1947 1 September 27, 2012 Against Vanderbilt, Alabama lost 14–7 at Dudley Field in a game dominated by the Commodores' pass defense. Vanderbilt scored the only points of the first half when Jamie Wade threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to John North for a 7–0 lead. In the fourth quarter, Robert Berry scored for the Commodores on an 11-yard run after they intercepted a Harry Gilmer pass. A late 23-yard Gilmer touchdown pass to Carl Mims to make the final score 14–7 and breakup the Vanderbilt shutout attempt. Duquesne 1947 Duquesne Dukes football team Duquesne 0 0 0 0 Alabama 0 7 13 6 October 11 Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL 25,000 Source:Tide defeats Duquesne 26–0 Jim Mullins https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CSY_AAAAIBAJ&pg=5991%2C759447 The Tuscaloosa News October 12, 1947 1 September 30, 2012 In what was the first all-time game against Duquesne, the Dukes lost 26–0 in the first Denny Stadium game of the season. After a scoreless first quarter, the Crimson Tide took a 7–0 halftime lead after Billy Cadenhead scored on a six-yard run. The Alabama lead was extended further in the third quarter after a 58-yard Norman Mosley punt return and a one-yard Norwood Hodges touchdown run to make the score 20–0 as they entered the final period. In the fourth, Travis Hicks scored the final points of the game and made the final score 26–0. Tennessee 1947 Tennessee Volunteers football team Third Saturday in October Tennessee 0 0 0 0 Alabama 0 0 7 3 October 18 Legion FieldBirmingham, AL 32,000 Sources:Jim Mullins Tide touchdown, goal drown Vols 10–0 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DyY_AAAAIBAJ&pg=6080%2C1262949 The Tuscaloosa News October 19, 1947 6 September 30, 2012 Against Tennessee, the Crimson Tide shutout Volunteers 10–0 before a sellout crowd at Legion Field. After a scoreless first half, a nine-yard Billy Cadenhead touchdown run in the third and a seven-yard Hugh Morrow field goal in the fourth provided for the 10–0 margin of victory. Georgia 1947 Georgia Bulldogs football team Alabama 7 0 7 3 Georgia 0 7 0 0 October 25 Sanford StadiumAthens, GA 48,000 Source:Jim Mullins Tide's long touchdowns throttle Georgia, 17–7 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FiY_AAAAIBAJ&pg=6552%2C1726195 The Tuscaloosa News October 26, 1947 1 September 30, 2012 Against Georgia, the Crimson Tide defeated the Bulldogs 17–7 before 48,000 fans at Sanford Stadium. The Crimson Tide took an early 7–0 lead after Harry Gilmer returned a punt 80-yards for a touchdown. The Bulldogs responded in the second quarter with their only points on an 83-yard John Rauch touchdown pass to Eli Maricich to tie the game 7–7 at halftime. Alabama retook the lead in the third on an 84-yard run that saw Lowell Tew run 44-yards before he tossed a lateral pass to Billy Cadenhead who took it the final 40-yards for the touchdown. A seven-yard Hugh Morrow field goal in the fourth made the final score 17–7. Kentucky 1947 Kentucky Wildcats football team #13 Kentucky 0 0 0 0 #18 Alabama 6 7 0 0 November 1 McLean StadiumLexington, KY 24,000 Source:Jim Mullins Tide beats favored Kentucky, 13–0 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HSY_AAAAIBAJ&pg=5825%2C2228662 The Tuscaloosa News November 2, 1947 1 September 30, 2012 In Lexington, the Crimson Tide defeated the Wildcats 13–0 at McLean Stadium who were led by former Crimson Tide player Bear Bryant. Alabama scored all of their points on a pair of touchdowns in the first half. The first came on a three-yard Harry Gilmer run in the first quarter and the second on a two-yard Billy Cadenhead run in the second quarter. Georgia Tech 1947 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team #6 Georgia Tech 0 0 0 7 #14 Alabama 7 7 0 0 November 15 Legion FieldBirmingham, AL 35,000 Source:Jim Mullins Tide rises to wreck Tech with 14–7 win https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KyY_AAAAIBAJ&pg=5957%2C3175951 The Tuscaloosa News November 16, 1947 1 September 30, 2012 Against the Yellow Jackets, the Crimson Tide had their second consecutive upset victory with their 14–7 at Legion Field. Alabama took a 14–0 lead into the fourth quarter after a five-yard Harry Gilmer touchdown pass to Rebel Steiner in the first quarter and on a one-yard Gilmer run in the second quarter. Tech scored their only points late in the fourth quarter on a four-yard Robert McCoy touchdown run to make the final score 14–7. LSU 1947 LSU Tigers football team LSU 0 0 6 6 #8 Alabama 21 7 7 6 November 22 Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL 25,000 Source:Jim Mullins Tide engulfs LSU, accepts Sugar Bowl bid https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MiY_AAAAIBAJ&pg=5952%2C3668413 Associated Press The Tuscaloosa News November 23, 1947 1 September 30, 2012 On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, Alabama defeated LSU 41–12 to close out conference play for the season. Immediately following the win, the Crimson Tide accepted an invitation to play in the 1948 Sugar Bowl. Miami (FL) 1947 Miami Hurricanes football team #6 Alabama 0 7 14 0 Miami 6 0 0 0 November 29 Burdine StadiumMiami, FL 27,491 Source:Bama unleashed delayed tidal wave to sink Miami, 21 to 6 Ben Green https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OSY_AAAAIBAJ&pg=5894%2C4198715 The Tuscaloosa News November 30, 1947 1 September 30, 2012 This game against the Miami Hurricanes was originally scheduled to be played on Friday, November 28.Crimson Tide, Hurricanes meet tonight Associated Press https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NyY_AAAAIBAJ&pg=6557%2C4134549 The Tuscaloosa News November 28, 1947 8 September 30, 2012 However, severe weather and poor field conditions postponed its being played until the following evening, and in what was their final regular season game, Alabama defeated Miami 21–6 at Burdine Stadium.Tide set to meet Miami in Florida tilt tonight Associated Press https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OCY_AAAAIBAJ&pg=4466%2C4157753 The Tuscaloosa News November 29, 1947 1 September 30, 2012 Miami took a 6–0 lead in the first quarter after Harold Schuler threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Ed Houck. The Crimson Tide then responded with 21 unanswered points to win the game 21–6. Touchdowns were scored on a three-yard Harry Gilmer pass to Rebel Steiner in the second quarter and on runs by Gilmer and Jim Cain in the third quarter. Texas 1947 Texas Longhorns football team Sugar Bowl #6 Alabama 0 7 0 0 #5 Texas 7 0 7 13 January 1 Tulane StadiumNew Orleans, LA 73,000 Sources:Jim Mullins Alert Texas baffles Tide, 27 to 7 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wdc-AAAAIBAJ&pg=6356%2C92947 The Tuscaloosa News January 2, 1948 7 September 30, 2012 Against the Texas Longhorns, the Crimson Tide were defeated 27–7 in the 1948 Sugar Bowl. Personnel Varsity letter winners Player Hometown Position Johnny August Shadyside, Ohio Halfback Billy Cadenhead Greenville, Mississippi Halfback Jim Cain Eudora, Arkansas End Gri Cashio Gadsden, Alabama Guard Francis Cassidy Neff, Ohio Tackle Herb Chapman Elmore, Alabama Center Bob Cochran Hueytown, Alabama Halfback Charles Compton Sylacauga, Alabama Tackle Bruno Filippini Powhatan Point, Ohio Guard Dick Flowers Mobile, Alabama Tackle Jim Franko Yorkville, Ohio Guard Harry Gilmer Birmingham, Alabama Halfback Clem Gryska Steubenville, Ohio Halfback Norwood Hodges Hueytown, Alabama Fullback Bob Hood Gadsden, Alabama Tackle Vaughn Mancha Birmingham, Alabama Center Hugh Morrow Birmingham, Alabama Quarterback Norman Mosley Blytheville, Arkansas Halfback Lionel W. Noonan Mobile, Alabama Halfback Pat O'Sullivan New Orleans, Louisiana Linebacker T. Ray Richeson Russellville, Alabama Tackle Ed Salem Birmingham, Alabama Halfback Rebel Steiner Birmingham, Alabama End Lowell Tew Waynesboro, Mississippi Fullback Ed White Anniston, Alabama End Tom Whitley Birmingham, Alabama Tackle John Wozniak Fairhope, Pennsylvania GuardReference:2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book 2011 All-Time Tide Football Lettermen University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office Tuscaloosa, Alabama 127–141 Coaching staff Name Position Seasons atAlabama Alma mater Harold Drew Head coach 14 Bates (1916) Lew Bostick Assistant coach 4 Alabama (1939) Tilden Campbell Assistant coach 8 Alabama (1935) Joe Kilgrow Assistant coach 4 Alabama (1937) Malcolm Laney Assistant coach 4 Alabama (1932) Tom Lieb Assistant coach 2 Notre Dame (1923)Reference:2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book 2011 All-Time Assistant Coaches University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office Tuscaloosa, Alabama 142–143 References General http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/alab/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/1947-m-footbl-recaps.pdf 1947 Season Recaps RollTide.com University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics September 26, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103355/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/alab/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/1947-m-footbl-recaps.pdf 2016-03-04 dead Specific Alabama Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football seasons Alabama Crimson Tide football