1956 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1956 Alabama Crimson Tide football Southeastern Conference SEC 2–7–1 2–5 Jennings B. Whitworth 2nd Jim Cunningham Wes Thompson Denny StadiumLegion FieldLadd Stadium The 1956 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1956 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 62nd overall and 23rd season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Jennings B. Whitworth, in his second year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and at Ladd Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. They finished with a record of two wins, seven losses and one tie (2–7–1 overall, 2–5 in the SEC). In 1956 the Crimson Tide improved somewhat from the year before—but not much. Alabama opened the season with four straight losses by a combined score of 99–26 to Rice, Vanderbilt, TCU and Tennessee. At this point, the all-time school record losing streak ran to 17 consecutive games, and the winless streak reached 20 games back to the 1954 season. Then against Mississippi State, Alabama won a game for the first time since October 16, 1954. The Tide scored with 2½ minutes to go and kicked the extra point to beat Maroons 13–12. After a loss to Georgia Alabama managed a 13–7 victory over Tulane. They then closed the season with a 13–13 tie with 1956 Southern Miss Golden Eagles Mississippi Southern between losses to Georgia Tech and Auburn. Schedule 1956 AP September 22 l y y Rice Rice Stadium Houston, TX 13–20 43,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-journal-rice-squeezes-out/133065008/ The Knoxville Journal Rice squeezes out 20 to 13 triumph over Alabama September 23, 1956 October 7, 2023 Newspapers.com October 6 l Vanderbilt 18 Ladd Stadium Mobile, AL 7–32 23,071 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selma-times-journal-vanderbilt-stamp/133065091/ The Selma Times-Journal Vanderbilt stamps past Alabama in 32–7 landslide October 7, 1956 October 7, 2023 Newspapers.com October 13 l y TCU 4 Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL 6–23 20,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-angelo-standard-times-tcu-whips-alab/133065165/ San Angelo Standard-Times TCU whips ALabama, 23–6 October 14, 1956 October 7, 2023 Newspapers.com October 20 l y Tennessee 7 Shields—Watkins Field Knoxville, TN Third Saturday in October 0–24 27,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98744519/tennessee-smacks-bama-240/ Kingsport Times-News Tennessee smacks 'Bama 24–0 October 21, 1956 March 30, 2022 Newspapers.com October 27 w y Mississippi State Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL rivalry 13–12 26,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-alabama-drouth-over/133065256/ The Huntsville Times Alabama drouth over October 28, 1956 October 7, 2023 Newspapers.com November 3 l Georgia Legion Field Birmingham, AL rivalry 13–16 25,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-georgia-rally-trips/133064790/ The Birmingham News Georgia rally trips Tide, 16 to 13 November 4, 1956 October 7, 2023 Newspapers.com November 10 w y Tulane Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA 13–7 30,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85634490/alabama-pulls-upset-win-over-wave-in-dom/ The Montgomery Advertiser Alabama pulls upset win over Wave in dominating play by 13–7 count November 11, 1956 September 19, 2021 Newspapers.com November 17 l y Georgia Tech 4 Grant Field Atlanta, GA rivalry 0–27 38,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-tech-midget-busts-loo/133056982/ The Miami Herald Tech 'midget' busts loose in 27 to 0 rout of 'Bama November 18, 1956 October 7, 2023 Newspapers.com November 24 t y Mississippi Southern Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL 13–13 16,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74708359/southern-ties-tide The Birmingham News The Birmingham News November 25, 1956 March 30, 2021 Newspapers.com December 1 l y Auburn Legion Field Birmingham, AL Iron Bowl 7–34 44,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-auburn-wallops-alab/133060464/ The Huntsville Times Auburn wallops Alabama December 2, 1956 October 7, 2023 Newspapers.com http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-results-archive.html#1956 1956 Alabama football schedule RollTide.com University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics November 18, 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111125000700/http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-results-archive.html November 25, 2011 Game summaries Rice 1956 Rice Owls football team Alabama 7 0 6 0 Rice 7 7 0 6 September 22 Rice StadiumHouston, TX 43,000 Source:Tide fails to turn, loses 20–13 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YGQeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7JkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6537%2C2544243 Norman Bassett The Tuscaloosa News 1 September 23, 1956 November 20, 2012Rice defeats 'Bama, 20–13 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GPRVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YeIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4392%2C3839122 Associated Press Eugene Register-Guard 3B September 23, 1956 November 20, 2012 The Crimson Tide opened the 1956 season with their 14th consecutive loss, while their opponent, the Rice Owls, ended their own seven-game losing streak with their 20–13 victory at Houston.1956 Season Recap The Owls scored the first touchdown of the game on their opening drive when Frank Ryan threw a 12-yard pass to Buddy Dial. Alabama responded in the final minute of the quarter with a one-yard Clay Walls touchdown run to tie the game at 7–7. Rice then took a 14–7 halftime lead after King Hill threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Williams in the second quarter. After a 17-yard Donald Comstock touchdown run brought the Crimson Tide within a point of the Owls lead, Rice closed the game with an 18-yard Ryan touchdown pass to Dial in the fourth to win 20–13. Vanderbilt 1956 Vanderbilt Commodores football team #18 Vanderbilt 0 13 6 13 Alabama 0 0 7 0 October 6 Ladd StadiumMobile, AL 23,071 Sources:Charles Land Commodores' power too much as Tidesmen fall again, 32–7 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bGQeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7JkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5155%2C4303240 The Tuscaloosa News October 7, 1956 1 November 20, 2012Associated Press Commodores run roughshod, over Crimson Tide, 32 to 7 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ax8pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=btcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3830%2C3266327 The Gadsden Times October 7, 1956 11 December 9, 2012 In their annual home game at Ladd Stadium, the Crimson Tide were defeated by the Vanderbilt Commodores 32–7 to open conference play. After a scoreless first quarter, the Commodores took a 13–0 halftime lead with second-quarter touchdowns scored on a short pass from Donald Orr to Gerald Hudson and later on a three-yard Danny McCall run. Hudson extended the Vandy lead to 19–0 with his three-yard touchdown run before the Crimson Tide scored their only points of the game on a one-yard Donald Comstock touchdown run that made the score 19–7. Vanderbilt then closed the game with a pair of touchdowns on runs of 25-yards by Phil King and three-yards by William Smith to win 32–7. TCU 1956 TCU Horned Frogs football team #4 TCU 7 9 7 0 Alabama 0 0 0 6 October 13 Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL 20,000 Sources:Charles Land TCU belts Bama 23–6 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=XUmZziu-z7kC&dat=19561014&printsec=frontpage&hl=en The Tuscaloosa News October 14, 1956 13 December 9, 2012Rex Thomas Rated Frogs brush by Crimson Tide, 23 to 6 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ch8pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=btcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2269%2C3905731 The Gadsden Times October 14, 1956 8 December 9, 2012 For the second consecutive season, Alabama played host to the Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs of the Southwest Conference, and for the second time in as many years lost 23–6. TCU took a 7–0 first quarter lead on a 46-yard Ken Wineburg touchdown run that capped an 81-yard drive. In the second quarter, the Frogs scored on an 11-yard Buddy Dike touchdown run and on a 21-yard Vernon Hallbeck field goal and took a 16–0 halftime lead. After a 41-yard Wineburg run in the third gave TCU a 23–0 lead, Alabama scored their lone points in the fourth on a 10-yard James Loftin touchdown run that made the final score 23–6. Tennessee 1956 Tennessee Volunteers football team Third Saturday in October Alabama 0 0 0 0 #7 Tennessee 6 6 6 6 October 20 Shields-Watkins FieldKnoxville, TN 27,500 Sources:Norman Bassett Vol lightning strikes Tide, 24–0 win https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eWQeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7JkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5138%2C6134007 The Tuscaloosa News October 21, 1956 10 December 9, 2012Escar Thompson Tennessee Vols defeat Alabama again, 24 to 0 Associated Press https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zgYsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eMYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2156%2C2080875 The Florence Times October 21, 1956 12 December 9, 2012 In their annual rivalry game against Tennessee, Alabama was shut out for the second consecutive year by the Volunteers in a 24–0 loss in Knoxville. In the game, Tennessee scored a touchdown in all four quarters. The Vols took a 12–0 halftime lead after Tommy Bronson scored on a three-yard run in the first and Al Carter scored on a 44-yard run in the second. After Johnny Majors scored on a short run to open the third quarter, Carter scored the final touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run that made the final score 24–0. Mississippi State 1956 Mississippi State Maroons football team Mississippi State 12 0 0 0 Alabama 0 6 0 7 October 27 Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL 26,000 Sources:Charles Land Tide gives Whit first win as State falls, 13–12 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gGQeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7JkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6534%2C6928171 The Tuscaloosa News October 28, 1956 1 December 9, 2012Don Cox Tide wins, 13 to 12 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fR8pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=btcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1776%2C5237005 The Gadsden Times October 28, 1951 1 December 9, 2012 On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide upset the Mississippi State Maroons 13–12 at Denny Stadium that ended both a 17-game losing streak that stretched back to the 1954 season and gave Whitworth his first victory as Crimson Tide head coach. The Maroons took a 12–0 first quarter lead on touchdown runs of two-yards by Frank Sabbatini and 22-yards by Billy Stacy. The Crimson Tide responded in the second quarter on a 46-yard Clay Walls touchdown pass to Jimmy Bowdoin that made the halftime score 12–6. After a scoreless third quarter, Walls tied the game 12–12 with his one-yard touchdown run in the fourth. The Pete Reeves extra point that followed gave Alabama the 13–12 victory and ended their 17-game losing streak. Georgia 1956 Georgia Bulldogs football team Georgia 0 0 7 9 Alabama 7 0 0 6 November 3 Legion FieldBirmingham, AL 25,000 Sources:Charles Land Georgia stuns fighting Tide with fast second half scores https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X2MeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5ZkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4844%2C279119 The Tuscaloosa News November 4, 1956 1 December 9, 2012Associated Press Georgia gowns Alabama on field goal, long run https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oK0yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CuwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3637%2C1225778 The Miami News November 4, 1956 2B December 9, 2012 One week after they won their first game in nearly two years, the Crimson Tide lost to the Georgia Bulldogs 16–13 at Legion Field. Alabama took a 7–0 lead into halftime after Charles Nelson scored on a one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. After Georgia tied the game 7–7 in the third quarter on an 80-yard J. B. Davis punt return, they took a 10–7 lead early in the fourth quarter after Clenton Cooper kicked a 29-yard field goal. They extended their lead further to 16–7 after a short William Hearn touchdown run, before Alabama scored their final points on a 24-yard Marshall Brown touchdown run that made the final score 16–13. Tulane 1956 Tulane Green Wave football team Alabama 0 13 0 0 Tulane 0 0 0 7 November 10 Tulane StadiumNew Orleans, LA 30,000 Sources:Charles Land Bama swamps Tulane's Wave https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZGMeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5ZkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7276%2C1240410 The Tuscaloosa News November 11, 1956 1 December 9, 2012James Saggus Associated Press Tide topples Tulane https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0RQpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XNcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1045%2C1020611 The Gadsden Times November 11, 1956 11 December 9, 2012 On the road in New Orleans, the Crimson Tide won their second game of the season with this 13–7 victory over the Tulane Green Wave. After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama scored both of their touchdowns in the second quarter. Both were scored on one-yard runs, first from Donald Comstock and second from George Salem. After a scoreless third, Tulane made the final score 13–7 on a 29-yard Fred Wilcox touchdown pass to T. Eugene Newton. Georgia Tech 1956 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team Alabama 0 0 0 0 No. 4 Georgia Tech 7 0 6 14 November 17 Grant FieldAtlanta, GA Sources:Charles Land Vann's passes feature Tech win over Alabama https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aWMeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5ZkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3982%2C2154323 The Tuscaloosa News November 18, 1956 1 December 9, 2012Associated Press Vann and Thompson spark Ga. Tech over 'Bama, 27–0 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mZdJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cQwNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2202%2C3099899 The News and Courier November 18, 1956 3D December 9, 2012 Against Georgia Tech, Alabama was shut out, 27–0, by the Yellow Jackets at Grant Field. Mississippi Southern 1956 Mississippi Southern Southerners football team Miss Southern 0 7 6 0 Alabama 0 7 6 0 November 24 Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL 16,000 Sources:Bill Robinson Ghost of '53, '54 Southerners steals across Denny Stadium https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bmMeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5ZkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7322%2C3060190 The Tuscaloosa News November 25, 1956 1 December 9, 2012Associated Press Alabama battles to 13–13 tie with pesty Miss. Southern https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3RQpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XNcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2713%2C2082444 The Gadsden Times November 25, 1956 8 December 9, 2012 In their final non-conference game of the season, Alabama tied the Mississippi Southern Southerners 13–13 at Denny Stadium. After a scoreless first quarter, Bo Dickinson scored on a 38-yard touchdown run for Southern and then Bobby Smith threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Donald Comstock for Alabama to tie the game 7–7 at halftime. In the third quarter, Smith threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Comstock for the Crimson Tide and the Dickinson scored on a 37-yard touchdown run to again tie the game 13–13, which stood as the final score after a scoreless fourth quarter. Auburn 1956 Auburn Tigers football team Iron Bowl Auburn 0 27 7 0 Alabama 0 0 7 0 December 1 Legion FieldBirmingham, AL 44,000 Sources:Hap Halbrooks Auburn slaughters hapless Alabama, 34–7 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KSMsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U54FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1195%2C126781 The Florence Times December 2, 1956 13 November 17, 2012Griffin John Chandler Alabama vs. Auburn: Gridiron Grudge Since 1893 2001 Hill Street Press Athens, Georgia 1-58818-044-1 151–153 1956: Howell Tubbs leads Tiger romp over Alabama Against the rival Auburn Tigers, Alabama lost 34–7 at Legion Field in the season finale. Personnel Varsity letter winners Player Hometown Position Willie Beck Northport, Alabama End Ralph Blalock Cullman, Alabama End Baxter Booth Athens, Alabama End Jimmy Bowdoin Elba, Alabama Halfback William Brooks Tuscaloosa, Alabama Center Marshall Brown Ladysmith, Wisconsin Fullback Phil Clark Columbus, Georgia Guard Donald Comstock Lincoln, Nebraska Halfback Benny Dempsey Brantley, Alabama Center Roy Forbus Alexander City, Alabama End Glen Graham Florence, Alabama Center Charles Gray Pell City, Alabama End Max Kelley Cullman, Alabama Fullback Donald Kinderknecht Hays, Kansas Fullback James Loftin Dothan, Alabama Halfback Sidney Neighbors Northport, Alabama Tackle Charles Nelson Opp, Alabama Quarterback Donald Owen Memphis, Tennessee End Edward Pharo Birmingham, Alabama Fullback Douglas Potts Evergreen, Alabama Guard Billy Raines Moulton, Alabama Guard Kenneth Roberts Anniston, Alabama Center George Salem Birmingham, Alabama Halfback Dave Sington Birmingham, Alabama Tackle Bobby Smith Brewton, Alabama Quarterback John Snoderly Montgomery, Alabama Center Wesley Thompson Decatur, Alabama Tackle Roy Vickery Charlotte, North Carolina Tackle Clay Walls Bessemer, Alabama HalfbackReference: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 Jennings B. Whitworth Head coach 2 Alabama (1932) Lew Bostick Assistant coach 13 Alabama (1939) Hank Crisp Assistant coach 29 VPI (1920) Dorsey Gibson Assistant coach 1 Oklahoma A&M (1953) Howard "Moose" Johnson Assistant coach 2 Georgia (1948) Joe Kilgrow Assistant coach 13 Alabama (1937) Malcolm Laney Assistant coach 13 Alabama (1932) Barney Poole Assistant coach 1 Ole Miss (1948) Joe Thomas Assistant coach 2 Oklahoma A&M (1947)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/schools/alab/graphics/docs/56-m-footbl-recaps.pdf 1956 Season Recaps RollTide.com University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics November 18, 2012 April 25, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140425164933/http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/56-m-footbl-recaps.pdf dead Specific Alabama Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football seasons Alabama Crimson Tide football