1940 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1940 Alabama Crimson Tide football Southeastern Conference SEC 7–2 4–2 Frank Thomas 10th Harold Newman Denny StadiumLegion Field The 1940 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1940 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 47th overall and 8th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Frank Thomas, in his tenth 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 and two losses (7–2 overall, 4–2 in the SEC). The Crimson Tide opened the 1940 season with three consecutive, non-conference victories over Spring Hill, Mercer and Howard. However, Alabama was defeated 27–12 by Tennessee in their conference opener in week four. The Crimson Tide then rebounded with four consecutive conference victories over Kentucky, Tulane, Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt. Alabama then closed their season with a loss against Mississippi State on homecoming at Denny Stadium. Alabama was ranked at No. 24 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.Final 1940 Litkenhous Ratings The Boston Globe Dr. E. E. Litkenhous December 19, 1940 22 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123126338/final-1940-litkenhous-ratings/ Newspapers.com Schedule 1940 AP September 27 w y y Spring Hill Murphy High School Stadium Mobile, AL 26–0 7,500 October 5 w y Mercer Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL 20–0 6,000 October 12 w y Howard (AL) Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL 31–0 4,500 October 19 l Tennessee 5 Legion Field Birmingham, AL Third Saturday in October 12–27 24,500 November 2 w y Kentucky McLean Stadium Lexington, KY 25–0 13,000 November 9 w Tulane Legion Field Birmingham, AL 13–6 20,000 November 16 w y 14 Georgia Tech Grant Field Atlanta, GA rivalry 14–13 25,000 November 23 w 17 Vanderbilt Legion Field Birmingham, AL 25–21 November 30 l y 17 Mississippi State 11 Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL rivalry 0–13 18,500 http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-results-archive.html#1940 1940 Alabama football schedule RollTide.com University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics June 6, 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 1940 college football rankings AP 1 8 NR NR NR NR 14 17 17 NR Game summaries Spring Hill 1940 Spring Hill Badgers football team Alabama 0 7 13 6 Spring Hill 0 0 0 0 September 27 Murphy H. S. StadiumMobile, AL 7,500 Source:Tiders return with 26–0 win https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GeU-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_kwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6481%2C1310007 Google News Archives The Tuscaloosa News September 29, 1940 10 June 6, 2012 To open the 1940 season, Alabama defeated Spring Hill College 26–0 at Murphy High School Stadium in Mobile.1940 Season Recap After a scoreless first quarter, the Crimson Tide scored their first touchdown on a one-yard Paul Spencer run in the second quarter and held a 7–0 halftime lead. In the third quarter, Alabama extended their lead to 20–0 with touchdowns scored runs of two-yards by Spencer and 31-yards by Dave Brown. They then closed the game with a five-yard Herschel Mosley touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the 26–0 victory. This contest is notable for being the first night game ever played by an Alabama football team.Tiders depart for Spring Hill https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GOU-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_kwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6457%2C1255207 Google News Archives The Tuscaloosa News September 27, 1940 9 June 6, 2012 Mercer 1940 Mercer Bears football team Mercer 0 0 0 0 Alabama 6 7 7 0 October 5 Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL 6,000 Source:37 Tiders out-sweat Mercer Bears, 20 to 0 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HOU-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_kwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4771%2C1639662 Google News Archives The Tuscaloosa News October 6, 1940 7 June 6, 2012 In their first home game of the season, Alabama shutout the Mercer Bears 20–0 on an unseasonably warm afternoon that saw temperatures in excess of 90 degrees. Paul Spencer scored both of the Crimson Tide's first half touchdowns on runs of six and five yards for a 13–0 halftime lead. The final score came in the third quarter on a six-yard Dave Brown touchdown run. In the victory, the Alabama defense only allowed the Bears one first down and held their offense to net yardage of minus 17. Howard (AL) 1940 Howard Bulldogs football team Howard 0 0 0 0 Alabama 6 7 12 6 October 12 Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL 4,500 Source:Tide subdues Howard, 31 to 0 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IuU-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_kwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6506%2C1930980 Google News Archives The Tuscaloosa News October 13, 1940 6 June 6, 2012 At Denny Stadium, Alabama defeated Howard (now Samford University) 31–0 for their third consecutive shutout to open the season. Paul Spencer scored first with his one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter followed by a six-yard Dave Brown touchdown run in the second quarter for a 13–0 halftime lead. After Spencer scored again in the third on a seven-yard run, Jimmy Nelson intercepted a Jimmy Tarrant pass and returned it 88-yards for a touchdown. Don Salls then scored the final points of the game in the fourth quarter on a ten-yard run for the 31–0 victory. Tennessee 1940 Tennessee Volunteers football team Third Saturday in October #5 Tennessee 0 14 0 13 Alabama 0 6 6 0 October 19 Legion FieldBirmingham, AL 24,500 Source:Vol air bombs blast victory over Tide ground attack, 27–12 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KOU-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_kwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6483%2C2285120 Google News Archives The Tuscaloosa News October 20, 1940 10 June 8, 2012 On the Monday prior to their annual game against the Volunteers, Tennessee was selected to the No. 5 position in the first AP Poll of the 1940 season.Cornell snares top poll rank https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JOU-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_kwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5574%2C2065178 Bill Boni Associated Press Google News Archives The Tuscaloosa News October 15, 1940 7 June 8, 2012 In the game, Alabama was defeated by rival Tennessee 27–12 before an overflow crowd of 24,500 at Legion Field. After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama took their only lead of the game early in the second quarter on a 14-yard fake reverse by Jimmy Nelson for a touchdown. The Volunteers responded with a pair of John Butler touchdowns to take a 14–6 halftime lead. The first came on an 11-yard Butler pass to Al Hurst and the second on a 19-yard Butler punt return. Alabama then cut the lead to 14–12 in the third quarter after Dave Brown returned a Tennessee punt 57-yards for a touchdown. The Volunteers responded with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to seal the victory. The first came on a five-yard Buss Warren pass to Mike Balitsaris and the second on a 24-yard Warren to Balitsaris pass. Kentucky 1940 Kentucky Wildcats football team Alabama 0 13 6 6 Kentucky 0 0 0 0 November 2 McLean StadiumLexington, KY 13,000 Source:Crimson Tide rolls over Kentucky cats, 25 to 0 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M-U-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_kwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6499%2C2914991 Google News Archives The Tuscaloosa News November 3, 1940 6 June 8, 2012 On what was homecoming for Kentucky, the Crimson Tide shutout the Wildcats 25–0 at Lexington. After a scoreless first, Alabama started their first scoring drive of the game after Joe Domnanovich recovered a Kentucky fumble to give the Crimson Tide possession at the Wildcats' ten-yard line. Dave Brown then scored on a one-yard run for a 7–0 lead. Jimmy Nelson scored later in the quarter on a 63-yard touchdown run to give Alabama a 13–0 halftime lead. The Crimson Tide then closed the game with a pair of second half touchdowns for the 25–0 victory. The first came on a 39-yard Nelson run in the third and on a 40-yard Don Salls interception return in the fourth. Tulane 1940 Tulane Green Wave football team Tulane 0 0 0 6 Alabama 0 6 7 0 November 11 Legion FieldBirmingham, AL 20,000 Source:Tide beats back Green Wave in thrilling dual, 13 to 6 Norman Bassett https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OeU-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_kwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6402%2C3239730 Google News Archives The Tuscaloosa News November 10, 1940 6 June 8, 2012 In Birmingham, the Crimson Tide defeated the Green Wave 13–6 before a crowd of 20,000 at Legion Field. After a scoreless first, Alabama took a 6–0 halftime lead when Paul Spencer scored a touchdown on a short run after Holt Rast recovered a fumbled punt at the Tulane three-yard line. Early in the third quarter, Dave Brown extended the Alabama lead to 13–0 with his 12-yard touchdown run. Tulane did start a comeback in the fourth quarter with a touchdown, but was stopped late in the game when Ed Hickerson intercepted a Harry Hays pass at the Alabama eight-yard line to seal the Crimson Tide win. Georgia Tech 1940 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team #14 Alabama 0 7 7 0 Georgia Tech 0 6 7 0 November 16 Grant FieldAtlanta, GA 25,000 Source:Georgia Tech outplays Tide to lose 14–13 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P-U-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_kwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6419%2C3564114 Kenneth Gregory Associated Press Google News Archives The Tuscaloosa News November 17, 1940 6 June 8, 2012 Prior to their final road game of the season against Georgia Tech, Alabama entered the AP Poll for the first time of the season at No. 14.Gophers gain tops in rating https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=POU-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_kwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6402%2C3368709 Bill Boni Associated Press Google News Archives The Tuscaloosa News November 12, 1940 8 June 8, 2012 Against the Yellow Jackets, the Crimson Tide won on a missed extra point 14–13 at Grant Field. Tech scored first on a nine-yard J. W. Bosch touchdown pass to R. L. Ison; however, C. P. Goree missed the extra point that would later prove to be the final margin of loss. Alabama responded on the kickoff that ensued when Jimmy Nelson scored on a 94-yard touchdown return. Each team then traded third-quarter touchdowns. Alabama scored first on a short Paul Spencer run followed by a C. R. Bates touchdown pass to G. I. Webb. Vanderbilt 1940 Vanderbilt Commodores football team Vanderbilt 7 7 0 7 #17 Alabama 0 0 13 12 November 23 Legion FieldBirmingham, AL Source:Tide out-scores Vandy, 25–21, by thrilling last half rally https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ReU-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_kwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6432%2C3878558 Norman Bassett Google News Archives The Tuscaloosa News November 24, 1940 6 June 8, 2012 As a result of their unexpectedly close contest against Georgia Tech, Alabama dropped three spots to the No. 17 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Vanderbilt.Extra points save top teams https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QuU-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_kwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6480%2C3712488 Hugh S. Fullerton Associated Press Google News Archives The Tuscaloosa News November 19, 1940 10 June 8, 2012 In their game against the Commodores, Alabama rallied from a 14–0 deficit to defeat Vanderbilt 25–21 in the final Legion Field game of the 1940 season. The Commodores took a 14–0 halftime lead with touchdowns scored in the first on a 39-yard Charlton Davis pass to Binks Bushmiaer and in the second on a six-yard George Marlin run. Alabama responded in the third quarter with a pair of touchdowns to cut the lead to 14–13. Touchdowns were scored on a 12-yard Jimmy Nelson pass to Hal Newman and on a short Dave Brown run. In the fourth, Vanderbilt extended their lead to 21–13 with an Art Rebrovich touchdown run, but ten gave up a pair of late touchdowns to give Alabama the 25–21 win. Alabama's final touchdowns were scored on a pair of Nelson passes, first to Holt Rast and the second to Russ Craft for the win. Mississippi State 1940 Mississippi State Maroons football team # 11 Mississippi State 7 0 0 6 #17 Alabama 0 0 0 0 November 30 Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL 18,500 Source:Maroons blank Tide 13 to 0 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S-U-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_kwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6432%2C4242494 Norman Bassett Google News Archives The Tuscaloosa News 6 December 1, 1940 June 8, 2012 In the final game of the season, Alabama was shutout 13–0 against the Mississippi State Maroons on homecoming at Denny Stadium. The Maroons scored both of their touchdowns on runs of nine-yards by Harvey Johnson in the first quarter and 23-yards by Charles Yancey in the fourth quarter. After the season NFL draft Several players that were varsity lettermen from the 1940 squad were drafted into the National Football League (NFL) between the 1941 and 1943 drafts.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/colleges/alabama/drafted.htm Alabama Drafted Players/Alumni April 7, 2012 Sports Reference, LLC Pro-Football-Reference.comNational Football League http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?abbr=A&collegeName=Alabama&abbrFlag=0&type=school Draft History by School–Alabama March 16, 2013 July 15, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140715084011/http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?abbr=A&collegeName=Alabama&abbrFlag=0&type=school dead These players included the following: Year Round Overall Player name Position NFL team1941 3 25 Fred Davis Fred Davis (defensive lineman) Tackle Washington Redskins 7 58 Hal Newman 1 End Brooklyn Dodgers 10 90 Ed Hickerson 1 Guard Washington Redskins1942 9 79 Noah Langdale 1 Tackle Green Bay Packers 14 123 John Wyhonic Guard Philadelphia Eagles 18 170 Holt Rast End Chicago Bears 19 174 Jimmy Nelson 1 Back Chicago Cardinals1943 4 28 Joe Domnanovich Center Brooklyn Dodgers 5 33 George Hecht 1 Guard Chicago Cardinals 14 122 George Weeks George Weeks (American football) End Philadelphia Eagles 14 125 Sam Sharpe 1 End Cleveland Rams 15 132 Russ Craft Back Philadelphia Eagles 25 236 Dave Brown 1 Back New York Giants 29 274 Al Sabo 1 Back Brooklyn Dodgers Personnel Varsity letter winners Player Hometown Position Warren Averitte Greenville, Mississippi Center Dave Brown Birmingham, Alabama Halfback Russ Craft Beach Bottom, West Virginia Halfback Fred Davis Louisville, Kentucky Tackle Chuck DeShane Grand Rapids, Michigan Quarterback Joe Domnanovich South Bend, Indiana Center Elwood Gerber Naperville, Illinois Guard Cliff Hansen Gary, Indiana Tackle John Hanson Roanoke, Alabama Fullback Billy Harrell Opelika, Alabama Halfback George Hecht Chicago Heights, Illinois Guard Ed Hickerson Ventura, California Guard Noah Langdale Valdosta, Georgia Tackle Jimmy Nelson Live Oak, Florida Halfback Hal Newman Birmingham, Alabama End Holt Rast Birmingham, Alabama End James Roberts Blytheville, Arkansas End Al Sabo Los Angeles, California Quarterback Don Salls White Plains, New York Fullback Sam Sharpe Birmingham, Alabama End Paul Spencer Hampton, Virginia Fullback George Weeks Dothan, Alabama End John Wyhonic Connorville, Ohio 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 Frank Thomas Head coach 10 Notre Dame (1923) Paul Burnum Assistant coach 11 Alabama (1922) Tilden Campbell Assistant coach 5 Alabama (1935) Hank Crisp Assistant coach 20 VPI (1920) Harold Drew Assistant coach 10 Bates (1916)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/40-m-footbl-recap.pdf 1940 Season Recap RollTide.com University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics June 6, 2012 PDF April 25, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140425174119/http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/40-m-footbl-recap.pdf dead Specific Alabama Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football seasons Alabama Crimson Tide football