1920 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1920 Alabama Crimson Tide football Alabama Crimson Tide football team (1920).jpg 285 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association SIAA 10–1 6–1 Xen C. Scott 2nd Sidney Johnston University/Denny FieldRickwood Field The 1920 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1920 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 27th overall and 24th season as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA). The team was led by head coach Xen C. Scott, in his second year, and played their home games at University/Denny Field in Tuscaloosa and at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of ten wins and one loss (10–1 overall, 6–1 in the SIAA). This marked the first ten win season in the history of Alabama football.Gold Eli Crimson Nation 2005 Thomas Nelson, Inc. 1-4016-0190-1 27 registration https://archive.org/details/crimsonnation0000gold/page/27 Starting with Scott, every Alabama coach has won ten games in a season at least once, with the exception of Jennings B. Whitworth. Alabama opened the season with six consecutive shutout victories over the Southern Military Academy, Marion, Birmingham–Southern, 1920 Mississippi College Choctaws Mississippi College, Howard, and Sewanee. In their seventh game against Vanderbilt Alabama allowed its first touchdown of the season, but won 14–7 after the Commodores threw an interception on a fourth and goal from the three-yard line in the fourth quarter. After their shutout victory over LSU on what was the first homecoming game played at Alabama, the Crimson Tide lost their only game of the season at Atlanta against Georgia. The Bulldogs did not score on offense but won 21–14 after touchdowns were scored on a fumble return, a blocked punt return and a blocked field goal return. The loss snapped Alabama's then school-record 11-game winning streak. Alabama won their final two games against Mississippi A&M and in Cleveland at 1920 Case Western Spartans Case and finished the season 10–1. Schedule September 25 w y Southern Military Academy University Field Tuscaloosa, AL 59–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71349411/alabama-easily-defeats-sma-score-is/ The Birmingham News Alabama easily defeats S.M.A., score is 59 to 0 September 26, 1920 February 17, 2021 Newspapers.com October 2 w y Marion University Field Tuscaloosa, AL 49–0 Alabama beats Marion NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers Richmond Times-Dispatch October 3, 1920 4 October 9 w y Birmingham–Southern Denny Field Tuscaloosa, AL 45–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71349752/alabama-romps-on-methodist-clan/ The Birmingham News Alabama romps on Methodist clan October 10, 1920 February 17, 2021 Newspapers.com October 16 w Mississippi College Denny Field Tuscaloosa, AL 57–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71349867/alabama-overwhelms-mississippi-57-to-0/ Jackson Daily News Alabama overwhelms Mississippi, 57 to 0 October 17, 1920 February 17, 2021 Newspapers.com October 23 w Howard (AL) Denny Field Tuscaloosa, AL 33–0 Crimson Tide wins from Howard 33–0 NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Montgomery Advertiser October 28, 1920 8 October 30 w Sewanee Rickwood Field Birmingham, AL 21–0 6,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71350363/tigers-tossed-against-rocks-by-crimson/ The Birmingham News Tigers tossed against rocks by Crimson Tide October 31, 1920 February 17, 2021 Newspapers.com November 6 w Vanderbilt Rickwood Field Birmingham, AL 14–7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71350599/banner-of-gold-and-black-again-trampled/ Nashville Banner Banner of Gold and Black again trampled on bt enemy November 7, 1920 February 17, 2021 Newspapers.com November 11 w y LSU Denny Field Tuscaloosa, AL rivalry 21–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71350757/lsu-defeated-in-aerial-battle-by/ The Shreveport Times L.S.U. defeated in aerial battle by Alabama, 21 to 0 November 12, 1920 February 17, 2021 Newspapers.com November 20 l y Georgia Ponce de Leon Park Atlanta, GA rivalry 14–21 12,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71350893/georgia-bulldog-defeats-alabamians/ The Atlanta Constitution Georgia Bulldog defeats Alabamians November 21, 1920 February 17, 2021 Newspapers.com November 25 w Mississippi A&M Rickwood Field Birmingham, AL rivalry 24–7 Mississippi Aggies downed by Alabama NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The News & Courier November 26, 1920 6 November 27 w y y Case Van Horn Field Cleveland, OH 40–0 1,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71351351/crimson-tide-slaughters-case-school/ The Birmingham News Crimson Tide slaughters Case School team in Cleveland, 40 to 0 November 28, 1920 February 17, 2021 Newspapers.com https://rolltide.com/sports/2016/6/10/sports-m-footbl-archive-m-footbl-archive-1920-html.aspx?id=257 1920 Alabama football archive RollTide.com University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics November 22, 2013 Before the season After an 8–1 campaign in Scott's first season as head coach at Alabama, the Crimson Tide were viewed as a potential championship team by the media as they entered the 1920 season.Football season is drawing near as big leagues near close NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Montgomery Advertiser September 3, 1920 5 During the week of September 12, Alabama held its first scrimmages of the season. At that time, Scott noted his team was much "heavier" that in the previous year and he also divided the squad into initial first and second teams.Xen Scott's "Thin Red Line" has weight added to it for season NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Montgomery Advertiser September 20, 1920 6 The "A" squad was coached by Scott and the "B" squad was coached by athletic director Charles A. Bernier.Tram Sessions, center, is only man to have position clinched on Alabama line NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers New Orleans States September 23, 1920 Prior to their opening game against the Southern Military Academy on September 23, Scott announced his starting lineup for the 1920 season.Brown returns to University team NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Montgomery Advertiser September 24, 1920 8 Additionally at that time, right guard Sidney Johnston was selected as season captain by his teammates.Alabama's giant tackle in game NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers New Orleans States September 24, 1920 14 Game summaries Southern Military Academy SMA 0 0 0 0 Alabama 7 13 20 19 September 25 University FieldTuscaloosa, AL Sources:University team swamps S.M.A. in opener of season NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Montgomery Advertiser September 26, 1920 27The "Thin Red Line" marches to great victory over S. M. A. The Atlanta Constitution September 26, 1920 A2 https://www.proquest.com/docview/497745530 https://web.archive.org/web/20131216004313/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/ajc_historic/doc/497745530.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep%2026,%201920&author=&pub=The%20Atlanta%20Constitution&edition=&startpage=&desc=The%20%22Thin%20Red%20Line%22%20Marches%20to%20Great%20Victory%20Over%20S.%20M.%20A live December 16, 2013 November 22, 2013 Alabama opened the 1920 season at Tuscaloosa with a 59–0 shutout over the Southern Military Academy (SMA) in the only game ever played between the schools.1920 Season Recap After a slow start that saw Alabama only up by a touchdown after the first quarter, the Crimson Tide scored an additional eight touchdowns and won the game going away. Mullie Lenoir scored five and both Luke Sewell and Riggs Stephenson scored a pair of touchdowns in the victory. Defensively, the Crimson Tide did not allow SMA a single first down in the game. Marion Marion 0 0 0 0 Alabama 0 14 14 21 October 2 University FieldTuscaloosa, AL Source:Marion is easy for University NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Montgomery Advertiser October 3, 1920 11 Against Marion, Alabama defeated the Cadets 49–0 at Tuscaloosa for their second consecutive shutout to open the season. The Crimson Tide opened the game trying to utilize the forward pass, but were unsuccessful and held scoreless in the first quarter. They then returned to the running game for the duration of the game and scored 49 unanswered points in the victory. Touchdowns were scored by Mullie Lenoir three times, Ira Nichols twice and Al Clemens and J. T. O'Connor both scored once. Birmingham–Southern BSC Alabama 0 0 0 0 7 21 14 3 October 9 Denny FieldTuscaloosa, AL Randolph (Virginia) Sources:https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8883209/thin_red_line_wins_from_southern_the/ The Atlanta Constitution Thin red line wins from Southern October 10, 1920 February 11, 2017 4 Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8883265/alabama_trims_panthers_in_onesided/ The Tennessean Alabama trims Panthers in one-sided contest October 10, 1920 February 11, 2017 14 Newspapers.com Prior to the start of their game against Birmingham–Southern, University Field was officially rededicated as Denny Field in honor of then University president George H. Denny.Denny Field name of Crimson ground NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Montgomery Advertiser October 11, 1920 6 Against the Panthers, the Crimson Tide won their third consecutive shutout, this time by a score of 45–0.Crimson tramples on the Panthers, 45–0 NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Montgomery Advertiser October 10, 1920 8 Touchdowns were scored in the game twice by Mullie Lenoir and Ira Nichols and one by both J. T. O'Connor and Riggs Stephenson. The starting lineup was Al Clemens (left end), T. L. Brown (left tackle), Sidney Johnston (left guard), Tram Sessions (center), Ben Hunt (right guard), Ernest Cooper (right tackle), Tom Newton (right end), Luke Sewell (quarterback), Mullie Lenoir (left halfback), Jack Hovater (right halfback), Riggs Stephenson (fullback). Mississippi College Against the Mississippi College Choctaws, the Crimson Tide won their fourth consecutive shutout, this time by a score of 57–0 at Tuscaloosa. In the game Mullie Lenoir and Riggs Stephenson each scored three touchdowns and Ira Nichols scored two. Howard (AL) Although both Sidney Johnston and Riggs Stephenson were out for their game against Howard (now known as Samford University), Alabama defeated the Bulldogs 33–0 at Tuscaloosa. In the game touchdowns were scored by Mullie Lenoir four times and by J. T. O'Connor once. Throughout the game, Alabama struggled to establish the passing game and fumbled the ball on several occasions. Sewanee Sewanee 0 0 0 0 Alabama 0 7 7 7 October 30 Rickwood FieldBirmingham, AL Sources:Riggs Stevenson leads Alabama to win over Sewanee NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Montgomery Advertiser October 31, 1920 7Alabama trounces Sewanee team, 21–0 NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Times-Picayune October 31, 1920 15 In what was the most anticipated game of the season to that point, Alabama defeated the Sewanee Tigers 21–0 at Rickwood Field. In the first quarter, Alabama stopped a Sewanee scoring opportunity when J. T. O'Connor intercepted a Tigers' pass in the endzone. With the game scoreless, the Crimson Tide then took a 7–0 lead in the second quarter after Riggs Stephenson scored on a 12-yard run. In the third, Luke Sewell threw a long touchdown pass of 45-yards to Mullie Lenoir that extended their lead to 14–0. In the final period, Stephenson had a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown called back on a penalty, but then made the final score 21–0 with a long touchdown run on the drive that ensued. In the game, Stephenson gained 286 and Lenoir gained 212 total yards. Alabama was also heavily penalized throughout the game that resulted in touchdown runs of 65 and 35-yards by Lenoir being nullified. Vanderbilt Vanderbilt 0 7 0 0 Alabama 0 14 0 0 November 6 Rickwood FieldBirmingham, AL Source: As they entered their game against Alabama, Vanderbilt had played seven consecutive, undefeated teams.Crimson hopes to defeat Vanderbilt NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Montgomery Advertiser 8 November 5, 1920 Played at Birmingham, the University called a holiday and the entire school made the trip to Rickwood and saw Alabama defeat the Commodores 14–7 for their first victory over Vanderbilt in school history. After a scoreless first, Alabama took a 14–0 second quarter lead on touchdown runs of four-yards by Riggs Stephenson and one-yard by Mullie Lenoir. Vanderbilt then responded with a short Doc Kuhn touchdown pass to Jess Neely that made the final score 14–7. LSU LSU 0 0 0 0 Alabama 0 7 0 14 November 11 Denny FieldTuscaloosa, AL Sources:Louisiana unable to stop Alabama; Tigers lose 21–0 NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Times-Picayune November 12, 1920 18Crimson Tide is victor over LSU NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Montgomery Advertiser November 12, 1920 7 On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, Alabama shutout the LSU Tigers 21–0 and extended their record to 8–0. After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama took a 7–0 lead in the second on an eight-yard J. T. O'Connor touchdown run. The score remained the same through the fourth quarter when the Crimson Tide score a pair of late touchdowns that made the final score 21–0. The first came on a 40-yard Walter Hovater pass to Mullie Lenoir and the second on a 12-yard O'Connor run. This also marked the first time the football team played a homecoming game at the University of Alabama.Kordic, p. xivAllen Barry Alabama football flashback: 1920 homecoming game http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/100307aad.html December 17, 2013 RollTide.comTsoukalas Tony Homecoming games full of classics http://cw.ua.edu/2010/10/15/homecoming-games-full-of-classics/ December 17, 2013 The Crimson White October 15, 2010 Georgia Alabama 0 7 7 0 Georgia 14 0 0 7 November 20 Ponce de Leon ParkAtlanta, GA 12,000 Sources:Costly fumble cost Crimson a victory NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Montgomery Advertiser November 21, 1920 6Great defense of Georgia is Alabama's end NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Ledger November 21, 1920 2 thumb|left|Georgia's Artie Pew is attempting to tackle Alabama's Riggs Stephenson. After their road win over LSU, Alabama traveled to Atlanta where they lost their only game of the season to the Georgia Bulldogs 21–14. The game was unusual in that the Bulldogs did not score a single point on offense but rather scored touchdowns on a fumble return, a blocked punt return and a blocked field goal return. Georgia took a 14–0 lead in the first five minutes of play after they capitalized on a pair of Alabama mistakes. On the second offensive play of the game, Mullie Lenoir fumbled the ball and the Bulldogs' Paige Bennett returned it 45-yards for a touchdown and 7–0 lead. On the possession that followed, the Bulldogs' Hugh Whelchel blocked the J. T. O'Connor punt, Artie Pew recovered the ball and returned it 25-yards for a touchdown and extended the Georgia lead to 14–0. Alabama tied the game 14–14 as they entered the fourth quarter after touchdowns were scored by Lenoir on a short run in the second and by Al Clemens on a Riggs Stephenson pass in the third quarter. With the game still tied late in the fourth, Alabama was to attempt a potential, game-winning 18-yard field goal. However, Buck Cheves blocked the attempt for the Bulldogs and returned it 82-yards for the game-winning touchdown. Mississippi A&M Mississippi A&M 0 0 7 0 Alabama 0 14 3 7 November 25 Rickwood FieldBirmingham, AL Source: In their final home game of the season, Alabama defeated the Mississippi A&M (now known as Mississippi State University) Aggies 24–7 on Thanksgiving at Rickwood Field. After a scoreless first, Alabama took a 14–0 halftime lead with a pair of second quarter touchdowns. The first came on a one-yard Ben Hunt run and the second on a six-yard Mullie Lenoir run. After P. M. Hough cut the lead in half for the Aggies with his one-yard touchdown run in the third, the Crimson Tide closed with ten unanswered points that made the final score 24–7. J. T. O'Connor scored first with his 25-yard field goal in the third and then Riggs Stephenson closed the game with an eight-yard touchdown run. Case Alabama 7 7 7 19 Case 0 0 0 0 November 27 Van Horn FieldCleveland, OH 1,000 Sources:Alabama Crimson swamps Case, 40 to 0 NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Montgomery Advertiser November 28, 1920 12Henry P. Edwards Alabamians roll up 40–0 tally on Case NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Plain Dealer November 28, 1920 thumb|left|Case defense having difficulty stopping Riggs Stephenson while home in Cleveland. On November 9, officials from both Case and Alabama agreed to play on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to close the 1920 season in what was the first time the Crimson Tide played a game in the North.Henry P. Edwards Case–Alabama battle in this city clinched NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Plain Dealer November 10, 1920 12 The game came together as coach Scott previously coached at Case, worked for The Plain Dealer and wanted to showcase his team back in his Cleveland home. Played only two days after their win over Mississippi A&M, the Crimson Tide shutout the Scientists 40–0 in the only game between the schools, and captured the first ten-win season in school history. Alabama brought only 17 players to Cleveland for the game that included two who were from the city and Riggs Stephenson who was expected to sign with baseball's Cleveland Indians.Alabamians will bring 17 NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers The Plain Dealer November 12, 1920 Mullie Lenoir scored first for Alabama on a 12-yard run in the first quarter for a 7–0 lead. In the second, Stephenson threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Al Clemens that made the halftime score 14–0. After they extended their lead to 21–0 on a short Lenoir run in the third, the Crimson Tide closed the game with three fourth quarter touchdowns that made the final score 40–0. Stephenson was involved with all three scored with a pair scored by himself on short runs and the third on a second pass to Clemens. Personnel Varsity letter winners Line Alabama Crimson Tide Player Hometown Position Gamesstarted Prep school Height Weight Age T. L. Brown Jasper, Alabama Tackle C. T. Burkhart Hanceville, Alabama End Anthony Ray Florette Cleveland, Ohio End E. P. Hood Birmingham, Alabama Tackle Ben Hunt Scottsboro, Alabama Guard Sidney Johnston Athens, Alabama Guard William Milner Kelly Birmingham, Alabama End William Gabriel Montgomery Birmingham, Alabama Tackle Tom Newton Birmingham, Alabama End Manchester Paget El Paso, Texas Guard Harry Rowe Elba, Alabama Guard Tram Sessions Birmingham, Alabama Center Backfield Alabama Crimson Tide Player Hometown Position Gamesstarted Prep school Height Weight Age Charles Bartlett Marlin, Texas Halfback J. H. Emmett Albertville, Alabama Halfback Jack Hovater Russellville, Alabama Back190 Lelias E. Kirby Albertville, Alabama Halfback Mullie Lenoir Marlin, Texas Halfback144 Poc Little Birmingham, Alabama Fullback J. T. O'Connor St. Louis, Missouri Back Max Rosenfeld Birmingham, Alabama Quarterback5'8"175 Luke Sewell Titus, Alabama Quarterback5'9"160 Riggs Stephenson Akron, Alabama Fullback5'10"1852011 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 Alabama Crimson Tide Name Position Seasons atAlabama Alma mater Xen C. Scott Head coach 2 Western Reserve Charles A. Bernier Assistant coach 1 Hampden–Sydney2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book 2011 All-Time Assistant Coaches University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office Tuscaloosa, Alabama 142–143 References General Kordic Gregory A Damn Good Yankee: Xen Scott and the Rise of the Crimson Tide 2007 AuthorHouse Bloomington, Indiana 978-1-4259-6018-6 https://books.google.com/books?id=_9EyzQQh-noC&pg=PP1 December 17, 2013 http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/20-m-footbl-recaps.pdf 1920 Season Recap RollTide.com University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics December 17, 2013 December 16, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131216004349/http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/20-m-footbl-recaps.pdf dead Specific Alabama Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football seasons Alabama Crimson Tide football