1953 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1953 Alabama Crimson Tide football Southeastern Conference SEC 11 13 6–3–3 4–0–3 Harold Drew 7th Bud Willis Denny StadiumLegion FieldLadd StadiumCramton Bowl SEC champion Cotton Bowl Classic L Lost 6–28 vs. Rice The 1953 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1953 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 59th overall and 20th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Harold Drew, in his seventh year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham, Ladd Stadium in Mobile and at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished with a record of six wins, three losses and three ties (6–3–3 overall, 4–0–3 in the SEC), as SEC Champions and with a loss against Rice in the Cotton Bowl Classic. 1953 was one of the more unusual seasons in Alabama history. After they opened the season as the preseason No. 5 team, the Crimson Tide lost to 1953 Southern Miss Golden Eagles Mississippi Southern and tied LSU before they had their first win of the season against Vanderbilt in week three. Alabama won only six games all year, and only four of seven conference games. However, the other three conference games were ties, and a 4–0–3 record was good enough to win Alabama the SEC title. It was Bama's first conference championship since 1945 and last until 1961. For their championship, Alabama accepted an invitation to play in the Cotton Bowl Classic. In their matchup against Rice one of the strangest plays in the history of college football occurred. In the second quarter, the Owls had the ball on its own five-yard line up 7–6 after they recovered an Alabama fumble. On their first play of the drive, Rice running back Dicky Moegle swept around the right side, broke free, and appeared to be on his way to a 95-yard touchdown run—until Tommy Lewis of Alabama, who was on the sideline, ran into the field of play and tackled Moegle at the Alabama 40. Officials awarded Moegle a 95-yard touchdown run, and Rice won the game 28–6. Schedule 1953 AP September 18 l y 5 Mississippi Southern Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL 19–25 14,500 September 26 t 5 LSU Ladd Stadium Mobile, AL rivalry 7–7 33,809 October 3 w y Vanderbilt Dudley Field Nashville, TN 21–12 24,000 October 10 w y Tulsa Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL 41–13 18,000 October 17 t Tennessee Legion Field Birmingham, AL Third Saturday in October NBC 0–0 40,000 October 24 t y Mississippi State Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL rivalry 7–7 28,000 October 31 w y Georgia Sanford Stadium Athens, GA rivalry 33–12 36,000 November 7 w y 20 Chattanooga Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL 21–14 14,000 November 14 w Georgia Tech 5 Legion Field Birmingham, AL rivalry 13–6 42,530 November 21 l y y 11 Maryland 2 Byrd Stadium College Park, MD 0–21 36,000 November 28 w y Auburn 16 Legion Field Birmingham, AL Iron Bowl 10–7 44,000 January 1, 1954 l y y 13 Rice 6 Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX Cotton Bowl Classic CBS 6–28 75,504 http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-results-archive.html#1953 1953 Alabama football schedule RollTide.com University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics October 31, 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 Mississippi Southern 1953 Mississippi Southern Southerners football team Miss Southern 6 6 0 13 #5 Alabama 7 12 0 0 September 18 Cramton BowlMontgomery, AL 14,500 Source:Edwin Watkins Miss Southern smashes Bama 25–19 on fourth quarter surge https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MwcdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OJgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4119%2C1857392 The Tuscaloosa News September 19, 1953 1 October 31, 2012 To open the 1953 season, Alabama was upset by the Mississippi Southern Southerners 25–19 at the Cramton Bowl on a Friday night.1953 Season Recap The first touchdown of the game was set up after Jim David recovered a Laurin Pepper fumble at the Southern 43-yards line. Five plays later, Tommy Lewis scored on a short run for a 7–0 Alabama lead. The Eagles responded on their next possession with a three-yard Billy Jarrell touchdown pass to Bucky McElroy and made the score 7–6. In the second quarter each team traded touchdowns with Alabama scoring on a five-yard William Oliver, Southern on a 45-yard Jarrell pass to Pepper and Alabama again on a five-yard Bart Starr pass to Curtis Lynch for a 19–12 Crimson Tide lead at halftime. After a scoreless third, Southern scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, first on a 66-yard Pepper run and then on 23-yard Jarrell pass to Leonard Williams, and won the game 25–19. LSU 1953 LSU Tigers football team LSU 7 0 0 0 Alabama 7 0 0 0 September 27 Ladd StadiumMobile, AL 33,809 Source:Edwin Watkins Tide foils late drives for 7–7 tie with LSU https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NgcdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OJgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6029%2C2678049 The Tuscaloosa News September 27, 1953 1 October 31, 2012 To open conference play for the 1953 season, Alabama played LSU to a 7–7 tie at Ladd Stadium in Mobile. Both of the touchdowns scored in the game were made in the first quarter. The first was scored by Alabama on a two-yard Tommy Lewis run and LSU responded on the drive that ensued with a one-yard George Brancato run for what turned out to be the final points of the game. Vanderbilt 1953 Vanderbilt Commodores football team Alabama 14 0 7 0 Vanderbilt 0 6 0 6 October 3 Dudley FieldNashville, TN 24,000 Source:Bama's Starr paces Tide in win over Vandy, 21 to 12 Edwin Watkins https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PAcdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OJgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7128%2C3511074 The Tuscaloosa News October 4, 1953 10 October 31, 2012 In their first road game of the season, the Crimson Tide defeated the Vanderbilt Commodores by a final score of 21–12 in Nashville for their first win of the season and their first over Vandy since the 1946 season. The Crimson Tide took a 14–0 first quarter lead with a pair of touchdowns scored in just under two minutes. Bobby Luna scored first on a four-yard run and then Bart Starr threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Bud Willis. Vanderbilt then cut the lead to 14–6 at halftime after they scored on a five-yard Floyd Teas touchdown run late in the second quarter. In the second half, the Crimson Tide scored in the third on a 30-yard Starr pass to Joe Cummings and the Commodores scored in the fourth on a three-yard Daniel Byers run and made the final score 21–12. Tulsa 1953 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team Tulsa 0 0 0 13 Alabama 0 20 14 7 October 10 Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL 18,000 Source:Fighting Tide engulfs Tulsa Hurricane 41–13 Edwin Watkins https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QQcdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OJgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6615%2C4252464 The Tuscaloosa News October 11, 1953 1 October 31, 2012 In the first all-time meeting between the schools, Alabama defeated the Tulsa Golden Hurricane 41–13 in the first Denny Stadium game of the season. After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama touchdowns on an 11-yard William Oliver run, a 63-yard Thomas Tharp run and a 56-yard Bobby Luna interception return for a 20–0 Crimson Tide lead at halftime. Alabama extended their lead further to 34–0 after third-quarter touchdowns on a 31-yard Bart Starr pass to Bud Willis and on a two-yard William Stone run. Tulsa scored both of their touchdowns in the fourth quarter, first on an eight-yard Bob Bohn pass to Bob Holladay and on an 11-yard Bill Waller run. The Crimson Tide then made the final score 41–13 when Hootie Ingram scored on a one-yard run with just under a minute left in the game. Tennessee 1953 Tennessee Volunteers football team Third Saturday in October Tennessee 0 0 0 0 Alabama 0 0 0 0 October 17 Legion FieldBirmingham, AL 40,000 CBS Sources:Edwin Watkins Tide, Vols battle to 0–0 tie https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RgcdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OJgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5790%2C5121351 The Tuscaloosa News October 18, 1953 8 October 31, 2012 In their annual rivalry game against the Tennessee Volunteers, Alabama had a chance to defeat the Vols for the first time since 1947, but settled for a scoreless tie after a fumble at the Tennessee five and missed a 43-yard field goal. Mississippi State 1953 Mississippi State Maroons football team Mississippi State 0 7 0 0 Alabama 0 0 7 0 October 24 Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL 28,000 Source:Edwin Watkins Near-record crowd sees Tide tie State 7 to 7 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TAcdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OJgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6660%2C5894827 The Tuscaloosa News 1 October 25, 1953 October 31, 2012 On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide battled the Mississippi State Maroons to a 7–7 tie at Denny Stadium after a 26-yard Bobby Luna field goal was blocked as time expired. After a three-yard Jackie Parker run gave the Maroons a 7–0 lead in the second, Alabama tied the game on a two-yard Thomas Tharp run in the third quarter. Georgia 1953 Georgia Bulldogs football team Alabama 7 6 13 7 Georgia 0 12 0 0 October 31 Sanford StadiumAthens, GA 36,000 Sources:Associated Press Alabama swamps Georgia with long runs, passes https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MhNVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ND0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2725%2C142975 The Miami News November 1, 1953 2D October 31, 2012 At Sanford Stadium, Alabama defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 33–12 to end a two-game winless streak on homecoming in Athens. The first Crimson Tide touchdown was set up after Thomas Tharp returned a punt 86-yards to the Bulldogs' two-yard line. On the next play, Bart Starr threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Joe Cummings for a 7–0 lead. In the second quarter, Georgia scored all of their points on two-yard Robert Clemens touchdown run and a 28-yard James Harper touchdown pass to James Williams. However, the Crimson Tide scored their second touchdown on a 31-yard Starr pass to Bobby Luna for a 13–12 halftime lead. Alabama then scored three second half touchdowns on a 38-yard Vincent Delaurentis interception return, a 63-yard Tharp run and on a five-yard Starr pass to William Oliver for the 33–12 victory. Chattanooga 1953 Chattanooga Moccasins football team Chattanooga 0 14 0 0 #20 Alabama 7 7 7 0 November 7 Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL 14,000 Source:Ed Watkins Moccasins sting Tide before second half score wins 21–14 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GhcfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NZgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7176%2C776818 The Tuscaloosa News November 8, 1953 1 October 31, 2012 In the final Denny Stadium game of the season, Alabama defeated the Chattanooga Moccasins 21–14. The Crimson Tide took a 7–0 first quarter lead when Bobby Luna scored on a five-yard touchdown run. The teams then traded second-quarter touchdowns for a 14–14 halftime tie. The Moccasins scored first on a 36-yard Dick Durham pass to Bill Wilkerson, then Alabama on a 54-yard Albert Elmore run and finally on a two-yard Billy Carter run. Bart Starr then threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Thomas Tharp in the third quarter for the 21–14 victory. Georgia Tech 1953 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team #5 Georgia Tech 0 0 6 0 Alabama 7 0 0 6 November 14 Legion FieldBirmingham, AL 42,530 Source:Alabama turns back Georgia Tech 13 to 6 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=XUmZziu-z7kC&dat=19531113&printsec=frontpage&hl=en The Tuscaloosa News November 15, 1953 1 October 31, 2012 Against Georgia Tech, Alabama upset the No. 5 ranked Yellow Jackets 13–6 at Legion Field in Birmingham. The Crimson Tide scored first and took a 7–0 lead on a William Oliver run in the first quarter. After a scoreless second quarter, the Jackets scored their only touchdown on a two-yard Glenn Turner run in the third to cut the Alabama lead to 7–6. Albert Elmore then scored the game-winning touchdown early in the fourth quarter on his short run. The loss was the first for Georgia Tech in conference play since their 54–19 loss to the Crimson Tide in 1950. Maryland 1953 Maryland Terrapins football team #11 Alabama 0 0 0 0 #2 Maryland 14 7 0 0 November 21 Byrd StadiumCollege Park, MD 36,000 Source:George Bowen Terps throw up great defense to blank Alabama Tide, 21–0 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RgBZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_0UNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2667%2C3610711 Associated Press The News and Courier November 22, 1953 4D October 31, 2012 On the road against the No. 2 ranked Maryland Terrapins, Alabama was shutout 21–0 at Byrd Stadium. On the second play of the game, the Terps took a 7–0 lean on an 81-yard Chet Hanulak touchdown run. Later in the first, Bernie Faloney threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Bill Walker for a 14–0 lead at the end of the quarter. After Faloney was pulled from the game in the second quarter due to an injury, Charles Boxold threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Walker to make the final score 21–0. Auburn 1953 Auburn Tigers football team Iron Bowl #16 Auburn 7 0 0 0 Alabama 0 7 0 3 November 28 Legion FieldBirmingham, AL 44,000 Sources:Ed Watkins Tide gets Cotton Bowl bid after beating Auburn https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JxcfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NZgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6688%2C2993990 The Tuscaloosa News November 29, 1953 1 October 31, 2012Griffin John Chandler Alabama vs. Auburn: Gridiron Grudge Since 1893 2001 Hill Street Press Athens, Georgia 1-58818-044-1 142–144 1953: A SEC title for the winner For the fifth time in six years since the revival of the Auburn series, Alabama defeated the Tigers 10–7 at Legion Field and clinched both the SEC Championship and a berth in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Auburn scored their only touchdown on a two-yard run in the first quarter by Charles Hataway to cap a drive that saw long runs made by both Vince Dooley and Fob James. William Stone then tied the game 7–7 for Alabama in the third quarter with his 15-yard touchdown run. A fourth quarter field goal from 28-yards by Bobby Luna provided for the final 10–7 margin of victory for the Crimson Tide. Rice 1953 Rice Owls football team Cotton Bowl Classic #13 Alabama 6 0 0 0 #6 Rice 0 14 7 7 January 1, 1954 Cotton BowlDallas, TX 75,504 CBS Source:Rice beats Alabama 28–6, Moegle is Star https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZCUeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=M5gEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6544%2C86771 Ed Watkins The Tuscaloosa News 1 January 2, 1954 October 31, 2012 In their first all-time game against Rice, the Crimson Tide were defeated 28–6 by the Owls in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Alabama took a 6–0 lead after its only touchdown was scored by Tommy Lewis on a two-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Rice responded with a series of three, of long touchdown runs by Dicky Moegle to take a 21–6 lead into the fourth quarter. His first touchdown came on a 79-yard run on the first play of the second quarter, the second on a 95-yard run and the third on a 37-yard run. The 95-yard touchdown was awarded by the referee after Tommy Lewis left the Alabama sideline, entered the field of play and tackled Moegle at the Alabama 42-yard line. Rice then scored their final touchdown in the fourth quarter on a seven-yard Buddy Grantham run for the 28–6 victory. Personnel Varsity letter winners Player Hometown Position Ralph Carrigan Oak Park, Illinois Center Ed Culpepper Bradenton, Florida Tackle Joe Cummings Muleshoe, Texas End Tom Danner Tuscaloosa, Alabama Guard Jim Davis Hamilton, Alabama Guard Vincent Delaurentis Hammonton, New Jersey Center Charles Eckerly Oak Park, Illinois Guard Albert Elmore Troy, Alabama Quarterback Hootie Ingram Tuscaloosa, Alabama Back Harry Lee Birmingham, Alabama Guard Bo Collins Yazoo City, Mississippi Guard Tommy Lewis Greenville, Alabama Fullback Bobby Luna Huntsville, Alabama Halfback Curtis Lynch Wadley, Alabama End George Mason Langdale, Alabama Tackle Jefferson Moorer Evergreen, Alabama Guard William Oliver Panola, Alabama Halfback Billy Shipp Mobile, Alabama Tackle Jack Smalley Tuscaloosa, Alabama Tackle John Snoderly Montgomery, Alabama Center Bart Starr Montgomery, Alabama Quarterback William Stone Yukon, West Virginia Fullback Thomas Tharp Birmingham, Alabama Halfback Tommy Tillman Haleyville, Alabama End Bob Wilga Webster, Massachusetts Guard Sid Youngelman Newark, New Jersey TackleReference: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 20 Bates (1916) Lew Bostick Assistant coach 10 Alabama (1939) Tilden Campbell Assistant coach 14 Alabama (1935) Hank Crisp Assistant coach 26 VPI (1920) Joe Kilgrow Assistant coach 10 Alabama (1937) Malcolm Laney Assistant coach 10 Alabama (1932) James Nisbet Assistant coach 5 Alabama (1937)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/53-m-footbl-recaps.pdf 1953 Season Recaps RollTide.com University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics October 31, 2012 April 25, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140425164917/http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/53-m-footbl-recaps.pdf dead Specific Alabama Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football seasons Category:Southeastern Conference football champion seasons Alabama Crimson Tide football