1954 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

1954 Alabama Crimson Tide football
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Record	4–5–2 (3–3–2 SEC)
Head coach	Harold Drew (8th season)
Captain	Sid Youngelman
Home stadium	Denny Stadium Legion Field Ladd Stadium Cramton Bowl

1954 Southeastern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 6 Ole Miss $	5	–	0	–	0			9	–	2	–	0
Georgia Tech	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
Florida	5	–	2	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Kentucky	5	–	2	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
Georgia	3	–	2	–	1			6	–	3	–	1
No. 13 Auburn	3	–	3	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
Mississippi State	3	–	3	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Alabama	3	–	3	–	2			4	–	5	–	2
LSU	2	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Tulane	1	–	6	–	1			1	–	6	–	3
Vanderbilt	1	–	5	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Tennessee	1	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1954 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1954 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 60th overall and 21st season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Harold Drew, in his eighth 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 four wins, five losses and two ties (4–5–2 overall, 3–3–2 in the SEC).

After a second consecutive season-opening loss to Mississippi Southern, Alabama reeled off a four-game winning streak that included shutout victories over LSU, Tulsa and Tennessee. However, the Crimson Tide followed their streak by scoring only 14 points over the final six games of the 1954 season. After their win over Tennessee, Alabama lost to Mississippi State, and in the loss began a streak of 16 consecutive scoreless quarters that tied the all-time school record. Consecutive scoreless ties against Georgia and Tulane followed, despite quarterback Bart Starr's attempted comeback from a brutal pre-season hazing injury.[1] The season ended with losses to Georgia Tech, Miami and Auburn by a combined score of 71–7. Their record of 4–5–2 was only Alabama's second losing season in 50 years.

After the conclusion of the season, on December 2, Harold Drew resigned as head coach of the Crimson Tide.[2] During his tenure as head coach, Drew had a winning record going 54–28–7 in seven years. Drew's teams won one conference title and played in three bowl games in eight years. On the day of Drew's resignation, Jennings B. Whitworth was introduced as his successor as head coach after he served in the same capacity at Oklahoma A&M.[2][3]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 17	Mississippi Southern*	No. 14	Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL		L 2–7	21,000	[4]
September 25	at LSU		Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)		W 12–0	40,000	[5]
October 2	Vanderbilt		Ladd Memorial Stadium Mobile, AL		W 28–14	25,000	[6]
October 9	Tulsa*		Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL		W 40–0	17,000	[7]
October 16	at Tennessee		Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN (Third Saturday in October)		W 27–0	41,800	[8]
October 23	Mississippi State		Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)		L 7–12	30,000	[9]
October 30	Georgia		Legion Field Birmingham, AL (rivalry)		T 0–0	30,000	[10]
November 6	at Tulane		Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA		T 0–0	22,000	[11]
November 13	at Georgia Tech		Grant Field Atlanta, GA (rivalry)	ABC	L 0–20	40,000	[12]
November 19	at No. 16 Miami*		Burdine Stadium Miami, FL		L 7–23	61,423	[13]
November 27	vs. No. 15 Auburn		Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Iron Bowl)		L 0–28	43,167	[14]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[15]

Game summaries

Mississippi Southern

See also: 1954 Mississippi Southern Southerners football team

1 2 3 4 Total • Miss Southern 7 0 0 0 7 #14 Alabama 0 0 0 2 2 Date: September 17 Location: Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL Game attendance: 21,000 Source:[16]

To open the 1954 season, Alabama was upset by the Mississippi Southern Southerners, for the second consecutive year, 7–2 at the Cramton Bowl on a Friday night.[16][17] The only touchdown of the game was scored by the Golden Eagles in the first quarter on an 18-yard Brooks Tisdale touchdown run.[16] For the remainder of the game, both defenses were dominant with the only points coming in the fourth quarter when Douglas Potts blocked a Southern punt into the end zone for a safety and made the final score 7–2.[16] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi Southern to 6–2.[18]

LSU

See also: 1954 LSU Tigers football team

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 0 6 0 6 12 LSU 0 0 0 0 0 Date: September 25 Location: Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA Game attendance: 40,000 Source:[19]

To open conference play for the 1954 season, Alabama defeated LSU 12–0 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.[17][19] After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama scored their first touchdown on a 15-yard Bart Starr pass to Thomas Tharp for a 6–0 halftime lead.[19] On the first play of the final period, Hootie Ingram scored on a 69-yard run and made the final score 12–0.[19] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against LSU to 15–6–4.[20]

Vanderbilt

See also: 1954 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

1 2 3 4 Total Vanderbilt 7 7 0 0 14 • Alabama 0 7 14 7 28 Date: October 2 Location: Ladd Stadium Mobile, AL Game attendance: 25,000 Source:[21]

At Ladd Stadium, the Crimson Tide defeated the Vanderbilt Commodores by a final score of 28–14 in Mobile.[17][21] Vanderbilt took a 7–0 first quarter lead after Charley Horton scored on a five-yard touchdown run.[21] The Crimson Tide responded with a 30-yard Hootie Ingram touchdown pass to Thomas Tharp to tie the game 7–7 in the second quarter. However, the Commodores responded to take a 14–7 halftime lead after 28-yard Horton touchdown run.[21] Early in the third, a blocked Vandy punt gave Alabama possession at the Commodores 16-yard line. Four plays later, William Stone tied the game at 14–14 with his two-yard touchdown run.[21] Alabama then closed with a pair of touchdowns to win the game 28–14. In the third, Albert Elmore threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Luna and in the fourth, Tharp scored on a 10-yard run.[21] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 18–14–1.[22]

Tulsa

See also: 1954 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team

1 2 3 4 Total Tulsa 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 14 12 14 0 40 Date: October 9 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 17,000 Source:[23]

In the first Denny Stadium game of the season, Alabama shutout the Tulsa Golden Hurricane 40–0 in a contest that saw the Crimson Tide throw five touchdown passes.[17][23] Alabama took a 14–0 first quarter lead after a 22-yard Hootie Ingram pass to William Hollis and on a 26-yard Ollie Yates pass to Curtis Lynch.[23] Another pair of touchdowns in the second quarter on a four-yard Jerry Watford run and an 18-yard Yates pass to Billy Lumpkin made the halftime score 26–0 in favor of the Crimson Tide.[23] Alabama then closed their scoring with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns on a 17-yard Albert Elmore pass to Paul Donaldson and finally on an 88-yard Elmore pass to Bobby Luna that made the final score 40–0.[23] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tulsa to 2–0.[24]

Tennessee

See also: 1954 Tennessee Volunteers football team

Third Saturday in October

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 0 7 14 6 27 Tennessee 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 16 Location: Shields-Watkins Field Knoxville, TN Game attendance: 41,800 Sources:[25]

In their annual rivalry game against the Tennessee, Alabama shutout the Volunteers 27–0 and handed the Vols their worst home loss to date.[17][25] After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama took a 7–0 halftime lead after Albert Elmore threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Luna late in the second quarter.[25] A pair of Elmore touchdown passes in the third quarter, seven-yards to Thomas Tharp and 25-yards to Nicholas Germanos, extended the Crimson Tide lead to 21–0.[25] The final points came late in the fourth quarter when Tharp returned an interception 96-yards for touchdown and the 27–0 victory.[25] The return remained the longest in Alabama history through the 1991 season when Mark McMillian had a 98-yard return against Chattanooga.[26] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 18–13–5.[27]

Mississippi State

See also: 1954 Mississippi State Maroons football team

1 2 3 4 Total • Mississippi State 0 0 6 6 12 Alabama 0 7 0 0 7 Date: October 23 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 30,000 Source:[28]

On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide were defeated by the Mississippi State Maroons 12–7 at Denny Stadium.[17][28] After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama took a 7–0 halftime lead when Albert Elmore threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Tharp with only 0:25 left in the second.[28] The Maroons scored their first touchdown in the third quarter when Bobby Collins returned a Bobby Luna punt 56-yards to cut the Crimson Tide lead to 7–6.[28] State then scored the game-winning touchdown on a 30-yard Joe Silveri run in the fourth and gave the Maroons the 12–7 victory.[28] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State to 28–8–3.[29]

Georgia

See also: 1954 Georgia Bulldogs football team

1 2 3 4 Total Georgia 0 0 0 0 0 Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 30 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 30,000 Sources:[30]

At Birmingham, the Crimson Tide battled the Georgia Bulldogs to a scoreless tie in the first Legion Field game of the season.[17][30] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 21–15–4.[31]

Tulane

See also: 1954 Tulane Green Wave football team

1 2 3 4 Total Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 Tulane 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 6 Location: Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA Game attendance: 22,000 Source:[32]

For their game against Tulane, Alabama traveled to New Orleans and played the Green Wave to a scoreless tie, the second for the Crimson Tide in two weeks.[17][32] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Tulane to 16–7–2.[33]

Georgia Tech

See also: 1954 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

1 2 3 4 Total Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 • Georgia Tech 13 0 7 0 20 Date: November 13 Location: Grant Field Atlanta, GA Game attendance: 40,000 Television network: ABC Source:[34]

Against Georgia Tech, Alabama extended their scoreless streak to 14 quarters before a nationally televised audience against the Yellow Jackets 20–0 at Grant Field.[17][34] Tech took a commanding 13–0 lead in the first quarter with touchdowns scored on runs of 45-yards by Paul Rotenberry and seven-yards by E. O. Thompson.[34] The Jackets then scored their final points in the third on a six-yard Thompson run for the 20–0 victory.[34] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 18–15–3.[35]

Miami

See also: 1954 Miami Hurricanes football team

1 2 3 4 Total Alabama 0 0 7 0 7 • #16 Miami 0 10 0 13 23 Date: November 19 Location: Burdine Stadium Miami, FL Game attendance: 61,423 Source:[36]

On a Friday evening in Miami, Alabama was defeated by the Miami Hurricanes 23–7 at Burdine Stadium.[17][36] After a scoreless first, Miami took a 10–0 halftime lead after Porky Oliver kicked a field goal and on a six-yard Whitey Rouviere touchdown run in the second quarter.[36] The Crimson Tide then ended a 16 quarter shutout streak in the third quarter when Bart Starr scored on a one-yard run and made the score 10–7.[36] The Hurricanes then closed the game with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns and won the game 23–7.[36] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Miami to 3–1.[37]

Auburn

See also: 1954 Auburn Tigers football team

Iron Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total • #15 Auburn 7 0 7 14 28 Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 27 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 43,167 Sources:[38][39]

For the first time since the 1949 season, Alabama was defeated by the rival Auburn Tigers 28–0 at Legion Field.[17][38][39] Auburn led 7–0 at halftime with the only first half touchdown scored on a one-yard Bobby Freeman run in the first quarter.[38][39] After a 41-yard Freeman run gave the Tigers a 14–0 lead in the third, a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns gave Auburn the 28–0 victory.[38][39] The final points came on a one-yard Joe Childress run and a three-yard Freeman run.[38][39] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Auburn to 9–9–1.[40]

Personnel

Varsity letter winners Player Hometown Position Jimmy Bowdoin Elba, Alabama Halfback William Brooks Tuscaloosa, Alabama Center Knute Christian Tuscaloosa, Alabama Center Dan Joseph Coyle Birmingham, Alabama End Ed Culpepper Bradenton, Florida Tackle Tom Danner Tuscaloosa, Alabama Guard Paul Donaldson Florala, Alabama End Charles Eckerly Oak Park, Illinois Guard Albert Elmore Troy, Alabama Quarterback James Emmons Atmore, Alabama Tackle Nicholas Germanos Montgomery, Alabama End Marvin Hill Huntsville, Alabama Quarterback William Hollis Biloxi, Mississippi Halfback Hootie Ingram Tuscaloosa, Alabama Back Bobby Irvin Sulligent, Alabama Back Max Kelley Cullman, Alabama Fullback Harry Lee Birmingham, Alabama Guard Bobby Luna Huntsville, Alabama Halfback Curtis Lynch Wadley, Alabama End George Mason Langdale, Alabama Tackle Jefferson Moorer Evergreen, Alabama Guard Douglas Potts Evergreen, Alabama Guard Bart Starr Montgomery, Alabama Quarterback William Stone Yukon, West Virginia Fullback Thomas Tharp Birmingham, Alabama Halfback Tommy Tillman Haleyville, Alabama End Ollie Yates Hattiesburg, Mississippi Quarterback Sid Youngelman Newark, New Jersey Tackle Reference:[41]

Coaching staff Name Position Seasons at Alabama Alma Mater Harold Drew Head coach 21 Bates (1916) Butch Avinger Assistant coach 1 Alabama (1951) Lew Bostick Assistant coach 11 Alabama (1939) Tilden Campbell Assistant coach 15 Alabama (1935) Hank Crisp Assistant coach 27 VPI (1920) Joe Kilgrow Assistant coach 11 Alabama (1937) Malcolm Laney Assistant coach 11 Alabama (1932) James Nisbet Assistant coach 6 Alabama (1937) Reference:[42]

References

General

• "1954 Season Recaps" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 25, 2014. Retrieved November 3, 2012.

Specific

1. Goodman, Joseph (February 29, 2016). "NFL legend Bart Starr was victim of 'brutal' secret Alabama hazing". al.com. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
2. "Red Drew out, Whitworth in". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Google News Archives. Associated Press. December 3, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
3. "Whitworth named Tide's head coach". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. December 2, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
4. "There's renewed joy in Hattiesburg". The Birmingham News. September 18, 1954. Retrieved October 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Alabama wins first SEC clash from LSU, 12–0". The Montgomery Advertiser. September 26, 1954. Retrieved October 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Crimson Tide shells Vanderbilt, 28–14, in uphill fight". The Selma Times-Journal. October 3, 1954. Retrieved October 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Alabama belts Tulsa, 40 to 0". The Cushing Daily Citizen. October 10, 1954. Retrieved October 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Alabama drubs Vols, 27–0; Elmore, Tharp star". Asheville Citizen-Times. October 17, 1954. Retrieved October 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Fighting Maroons beat Alabama in 12–7 victory at Tuscaloosa". The Clarion-Ledger. October 24, 1954. Retrieved October 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Georgia ties Alabama, 0–0". The Montgomery Advertiser. October 31, 1954. Retrieved October 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Alabama and Tulane tie, 0–0". The Huntsville Times. November 7, 1954. Retrieved October 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Georgia Tech wins, 20 to 0". The Baltimore Sun. November 14, 1954. Retrieved October 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Miami sweeps Tide". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. November 20, 1954. Retrieved October 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Auburn blasts Alabama Crimson Tide by 28–0". The Shreveport Times. November 28, 1954. Retrieved October 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "1954 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on November 25, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
16. Watkins, Edwin (September 18, 1954). "Mississippi Southern does it again". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
17. 1954 Season Recap
18. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Southern Mississippi". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
19. "Alabama rolls over LSU, 12–0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. September 26, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
20. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Louisiana State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
21. "Tide defeats Vandy, 28–14". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. October 3, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
22. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
23. Watkins, Ed (October 10, 1954). "Tide crushes Tulsa, 40–0, with air power". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 8. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
24. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tulsa". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
25. Bassett, Norman (October 17, 1954). "Crimson Tide engulfs Tennessee, 27–0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
26. "Most interception return yards". 2012 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2012. p. 24.
27. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tennessee". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
28. Watkins, Ed (October 22, 1954). "Miss. State spoils Alabama's homecoming, 12 to 7". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
29. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
30. Watkins, Ed (October 31, 1954). "Tide, Ga. battle to scoreless tie". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
31. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
32. Watkins, Ed (November 7, 1952). "Tide held to 0–0 standoff by Tulane". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
33. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tulane". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
34. Watkins, Ed (November 14, 1954). "Scoreless Alabama blasted by Tech". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
35. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia Tech". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
36. Warner, Ralph (November 20, 1954). "Only Gators can mar top season". The Miami News. Google News Archives. p. 1B. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
37. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Miami (FL)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
38. Bassett, Norman (November 28, 1954). "Auburn rolls over Crimson Tide 28–0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
39. Griffin, John Chandler (2001). "1954: Victorious Auburn again visits Gator Bowl". Alabama vs. Auburn: Gridiron Grudge Since 1893. Athens, Georgia: Hill Street Press. pp. 145–147. ISBN 1-58818-044-1.
40. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Auburn". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
41. "All-Time Tide Football Lettermen". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 127–141.
42. "All-Time Assistant Coaches". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 142–143.