1923 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
| 1923 Alabama Crimson Tide football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Southern Conference |
| 1923 record | 7–2–1 (4–1–1 SoCon) |
| Head coach | Wallace Wade (1st year) |
| Offensive scheme | Single wing |
| Captain | Al Clemens |
| Home stadium |
Denny Field Rickwood Field Cramton Bowl |
| 1923 Southern Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt* + | 4 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington & Lee + | 4 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 1 | – | 0 | – | 2 | 6 | – | 1 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VPI | 4 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 4 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maryland | 2 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 2 | – | 1 | – | 2 | 5 | – | 2 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Carolina | 2 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | 2 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 1 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech | 0 | – | 0 | – | 4 | 3 | – | 2 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 0 | – | 1 | – | 3 | 3 | – | 3 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NC State | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 0 | – | 2 | – | 2 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia | 0 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 0 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1923 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1923 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 30th overall and 2nd season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). The team was led by head coach Wallace Wade, in his first year, and played their home games at Denny Field in Tuscaloosa, at Rickwood Field in Birmingham and at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of seven wins, two losses and one tie (7–2–1 overall, 4–1–1 in the SoCon).
1923 marked the first season for new head coach Wallace Wade, a former assistant at Vanderbilt. One year after Alabama's triumphal trip to Penn, the Tide went on another northeast roadtrip with a different outcome, losing to Syracuse 23–0. The Sewanee game was scoreless until the last two minutes, when Johnny Mack Brown intercepted a pass, giving the ball to Alabama at the Tiger 48. Pooley Hubert scored with seconds left and Sewanee had time to run only two plays before the game ended. Against Georgia Tech, Alabama was very lucky to escape with a 0–0 tie. Tech had 18 first downs to none for Alabama, and the Tide never advanced the ball beyond its own 27-yard line. A driving rain and sixteen punts from Grant Gillis helped Bama to hold Tech scoreless. Tech drives stalled on the Alabama 2, 8, and 11-yard lines.[1] A season-ending 16-6 upset loss to coach James Van Fleet's Florida Gators cost coach Wade and the Tide the Southern Conference championship.
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 29 | Union (TN)* | Denny Field • Tuscaloosa, AL | W 12–0 | ||||||
| October 6 | Ole Miss | Denny Field • Tuscaloosa, AL (Rivalry) | W 56–0 | ||||||
| October 13 | at Syracuse* | Archbold Stadium • Syracuse, NY | L 0–23 | ||||||
| October 20 | Sewanee* | Rickwood Field • Birmingham, AL | W 7–0 | ||||||
| October 27 | at Spring Hill* | Monroe Park • Mobile, AL | W 59–0 | ||||||
| November 3 | at Georgia Tech | Grant Field • Atlanta, GA | T 0–0 | ||||||
| November 10 | Kentucky |
Denny Field • Tuscaloosa, AL | W 16–8 | ||||||
| November 16 | LSU | Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, AL (Rivalry) | W 30–3 | ||||||
| November 24 | Georgia | Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, AL | W 36–0 | ||||||
| November 29 | Florida | Rickwood Field • Birmingham, AL | L 6–16 | ||||||
| *Non-conference game. Homecoming. | |||||||||
- Source: Rolltide.com: 1923 Alabama football schedule[2]
Game notes
Union
|
Alabama opened their 1923 season against Union University at Denny Field, and defeated the Bulldogs 12–0 in what was Wallace Wade's first game as head coach of the Crimson Tide.[3][4] In a game dominated by both defenses, Alabama did not score any points until the fourth quarter. Pooley Hubert scored first on a one-yard run and was followed by a six-yard Allen Graham MacCartee touchdown pass to Ben Hudson with only 00:15 left in the game.[3]
The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against Union to 2–0.[5]
The starting lineup was Al Clemens (left end), Bill Buckler (left tackle), Pete Camp (left guard), Clyde Propst (center), Bruce Jones (right guard), Ben E. Compton (right tackle), Ben Hudson (right end), Graham McClintock (quarterback), Red Barnes (left halfback), Johnny Mack Brown (right halfback), Pooley Hubert (fullback).[3]
Ole Miss
|
Alabama opened conference play against Ole Miss, and defeated the Rebels 56–0 at Denny Field.[4][6] The Crimson Tide scored eight touchdowns in the contest. In addition to Pete Camp scoring a pair after he recovered blocked Rebels kicks in the end zone, touchdowns were also scored twice by Red Barnes and one each by Ben Hudson, Pooley Hubert, Allen MacCartee and Johnny Mack Brown.[6]
The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against Ole Miss to 10–2–1.[7]
The starting lineup was Al Clemens (left end), Bill Buckler (left tackle), Jack Langhorne (left guard), Clyde Propst (center), Pete Camp (right guard), Ben E. Compton (right tackle), Ben Hudson (right end), Grant Gillis (quarterback), Red Barnes (left halfback), Johnny Mack Brown (right halfback), Pooley Hubert (fullback).[6]
Syracuse
|
For their third game, Alabama played an intersectional contest at Syracuse University, and were defeated by the Orangemen 23–0 at Archbold Stadium.[4][8][9] Syracuse took a 3–0 lead in the first quarter behind a 15-yard John McBride field goal. The Orangemen extended their lead in the third to 9–0 after Evander MacRae recovered a fumble and returned it 35-yards for a touchdown. Syracuse then closed the game with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns on a 65-yard punt return by Chester Bowman on a McBride run.[8][9]
The starting lineup was Al Clemens (left end), Bill Buckler (left tackle), Jack Langhorne (left guard), Clyde Propst (center), Pete Camp (right guard), Ben E. Compton (right tackle), Ben Hudson (right end), Grant Gillis (quarterback), Red Barnes (left halfback), Johnny Mack Brown (right halfback), Pooley Hubert (fullback).[6]
Sewanee
|
A week after their first loss of the season, Alabama defeated the Sewanee Tigers 7–0 at Rickwood Field.[4][10] The game was a defensive struggle with neither team scoring until late in the fourth quarter. With under two minutes left in the contest, Johnny Mack Brown intercepted a Tiger pass and returned it to their 48-yard line. Pooley Hubert then led Alabama down the field and scored the game-winning touchdown on a short run.[10]
The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against Sewanee to 6–10–3.[11]
The starting lineup was Al Clemens (left end), Bill Buckler (left tackle), Bruce Jones (left guard), Clyde Propst (center), Pete Camp (right guard), Ben E. Compton (right tackle), Hulet Whitaker (right end), Grant Gillis (quarterback), Country Oliver (left halfback), Allen MacCartee (right halfback), Pooley Hubert (fullback).[10]
Georgia Tech
In a driving rain, Georgia Tech and Alabama played to a scoreless tie.
Florida
|
On a muddy field with pools of water, the Florida Gators upset[12] the Tide with a comeback, 16–6 victory on Thanksgiving Day,[13][14][15] putting the Florida program in the national spotlight for the first time.[16] The upset gave Wade's previous school of Vanderbilt the SoCon title. In an attempt to drum up publicity, Champ Pickens photographed a stuffed alligator and drew tiny Crimsons swarming around it.[17]
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Florida back Edgar C. Jones scored all of his team's points. The Gator scores by Jones came on runs of 10 yards around right end, a 12-yard place kick, and a 20-yard run around right end.[18] The punting of Ark Newton and the line play of captain Robbie Robinson (in his final game) and Goldy Goldstein also helped the Gators get the victory.[18]
In the first half, Alabama's Grant Gillis won the punting battle and Florida was on the defensive, turning back multiple scoring threats from inside the 10-yard line.[18] Pooley Hubert scored first.[19] The Gators eschewed their stockings in the second half, due to the rain and mud, and waited until the last minute to come out for the kickoff, while Alabama was already lined up. Because of this maneuver, Wade never spoke to coach Van Fleet again.[17]
A few minutes into the second half, Newton complete a 12-yard pass to Dick Brown, down at Alabama's 20-yard line. Brown went around left end for 9 yards; then Jones went around right end for 10 yards and the tying touchdown. Newton missed the extra point.[18] Moments later Newton kicked a punt of 60 yards, from his own 20-yard line to the same of Alabama's.[17] Gillis botched the ensuing Alabama punt.[18] Bill Middlekauff ran behind left guard twice, and Newton ran behind right tackle once, netting 8 yards in three plays. From the 12-yard line, Jones converted a placekick. Newton continued to punt well, and attempted a 53-yard field goal which barely missed.[18] He also tried a 60-yard field goal which was blocked, recovered by Florida's Joe Merrin on Alabama's 20-yard line. Runs at the line failed, and Jones went around right end for 20 yards and the final touchdown.[18]
Personnel
References
General
- "1923 Season Recap" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
Specific
- ↑ 1923 game recaps
- ↑ "1923 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 "Union loses to Alabama: Score 12–0". The Times-Picayune. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. September 30, 1923. p. 5.9.
- 1 2 3 4 1923 Season Recap
- ↑ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Union (TN)". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Alabama swamps Ole Miss: Score 56–0". The Times-Picayune. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 7, 1923. p. 5.10.
- ↑ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Syracuse downs Alabama eleven". The State. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 14, 1923. p. 10.
- 1 2 3 "Syracuse buries Alabama eleven". The Sunday Repository. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 14, 1923. p. 37.
- 1 2 3 4 "Alabama bucks over touchdown to beat Sewanee at finish". The Tampa Tribune. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 21, 1923. p. 11E.
- ↑ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Sewanee (TN)". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Surprises of South Upset Title Dope". The Monroe News-Star. November 30, 1923. p. 7. Retrieved August 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Associated Press (November 17, 1923). "Florida Licks Alabama, 16-6". The Bee. p. 17. Retrieved August 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Mike Bynum. The Greatest Moments of Florida Gators Football. p. 4.
- ↑ ESPN college football encyclopedia. p. 275.
- ↑ Steve Rajtar. Gone Pro: Florida: Gator Athletes Who Became Pros. p. 30.
- 1 2 3 McEwen, Tom, The Gators: A Story of Florida Football, The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama (1974). ISBN 0-87397-025-X.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Gators Trounce Alabama In Titular Grid Contest". The Evening Independent. November 30, 1923. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- ↑ "Untitled Document".
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "All-Time Assistant Coaches". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 142–143.