1920 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

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. 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. The "A" squad was coached by Scott and the "B" squad was coached by athletic director Charles A. Bernier. Prior to their opening game against the Southern Military Academy on September 23, Scott announced his starting lineup for the 1920 season. Additionally at that time, right guard Sidney Johnston was selected as season captain by his teammates.

Schedule

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Game summaries

Southern Military Academy

Tuscaloosa, AL

• Sources: Alabama opened the 1920 season with a 59–0 shutout over the Southern Military Academy (SMA) in the only all-time game between the schools at Tuscaloosa. 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 Military Institute

Tuscaloosa, AL

• Source: Against Marion, Alabama defeated the Cadets 49–0 at Tuscaloosa for their second consecutive shutout to open the season.

Birmingham–Southern

Tuscaloosa, AL

• Sources: 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. Against the Panthers, the Crimson Tide won their third consecutive shutout, this time by a score of 45–0. 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 victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Birmingham–Southern to 2–0.

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.

Howard

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.

Sewanee

Birmingham, AL

• Sources: 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.

Vanderbilt

Birmingham, AL

• Source: As they entered their game against Alabama, Vanderbilt had played seven consecutive, undefeated teams. 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.

LSU

Tuscaloosa, AL

• Sources: On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, Alabama shutout the LSU Tigers 21–0 and extended their record to 8–0. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against LSU to 5–3.

Georgia

Atlanta, GA

• Sources:

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. The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 4–8–3.

Mississippi A&M

Birmingham, 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.

Case

Cleveland, OH

• Sources:

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. 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. 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

Backfield

Coaching staff

References

General

Specific

References

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4. (September 23, 1920). "Tram Sessions, center, is only man to have position clinched on Alabama line". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
5. (September 24, 1920). "Brown returns to University team". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
6. (September 24, 1920). "Alabama's giant tackle in game". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
7. (September 26, 1920). "Alabama easily defeats S.M.A., score is 59 to 0". The Birmingham News.
8. (October 3, 1920). "Alabama beats Marion". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
9. (October 10, 1920). "Alabama romps on Methodist clan". The Birmingham News.
10. (October 17, 1920). "Alabama overwhelms Mississippi, 57 to 0". Jackson Daily News.
11. (October 28, 1920). "Crimson Tide wins from Howard 33–0". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
12. (October 31, 1920). "Tigers tossed against rocks by Crimson Tide". The Birmingham News.
13. (November 7, 1920). "Banner of Gold and Black again trampled on bt enemy". Nashville Banner.
14. (November 12, 1920). "L.S.U. defeated in aerial battle by Alabama, 21 to 0". The Shreveport Times.
15. (November 21, 1920). "Georgia Bulldog defeats Alabamians". The Atlanta Constitution.
16. (November 26, 1920). "Mississippi Aggies downed by Alabama". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
17. (November 28, 1920). "Crimson Tide slaughters Case School team in Cleveland, 40 to 0". The Birmingham News.
18. "1920 Alabama football archive". University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
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20. (September 26, 1920). "The "Thin Red Line" marches to great victory over S. M. A.". The Atlanta Constitution.
21. 1920 Season Recap
22. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Southern Military Academy". College Football Data Warehouse.
23. (October 3, 1920). "Marion is easy for University". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
24. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Marion Military Institute (AL)". College Football Data Warehouse.
25. (October 10, 1920). "Thin red line wins from Southern". The Atlanta Constitution.
26. (October 10, 1920). "Alabama trims Panthers in one-sided contest". The Tennessean.
27. (October 11, 1920). "Denny Field name of Crimson ground". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
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30. (October 31, 1920). "Alabama trounces Sewanee team, 21–0". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
31. (November 5, 1920). "Crimson hopes to defeat Vanderbilt". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
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33. (November 12, 1920). "Crimson Tide is victor over LSU". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
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35. Tsoukalas, Tony. (October 15, 2010). "Homecoming games full of classics". The Crimson White.
36. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs LSU". College Football Data Warehouse.
37. (November 21, 1920). "Costly fumble cost Crimson a victory". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
38. (November 21, 1920). "Great defense of Georgia is Alabama's end". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
39. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia". College Football Data Warehouse.
40. (November 28, 1920). "Alabama Crimson swamps Case, 40 to 0". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
41. Edwards, Henry P.. (November 28, 1920). "Alabamians roll up 40–0 tally on Case". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
42. Edwards, Henry P.. (November 10, 1920). "Case–Alabama battle in this city clinched". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
43. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Case Institute of Technology (OH)". College Football Data Warehouse.
44. (November 12, 1920). "Alabamians will bring 17". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
45. (2011). "2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office.
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