1939 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Schedule

|{{CFB schedule entry | w/l = w |{{CFB schedule entry | w/l = w |{{CFB schedule entry | w/l = w |{{CFB schedule entry | w/l = l |{{CFB schedule entry | w/l = w |{{CFB schedule entry | w/l = t |{{CFB schedule entry | w/l = l |{{CFB schedule entry | w/l = l |{{CFB schedule entry | w/l = w

Rankings

Game summaries

Howard

Tuscaloosa, AL

• Source: To open the 1939 season, Alabama defeated Howard (now Samford University) 21–0 at Denny Stadium. After a scoreless first half, the Crimson Tide scored their first touchdown on a one-yard Paul Spencer run in the third quarter. Alabama then closed the game with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns for the 21–0 win. The first came on a five-yard Herschel Mosley pass to Holt Rast and the second on a second, one-yard run by Spencer. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Howard to 17–0–1.

Fordham

New York, NY

• Sources: On the road against a favored Fordham squad, the Crimson Tide defeated the Rams 7–6 at the Polo Grounds in an intersectional matchup.

This game is also noted as being the second televised college football game after the 1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game played one week earlier. The game was televised exclusively in New York City as it was broadcast over W2XBS and only a few hundred televisions were thought to be in existence at the time.

Mercer

Tuscaloosa, AL

• Source: A week after the road win at Fordham, Alabama defeated the Mercer Bears 20–0 at Denny Stadium in the first all-time meeting between the schools. The Crimson Tide took a 7–0 first quarter lead after Paul Spencer scored on a one-yard touchdown run to cap a 42-yard drive. After a scoreless second quarter, Alabama scored a pair of third-quarter touchdowns for the 20–0 victory. Gene Blackwell scored first on an eight-yard run and Herschel Mosley scored on a four-yard run.

Tennessee

Knoxville, TN

• Source: On the Monday prior to their annual game against the Volunteers, Alabama was selected to the No. 8 and Tennessee was selected to the No. 5 position in the first AP Poll of the 1939 season. In the game, Alabama was shut out by rival Tennessee 21–0 before an overflow crowd of 40,000 at Shields-Watkins Field. After a scoreless first quarter, Tennessee took a 7–0 lead in the second after Johnny Butler scored on a 56-yard run. Up by a touchdown at the end of the third, a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown runs gave the Volunteers the 21–0 win. The first was made by Bob Foxx on an 11-yard run and the second by Buss Warren on a 12-yard run.

Although Alabama was shut out and lost by three touchdowns, Tennessee head coach Robert Neyland said of the Crimson Tide's performance that "I don't think the score indicates the difference between the teams. It should have been about 7 to 0." The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 13–7–2.

Mississippi State

Tuscaloosa, AL

• Source: After their loss to Tennessee, Alabama dropped from No. 8 to No. 20 in the AP Poll as they entered their annual homecoming game. Against Mississippi State the Crimson Tide defeated the Maroons 7–0 before 15,000 fans at Denny Stadium.

Kentucky

Birmingham, AL

• Source: As Alabama entered their contest against Kentucky, they gained one position the rankings to No. 19 and the Wildcats entered the rankings at No. 15 in the weekly AP Poll. In the game, the Crimson Tide battled the Wildcats to a 7–7 tie in the first game played at Legion Field of the season.

Tulane

New Orleans, LA

• Source: After their tie with Kentucky, the Crimson Tide dropped out of the weekly AP Poll, and Tulane took the No. 7 position after their victory over Ole Miss. In New Orleans, the Crimson Tide was shutout by the Green Wave 13–0 before a crowd of 52,000 at Tulane Stadium.

Georgia Tech

Birmingham, AL

• Source: In their final home game of the season game against Georgia Tech Alabama lost their second consecutive game by a shutout, 6–0 against the Yellow Jackets at Legion Field.

Vanderbilt

Nashville, TN

• Source: In their season finale against the Vanderbilt Commodores, Alabama won 39–0 at Dudley Field on Thanksgiving Day to end a two-game losing streak.

After the season

NFL draft

Several players that were varsity lettermen from the 1939 squad were drafted into the National Football League (NFL) between the 1940 and 1942 drafts. These players included the following:

Personnel

Varsity letter winners

Coaching staff

References

General

Specific

References

1. Paul Williamson. (December 8, 1941). "Texas Aggies Ranked Nation's Top". The Atlanta Constitution.
2. E. E. Litkenhous. (December 31, 1939). "Vols Second In Final Litkenhous Grid Rankings; Southern California Tenth". Johnson City Sunday Press.
3. (October 1, 1939). "Tide works to beat Howard, 21–0". The Birmingham News.
4. (October 8, 1939). "Alabama nips Fordham, 7 to 6". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
5. (October 15, 1939). "Crimson Tide machine rolls over Mercer, 20–0". The Montgomery Advertiser.
6. (October 22, 1939). "Mighty Vols batter Alabama Tide, 21–0". Johnson City Press.
7. (October 29, 1939). "Tide conquers 7–0". The Clarion-Ledger.
8. (November 5, 1939). "Kentucky ties Alabama, 7 to 7". The Birmingham News.
9. (November 12, 1939). "Tulane overcomes three year Alabama jinx to overpower Crimson Tide before 52,000 fans". The Shreveport Times.
10. (November 19, 1939). "Jackets trip Tide, holds S.E.C. pace". The Atlanta Constitution.
11. (December 1, 1939). "Alabama dazzles in smashing Vandy, 39 to 0". The Birmingham News.
12. "1939 Alabama football archives". University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
13. (October 1, 1939). "Slow starting Tide turns back game Howard crew, 21 to 0". Google News Archives.
14. 1939 Season Recap
15. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Samford". College Football Data Warehouse.
16. Boni, Bill. (October 8, 1939). "Inspired Tide overpowers Rams to edge out 7 to 6 victory". Google News Archives.
17. Danzig, Allison. (October 8, 1939). "Ram is outplayed". ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
18. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Fordham". College Football Data Warehouse.
19. (2011). "2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office.
20. (October 15, 1939). "Uninspired Tide rolls over Mercer, 20 to 0". Google News Archives.
21. Gregory, Kenneth. (October 22, 1939). "40,000 see Vols triumph over Crimson Tide, 21 to 0". Google News Archives.
22. Boni, Bill. (October 17, 1939). "Pitt wins top in grid poll". Google News Archives.
23. (October 22, 1939). "Should have been 7–0 says Major Neyland". Google News Archives.
24. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tennessee". College Football Data Warehouse.
25. (October 29, 1939). "Alabama pass turns back strong Maroon invaders, 7 to 0". Google News Archives.
26. White, Bill. (October 24, 1939). "Vols acclaimed best in nation". Google News Archives.
27. (November 5, 1939). "Alabama, Kentucky battle to spectacular tie, 7–7". Google News Archives.
28. Boni, Bill. (October 31, 1939). "Vols continue in No. 1 spot". Google News Archives.
29. Green, Ben A.. (November 12, 1939). "52,000 see Green Wave roll over Crimson Tide, 13 to 0". Google News Archives.
30. Fullerton, Hugh S. Jr.. (November 7, 1939). "Vols increase lead in voting". Google News Archives.
31. (November 19, 1939). "Tornado breaks Alabama jinx with thrilling 6 to 0 victory". Google News Archives.
32. (November 30, 1939). "Tide overwhelms Vandy 39–0 to close season". Google News Archives.
33. "Alabama Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
34. "Draft History by School–Alabama". National Football League.
35. (2011). "2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office.
36. (2011). "2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office.