1940 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Schedule

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Rankings

Game summaries

Spring Hill

Mobile, AL

• Source: To open the 1940 season, Alabama defeated Spring Hill College 26–0 at Murphy High School Stadium in Mobile. After a scoreless first quarter, the Crimson Tide scored their first touchdown on a one-yard Paul Spencer run in the second quarter and held a 7–0 halftime lead. In the third quarter, Alabama extended their lead to 20–0 with touchdowns scored runs of two-yards by Spencer and 31-yards by Dave Brown. They then closed the game with a five-yard Herschel Mosley touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the 26–0 victory. The victory was Alabama's final game played against the Badgers and improved their all-time record against Spring Hill to 3–0. This contest is also notable for being the first night game ever played by an Alabama football team.

Mercer

Tuscaloosa, AL

• Source: In their first home game of the season, Alabama shutout the Mercer Bears 20–0 on an unseasonably warm afternoon that saw temperatures in excess of 90 degrees.

Howard

Tuscaloosa, AL

• Source: At Denny Stadium, Alabama defeated Howard (now Samford University) 31–0 for their third consecutive shutout to open the season.

Tennessee

Birmingham, AL

• Source: On the Monday prior to their annual game against the Volunteers, Tennessee was selected to the No. 5 position in the first AP Poll of the 1940 season. In the game, Alabama was defeated by rival Tennessee 27–12 before an overflow crowd of 24,500 at Legion Field. After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama took their only lead of the game early in the second quarter on a 14-yard fake reverse by Jimmy Nelson for a touchdown. The Volunteers responded with a pair of John Butler touchdowns to take a 14–6 halftime lead. The first came on an 11-yard Butler pass to Al Hurst and the second on a 19-yard Butler punt return.

Alabama then cut the lead to 14–12 in the third quarter after Dave Brown returned a Tennessee punt 57-yards for a touchdown.

Kentucky

Lexington, KY

• Source: On what was homecoming for Kentucky, the Crimson Tide shutout the Wildcats 25–0 at Lexington.

Tulane

Birmingham, AL

• Source: In Birmingham, the Crimson Tide defeated the Green Wave 13–6 before a crowd of 20,000 at Legion Field.

Georgia Tech

Atlanta, GA

• Source: Prior to their final road game of the season against Georgia Tech, Alabama entered the AP Poll for the first time of the season at No. 14. Against the Yellow Jackets, the Crimson Tide won on a missed extra point 14–13 at Grant Field.

Vanderbilt

Birmingham, AL

• Source: As a result of their unexpectedly close contest against Georgia Tech, Alabama dropped three spots to the No. 17 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Vanderbilt. In their game against the Commodores, Alabama rallied from a 14–0 deficit to defeat Vanderbilt 25–21 in the final Legion Field game of the 1940 season.

Mississippi State

Tuscaloosa, AL

• Source: In the final game of the season, Alabama was shutout 13–0 against the Mississippi State Maroons on homecoming at Denny Stadium.

After the season

NFL draft

Several players that were varsity lettermen from the 1940 squad were drafted into the National Football League (NFL) between the 1941 and 1943 drafts. These players included the following:

Personnel

Varsity letter winners

Coaching staff

References

General

Specific

References

1. Dr. E. E. Litkenhous. (December 19, 1940). "Final 1940 Litkenhous Ratings". The Boston Globe.
2. "1940 Alabama football schedule". University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
3. (September 29, 1940). "Tiders return with 26–0 win". Google News Archives.
4. 1940 Season Recap
5. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Spring Hill (AL)". College Football Data Warehouse.
6. (September 27, 1940). "Tiders depart for Spring Hill". Google News Archives.
7. (October 6, 1940). "37 Tiders out-sweat Mercer Bears, 20 to 0". Google News Archives.
8. (October 13, 1940). "Tide subdues Howard, 31 to 0". Google News Archives.
9. (October 20, 1940). "Vol air bombs blast victory over Tide ground attack, 27–12". Google News Archives.
10. Boni, Bill. (October 15, 1940). "Cornell snares top poll rank". Google News Archives.
11. (November 3, 1940). "Crimson Tide rolls over Kentucky cats, 25 to 0". Google News Archives.
12. Bassett, Norman. (November 10, 1940). "Tide beats back Green Wave in thrilling dual, 13 to 6". Google News Archives.
13. Gregory, Kenneth. (November 17, 1940). "Georgia Tech outplays Tide to lose 14–13". Google News Archives.
14. Boni, Bill. (November 12, 1940). "Gophers gain tops in rating". Google News Archives.
15. Bassett, Norman. (November 24, 1940). "Tide out-scores Vandy, 25–21, by thrilling last half rally". Google News Archives.
16. Fullerton, Hugh S.. (November 19, 1940). "Extra points save top teams". Google News Archives.
17. Bassett, Norman. (December 1, 1940). "Maroons blank Tide 13 to 0". Google News Archives.
18. "Alabama Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
19. "Draft History by School–Alabama". National Football League.
20. (2011). "2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office.
21. (2011). "2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office.