1956 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Schedule

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

Game summaries

Rice

Houston, TX

• Source: The Crimson Tide opened the 1956 season with their 14th consecutive loss, while their opponent, the Rice Owls, ended their own seven-game losing streak with their 20–13 victory at Houston. The Owls scored the first touchdown of the game on their opening drive when Frank Ryan threw a 12-yard pass to Buddy Dial. Alabama responded in the final minute of the quarter with a one-yard Clay Walls touchdown run to tie the game at 7–7. Rice then took a 14–7 halftime lead after King Hill threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Williams in the second quarter. After a 17-yard Donald Comstock touchdown run brought the Crimson Tide within a point of the Owls lead, Rice closed the game with an 18-yard Ryan touchdown pass to Dial in the fourth to win 20–13. The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Rice to 0–3.

Vanderbilt

Mobile, AL

• Sources: In their annual home game at Ladd Stadium, the Crimson Tide were defeated by the Vanderbilt Commodores 32–7 to open conference play.

TCU

Tuscaloosa, AL

• Sources: For the second consecutive season, Alabama played host to the Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs of the Southwest Conference, and for the second time in as many years lost 23–6.

Tennessee

Knoxville, TN

• Sources: In their annual rivalry game against Tennessee, Alabama was shut out for the second consecutive year by the Volunteers in a 24–0 loss in Knoxville.

Mississippi State

Tuscaloosa, AL

• Sources: On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide upset the Mississippi State Maroons 13–12 at Denny Stadium that ended both a 17-game losing streak that stretched back to the 1954 season and gave Whitworth his first victory as Crimson Tide head coach.

Georgia

Birmingham, AL

• Sources: One week after they won their first game in nearly two years, the Crimson Tide lost to the Georgia Bulldogs 16–13 at Legion Field.

Tulane

New Orleans, LA

• Sources: On the road in New Orleans, the Crimson Tide won their second game of the season with this 13–7 victory over the Tulane Green Wave.

Georgia Tech

Atlanta, GA

• Sources: Against Georgia Tech, Alabama was shut out, 27–0, by the Yellow Jackets at Grant Field.

Mississippi Southern

Tuscaloosa, AL

• Sources: In their final non-conference game of the season, Alabama tied the Mississippi Southern Southerners 13–13 at Denny Stadium. After a scoreless first quarter, Bo Dickinson scored on a 38-yard touchdown run for Southern and then Bobby Smith threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Donald Comstock for Alabama to tie the game 7–7 at halftime. In the third quarter, Smith threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Comstock for the Crimson Tide and the Dickinson scored on a 37-yard touchdown run to again tie the game 13–13, which stood as the final score after a scoreless fourth quarter. The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi Southern to 6–2–1.

Auburn

Birmingham, AL

• Sources: Against the rival Auburn Tigers, Alabama lost 34–7 at Legion Field in the season finale.

Personnel

Varsity letter winners

Coaching staff

References

General

Specific

References

1. (September 23, 1956). "Rice squeezes out 20 to 13 triumph over Alabama". The Knoxville Journal.
2. (October 7, 1956). "Vanderbilt stamps past Alabama in 32–7 landslide". The Selma Times-Journal.
3. (October 14, 1956). "TCU whips ALabama, 23–6". San Angelo Standard-Times.
4. (October 21, 1956). "Tennessee smacks 'Bama 24–0". Kingsport Times-News.
5. (October 28, 1956). "Alabama drouth over". The Huntsville Times.
6. (November 4, 1956). "Georgia rally trips Tide, 16 to 13". The Birmingham News.
7. (November 11, 1956). "Alabama pulls upset win over Wave in dominating play by 13–7 count". The Montgomery Advertiser.
8. (November 18, 1956). "Tech 'midget' busts loose in 27 to 0 rout of 'Bama". The Miami Herald.
9. (November 25, 1956). "The Birmingham News". The Birmingham News.
10. (December 2, 1956). "Auburn wallops Alabama". The Huntsville Times.
11. "1956 Alabama football schedule". University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
12. Bassett, Norman. (September 23, 1956). "Tide fails to turn, loses 20–13". The Tuscaloosa News.
13. (September 23, 1956). "Rice defeats 'Bama, 20–13". Eugene Register-Guard.
14. 1956 Season Recap
15. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Rice". College Football Data Warehouse.
16. Land, Charles. (October 7, 1956). "Commodores' power too much as Tidesmen fall again, 32–7". The Tuscaloosa News.
17. (October 7, 1956). "Commodores run roughshod, over Crimson Tide, 32 to 7". The Gadsden Times.
18. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse.
19. Land, Charles. (October 14, 1956). "TCU belts Bama 23–6". The Tuscaloosa News.
20. Thomas, Rex. (October 14, 1956). "Rated Frogs brush by Crimson Tide, 23 to 6". The Gadsden Times.
21. Bassett, Norman. (October 21, 1956). "Vol lightning strikes Tide, 24–0 win". The Tuscaloosa News.
22. Thompson, Escar. (October 21, 1956). "Tennessee Vols defeat Alabama again, 24 to 0". The Florence Times.
23. Land, Charles. (October 28, 1956). "Tide gives Whit first win as State falls, 13–12". The Tuscaloosa News.
24. Cox, Don. (October 28, 1951). "Tide wins, 13 to 12". The Gadsden Times.
25. Land, Charles. (November 4, 1956). "Georgia stuns fighting Tide with fast second half scores". The Tuscaloosa News.
26. (November 4, 1956). "Georgia gowns Alabama on field goal, long run". The Miami News.
27. Land, Charles. (November 11, 1956). "Bama swamps Tulane's Wave". The Tuscaloosa News.
28. Saggus, James. (November 11, 1956). "Tide topples Tulane". The Gadsden Times.
29. Land, Charles. (November 18, 1956). "Vann's passes feature Tech win over Alabama". The Tuscaloosa News.
30. (November 18, 1956). "Vann and Thompson spark Ga. Tech over 'Bama, 27–0". The News and Courier.
31. Robinson, Bill. (November 25, 1956). "Ghost of '53, '54 Southerners steals across Denny Stadium". The Tuscaloosa News.
32. (November 25, 1956). "Alabama battles to 13–13 tie with pesty Miss. Southern". The Gadsden Times.
33. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Southern Mississippi". College Football Data Warehouse.
34. Halbrooks, Hap. (December 2, 1956). "Auburn slaughters hapless Alabama, 34–7". The Florence Times.
35. Griffin, John Chandler. (2001). "Alabama vs. Auburn: Gridiron Grudge Since 1893". Hill Street Press.
36. (2011). "2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office.
37. (2011). "2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office.