1958 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Schedule

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Game summaries

LSU

Mobile, AL

• Source: To open the Bear Bryant era, Alabama led 3–0 at halftime but lost 13–3 to the eventual national champion LSU Tigers in Ladd Stadium in Mobile. After a scoreless first quarter, the Crimson Tide took a 3–0 halftime lead after Fred Sington Jr. connected on an 18-yard field goal. Midway through the half, a section of bleachers in the north end zone collapsed and resulted in 60 spectators being injured. The collapse resulted in a stoppage of play while emergency responders worked to assist those injured by the collapse.

LSU took a 7–3 lead in the third quarter when Warren Rabb threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Johnny Robinson that capped a 67-yard drive. Billy Cannon then scored on a 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that made the final score 13–3. For the game, the Tigers were led by head coach Paul Dietzel who previously served as an assistant coach for Bryant during his tenure at Kentucky. The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against LSU to 15–8–4.

Vanderbilt

Birmingham, AL

• Sources: In their first Legion Field game of the 1958 season, the Crimson Tide played the Vanderbilt Commodores to a 0–0 tie in Birmingham.

Furman

Tuscaloosa, AL

• Sources: In their first Denny Stadium game of the 1958 season, the Crimson Tide notched the first victory of the Bryant era with this 29–6 win over the Furman Purple Hurricane in Tuscaloosa.

Tennessee

Knoxville, TN

• Sources: In their annual rivalry game against Tennessee, a pair of Billy Majors touchdowns for the Volunteers provided for the final margin in their 14–7 victory in Knoxville.

Mississippi State

Starkville, MS

• Sources: On what was homecoming in Starkville, the Crimson Tide upset the Mississippi State Maroons 9–7 and secured Bryant's first SEC victory.

Georgia

Tuscaloosa, AL

• Sources: On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, Alabama shutout the Georgia Bulldogs 12–0 for their second consecutive conference victory.

Tulane

New Orleans, LA

• Sources: On a Friday evening at New Orleans, the Crimson Tide were defeated 13–7 by the Tulane Green Wave after they turned the ball over on downs late in the fourth quarter.

Georgia Tech

Atlanta, GA

• Sources: Behind a 17-point first quarter, the Crimson Tide upset the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 17–8 on homecoming at Grant Field.

Memphis State

Tuscaloosa, AL

• Sources: In what was the first all-time meeting against Memphis State, the Crimson Tide shutout the Tigers 14–0 in the final Denny Stadium game of the season. Alabama took a 6–0 first quarter lead after Bobby Jackson threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to Marlin Dyess on the first offensive play of the game. Jackson then scored what proved to be the final points of the game with his 18-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He then successfully converted the two-point conversion that made the final score 14–0.

Auburn

Birmingham, AL

• Sources: Against rival Auburn, the Crimson Tide nearly upset the No. 2 ranked Tigers but lost 14–8 at Legion Field in what was the closest game between the schools since the 1953 season.

Bluegrass Bowl

After their victory over Memphis State, Alabama players voted to accept any potential bowl bid if one was extended to the team. As they entered their final game of the season against Auburn, officials from the Bluegrass Bowl announced that the Crimson Tide was their top choice to participate in the inaugural event regardless of the outcome against the Tigers. Although the Crimson Tide were their top choice, on December 1, bowl officials announced that Florida State and Oklahoma State would participate in the game.

It was reported that prior to the announcement, the game was to have seen a rematch of Alabama against Vanderbilt, but that no deal was reached. After the Crimson Tide declined the invitation, Florida State accepted it. Years later, Bryant stated he regretted he did not accept the bid as it would have allowed for additional practice time at the conclusion of the season. The 1958 season also marked the only one where a Bryant-led team at Alabama failed to participate in a bowl game.

Freshmen squad

Prior to the 1972 NCAA University Division football season, NCAA rules prohibited freshmen from participating on the varsity team, and as such many schools fielded freshmen teams. For the 1958 season, the Alabama freshmen squad was coached by Sam Bailey and finished their season with a record of two wins, zero losses and one tie (2–0–1). In their first game against the Mississippi State Baby Maroons, a 27-yard Jimmy Spencer field goal fell short with under a minute left, and the game ended in a scoreless tie at Starkville. In their second game, the Crimson Tide defeated Tulane 25–6 before 3,000 fans at Denny Stadium. After the game was tied 6–6 at halftime, Alabama scored 19 unanswered points in the second half to win. Touchdowns were scored by Mal Moore on a one-yard run, a 37-yard Moore pass to Tommy Brooker and on a 22-yard Ronnie Davis pass to Steve Anderson. The Baby Tide then closed the season with a 14–6 win over Auburn in a game that saw touchdowns scored of runs of 10-yards by Jerry Rich and one-yard by Pat Trammell.

Personnel

Varsity letter winners

Coaching staff

NFL draft

At the conclusion of the season several members of the 1958 squad were drafted into the National Football League. These players included: Bobby Jackson in the seventh round to the Green Bay Packers, Ernie Moore in the 29th round to the Los Angeles Rams and Dave Sington in the 30th round to the New York Giants.

References

General

Specific

References

1. Land, Charles. (December 3, 1957). "Bryant signs 10-year pact as coach of Crimson Tide". The Tuscaloosa News.
2. (September 28, 1958). "LSU rallies, hands Alabama 13–3 loss". The Montgomery Advertiser.
3. (October 5, 1958). "Vandy, 'Bama in scoreless tie". The Nashville Tennessean.
4. (October 12, 1958). "Alabama smashes Furman". The Huntsville Times.
5. (October 19, 1958). "Majors toe, sneak trips slam Bama". Evansville Press.
6. (October 26, 1958). "State homecoming ruined by 'Bama 9–7". The Clarion-Ledger.
7. (November 2, 1958). "Bama's Crimson Tide cracks Bulldogs". The Sunday Ledger-Enquirer.
8. (November 8, 1958). "Greenies squeeze by Alabama, 13–7". The Birmingham News.
9. (November 16, 1958). "Alabama whips Tech in 11 minutes with 17–8 upset". The Selma Times-Journal.
10. (November 23, 1958). "Jackson leads Alabama in scores once, passes for one". The Birmingham News.
11. (November 30, 1958). "Tigers beat back Tide, 14 to 8". The Birmingham News.
12. "1958 Alabama football schedule". University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
13. Atkins, Stan. (September 28, 1958). "LSU rallies to nip 'Bama, 13 to 3". The Florence Times.
14. Land, Charles. (September 28, 1958). "Fighting Tide bows, 13 to 3". The Tuscaloosa News.
15. 1958 Season Recap
16. (September 28, 1958). "Bleachers fold during game, 60 persons injured". The Tuscaloosa News.
17. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Louisiana State". College Football Data Warehouse.
18. Cox, Don. (October 5, 1958). "Tide battles Vandy to deadlock". The Gadsden Times.
19. Land, Charles. (October 5, 1958). "Underdog Tide battles Vanderbilt to 0–0 tie". The Tuscaloosa News.
20. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse.
21. (October 12, 1958). "Tide posts first win under Bryant as Furman falls". The Florence Times.
22. Land, Charles. (October 12, 1958). "Alabama rocks Furman 29–6". The Tuscaloosa News.
23. Land, Charles. (October 19, 1958). "Vols whip fumbling Tide, 14–7". The Tuscaloosa News.
24. Smith, James W.. (October 19, 1958). "Tennessee bounces Alabama 14–7, as Majors scores 2 touchdowns". The Miami News.
25. Land, Charles. (October 26, 1958). "Tide dumps State 9–7". The Tuscaloosa News.
26. (October 26, 1958). "Bama springs big surprise: Ekes by Mississippi State". The Altus Times-Democrat.
27. Land, Charles. (November 2, 1958). "Battling Crimson Tide blanks Georgia, 12–0". The Tuscaloosa News.
28. (November 2, 1958). "Tide turns, Bama rips Georgia, 12–0". The Miami News.
29. Land, Charles. (November 8, 1958). "Last minute Tide drive fails as Tulane scores 13–7 victory". The Tuscaloosa News.
30. (November 9, 1958). "Tulane scores 13–7 victory over Alabama". Ocala Star-Banner.
31. Land, Charles. (November 16, 1958). "Fighting Bama stuns Yellow Jackets, 17–8". The Tuscaloosa News.
32. (November 16, 1958). "'Bama scores early, trips Georgia Tech". The Miami News.
33. Simms, Leroy. (November 23, 1958). "Tide edges Tigers". The Florence Times.
34. (November 23, 1958). "'Bama defeats rugged Memphis State, 14–0". Rome News-Tribune.
35. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Memphis". College Football Data Warehouse.
36. Bassett, Norman. (November 30, 1958). "Eager Tide scares Auburn before going down 14–8". The Tuscaloosa News.
37. Griffin, John Chandler. (2001). "Alabama vs. Auburn: Gridiron Grudge Since 1893". Hill Street Press.
38. (December 1, 1958). "Still no word on Tide, bowl". The Tuscaloosa News.
39. (November 29, 1958). "Blue Grass wants Bama". The Victoria Advocate.
40. (December 2, 1958). "Bama turns down Bluegrass Bowl". The Tuscaloosa News.
41. Scott, Richard. (2004). "Legends of Alabama Football". Sports Publishing LLC.
42. Hurt, Cecil. (December 30, 1982). "The '58 team". The Tuscaloosa News.
43. Kersey, Jason. (August 27, 2012). "NCAA's decision to allow freshman eligibility changed football landscape". The Oklahoman.
44. Reed, Delbert. (January 21, 1972). "Unanimous vote makes SEC frosh eligible". The Tuscaloosa News.
45. Clayton, Frank. (November 8, 1958). "Alabama freshmen baffle Auburn, 14–6". The Tuscaloosa News.
46. (October 4, 1958). "Tide, State frosh tie, 0–0". The Tuscaloosa News.
47. Clayton, Frank. (October 19, 1958). "Bama frosh whip Tulane babes, 25–6". The Tuscaloosa News.
48. (2012). "2012 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office.
49. (2012). "2012 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office.
50. "Draft History by School–Alabama". National Football League.