1959 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Schedule

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Game summaries

Georgia

Athens, Georgia

• Sources: To open the 1959 season, Fran Tarkenton led the Georgia Bulldogs to a 17–3 victory over the Crimson Tide at Athens. The Bulldogs took an early 3–0 lead after Durward Pennington connected on a 35-yard field goal in the first quarter. Georgia then extended their lead further to 10–0 at halftime on a 40-yard Bill Godfrey touchdown run in the second quarter. After Alabama responded with their only points in the third on a 23-yard Fred Sington Jr. field goal, Tarkenton scored on a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that made the final score 17–3. The 17 points scored were the most allowed by a Bryant led defense to that point, and the Georgia win marked their first in an opening game since their 1954 season. The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 23–18–4.

Houston

Houston, Texas

• Source: A week after they opened the season with a loss at Georgia, the Crimson Tide shutout the Houston Cougars 3–0 in the first all-time meeting between the schools. On a rainy evening, the only points scored came in the third quarter on a 25-yard Fred Sington Jr. field goal. In the game, the Crimson Tide defense had three interceptions, but was also penalized eight times for 99-yards in the victory.

Vanderbilt

Nashville, Tennessee

• Sources: For the third time in as many seasons, the Crimson Tide played the Vanderbilt Commodores to a tie, this time by a 7–7 margin in Nashville.

Chattanooga

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

• Sources: In rainy conditions for the first home game of the 1959 season, the Crimson Tide shutout the Chattanooga Mocs 13–0 in Tuscaloosa.

Tennessee

Birmingham, Alabama

• Sources: In their annual rivalry game against Tennessee, Alabama played the No. 14 Volunteers to a 7–7 tie in Birmingham.

Mississippi State

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

• Sources: On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, Alabama shutout the Mississippi State Maroons 10–0 and secured their first conference victory of the 1959 season.

Tulane

Mobile, Alabama

• Sources: In their annual home game at Ladd Stadium in Mobile, the Crimson Tide overcame five turnovers and defeated the Tulane Green Wave 19–7.

Georgia Tech

Birmingham, Alabama

• Sources: Behind a 43-yard game-winning Fred Sington Jr. field goal, the Crimson Tide upset the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 9–7 at Legion Field.

Memphis State

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

• Sources: After their upset victory over Georgia Tech, the Crimson Tide entered the polls for the first time since the 1954 season in the No. 17 position. Down 7–0 at halftime to underdog Memphis State, the Crimson Tide rallied with a pair of second half touchdowns and defeated the Tigers 14–7 at Denny Stadium.

Auburn

Birmingham, Alabama

• Sources: As they entered their season finale against No. 11 Auburn, the Crimson Tide dropped two spots to the No. 19 position after their closer than expected game against Memphis State. At Legion Field in the annual Iron Bowl game, Alabama shutout the Tigers 10–0 and won their first game against their rival since the 1953 season.

Penn State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Sources: After their victory over Auburn in their season finale, Bryant turned down an invitation to play in the Bluegrass Bowl. However, two days later they accepted an invitation to compete in the inaugural Liberty Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the first all-time meeting between the schools. As they entered their contest against Penn State, Alabama finished the season with the No. 10 ranking and the Nittany Lions with the No. 12 ranking. At Municipal Stadium, Alabama was upset 7–0 by Penn State with the only touchdown scored in the second quarter on a 17-yard touchdown reception by Roger Kochman from Galen Hall on a fake field goal attempt. This bowl game marked the beginning of a school record 25 consecutive bowl appearances.

Personnel

Varsity letter winners

Coaching staff

References

General

Specific

References

1. (September 20, 1959). "Georgia slams Alabama, 17–3". The Macon Telegraph & News.
2. (September 27, 1959). "Sington's field goal puts Alabama over Houston, 3–0". The Commercial Appeal.
3. (October 4, 1959). "Tide and Vandy deadlock third straight time, 7–7". The Selma Times-Journal.
4. (October 11, 1959). "Crimson Tide defense defeats Chattanooga, 13–0". The Selma Times-Journal.
5. (October 18, 1959). "Alabama, Tennessee tie". The Huntsville Times.
6. (November 1, 1959). "Alabama throttles Maroons, 10 to 0". The Montgomery Advertiser.
7. (November 8, 1959). "Red Tide bests Green Wave in kilowatt contest, 19–7". The Selma Times-Journal.
8. (November 15, 1959). "'Bama stuns Georgia Tech". Kingsport Times-News.
9. (November 22, 1959). "Tide edges MSU 14–7 in second half attack". The Commercial Appeal.
10. (November 29, 1959). "Tide rolls over Auburn 10–0". The Decatur Daily.
11. (December 20, 1959). "Penn State wins on sub's pass". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
12. "1959 Alabama football schedule". University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
13. Land, Charles. (September 20, 1959). "Bulldog passes do trick as Tide falls, 17–3". Google News Archives.
14. Bailey, Mercer. (September 20, 1959). "Tarkenton sparks Georgia over Alabama's Tide, 17–3". Google News Archives.
15. 1959 Season Recap
16. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia". College Football Data Warehouse.
17. Land, Charles. (September 27, 1959). "Alabama downs Houston on field goal, 3–0". Google News Archives.
18. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Houston". College Football Data Warehouse.
19. Ballard, Barney. (October 4, 1959). "Bama, Vandy play to 7–7 tie". Google News Archives.
20. Land, Charles. (October 4, 1959). "Bama and Vandy battle to third straight deadlock". Google News Archives.
21. (October 11, 1959). "Crimson Tide gets past Chattanooga". Google News Archives.
22. Bassett, Norman. (October 11, 1959). "Umbrella defense prevails as Bama downs Mocs, 13–0". Google News Archives.
23. Land, Charles. (October 18, 1959). "Alabama battles Vols to 7–7 tie". Google News Archives.
24. Dygard, Ton. (October 18, 1959). "Underdog Alabama gains 7–7 tie with Tennessee". Google News Archives.
25. Land, Charles. (November 1, 1959). "Bama gains homecoming victory". Google News Archives.
26. (November 1, 1959). "Bama whips Miss State". Google News Archives.
27. Land, Charles. (November 8, 1959). "Bama finds punch, runs over Tulane, 19–7". Google News Archives.
28. (November 8, 1959). "Crimson Tide hands Tulane 19–7 licking". Google News Archives.
29. Bryan, Jimmy. (November 15, 1959). "Sington's field goal lifts Tide over Tech". Google News Archives.
30. (November 15, 1959). "Alabama wins on field goal". Google News Archives.
31. Shaw, Arthur Ray. (November 22, 1959). "Tide overcomes deficit to trip Memphis State". Google News Archives.
32. (November 22, 1959). "Alabama fights back to win over Memphis State". Google News Archives.
33. Land, Charles. (November 20, 1959). "Alabama, Memphis State meet tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.". Google News Archives.
34. Land, Charles. (November 29, 1959). "Tide tame Tigers, 10–0". Google News Archives.
35. Griffin, John Chandler. (2001). "Alabama vs. Auburn: Gridiron Grudge Since 1893". Hill Street Press.
36. Hand, Jack. (November 24, 1959). "Alabama drops to No. 19 in national football poll". Google News Archives.
37. Land, Charles. (December 20, 1959). "Penn State outplays Crimson Tide, 7–0". The Tuscaloosa News.
38. (December 20, 1959). "Penn State wins, 7–0, on fake field goal". The Miami News.
39. (November 29, 1959). "Bowl declined". The Tuscaloosa News.
40. Land, Charles. (December 1, 1959). "Tide going to Liberty Bowl". The Tuscaloosa News.
41. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Penn State". College Football Data Warehouse.
42. Chandler, John. (December 8, 1959). "Alabama finished No. 10". The Tuscaloosa News.
43. Mitchell, Billy. (November 11, 1984). "Reality of a losing record stuns the Tide". Google News.
44. (2012). "2012 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office.
45. (2012). "2012 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office.