1934 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

The 1934 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1934 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 41st overall season and 2nd as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Frank Thomas, in his fourth year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished the season with a perfect record (10–0 overall, 7–0 in the SEC), as Southeastern Conference champions for the second consecutive season and defeated Stanford in the Rose Bowl.[1]

1934 Alabama Crimson Tide football
National champion (five selectors) Rose Bowl champion SEC co-champion
Rose Bowl, W 29–13 vs. Stanford
Conference	Southeastern Conference
1934 record	10–0 (7–0 SEC)
Head coach	Frank Thomas (4th season)
Captain	Bill Lee
Home stadium	Denny Stadium Legion Field Cramton Bowl

1934 Southeastern Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Tulane +	8	–	0	–	0			10	–	1	–	0
Alabama +	7	–	0	–	0			10	–	0	–	0
Tennessee	5	–	1	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
LSU	4	–	2	–	0			7	–	2	–	2
Georgia	3	–	2	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
Vanderbilt	4	–	3	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Florida	2	–	2	–	1			6	–	3	–	1
Ole Miss	2	–	3	–	1			4	–	5	–	1
Kentucky	1	–	3	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Auburn	1	–	6	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
Sewanee	0	–	4	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Mississippi State	0	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
Georgia Tech	0	–	6	–	0			1	–	9	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions

Five of the 13 selectors recognized as official by the NCAA (Berryman, Dunkel, Houlgate, Poling, and Williamson) recognize the 1934 Alabama team as the national champion.[2] Sportswriter Morgan Blake called it the best football team he ever saw.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
September 29	Howard (AL)*	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	W 24–0	6,000
October 6	Sewanee	Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL	W 35–6
October 13	Mississippi State	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	W 41–0	6,000
October 20	Tennessee	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Third Saturday in October)	W 13–6	18,000
October 27	Georgia	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (rivalry)	W 26–6	15,000
November 3	at Kentucky	McLean Stadium Lexington, KY	W 34–14	13,000
November 10	Clemson*	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	W 40–0	8,000
November 17	at Georgia Tech	Grant Field Atlanta, GA	W 40–0	14,000
November 29	Vanderbilt	Legion Field Birmingham, AL	W 34–0	24,000
January 1, 1935	vs. Stanford*	Rose Bowl Padadena, CA (Rose Bowl)	W 29–13	84,474
*Non-conference game Homecoming

• Source: Rolltide.com: 1934 Alabama football schedule[3]

Game summaries

Howard

1 2 3 4 Total Howard 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 6 6 6 6 24 Date: September 29 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, Alabama Game attendance: 6,000 Source:[4]

To open the 1934 season, Alabama scored touchdowns in all four quarters and defeated Howard College (now Samford University) 24–0 at Denny Stadium.[4][5] Dixie Howell scored in the first on a two-yard run and Joe Riley scored in the second on a three-yard run to give the Crimson Tide a 12–0 halftime lead.[4] Joe Demyanovich then scored both second half touchdowns with his seven-yard run in the third and one-yard run in the fourth for the 24–0 victory.[4] The Howard squad was led by former Alabama player and assistant coach Clyde "Shorty" Propst in his first game against his alma mater.[6] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Howard to 13–0.[7]

Sewanee

1 2 3 4 Total Sewanee 0 6 0 0 6 • Alabama 14 0 14 7 35 Date: October 6 Location: Cramton Bowl Montgomery, Alabama Source:[8]

In June 1934, coach Thomas announced their game against Sewanee would be moved from Tuscaloosa to the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.[9] In what was their conference opener, Alabama defeated the Tigers, 35–6, at Montgomery.[5][8] Alabama took a 14–0 lead in the first quarter after scoring touchdowns on successive possessions. Dixie Howell scored first with his short run on offense and James Angelich scored a defensive touchdown on the next series after he intercepted a Tigers pass and ran it back 23 yards for the score.[8] Sewanee responded in the second quarter with an 87-yard Ruch interception return for a touchdown to cut the Alabama lead to 14–6 at the half.[8] Alabama then closed the game with three unanswered touchdowns for the 35–6 victory. Touchdowns were scored by Howell on a 61-yard run and by Joe Demyanovich on a short run in the third, and on a 15-yard Young Boozer run in the fourth.[8] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Sewanee to 15–10–3.[10]

This game was originally scheduled to kick off at 8:00 pm on Friday, October 5, and it was to have been the first night game played by Alabama in their history.[8][11] After a mutual agreement was reached between both head coaches, the game was postponed to the following afternoon as a result of a major rain event that made the playing surface at the Cramton Bowl unplayable.[11] The Crimson Tide would not compete in their first night game for another six seasons when they defeated Spring Hill to open the 1940 season.[12]

Mississippi State

1 2 3 4 Total Mississippi State 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 14 14 0 13 41 Date: October 13 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, Alabama Game attendance: 6,000 Source:[13]

Against their long-time rival, the Mississippi State Maroons, Alabama won 41–0 at Denny Stadium.[5][13] The Crimson Tide scored two touchdowns in each of the first two quarters to take a commanding 28–0 lead at halftime. In the first, James Angelich scored on a 48-yard run and Riley Smith intercepted a Charles Armstrong pass and returned it 64-yards for a score.[13] In the second, Bear Bryant scored on a reception and later on an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Young Boozer.[13] After a scoreless third, the Crimson Tide scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns on Boozer runs of 74 and 8-yards for the 41–0 win.[13] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State 17–4–2.[14]

Tennessee

Third Saturday in October

1 2 3 4 Total Tennessee 0 6 0 0 6 • Alabama 0 6 7 0 13 Date: October 20 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, Alabama Game attendance: 18,000 Source:[15]

Against rival Tennessee, Alabama defeated the Volunteers, 13–6 at Legion Field.[5][15] After a scoreless first quarter that featured several defensive stops for each team, both scored second-quarter touchdowns to tie the game 6–6 at the half. Joe Demyanovich scored for Alabama first on an eight-yard run and then Tennessee tied the game on a two-yard George Craig run.[15] During the Volunteers scoring drive, Bear Bryant was ejected from the game due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.[5][15] In the third, Don Hutson scored the game-winning touchdown on an end-around run.[15] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee 11–5–1.[16]

Georgia

1 2 3 4 Total Georgia 0 0 0 6 6 • Alabama 6 7 13 0 26 Date: October 27 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, Alabama Game attendance: 15,000 Source:[17]

Against Georgia, Alabama outgained the Bulldogs 427 to 119 yards in total offense in their 26–6 victory at Legion Field.[17] Dixie Howell scored first for the Crimson Tide with his touchdown run on Alabama's third offensive play of the game. Howell then scored in the second quarter on a three-yard touchdown run to give the Crimson Tide a 13–0 halftime lead. Alabama further extended their lead to 26–0 in the third quarter on a 38-yard James Angelich and two-yard Joe Demyanovich touchdown run. However, the defense was unable to complete the shutout as Maurice Greene scored for the Bulldogs on a seven-yard run in the fourth to make the final score 26–6.[17] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 12–11–3.[18]

Kentucky

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 14 7 0 13 34 Kentucky 0 0 7 7 14 Date: November 3 Location: McLean Stadium Lexington, Kentucky Game attendance: 13,000 Source:[19]

In what was their first road game of the season, Alabama defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 34–14 on homecoming at McLean Stadium.[5][19][20] Don Hutson scored the first touchdown with his 10-yard run and was followed with a three-yard Tilden Campbell touchdown run to give Alabama a 14–0 lead at the end of the first. Joe Riley then scored on a 16-yard run in the second to give the Crimson Tide a 21–0 halftime lead.[19] Kentucky cut the lead to 21–7 in the third when Bert Johnson scored on a four-yard run.[19] Both teams then traded fourth-quarter touchdowns to make the final score 34–14. Alabama scored first on an 11-yard Bear Bryant run, next was Johnson for the Wildcats with his 69-yard run and then Joe Riley threw a 38-yard pass to Young Boozer for the final score of the afternoon.[19] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Kentucky 13–1.[21]

Clemson

1 2 3 4 Total Clemson 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 7 7 6 20 40 Date: November 10 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, Alabama Game attendance: 8,000 Sources:[22][23]

On homecoming at Denny Stadium, Alabama defeated the Clemson Tigers of the Southern Conference 40–0 in Tuscaloosa.[5][22][23] In the game, Alabama scored a touchdown in each of the first three quarters before doubling the score with three fourth-quarter touchdowns. Dixie Howell threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Don Hutson in the first quarter, Riley Smith scored in the second on a one-yard quarterback sneak and then Howell connected again with Hutson, this time from 26-yards, to give Alabama a 20–0 lead as they entered the fourth quarter.[22][23] In the fourth, Young Boozer scored on a 27-yard run, Howell on an eight-yard run and Smith on an 18-yard run for the 40–0 win.[22][23] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Clemson to 4–3.[24]

Georgia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 6 14 13 7 40 Georgia Tech 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 17 Location: Grant Field Atlanta Game attendance: 14,000 Source:[25]

Against the Georgia Tech, Alabama shutout the Yellow Jackets 40–0 at Grant Field.[5][25] Joe Demyanovich started the scoring for Alabama in the first with his four-yard touchdown run.[25] In the second, Dixie Howell scored a touchdown on 65-yard punt return and then he threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Don Hutson to give the Crimson Tide a 20–0 halftime lead.[25] After Riley Smith scored on a six-yard run and Howell on a five-yard run in the third, Joe Riley threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Ralph Gandy in the fourth quarter and made the final score 40–0.[25] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 8–10–2.[26]

Vanderbilt

1 2 3 4 Total Vanderbilt 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 13 7 7 7 34 Date: November 29 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, Alabama Game attendance: 24,000 Source:[1]

In the regular season finale on Thanksgiving Day, Alabama defeated the Vanderbilt Commodores 34–0 to capture their second consecutive SEC championship and secure a place in the Rose Bowl Game.[1][5][27] James Angelich scored on a four-yard run and Dixie Howell on a 21-yard run to give the Crimson Tide a 13–0 lead at the end of the first quarter.[1] Alabama then scored one touchdown in each of the final three quarters to make the final score 34–0. Joe Demyanovich scored on a short run in the second, on a 70-yard Angelich interception return in the third and on a 15-yard Howell run in the fourth.[1] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 7–8.[28]

Stanford

Rose Bowl Game

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 0 22 0 7 29 Stanford 7 0 6 0 13 Date: January 1, 1935 Location: Rose Bowl Pasadena, California Game attendance: 84,474 Source:[29]

Immediately after their victory over Vanderbilt in the season finale, University president George Denny accepted an invitation to play in the 1935 Rose Bowl against the Stanford Indians.[27] In the game, which was a rematch of their draw in the 1927 Rose Bowl, the Crimson Tide overwhelmed the Indians with their 29–13 victory before 84,474 fans at Pasadena.[29] The Stanford defense shined in the first quarter, as Alabama had only four yards total offense. The Indians then took a 7–0 lead later in the quarter after Bobby Grayson scored on a short run to complete a drive set up after Keith Topping recovered a Joe Demyanovich fumble.[29] Early in the second, Dixie Howell scored on a five-yard run, but Riley Smith missed the extra point and Stanford still led 7–6.[29]

After the Alabama touchdown, Stanford chose to kickoff rather than receive the ball after the score. On the resulting Alabama possession, the Crimson Tide took a 9–7 lead after Smith connected on a 27-yard field goal.[29] For the second time, Stanford again chose to kickoff rather than receive the ball, and two plays later Howell scored on a 67-yard touchdown run and made the score 16–7.[29] Then Alabama intercepted a Stanford pass, and took the ball at the 46-yard line with only eight seconds left. Joe Riley then threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Don Hutson to put Alabama up 22–7 at halftime.[29] Stanford scored in the third on a 12-yard Elzo Van Dellen touchdown run but could get no closer to the lead. Alabama finished the game with a 59-yard Howell to Hutson touchdown pass in the fourth and made final score 29–13.[29]

Awards

After the season, Alabama had three players selected by consensus to the 1934 College Football All-America Team.[30] These players were:

• Don Hutson at end
• Dixie Howell at halfback
• Bill Lee at tackle

National championship claim

The NCAA recognizes consensus national champions as the teams that have captured a championship by way of one of the major polls since the 1950 college football season. Prior to 1950, national championships were chosen by a variety of selectors, and in the 1980s, Alabama claimed the 1934 championship as one of its now 17 national championships.[2][31] As such, Alabama claims a share of the 1934 national championship, with Minnesota, due to each school being selected national champion by various major selectors.[2] Specifically, Alabama was selected national champion in 1934 by Dunkel, Houlgate, Poling System and Williamson.[2]

Personnel

Varsity letter winners Player Hometown Position James Angelich Indiana Harbor, Indiana Halfback Young Boozer Dothan, Alabama Halfback Bear Bryant Moro Bottom, Arkansas End Jeff Bush Tuscaloosa, Alabama Back Tilden "Happy" Campbell Pine Bluff, Arkansas Quarterback Joe Demyanovich Bayonne, New Jersey Fullback Joe Dildy Nashville, Arkansas Center Raiford Ellis Birmingham, Alabama Center Kavanaugh Francis Timson, Texas Center Ralph Gandy Birmingham, Alabama End Dixie Howell Hartford, Alabama Halfback Don Hutson Pine Bluff, Arkansas End Bill Lee Eutaw, Alabama Tackle Samuel Hamilton Lyon Meridian, Mississippi Tackle Charles Marr Pine Bluff, Arkansas Guard T. A. "Son" McGahey Columbus, Mississippi Tackle Ben McLeod Leeksville, Mississippi Halfback Bob Morrow Selma, Alabama Guard Lamar Moyle Decatur, Alabama Center James Nisbet Bainbridge, Georgia Fullback Joe Riley Dothan, Alabama Halfback Riley Smith Columbus, Mississippi Quarterback Jim Whatley Alexander City, Alabama Tackle Arthur "Tarzan" White Atmore, Alabama Guard Reference:[32]

Coaching staff Name Position Seasons at Alabama Alma Mater Frank Thomas Head coach 4 Notre Dame (1923) Paul Burnum Assistant coach 5 Alabama (1922) Johnny Cain Assistant coach 1 Alabama (1933) Hank Crisp Assistant coach 14 VPI (1920) Harold Drew Assistant coach 4 Bates (1916) B'Ho Kirkland Assistant coach 1 Alabama (1934) Jennings B. Whitworth Assistant coach 3 Alabama (1931) Reference:[33]

References

General

• "1934 Season Recap" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-06-04. Retrieved April 3, 2012.

Specific

1. Thornton, Jay (November 20, 1934). "Tide surges over Vandy, 34 to 0, in great show of power". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 6. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
2. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). "National Poll Champions" (PDF). 2011 NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA.org. p. 73. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
3. "1934 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on December 2, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
4. Thornton, Jay (September 30, 1934). "Crimson Tide crushes Howard, 24 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 9. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
5. 1934 Season Recap
6. "Tiders regain zest as opener with Howard's Bulldogs nears". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. September 28, 1934. p. 6. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
7. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Samford". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
8. "Alabama rolls over Sewanee, 35 to 6". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. October 7, 1934. p. 11. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
9. "Montgomery to get Tide–Sewanee game". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. June 5, 1934. p. 8. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
10. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Sewanee". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
11. "Terrific rain causes postponement in Tide–Tiger battle". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. October 5, 1934. p. 6. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
12. "Tiders return with 26–0 win". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. September 29, 1940. p. 10. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
13. Thornton, Jay (October 14, 1934). "Alabama triumphs over Maroons, 41–0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 8. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
14. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
15. "Crimson Tide rolls over Tennessee, 13–6". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. October 21, 1934. p. 9. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
16. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tennessee". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
17. "Alabama races through Georgia 26–6". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. October 28, 1934. p. 9. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
18. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
19. "Kentucky falls before Tide, 34 to 14". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. November 4, 1934. p. 9. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
20. "Alabama squad leaves for Kentucky at 4:30 this afternoon". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. November 1, 1934. p. 10. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
21. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Kentucky". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
22. Thornton, Jay (November 11, 1934). "Tide marches on, lashes Clemson, 40–0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 9. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
23. Davenport, T. M. (November 11, 1934). "Alabama rolls across Clemson, 40 to 0". The Spartanburg Herald. Google News Archives. p. 19. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
24. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Clemson". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
25. Gregory, Kenneth (November 18, 1934). "Tide sweeps over Georgia Tech, 40–0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 9. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
26. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia Tech". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
27. "Alabama accepts Rose Bowl bid". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. November 20, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
28. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
29. "Victorious Tide heads homeward". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. January 2, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
30. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Award Winners (PDF). 2011 NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA.org. p. 5. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
31. Solomon, Jon (January 6, 2010). "Got 12? Here's how Alabama bumped up its claim to a dozen national titles". The Birmingham News. AL.com. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
32. "All-Time Tide Football Lettermen". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 127–141.
33. "All-Time Assistant Coaches". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 142–143.