1952 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

The 1952 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1952 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 58th overall and 19th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Harold Drew, in his sixth year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham, Ladd Stadium in Mobile and at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished with a record of ten wins and two losses (10–2 overall, 4–2 in the SEC) and with a victory over Syracuse in the Orange Bowl.

1952 Alabama Crimson Tide football
Orange Bowl champion
Orange Bowl vs. Syracuse, W 61–6
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 9
AP	No. 9
1952 record	10–2 (4–2 SEC)
Head coach	Harold Drew (6th season)
Captain	Bobby Wilson
Home stadium	Denny Stadium Legion Field Ladd Stadium Cramton Bowl

1952 Southeastern Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 2 Georgia Tech $	7	–	0	–	0			12	–	0	–	0
No. 8 Tennessee	5	–	0	–	1			8	–	2	–	1
No. 7 Ole Miss	4	–	0	–	2			8	–	1	–	2
No. 9 Alabama	4	–	2	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
Georgia	4	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
No. 15 Florida	3	–	3	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
Mississippi State	3	–	4	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Tulane	3	–	5	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
No. 20 Kentucky	1	–	3	–	2			5	–	4	–	2
LSU	2	–	5	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Vanderbilt	1	–	4	–	1			3	–	5	–	2
Auburn	0	–	7	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

After a 5–6 campaign for the 1951 season, Alabama bounced back in 1952 to have its best season of the decade and finished 10–2. However, losses to Tennessee, for the fifth consecutive year without a victory, and Georgia Tech cost Alabama the SEC title. The Crimson Tide ended the season in its first bowl game in five years, against Syracuse in the Orange Bowl. The 61–6 Alabama victory set a school record for most points scored in a bowl game and an Orange Bowl record for points scored until the 2012 Orange Bowl. The 55-point margin of victory stood as the all-time record for margin of victory in a bowl game through the 2008 GMAC Bowl.

Freshman quarterback Bart Starr, playing with the varsity, appeared in seven games as the backup to Clell Hobson. Starr went on to have a legendary Hall of Fame career as quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 19	Mississippi Southern*		Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL		W 20–6	12,000
September 27	at LSU		Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)		W 21–20	34,000
October 3	at Miami (FL)*		Burdine Stadium Miami, FL		W 21–7	53,916
October 11	VPI*	No. 18	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL		W 33–0	16,000
October 18	at Tennessee	No. 18	Shields-Watkins Field Knoxville, TN (Third Saturday in October)		L 0–20	55,000
October 25	Mississippi State		Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)		W 42–19	25,000
November 1	Georgia	No. 19	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (rivalry)		W 34–19	34,000
November 8	Chattanooga*	No. 16	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL		W 42–28	18,000
November 15	at No. 2 Georgia Tech	No. 12	Grant Field Atlanta, GA	ABC	L 3–7	40,000
November 22	No. 8 Maryland*	No. 14	Ladd Stadium Mobile, AL		W 27–7	33,178
November 29	vs. Auburn	No. 8	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Iron Bowl)		W 21–0	40,000
January 1, 1953	vs. No. 14 Syracuse*	No. 9	Burdine Stadium Miami, FL (Orange Bowl)	CBS	W 61–6	66,280
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

• Source: Rolltide.com: 1952 Alabama football schedule[1]

Game summaries

Mississippi Southern

1 2 3 4 Total Mississippi Southern 0 6 0 0 6 • Alabama 7 6 7 0 20 Date: September 19 Location: Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL Game attendance: 12,000 Source:[2]

To open the 1952 season, Alabama defeated the Mississippi Southern Golden Eagles 20–6 at the Cramton Bowl in a game where the Crimson Tide set a conference with their 12 fumbles.[2][3] Clell Hobson scored the first touchdown for Alabama on his eight-yard run in the first quarter for a 7–0 lead.[2] Southern responded in the second quarter with their lone points on a 13-yard Laurin Pepper touchdown run before the Crimson Tide made the halftime score 13–6 after a four-yard Bobby Luna run.[2] Alabama then scored the final touchdown of the game in the third on a four-yard Bobby Marlow run.[2] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi Southern to 6–0.[4]

LSU

1 2 3 4 Total LSU 0 7 6 7 20 • Alabama 0 14 0 7 21 Date: September 27 Location: Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA Game attendance: 34,000 Source:[5]

To open conference play for the 1952 season, Alabama defeated LSU 21–20 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.[3][5] After the Tigers took a 7–0 lead on a 16-yard Al Doggett touchdown pass to Ron Emberg, Bobby Luna scored on a pair of two-yard touchdown runs and gave the Crimson Tide a 14-7 halftime lead.[5] LSU responded to take a 20–14 lead late in the fourth quarter after Doggett scored on a 38-yard run in the third and on a 20-yard Norman Stevens run early in the fourth quarter.[5] Alabama then scored the game-winning touchdown on a 95-yard Bob Conway kickoff return for the 21–20 win.[5] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against LSU to 14–6–3.[6]

Miami

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 0 7 7 7 21 Miami 0 7 0 0 7 Date: October 3 Location: Burdine Stadium Miami, FL Game attendance: 53,916 Source:[7]

On a Friday evening in Miami, Alabama defeated the Miami Hurricanes 21–7 at Burdine Stadium.[3][7] After a scoreless first quarter, Miami scored the first touchdown of the game on a one-yard Don James run and Alabama followed with a one-yard Bobby Marlow touchdown run to tie the game at halftime 7–7.[7] In the second half, the Crimson Tide defense shut out the Hurricanes and the offense added a pair of touchdowns to win 21–7. The second-half touchdowns were scored on a second one-yard Marlow run in the third quarter and on a four-yard Thomas Tharp run in the fourth quarter.[7] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Miami to 3–0.[8]

VPI

1 2 3 4 Total VPI 0 0 0 0 0 • #18 Alabama 14 13 0 6 33 Date: October 11 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 16,000 Source:[9]

Against the Fighting Gobblers of VPI (now known as the Virginia Tech Hokies), Alabama won 33–0 at Denny Field.[3][9] Four first half touchdowns gave the Crimson Tide a 27–0 halftime lead that proved insurmountable for the Gobblers. Touchdown were scored in the first on a 10-yard Bobby Luna run and a three-yard Tommy Lewis run, and in the second on Thomas Tharp runs of 85 and 20-yards.[9] With the reserves in place of the second half, the final touchdown of the game came in the fourth quarter when Bobby Duke threw a 14-yard strike to William Oliver and made the final score 33–0.[9] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against VPI 3–0.[10]

Tennessee

Third Saturday in October

1 2 3 4 Total #18 Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 • Tennessee 6 0 0 14 20 Date: October 18 Location: Shields-Watkins Field Knoxville, TN Game attendance: 55,000 Sources:[11]

Against their long-time rival, the Tennessee Volunteers, Alabama was shut out 20–0 at Shields-Watkins Field for their first loss of the season.[3][11] The first Tennessee points were set up early in the first after Mack Franklin blocked a Bobby Wilson punt. Andy Kozar then gave the Vols a 6–0 lead with his two-yard run on the drive that ensued.[11] Tennessee did not score again until the fourth quarter when Pat Shires threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Frank Alexander and Jimmy Wade scored on a four-yard run for the 20–0 victory.[11] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 17–13–4.[12]

Mississippi State

1 2 3 4 Total Mississippi State 7 0 12 0 19 • Alabama 7 14 7 14 42 Date: October 25 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 25,000 Source:[13]

On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide scored touchdowns in all four quarters and defeated the Mississippi State Maroons 42–19 at Denny Stadium.[3][13] Jackie Parker scored the first touchdown of the game for the Maroons with his one-yard touchdown run and Bobby Marlow responded with a nine-yard run to tie the game 7–7 at the end of the first quarter.[13] In the second quarter, Marlow scored touchdowns on a 56-yard run and on a 14-yard reception from Clell Hobson and gave Alabama a 21–7 halftime lead.[13] In between Parker touchdown runs of two and six-yards for State, Thomas Tharp scored for the Tide on a 23-yard run and Alabama led 28–19 at the end of the third.[13] The Crimson Tide then closed the game with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns on a 45-yard Hobson pass to Tharp and a four-yard Bob Conway run for the 42–19 win.[13] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State to 28–7–2.[14]

Georgia

1 2 3 4 Total Georgia 6 6 0 7 19 • #19 Alabama 7 7 7 13 34 Date: November 1 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 34,000 Sources:[15]

At Legion Field, Alabama defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 34–19, and with the victory exceeded their win total from the previous season.[3][15] After Bobby Marlow gave Alabama a 7–0 first quarter lead, the Bulldogs responded with a 12-yard Zeke Bratkowski touchdown pass to Robert Dellinger in the first and on a one-yard Robert Clemens run for a 12–7 second quarter lead.[15] Clell Hobson then scored on a four-yard run to give the Crimson Tide a 14–12 halftime lead.[15] Alabama then scored on a pair of Thomas Tharp touchdown runs of 13 and 19-yards and a Bob Conway run of one-yard for a 34–12 lead late in the fourth quarter.[15] A nine-yard James Harper run for Georgia late in the fourth provided for the final 34–19 winning margin for the Crimson Tide.[15] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 20–15–3.[16]

Chattanooga

1 2 3 4 Total Chattanooga 7 0 0 21 28 • #16 Alabama 0 21 21 0 42 Date: November 8 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 18,000 Source:[17]

After going down 7–0, Alabama responded with 42 consecutive points and defeated the Chattanooga Moccasins 42–28 at Denny Stadium.[3][17] Hal Ledyard scored for the Mocs on a three-yard run in the first quarter to give Chattanooga their only lead at 7–0.[17] Alabama responded with touchdown runs of seven-yards by Bobby Marlow and 56 and six-yards by Thomas Tharp in the second for a 21–7 halftime lead.[17] The Crimson Tide then scored another three touchdowns in the third quarter on a 60-yard Hootie Ingram interception return, a one-yard Bob Conway run and a two-yard Bobby Luna run for a 42–7 lead at the end of the third quarter.[17] With the game in hand, the Alabama reserves did surrender three fourth-quarter touchdowns to the Mocs in a span of just over four minutes to make the final score 42–28. Chattanooga touchdowns in the quarter were scored on a 15-yard Ledyard pass to Fremo Ross, a 64-yard Ledyard pass to Jack Stanford and on a one-yard Buck Stamps run.[17] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Chattanooga to 6–0.[18]

Georgia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total #12 Alabama 3 0 0 0 3 • #2 Georgia Tech 0 7 0 0 7 Date: November 15 Location: Grant Field Atlanta, GA Game attendance: 40,000 Television network: ABC Source:[19]

In what was the ABC televised game of the week, Alabama lost to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 7–3 at Grant Field in Atlanta.[3][19][20] After a 25-yard Bobby Luna field goal gave the Crimson Tide a 3–0 first quarter lead, a nine-yard Dick Pretz touchdown run in the second quarter proved to be the game-winner for Tech.[19] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 17–14–3.[21]

Maryland

1 2 3 4 Total #8 Maryland 0 0 7 0 7 • #14 Alabama 6 7 7 7 27 Date: November 22 Location: Ladd Stadium Mobile, AL Game attendance: 33,178 Source:[22]

In the first all-time meeting between the schools, Alabama upset the Maryland Terrapins 27–7 at Ladd Stadium in Mobile.[3][22][23] The Crimson Tide scored touchdowns in all four quarters. They were scored in the first half on an 11-yard Bobby Luna pass to Bart Starr in the first quarter and on a one-yard Tommy Lewis run in the second for a 13–0 halftime lead for Alabama.[22] After a 25-yard Jack Scarbath touchdown pass to Lou Weidensaul early in the third cut the Crimson Tide lead to 13–7, Alabama scored two more touchdowns to put the game away.[22] The first came in the third quarter on a one-yard Bobby Marlow run and the second on a 22-yard Hootie Ingram interception return late in the fourth to make the final score 27–7.[22]

Auburn

Iron Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total Auburn 0 0 0 0 0 • #8 Alabama 14 7 0 0 21 Date: November 29 Location: Legion Field Birmingham, AL Game attendance: 40,000 Source:[24][25]

For the fourth time in five years since the revival of the Auburn series, Alabama shutout the Tigers 21–0 at Legion Field.[3][24][25] The Crimson Tide took a 14–0 lead in the first quarter on touchdown runs of 13 and eight-yards by Tommy Lewis.[24] Bobby Luna then scored the final touchdown in the second quarter on a four-yard run for the 21–0 victory.[24] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Auburn to 8–8–1.[26]

Syracuse

Orange Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total #14 Syracuse 6 0 0 0 6 • #9 Alabama 7 14 20 20 61 Date: January 1, 1953 Location: Burdine Stadium Miami, FL Game attendance: 66,280 Television network: CBS Source:[27]

In what was the first bowl game that the Crimson Tide competed in since the 1948 Sugar Bowl, Alabama dominated the Syracuse Orangemen 61–6, and the 55-point margin of victory remained the largest for a bowl game until the 2008 GMAC Bowl.[3][27][28] In the first quarter, Alabama scored on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Clell Hobson to Bobby Luna to take a 7–0 lead.[27] Syracuse responded on the following possession with their lone touchdown of the game on a 15-yard Joe Szombathy touchdown run to make the score 7–6.[27] From this point, the Orangemen did not score again and the Crimson Tide dominated with 54 unanswered points.[27] Alabama extended their lead to 21–6 at halftime on a one-yard Bobby Marlow touchdown run and a 50-yard Thomas Tharp reception from Hobson.[27] In the third quarter, the Crimson Tide scored three more touchdowns on a 38-yard Bobby Luna run and on Tommy Lewis runs of one and 30-yards.[27] With a 41–6 lead at the end of the third, Alabama scored another three touchdowns in the fourth quarter on a 21-yard Joe Cummings reception from Bart Starr, an 80-yard Hootie Ingram punt return and a 60-yard Marvin Hill interception return.[27] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Syracuse to 1–1.[29]

Personnel

Varsity letter winners Player Hometown Position Ralph Carrigan Oak Park, Illinois Center Bob Conway Fort Wayne, Indiana Halfback Ed Culpepper Bradenton, Florida Tackle Joe Cummings Muleshoe, Texas End Joe Curtis Birmingham, Alabama End Tom Danner Tuscaloosa, Alabama Guard Jim Davis Hamilton, Alabama Guard Vincent Delaurentis Hammonton, New Jersey Center Charles Eckerly Oak Park, Illinois Guard Marvin Hill Huntsville, Alabama Quarterback Clell Hobson Tuscaloosa, Alabama Quarterback Travis Hunt Albertville, Alabama Tackle Hootie Ingram Tuscaloosa, Alabama Back Hyrle Ivy Fort Wayne, Indiana End William Kilroy Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Fullback Jerry Lambert Alabama City, Alabama End Harry Lee Birmingham, Alabama Guard Bo Collins Yazoo City, Mississippi Guard Tommy Lewis Greenville, Alabama Fullback Bobby Luna Huntsville, Alabama Halfback Charles Malcolm Birmingham, Alabama Fullback Van Marcus Birmingham, Alabama Tackle Bobby Marlow Troy, Alabama Halfback George Mason Langdale, Alabama Tackle Fred Mims Birmingham, Alabama Guard William Oliver Panola, Alabama Halfback Edward Pharo Birmingham, Alabama Fullback Jess Richardson Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Guard Billy Shipp Mobile, Alabama Tackle Jack Smalley Tuscaloosa, Alabama Tackle John Snoderly Montgomery, Alabama Center Bart Starr Montgomery, Alabama Quarterback Thomas Tharp Birmingham, Alabama Halfback Tommy Tillman Haleyville, Alabama End Jerry Watford Gadsden, Alabama Guard Bob Wilga Webster, Massachusetts Guard Billy Williams Lincoln, Alabama Tackle Virgil Willis Tifton, Georgia End Bobby Wilson Bay Minette, Alabama Quarterback Sid Youngelman Newark, New Jersey Tackle Reference:[30]

Coaching staff Name Position Seasons at Alabama Alma Mater Harold Drew Head coach 19 Bates (1916) Lew Bostick Assistant coach 9 Alabama (1939) Tilden Campbell Assistant coach 13 Alabama (1935) Hank Crisp Assistant coach 25 VPI (1920) John Dee Assistant coach 1 Notre Dame (1945) Joe Kilgrow Assistant coach 9 Alabama (1937) Malcolm Laney Assistant coach 9 Alabama (1932) James Nisbet Assistant coach 4 Alabama (1937) Reference:[31]

References

General

• "1952 Season Recaps" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved October 29, 2012.

Specific

1. "1952 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on December 2, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
2. "Tide running game tops Southern by 20–6 count". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. September 20, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
3. 1952 Season Recap
4. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Southern Mississippi". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
5. Watkins, Edwin (September 28, 1952). "Bama bounces Bengals by score of 21–20". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 8. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
6. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Louisiana State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
7. McLemore, Morris (October 4, 1952). "U-M fails first major test in power battle". The Miami News. Google News Archives. p. 2B. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
8. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Miami (FL)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2015-02-14. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
9. Watkins, Edwin (October 12, 1952). "Tide eases by V.P.I., 33–0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 8. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
10. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Virginia Tech". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
11. Watkins, Edwin (October 19, 1952). "Tennessee rolls over Tide by 20–0 score". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 10. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
12. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tennessee". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
13. Bassett, Norman (October 26, 1952). "Bama batters Maroons 42–19". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 8. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
14. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
15. Watkins, Edwin (November 2, 1952). "Tide ground game batters Bulldogs, 34–19". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 10. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
16. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
17. Watkins, Edwin (November 9, 1952). "Tide rips Moccasins, 42–28". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 8. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
18. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Tennessee-Chattanooga". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
19. Bassett, Norman (November 16, 1952). "Georgia Tech shades Tide 7–3". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 10. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
20. "Tech, Bama clash in TV Game of the Week". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. November 15, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
21. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia Tech". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
22. "Bama running game smashed Terps 27–7". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. November 23, 1952. p. 10. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
23. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Maryland". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
24. Bassett, Norman (November 30, 1952). "Bama splashes to 21–0 win over Auburn". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 8. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
25. Griffin, John Chandler (2001). "1952: 9–2 Tide takes Orange Bowl win". Alabama vs. Auburn: Gridiron Grudge Since 1893. Athens, Georgia: Hill Street Press. pp. 139–141. ISBN 1-58818-044-1.
26. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Auburn". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
27. Watkins, Edwin (January 2, 1953). "Bama smashes records, Syracuse, 61 to 6". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
28. "Smith's 14th straight 300-yard game leads Tulsa past Bowling Green". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 6, 2008. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
29. DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Syracuse". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
30. "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.
31. "All-Time Assistant Coaches". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 142–143.