The 1933 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the
University of Alabama in the
1933 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 40th overall and 1st season as a member of the
Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach
Frank Thomas, in his third year, and played their home games at
Denny Stadium in
Tuscaloosa and
Legion Field in
Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of seven wins, one loss and one tie (7–1–1 overall, 5–0–1 in the SEC), and as the first SEC champions.[1]
After opening the season with victory over
Oglethorpe, Alabama played
Ole Miss to a scoreless tie in their first ever SEC matchup. One week later, the Crimson Tide defeated
Mississippi State for their first ever SEC victory and followed that with their first ever SEC road victory with their win over
Tennessee at
Shields–Watkins Field. From
Knoxville, Alabama traveled to New York City where they lost their only game of the season against
Fordham in an intersectional matchup. Alabama rebounded with four consecutive victories to close the season as conference champions with wins over
Kentucky,
VPI (Virginia Tech) on
homecoming,
Georgia Tech and
Vanderbilt.
Although they played most of the game in a heavy rainstorm, Alabama opened the 1933 season with a 34–0 victory over
Oglethorpe at Denny Stadium.[13][14] The Crimson Tide took a 14–0 first quarter lead on a 12-yard Frank Moseley touchdown pass to
Dixie Howell and a two-yard James McDanal touchdown run.[13] With the lead, Alabama pulled their starters and played their second string for the second quarter. In the second, they took a 21–0 lead on a 21-yard Howard Chappell touchdown run.[13] In the second half, the Crimson Tide closed the game with a touchdown in each of the final two quarters. McDanal scored first on a short run followed by a 12-yard Chappell run for the 34–0 win.[13] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Oglethorpe to 2–0.[15]
In what was the first SEC game ever played by the Crimson Tide, Alabama and the
rivalOle MissRebels battled to a 0–0 tie at Legion Field.[14][16][17] Although Alabama outgained the Rebels in total offense 179 to 33 yards, seven
fumbles kept the Crimson Tide out of the end zone.[16] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Ole Miss 16–2–2.[18]
Against their
long-time rival, the
Mississippi StateMaroons, Alabama won their first all-time SEC game 18–0 at Denny Stadium.[14][19] In the game, Frank Moseley scored on a pair of touchdown runs with
Dixie Howell scoring the other in the third quarter on a seven-yard run in the victory.[19] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State 16–4–2.[20]
Against
rivalTennessee, Alabama defeated the
Volunteers, 12–6 at Shields–Watkins Field.[14][21] After a scoreless first quarter, the Volunteers took a 6–0 lead in the second when
Beattie Feathers scored on a touchdown run.[21] Down six at the half, a pair of second half touchdowns gave the Crimson Tide the 12–6 victory. Erskine Walker scored in the third on a 34-yard run and
Dixie Howell scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth on a four-yard run.[21] The loss was the first at home for Tennessee in the
Robert Neyland era.[21] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee 10–5–1.[22]
Before 60,000 fans at the
Polo Grounds in New York City, Alabama was defeated the
FordhamRams, 2–0.[14][23] The only points scored in the game came in the first quarter when Amerino Sarno blocked a
Dixie Howellpunt that Howell recovered in the endzone for a Fordham
safety.[23] The loss was Alabama's first intersectional loss since their 15–0 defeat against
Wisconsin in
1928, and brought Alabama's all-time record against Fordham 0–1.[23][24]
A week after their first loss of the season, Alabama defeated the
KentuckyWildcats 20–0 at Legion Field.[14][25] After a scoreless first quarter, the Crimson Tide took a 6–0 in the second after
Dixie Howell scored on a 55-yard touchdown run.[25] Alabama then closed the game with a five-yard Howell touchdown run in the third and a short Joe Demyanovich touchdown run in the fourth for the 20–0 win.[25] In the first quarter, Howell
punted the football 89-yards, which still stands as the Alabama record for longest punt.[26] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Kentucky 12–1.[27]
Against the Fighting Gobblers of VPI (now known as the
Virginia TechHokies), Alabama won 27–0 on
homecoming at Denny Field.[14][28] The Crimson Tide took a 6–0 first quarter lead after
Riley Smith scored on a five-yard touchdown run.[28] They extended their lead to 18–0 at halftime on touchdown runs of one-yard by Joe Demyanovich and ten-yards by James Angelich in the second quarter.[28] Alabama then closed the game with a 16-yard
Dixie Howell touchdown run and a tackle of the Gobblers' Ray Mills for a
safety in the third for the 27–0 win.[28] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against VPI 2–0.[29]
Against the
Georgia TechGolden Tornado, Alabama won 12–9 at Grant Field.[14][30] The Crimson Tide took a 6–0 lead in the first quarter on a
Dixie Howell touchdown run.[30] After a Howell
fumble resulted in a
safety in the second, Tech took a 9–6 lead in the third quarter when W. A. Davis scored on a one-yard touchdown run.[30] Howell then scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter on a short run.[30] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 7–10–2.[31]
In the season finale at
Vanderbilt, Alabama defeated the
Commodores 7–0 to capture the first SEC championship.[1][14][32] The only points of the game came on a short
Dixie Howell touchdown run in the second quarter.[32] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 6–8.[33]
"1933 Season Recap"(PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from
the original(PDF) on June 4, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
^DeLassus, David.
"Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from
the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
^"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.
^"All-Time Assistant Coaches". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 142–143.
The 1933 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the
University of Alabama in the
1933 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 40th overall and 1st season as a member of the
Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach
Frank Thomas, in his third year, and played their home games at
Denny Stadium in
Tuscaloosa and
Legion Field in
Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of seven wins, one loss and one tie (7–1–1 overall, 5–0–1 in the SEC), and as the first SEC champions.[1]
After opening the season with victory over
Oglethorpe, Alabama played
Ole Miss to a scoreless tie in their first ever SEC matchup. One week later, the Crimson Tide defeated
Mississippi State for their first ever SEC victory and followed that with their first ever SEC road victory with their win over
Tennessee at
Shields–Watkins Field. From
Knoxville, Alabama traveled to New York City where they lost their only game of the season against
Fordham in an intersectional matchup. Alabama rebounded with four consecutive victories to close the season as conference champions with wins over
Kentucky,
VPI (Virginia Tech) on
homecoming,
Georgia Tech and
Vanderbilt.
Although they played most of the game in a heavy rainstorm, Alabama opened the 1933 season with a 34–0 victory over
Oglethorpe at Denny Stadium.[13][14] The Crimson Tide took a 14–0 first quarter lead on a 12-yard Frank Moseley touchdown pass to
Dixie Howell and a two-yard James McDanal touchdown run.[13] With the lead, Alabama pulled their starters and played their second string for the second quarter. In the second, they took a 21–0 lead on a 21-yard Howard Chappell touchdown run.[13] In the second half, the Crimson Tide closed the game with a touchdown in each of the final two quarters. McDanal scored first on a short run followed by a 12-yard Chappell run for the 34–0 win.[13] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Oglethorpe to 2–0.[15]
In what was the first SEC game ever played by the Crimson Tide, Alabama and the
rivalOle MissRebels battled to a 0–0 tie at Legion Field.[14][16][17] Although Alabama outgained the Rebels in total offense 179 to 33 yards, seven
fumbles kept the Crimson Tide out of the end zone.[16] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Ole Miss 16–2–2.[18]
Against their
long-time rival, the
Mississippi StateMaroons, Alabama won their first all-time SEC game 18–0 at Denny Stadium.[14][19] In the game, Frank Moseley scored on a pair of touchdown runs with
Dixie Howell scoring the other in the third quarter on a seven-yard run in the victory.[19] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State 16–4–2.[20]
Against
rivalTennessee, Alabama defeated the
Volunteers, 12–6 at Shields–Watkins Field.[14][21] After a scoreless first quarter, the Volunteers took a 6–0 lead in the second when
Beattie Feathers scored on a touchdown run.[21] Down six at the half, a pair of second half touchdowns gave the Crimson Tide the 12–6 victory. Erskine Walker scored in the third on a 34-yard run and
Dixie Howell scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth on a four-yard run.[21] The loss was the first at home for Tennessee in the
Robert Neyland era.[21] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee 10–5–1.[22]
Before 60,000 fans at the
Polo Grounds in New York City, Alabama was defeated the
FordhamRams, 2–0.[14][23] The only points scored in the game came in the first quarter when Amerino Sarno blocked a
Dixie Howellpunt that Howell recovered in the endzone for a Fordham
safety.[23] The loss was Alabama's first intersectional loss since their 15–0 defeat against
Wisconsin in
1928, and brought Alabama's all-time record against Fordham 0–1.[23][24]
A week after their first loss of the season, Alabama defeated the
KentuckyWildcats 20–0 at Legion Field.[14][25] After a scoreless first quarter, the Crimson Tide took a 6–0 in the second after
Dixie Howell scored on a 55-yard touchdown run.[25] Alabama then closed the game with a five-yard Howell touchdown run in the third and a short Joe Demyanovich touchdown run in the fourth for the 20–0 win.[25] In the first quarter, Howell
punted the football 89-yards, which still stands as the Alabama record for longest punt.[26] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Kentucky 12–1.[27]
Against the Fighting Gobblers of VPI (now known as the
Virginia TechHokies), Alabama won 27–0 on
homecoming at Denny Field.[14][28] The Crimson Tide took a 6–0 first quarter lead after
Riley Smith scored on a five-yard touchdown run.[28] They extended their lead to 18–0 at halftime on touchdown runs of one-yard by Joe Demyanovich and ten-yards by James Angelich in the second quarter.[28] Alabama then closed the game with a 16-yard
Dixie Howell touchdown run and a tackle of the Gobblers' Ray Mills for a
safety in the third for the 27–0 win.[28] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against VPI 2–0.[29]
Against the
Georgia TechGolden Tornado, Alabama won 12–9 at Grant Field.[14][30] The Crimson Tide took a 6–0 lead in the first quarter on a
Dixie Howell touchdown run.[30] After a Howell
fumble resulted in a
safety in the second, Tech took a 9–6 lead in the third quarter when W. A. Davis scored on a one-yard touchdown run.[30] Howell then scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter on a short run.[30] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 7–10–2.[31]
In the season finale at
Vanderbilt, Alabama defeated the
Commodores 7–0 to capture the first SEC championship.[1][14][32] The only points of the game came on a short
Dixie Howell touchdown run in the second quarter.[32] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 6–8.[33]
"1933 Season Recap"(PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from
the original(PDF) on June 4, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
^DeLassus, David.
"Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from
the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
^"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.
^"All-Time Assistant Coaches". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 142–143.