1922 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

1922 Alabama Crimson Tide football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Record6–3–1 (3–2–1 SoCon)
Head coach
CaptainErnest Cooper
Home stadiumDenny Field
Rickwood Field
Cramton Bowl
Seasons
← 1921
1923 →
1922 Southern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
North Carolina + 5 – 0 – 0 9 – 1 – 0
Georgia Tech + 4 – 0 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Vanderbilt * + 3 – 0 – 0 8 – 0 – 1
VPI 3 – 0 – 0 8 – 1 – 1
Florida 2 – 0 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Auburn 2 – 1 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
Tennessee 3 – 2 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
Alabama 3 – 2 – 1 6 – 3 – 1
Virginia 1 – 1 – 1 4 – 4 – 1
Mississippi A&M 2 – 3 – 0 3 – 4 – 2
Kentucky 1 – 2 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Clemson 1 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Washington and Lee 1 – 2 – 0 5 – 3 – 1
Maryland 1 – 2 – 0 4 – 5 – 1
LSU 1 – 2 – 0 3 – 7 – 0
Georgia 1 – 3 – 1 5 – 4 – 1
Tulane 1 – 4 – 0 4 – 4 – 0
South Carolina 0 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Ole Miss 0 – 2 – 0 4 – 5 – 1
NC State 0 – 5 – 0 4 – 6 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • * – co-member of SIAA

The 1922 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1922 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 29th overall and first season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). The team was led by head coach Xen C. Scott, in his fourth year, and played their home games at Denny Field in Tuscaloosa, Rickwood Field in Birmingham and the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of six wins, three losses and one tie (6–3–1 overall, 3–2–1 in the SoCon).

Alabama opened the season with a 110–0 victory over the Marion, which still stands as the school record for largest margin of victory and as the Crimson Tide's only 100 point game. After a victory over Oglethorpe, Alabama went winless over their next three games with losses at both Georgia Tech and Texas and a tie against Sewanee at Rickwood Field. With a record of 2–2–1, Alabama entered an intersectional contest against undefeated Penn as a major underdog. Alabama managed to upset the Quakers 9–7 in a game The Plain Dealer called "intersectional history".[1] The Crimson Tide then completed their season with a homecoming win over LSU, a loss at Kentucky, a win over Georgia in Alabama's first game at the Cramton Bowl and a win over Mississippi A&M to close the season.

Before the season

[edit]

Scott coached the 1922 season while dying of oral cancer, and he spent the whole season suffering from the effects of his illness, losing weight, barely able to speak, coaching against the advice of a doctor who told him to quit immediately, and bedridden except when attending practices and games.[2]

The 1922 season also marked the first for the Crimson Tide as a member of the SoCon, as Alabama was one of the twenty members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association that left the Association to form the SoCon following the 1921 season.[3]

Schedule

[edit]
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 30Marion*
W 110–0[4]
October 7Oglethorpe*
  • Denny Field
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
W 41–03,000[5]
October 14at Georgia Tech
L 7–33[6]
October 21Sewanee
T 7–7[7]
October 28at Texas*
L 10–19[8]
November 4at Penn*
W 9–725,000[9]
November 10LSUdagger
  • Denny Field
  • Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)
W 47–37,500[10]
November 18at Kentucky
L 0–6[11]
November 25Georgia
W 10–610,000[12]
November 30Mississippi A&M
W 59–0[13]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

[14]

Game summaries

[edit]

Marion Military Institute

[edit]
Marion at Alabama
1 234Total
Marion 0 000 0
• Alabama 20 352827 110
  • Date: September 30
  • Location: Denny Field
    Tuscaloosa, AL

To open the season, Alabama played the Marion Military Institute at Tuscaloosa, and defeated the Cadets 110–0 in what was the most lopsided victory in the history of the Crimson Tide football program.[16][17] Against Marion, Alabama shutout the Cadets 55–0 at Tuscaloosa for their third consecutive win to open the season.[18][16] Touchdowns were scored four times by Max Rosenfeld, twice by William C. Baty and once each by Al Clemens and Virgil Hawkins.[16] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Marion to 8–0.[19]

Oglethorpe

[edit]
Oglethorpe at Alabama
1 234Total
Oglethorpe 0 000 0
• Alabama 7 71314 41
  • Date: October 7
  • Location: Denny Field
    Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Game attendance: 3,000

After their record setting victory over Marion to open the season, Alabama prepared for an Oglethorpe squad that nearly upset Georgia Tech in their opening game.[21] In what was the first all-time meeting against the Petrels, Alabama won 41–0 before 3,000 fans at Tuscaloosa.[18][20][22] In the game, Charles Bartlett starred for Alabama as he scored five of their six touchdowns in the victory. Bartlett scored touchdowns on a 26-yard run in the first, a 15-yard reception from Hulet Whitaker in the second, and on a pair of runs in the third and one in the fourth.[20] Graham McClintock scored the final touchdown of the game with his short run in the fourth and made the score 41–0.[20]

After the Oglethorpe game Scott tendered his resignation, effective at the end of the season.[2]

Georgia Tech

[edit]
Alabama at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
Alabama 0 700 7
• Ga. Tech 13 2000 33
  • Date: October 14
  • Location: Grant Field
    Atlanta, GA

In what was their first road game of the season, Alabama was defeated by the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado 33–7 at Atlanta.[18][23] All of the scoring in the game occurred in the first half and the Yellow Jackets took a 33–0 lead en route to the win. Georgia Tech scored on first quarter runs of six-yards by Jack McDonough and eight-yards by Red Barron; in the second quarter they scored on runs by Alexander Hunt and Barron.[23] The Yellow Jackets then scored their final touchdown on a 20-yard McDonough pass to Hunt late in the second quarter.[23] Alabama responded with their only points just prior to halftime when Country Oliver returned a McDonough kickoff 95-yards for a touchdown.[23] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 2–7–1.[24]

Sewanee

[edit]
Sewanee at Alabama
1 234Total
Sewanee 0 070 7
Alabama 0 700 7
  • Date: October 21
  • Location: Rickwood Field
    Birmingham, AL

In the first Rickwood Field game of the season, Alabama tied the Sewanee Tigers 7–7 for their lone tie of the season.[18][25] After a scoreless first quarter, the Crimson Tide took a 7–0 lead after Charles Bartlett threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Allen MacCartee in the second.[25] Sewanee responded in the third when Bill Coughlan intercepted a Bartlett pass and returned it 70-yards and tied the game 7–7.[25] Although they outplayed the Tigers throughout the game, Alabama was unable to win due to their numerous turnovers made throughout the contest.[18] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Sewanee to 4–10–3.[26]

Texas

[edit]
Alabama at Texas
1 234Total
Alabama 7 030 10
• Texas 13 330 19
  • Date: October 28
  • Location: Clark Field
    Austin, TX

In their second road game of the season, Alabama was defeated by the Texas Longhorns 19–10 at Clark Field in Austin.[18][27][28] Alabama took an early 7–0 lead in the first two minutes of the game after Charles Bartlett threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to William Baty. Texas responded with a pair of touchdowns later in the quarter for a 13–7 lead. The first came on an Ivan Robertson pass to George Gardere and the second on a Yancy Culp run.[27][28] A Robertson field goal in the second quarter extended the Longhorns lead to 16–7 at halftime.[27][28]

After a 31-yard Robertson field goal in the third extended the Texas lead, Alabama scored the final points of the game on a short L. O. Wesley field goal later in the quarter and made the final score 19–10.[27][28] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Texas to 0–3.[29]

Penn

[edit]
Main article: 1922 Alabama vs. Penn football game
Alabama at Penn
1 234Total
• Alabama 0 360 9
Penn 0 700 7
  • Date: November 4
  • Location: Franklin Field
    Philadelphia, PA
  • Game attendance: 25,000

Alabama entered their intersectional contest against undefeated Penn, coached by John Heisman, with noted sports columnist Grantland Rice having predicted a 21–0 Quaker victory.[32] Although the entered as an underdog, The Philadelphia Inquirer noted the Crimson Tide as a veteran squad that had not reached their full potential and expected them to plat Penn tough.[33] Before 25,000 fans at Franklin Field, Alabama upset the Quakers 9–7 in what was later recognized as one of the Crimson Tide's most significant victories in the history of the program.[30][31][34]

After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama took a 3–0 lead after L. O. Wesley connected on a 34-yard field goal. G. H. Sullivan responded later in the quarter with his 35-yard touchdown run that gave the Quakers a 7–3 halftime lead.[30][31] In the third quarter the Crimson Tide took the lead after Pooley Hubert fumbled on third and goal and teammate Clyde Propst recovered the ball for a touchdown. The extra point failed, but Alabama took a 9–7 lead.[30][31] Twice in the fourth quarter Alabama missed field goals, leaving Penn with a chance to win late. The Quakers drove to the Alabama 30 in the final moments but on fourth down Alabama came up with a sack to clinch a 9–7 victory.[30][31]

The starting lineup was: Newton (left end), Hovater (left tackle), Wesley (left guard), Probst (center), Compton (right guard), Cooper (right tackle), Clemens (right end), Bartlett (quarterback), Baty (left halfback), Oliver (right halfback), and Hubert (fullback).[35]

LSU

[edit]
LSU at Alabama
1 234Total
LSU 0 300 3
• Alabama 0 27146 47
  • Date: November 10
  • Location: Denny Stadium
    Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Game attendance: 7,500

On the Friday after their upset victory at Philadelphia, Alabama returned to Tuscaloosa and before the then largest crowd in the history of Denny Field on homecoming and defeated LSU 47–3.[36][37] After a scoreless first quarter, Bartlett scored on a ten-yard run for a 7–0 Crimson Tide lead. Allen Graham MacCartee then extended their lead to 13–0 with his short touchdown run, and the Tigers responded with their lone points of the game on a 28-yard Roland Kizer drop kick. Alabama then extended their lead to 27–3 at halftime behind a five-yard Hulet Whitaker run and short Bartlett pass to Al Clemens.[36][37]

Early in the third, a Graham McClintock fumble gave LSU possession deep in Crimson Tide territory. On the play that ensued, Pooley Hubert intercepted a Kizer pass and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown.[36] A five-yard Bartlett touchdown run later in the quarter extended the Alabama lead to 41–3 as they entered the fourth.[36][37] Playing almost exclusively reserves in the final period, Bartlett made the final score 47–3 with his five-yard touchdown run.[36][37] The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against LSU to 6–3–1.[38]

Kentucky

[edit]
Alabama at Kentucky
1 234Total
Alabama 0 000 0
• Kentucky 0 060 6
  • Date: November 18
  • Location: Stoll Field
    Lexington, KY

In rain soaked conditions on a soggy field, Alabama was defeated 6–0 by Kentucky at Lexington.[39][40] The Wildcats scored the only points of the game in the third quarter on a six-yard Bruce Fuller touchdown run.[39][40] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Kentucky to 1–1.[41]

Georgia

[edit]
Charles Bartlett running around end against the Bulldogs.
Georgia at Alabama
1 234Total
Georgia 6 000 6
• Alabama 0 730 10
  • Date: November 25
  • Location: Cramton Bowl
    Montgomery, AL
  • Game attendance: 10,000

Playing their first all-time game at the Cramton Bowl, the Crimson Tide overcame an early 6–0 deficit and defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 10–6.[42][43] The Bulldogs scored first after John Fletcher recovered an Allen Graham MacCartee fumble and returned it 96-yards for a touchdown.[42][43]

Alabama responded with a short Charles Bartlett touchdown run in the second and with a 20-yard Bartlett field goal in the third for the 10–6 win.[42][43] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 5–9–3.[44]

Mississippi A&M

[edit]
Mississippi A&M at Alabama
1 234Total
Mississippi A&M 0 000 0
• Alabama 29 9714 59
  • Date: November 30
  • Location: Rickwood Field
    Birmingham, AL

In their final game of the season, Alabama defeated the Mississippi A&M (now known as Mississippi State University) Aggies 59–0 at Rickwood Field.[18] The Crimson Tide scored in all four quarters of the contest and touchdowns were scored by Charles Bartlett, Pooley Hubert, Hulet Whitaker, Allen Graham MacCartee, Al Clemens and Tom Newton.[18] The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi A&M to 9–4–2.[45]

Postseason

[edit]

Scott died in April 1924 at age 41.[46] The Tide hired Vanderbilt assistant Wallace Wade.

Alabama averaged the most points per game of any team in the SoCon.[47] Bartlett was selected for the All-Southern team of Marvin McCarthy, sporting editor for the Birmingham Age-Herald,[48] and given honorable mention on the All-America team of Walter Camp.[49]

Personnel

[edit]

Varsity letter winners

[edit]

Line

[edit]
Player Hometown Position Games
started 		Prep school Height Weight Age
Al Clemens Scottsboro, Alabama End 24
Ernest Cooper St. Stephens, Alabama Tackle
Elmer Wilbur Dany Cleveland, Ohio End
Clayton H. Hudson Montgomery, Alabama End
Ben Hunt Scottsboro, Alabama Guard
William Milner Kelly Birmingham, Alabama End
Jack Langhorne Uniontown, Alabama Tackle
Graham McClintock Laurel, Mississippi End/Back
Tom Newton Birmingham, Alabama End
Clyde "Shorty" Propst Ohatchee, Alabama Center
L. O. Wesley Guin, Alabama Guard

Backfield

[edit]
Player Hometown Position Games
started 		Prep school Height Weight Age
Charles Bartlett Marlin, Texas Halfback/Quarterback
William C. Baty Bessemer, Alabama Halfback
J. H. Emmett Albertville, Alabama Halfback
Robert Poole Hinton Uniontown, Alabama Back
Allison "Pooley" Hubert Meridian, Mississippi Fullback Meridian High 21
Allen Graham MacCartee Washington, D.C. Halfback
W. S. "Country" Oliver Panola, Alabama Back/Tackle

[50]

Other

[edit]
Name Hometown Position
Berney Perry Manager

Coaching staff

[edit]
Name Position Seasons at
Alabama 		Alma Mater
Xen C. Scott Head coach 4
Hank Crisp Assistant coach 2 VPI (1920)
William T. Van de Graaff Assistant coach 2 Alabama (1916)

[51]

References

[edit]

General

  • Kordic, Gregory (2007). A Damn Good Yankee: Xen Scott and the Rise of the Crimson Tide. Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1-4259-6018-6. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  • "1922 Season Recap" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  • 2013 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Media Guide (PDF). Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014.

Specific

  1. ^ Kordic, p. 9
  2. ^ a b Kordic, p. 5
  3. ^ "The History of the Southern Conference". Southern Conference. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  4. ^ "Alabama Crimson Tide downs Marion Cadets by overwhelming score". The Tuscaloosa News. October 1, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Alabama crushes Oglethorpe 41–0". The Birmingham News. October 8, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Tech victorious over Alabama". The Birmingham News. October 15, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Sewanee ties Alabama, 7 to 7, in desperately-fought battle". Nashville Banner. October 22, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Longhorns wallop Alabama 19 to 10 in atonement vor Vandy slip". The Austin American. October 29, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Penn beaten by Alabama in grid upset". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 5, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Alabama has easy time with L.S.U. Tigers". The Birmingham News. November 11, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Kentucky University overcome conquerors of Penn eleven". The Courier-Journal. November 19, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Bama earns clean cut victory over Georgia". The Birmingham News. November 26, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b "Alabama swamps A&M". The Birmingham News. December 1, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "1922 Football Schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  15. ^ "Alabama rolls up huge score against Cadets". The Birmingham News. October 1, 1922. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b c Goodson, Mike (January 3, 2010). "Bama has opportunity to change history". The Gadsden Times. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  17. ^ "Highest/Lowest Scoring Games". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. p. 36.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h 1922 Season Recap
  19. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Marion Military Institute (AL)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  20. ^ a b c d "University eleven humbles Oglethorpe Petrels before audience of three thousand". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 8, 1922. p. 6.
  21. ^ "University plays crack Oglethorpe team next Saturday". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 3, 1922. p. 6.
  22. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Oglethorpe (GA)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  23. ^ a b c d e "Tech defeats Alabama team". The Macon Daily-Telegraph. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 15, 1922. p. 6.
  24. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia Tech". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  25. ^ a b c d "Bill Coughlan's brilliant playing enables Sewanee to hold Alabamaians to 7–7 tie". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 22, 1922. p. 6.
  26. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Sewanee (TN)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  27. ^ a b c d e "Texas aggregation wins over Alabama in tough struggle". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. Associated Press. October 29, 1922. p. 6.
  28. ^ a b c d e "Texas beats Alabamaians in struggle". The Times-Picayune. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 29, 1922. p. 11.
  29. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Texas". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  30. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Perry (November 5, 1922). "Alabama humbles Penn grid forces in season's upset". The Philadelphia Inquirer. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. Associated Press. p. B19.
  31. ^ a b c d e "Alabama eleven gives "Pennsy" her first defeat of season". The Macon Daily Telegraph. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 5, 1922.
  32. ^ Kordic pp.1–9
  33. ^ "Alabama faces Penn with a veteran team". The Philadelphia Inquirer. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 30, 1922. p. 10.
  34. ^ Ball, Marie (December 31, 1978). "Bama football story began in 1892". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 2C. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  35. ^ "Pennsy Beaten By Alabama In Spirited Game". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. November 5, 1922. Retrieved April 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  36. ^ a b c d e f "Crimson Tide sweeps over Louisiana State Tigers in grid clash". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 11, 1922. p. 5.
  37. ^ a b c d e "'Bama is held by Tigers for one period and then smashes way to victory". The New Orleans Item. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 11, 1922. p. 10.
  38. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs LSU". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  39. ^ a b c "University of Alabama loses hard fought game to Kentucky Wildcats". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 19, 1922. p. 6.
  40. ^ a b c "Wildcats defeat Alabama, 6 to 0". The Lexington Herald. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 19, 1922. p. 1.
  41. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Kentucky". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  42. ^ a b c d "Alabama upsets all dope: Defeats Bulldogs from Georgia". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 26, 1922. p. 1.
  43. ^ a b c d "Alabama Crimson triumphs over Red and Black 10–6". The Augusta Chronicle. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 26, 1922. p. 2.
  44. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  45. ^ DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Mississippi State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  46. ^ Kordic, p. 169
  47. ^ "1922 Southern Conference Year Summary".
  48. ^ "Teams Selected By Various Scribes". Atlanta Constitution. December 3, 1922. p. 5. Retrieved March 7, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  49. ^ "Camp's All America Stars Show Why They Are Winners; Have Brains, Power, Spirit". Harrisburg Telegraph. December 26, 1922. p. 15. Retrieved March 8, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  50. ^ "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.
  51. ^ "All-Time Assistant Coaches". 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. pp. 142–143.
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