To open the 1941 season, Alabama defeated the Southwestern Louisiana Institute Bulldogs (now known as the Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns) 47–6 at Denny Stadium.[4][5] Alabama took a 13–0 first quarter lead after touchdowns were scored on a short Paul Spencer run and on a 9-yard Jimmy Nelson run.[4] The Bulldogs then responded early in the second quarter with their only points on an 11-yard Bobby Voitier touchdown pass to William Bernhard. The Crimson Tide then played their second line and Don Salls scored their third touchdown of the afternoon on a 6-yard run to give Alabama a 20–6 halftime lead.[4] In the second half, Louisiana was shut out and the Crimson Tide added two touchdowns in each of the final two quarters for the 47–6 win. Third-quarter touchdowns were scored by Dave Brown on a 6-yard run and by Spencer on a 7-yard run; fourth-quarter touchdowns were scored after Wheeler Leeth blocked a Bulldogs punt that was returned 15-yards by Joe Chorba and on a short Louie Scales run.[4] The victory was Alabama's first against the Bulldogs and also marked the return of former Crimson Tide All-AmericanJohnny Cain to Tuscaloosa as head coach of Southwestern Louisiana.[6][7]
In the first conference game of the season, Alabama was shut out 14–0 by the Mississippi StateMaroons on homecoming at Denny Stadium for the second consecutive year.[5][8] After a scoreless first half, the Maroons scored a touchdown in each of the final two quarters. Touchdowns were scored on a 19-yard Bill Murphy pass to Robert Patterson in the third and on a short Bruce run in the fourth.[8] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State to 19–7–2.[9]
In the first Legion Field game of the season, Alabama defeated Howard (now Samford University) 61–0.[5][10] The Crimson Tide took a 13–0 halftime lead after touchdowns were scored on a 1-yard Don Salls run in the first and on an 8-yard reverse by Dave Brown in the second.[10] Alabama extended their lead further to 27–0 in the third with touchdowns by Jimmy Nelson on a 95-yard kickoff return and then on a 13-yard run.[10] The Crimson Tide then closed the game with five fourth-quarter touchdowns for the 61–0 win. Touchdowns in the fourth were scored by Carl Mims on runs of 26, 6 and 18-yards, Ted McKosky on a 37-yard run and on a Ted Cook touchdown reception.[10] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Howard to 19–0–1.[11]
At Knoxville, Alabama defeated rivalTennessee 9–2 to end a three-game losing streak against the Volunteers.[5][12] Alabama scored all of their points in the first half for a 9–0 lead on a 21-yard George Hecht field goal in the first and on a 2-yard Don Salls touchdown run in the second.[12] Tennessee scored their only points in the third quarter on a safety to prevent a shutout.[12]Jimmy Nelson starred on defense with his three interceptions during the game.[12] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 14–8–2.[13]
At Legion Field, Alabama defeated the GeorgiaBulldogs 27–14 in what was their first meeting since the 1935 season.[5][14] The Crimson Tide took a 13–0 first quarter lead on a Jimmy Nelson touchdown pass to Holt Rast and on a 1-yard Nelson run.[14] The Bulldogs responded in the first two minutes of the second quarter with a Heyward Allen to Lamar Davis touchdown pass. However, Alabama responded to make the halftime lead 20–7 after Paul Spencer scored on a 1-yard run late in the second quarter.[14] Alabama then scored their final points late in the third when Nelson intercepted a Frank Sinkwich pass and returned it 54 yards for a 27–7 lead.[14] A late Allen to Jerry Nunnally touchdown pass made the final score 27–14.[14] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 14–11–3.[15]
After their victory over Georgia, Alabama entered the polls for the first time of the season at the No. 15 position.[17] On what was homecoming in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide shutout Kentucky 30–0, and scored at least one touchdown in all four quarters.[5][16] First half touchdowns were scored by Jimmy Nelson on a 20-yard run in the first and on a 22-yard pass from Russ Mosley to George Weeks in the second.[16] Second half touchdowns were scored on a Nelson to Holt Rast reception in the third and on both a 25-yard Howard Hughes to Carl Mims pass and on a 23-yard Frank Martin run.[16] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Kentucky 19–1–1.[18]
The Crimson Tide defeated the Green Wave 19–14 with a fourth-quarter touchdown to take the lead before a crowd of 50,000 at Tulane Stadium.[5][19] Alabama scored first when Jimmy Nelson took a Bob Glass punt and then handed it to Dave Brown who returned it 60 yards for a touchdown.[19] Tulane then took a 7–6 lead later in the first on a 25-yard Lou Thomas touchdown pass to Gordon English, and extended it to 14–6 at halftime when Thomas threw his second touchdown of the afternoon to Bob Grush.[19] Alabama responded in the third with a 3-yard Nelson to Holt Rast touchdown pass and with the game-winning points on a 2-yard Don Salls touchdown run in the fourth.[19] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tulane to 14–4–1.[20]
Prior to their final home game of the season against Georgia Tech, Alabama moved up from the No. 13 position to the No. 9 position in the AP Poll.[22] Against the Yellow Jackets, the Crimson Tide won with a 20–0 shutout at Legion Field.[5][21] After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama scored one touchdown in each of the three remaining quarters in the victory. Howard Hughes scored in the second on a 2-yard run, Jimmy Nelson scored on a 68-yard punt return in the third and Nelson threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Russ Craft in the fourth.[21] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 13–11–3.[23]
After their victory over Georgia Tech, Alabama moved up two spots to the No. 7 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Vanderbilt.[25] In their game against the Commodores, Alabama lost 7–0 in rainy and muddy conditions on the road at Dudley Field.[5][24] The only points of the game came in the third quarter when Art Rebrovich threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jack Jenkins.[24] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 13–10.[26]
After their loss to Vanderbilt, Alabama moved down eleven spots to the No. 18 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Miami.[28] In their game against the Hurricanes on a Friday evening, Alabama won 21–7 in what was the first all-time meeting between the schools.[5][27][29] After an 85-yard punt return by Jimmy Nelson brought the ball to the Miami 5-yard line, Russ Craft scored on a 5-yard reverse for a 7–0 Alabama lead.[27] Howard Plasman tied the game at 7–7 on the ensuing possession with his 2-yard touchdown run.[27] The Crimson Tide retook the lead in the second on a 28-yard Dave Brown touchdown run and then scored again in the third quarter on a Nelson run for the 21–7 victory.[27]
In the 1942 Cotton Bowl Classic against Texas A&M, Alabama was outgained 309 yards to 75 and earned just one official first down, but were able to win the game 29–21.[30] In the game, Alabama's defense forced 12 turnovers (seven interceptions and five fumbles). The Crimson Tide scored a touchdown on a 72-yard punt return, a 12-yard interception return, scored two touchdowns after recovering A&M fumbles on the A&M 21 and 24-yard lines and kicked a field goal after they intercepted a pass on the Texas A&M 17.[30]
In the 1980s, Alabama claimed the 1941 championship as one of its claimed/recognized national championships.[1][31] As such, Alabama claims a share of the 1941 national championship, with Minnesota, due to each school being selected national champion by at least one selector.[1] Specifically, Alabama was selected national champion in 1941 by the Houlgate System.[1][31] The Houlgate System was a mathematical ranking system devised by Dale Houlgate that was syndicated in newspapers between 1927 and 1958 to determine the national champion[32] and is recognized by the NCAA as a "major selector" of national championships. Alabama lost 2 games and finished 3rd in the SEC below Tennessee and conference champion Mississippi State (8-1) who defeated Alabama 14-0 that season.
"1941 Season Recap"(PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original(PDF) on April 25, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
Specific
^ abcdNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). "National Poll Champions"(PDF). 2011 NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA.org. p. 73. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
^"1941 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on November 25, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
^National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). "Poll systems history"(PDF). 2011 NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA.org. p. 71. Retrieved June 9, 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.
