To open the 1949 season, Alabama traveled to Mobile and were defeated 28–14 by the TulaneGreen Wave to open the second consecutive season with a loss.[2][3] After a scoreless first quarter, Tulane took a 7–0 halftime lead after George Kinek scored on a four-yard touchdown run.[2] The Greenies extended their lead further in the third quarter to 14–0 when Eddie Price scored on an 11-yard run.[2] In the fourth quarter, Bill Svoboda scored a pair of touchdowns on a one-yard run and on an 85-yard kickoff return for Tulane. Alabama scored both of their touchdowns on a pair of passes; the first on a 78-yard pass from Ed Salem to Bill Abston and the second on a 23-yard Butch Avinger pass to Tom Calvin to make the final score 28–14.[2][3] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Tulane to 15–7–1.[4]
The Crimson Tide lost for the second consecutive week against the VanderbiltCommodores by a final score of 14–7 at Dudley Field.[3][5] After a scoreless first quarter, both teams scored second-quarter touchdowns in a span of just one minute to make the halftime score 7–7. The Commodores scored first on a 29-yard Dean Davidson run and the Crimson Tide responded with a nine-yard Ed Salem pass to Tom Calvin.[5] Joe Hicks then scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run.[5] Alabama then drove to the Vandy 12-yard line late in the fourth when a fourth down pass went incomplete to preserve the Commodores victory.[5] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 16–12–1.[6]
In their first Tuscaloosa game of the season, Alabama defeated the DuquesneDukes, for the third consecutive season, by a final score of 48–8 on a Friday evening.[3][7] The Crimson Tide opened the scoring with three first-quarter touchdowns on a 36-yard Tom Calvin run, a 61-yard James Melton run and on a 20-yard Butch Avinger pass to Al Lary for a 20–0 lead.[7][8] In the second quarter, Alabama scored first on a one-yard Ralph Cochran run, and then the Dukes responded with their only touchdown of the game on a three-yard Chuck Rapp run to make the score 27–6.[7][8] The Crimson Tide then scored on the kickoff that ensued when a 101-yard Jim Burkett return made the halftime score 34–6.[7][8]
Alabama then closed the scoring for the evening with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns. The first came on a 76-yard J. D. Roddam run and the second on a 22-yard Lary run to make the score 48–6.[7][8] The Dukes then scored the final points of the game in the fourth quarter when Frank Yacina tackled George McCain for a safety to make the final score 48–8.[7][8] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Duquesne to 3–0.[9]
Alabama played the rival TennesseeVolunteers to a 7–7 tie at Legion Field in a driving rainstorm.[3][10] The only points of the game came on a pair of one-yard touchdown runs in the first half. Bernie Sizemore scored for the Volunteers in the first quarter and James Melton scored for the Crimson Tide in the second quarter.[10] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 17–10–4.[11]
On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide scored touchdowns in all four quarters and defeated the Mississippi StateMaroons 35–6 at Denny Stadium.[3][12] Lionel W. Noonan scored the initial Alabama touchdown on a two-yard run in the first. In the second, Ed Salem scored on a three-yard run and later threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Al Lary for a 21–0 halftime lead.[12] The Crimson Tide further extended their lead with touchdown runs of three-yards by J. D. Roddam in the third and of two-yards by Jim Burkett in the fourth to make the score 35–0.[12] The Maroons then ended the shutout attempt with just 0:02 remaining in the game when Max Stainbrook returned an interception 60-yards for a touchdown as time expired to make the final score 35–6.[12] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State to 25–7–2.[13]
One year after Georgia gave the Crimson Tide their worst defeat since the 1910 season, Alabama upset the Bulldogs 14–7 on homecoming in Athens.[3][14] In the second quarter, Alabama scored on a one-yard Butch Avinger run and Georgia on a five-yard Floyd Reid run for a halftime score of 7–7.[14] After a scoreless third, the Crimson Tide scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 25-yard Ed Salem pass to James Melton.[14] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 17–15–3.[15]
Before 43,000 fans at Legion Field, Alabama defeated the Georgia TechYellow Jackets 20–7 for their third conference victory of the season.[3][16] After a scoreless first quarter, the Yellow Jackets took a 7–0 halftime lead when George Humphreys threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Charles Harvin late in the second.[16] Alabama then took the lead with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns scored by Ed Salem on a five-yard run and on a 25-yard Butch Avinger pass to Al Lary.[16] Salem then made the final score 20–7 late in the fourth with his three-yard touchdown run for the Crimson Tide.[16] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 16–12–3.[17]
Although the Golden Eagles scored 26 fourth quarter points, Alabama defeated Mississippi Southern at Denny Stadium 34–26.[3][18] The Crimson Tide opened the scoring with a pair of first-quarter touchdown passes from Ed Salem to Ed White for a 14–0 lead.[18] In the second quarter, Butch Avinger scored touchdowns on a quarterback sneak and on his five-yard pass to Al Lary for a 27–0 halftime lead.[18] Before Southern scored their 26 fourth quarter points, Bob Cochran threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Charley Davis to give Alabama a 34–0 lead as they entered the fourth.[18] In the fourth quarter Southern touchdowns were scored by Morris Brown on a four-yard run, a 95-yard Bobby Holmes punt return, a 43-yard Brown run and then on a second Holmes punt return for 85-yards.[18] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi Southern to 3–0.[19]
In their final road game of the season, Alabama defeated the FloridaGators 35–13 for their fifth consecutive win on the season.[3][20] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Florida to 7–3.[21]
In the second meeting since the renewal of the series, Alabama was upset by Auburn 14–13 at Legion Field.[3][22][23] After a scoreless first, Auburn took a 7–0 lead in the second quarter when Johnny Wallis intercepted an Ed Salem pass and returned it 19-yards for the touchdown.[22][23] Alabama responded with just seconds remaining in the half with a 13-yard Salem touchdown run to tie the game 7–7 at halftime.[22][23] The Tigers retook the lead early in the fourth on a ten-yard George Davis run.[22][23] The Crimson Tide responded with a three-yard Tom Calvin touchdown run with just under two minutes left in the game. However, Salem missed the extra point to give Auburn the 14–13 victory.[22][23] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Auburn to 5–8–1.[24]
"1949 Season Recaps"(PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original(PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
Specific
↑"1949 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on November 25, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
↑DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
↑DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Georgia Tech". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
↑ 23.023.123.223.323.423.5Griffin, John Chandler (2001). "1949: Yes, sports fans, miracles still happen". Alabama vs. Auburn: Gridiron Grudge Since 1893. Athens, Georgia: Hill Street Press. pp. 130–132. ISBN1-58818-044-1.
↑DeLassus, David. "Alabama vs Auburn". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 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.
