1896 Alabama Crimson White football team

1896 Alabama Crimson White football
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record2–1 (1–1 SIAA)
Head coach
CaptainT. W. Powers
Home stadiumThe Quad
Seasons
← 1895
1897 →
1896 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
LSU + 3 – 0 – 0 6 – 0 – 0
Georgia + 2 – 0 – 0 4 – 0 – 0
Vanderbilt 2 – 0 – 2 3 – 2 – 2
Auburn 3 – 1 – 0 3 – 1 – 0
Texas 1 – 1 – 0 4 – 2 – 1
Alabama 1 – 1 – 0 2 – 1 – 0
Kentucky State College 1 – 1 – 0 3 – 6 – 0
Sewanee 3 – 3 – 0 3 – 3 – 0
Tennessee 0 – 0 – 0 4 – 0 – 0
Tulane 1 – 2 – 0 3 – 2 – 0
Nashville 0 – 1 – 1 0 – 1 – 1
Mercer 0 – 2 – 1 0 – 2 – 1
Central (KY) 0 – 2 – 1 0 – 3 – 1
Mississippi A&M 0 – 2 – 0 0 – 4 – 0
SW Presbyterian 0 – 2 – 0 0 – 3 – 0
Cumberland (TN)   –     –  
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1896 Alabama Crimson White football team[A 1] (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1896 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. The team was led by head coach Otto Wagonhurst, in his first season, and played their home games at The Quad in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In what was the fifth season of Alabama football, the team finished with a record of two wins and one loss (2–1, 1–1 SIAA).

In spring 1895, the university Board of Trustees passed a rule that prohibited athletic teams from competing off-campus for athletic events.[3] As such, all games scheduled for the 1896 season were played on campus at The Quad.[3] In their first game, Alabama shutout the Birmingham Athletic Club before they lost their only game of the season against Sewanee. The Crimson White then closed the season with their second shutout victory of the year against Mississippi A&M.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
October 24Birmingham Athletic Club*
W 30–0[4]
October 31Sewanee
  • The Quad
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
L 6–10[5]
November 14Mississippi A&M
W 20–0[6]
  • *Non-conference game

[7][A 2]

Game summaries

Otto Wagonhurst in his college players uniform.
Head coach Otto Wagonhurst entered his only year as Alabama's head coach for the 1896 season.

Birmingham Athletic Club

In the first game played against the Birmingham Athletic Club (B.A.C.) since the 1893 season, Alabama defeated the Athletics 30–0 in Tuscaloosa.[9] Alabama scored their first touchdown early in the first half when a B.A.C. fumble was recovered and returned 50-yards for a touchdown.[9] They scored four more touchdowns and made five successful PAT's in their 30–0 shutout victory.[9] In what was the final all-time contest against the Athletics, the victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Birmingham Athletic Club to 2–3.[10]

Sewanee

Against Sewanee, Alabama lost their first game of the season, 10–6.[9] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Sewanee to 1–2.[11]

Mississippi A&M

In their final game of the season, Alabama defeated the Mississippi A&M Aggies, 20–0, at Tuscaloosa in the first all-time meeting between the long-time rivals.[9] Alabama took a 12–0 halftime lead after Putnam and Frank White scored touchdowns with A. B. McEachin converting both PAT's.[9] In the second half Samuel Slone scored on a 45-yard touchdown run and the Aggies quarterback was sacked for a safety on the last play of the game to make the final score 20–0.[9]

Players

Alabama Crimson White 1896 roster[9]

Guards

  • T. C. Marriott
  • W. Ward

Tackles

  • D. B. Adams
  • S. P. Johnson
  • J. S. Powers
  • W. B. Putnam
 Center
  • A. B. McEachin

Ends

Backs
  • Hill Ferguson
  • W. R. Shafer
  • Samuel Slone
  • Frank White

Quarterback

  • Borden Burr
 Substitutes
  • R. E. Austill
  • W. C. Harkins
  • J. B. Killebrew
  • J. T. Weatherford
  • E. P. Wilson
  • L. B. Windham

Staff

Notes

  1. ^ Alabama football teams were not referred to as the "Crimson Tide" until the 1907 season. Prior to 1907, the team was called the "Crimson White" from 1893 to 1906 and the "Cadets" in 1892.[1][2]
  2. ^ For the 1896 season, point values were different from those used in contemporary games. In 1896 a touchdown was worth four points, a field goal was worth five points and an extra point (PAT) was worth two points.[8]

References

  1. ^ "How the Crimson Tide got its name". bryantmuseum.ua.edu. Paul W. Bryant Museum. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  2. ^ Kennedy, Scott (April 8, 1992). "Tide football tradition began with 1892 team". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 2F. Retrieved June 30, 2013 – via Google News Archives.
  3. ^ a b Griffin, John Chandler (2001). "1896: Trustees Thwart Alabama". Alabama vs. Auburn: Gridiron Grudge Since 1893. Athens, Georgia: Hill Street Press. p. 13. ISBN 1-58818-044-1.
  4. ^ "Birmingham lost; Foot ball game at Tuskaloosa disastrous for the Athletics". The Birmingham News. October 26, 1896. Retrieved December 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "The University football team went down before Sewanee". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 1, 1896. Retrieved December 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Shut them out; The Tuscaloosa foot ball team defeats the A. & M." Birmingham State Herald. November 15, 1896. Retrieved December 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "1896 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on November 25, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  8. ^ "Scoring values". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on November 25, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h "1896 Season Recap" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 8, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  10. ^ "Alabama vs Birmingham AC (AL)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  11. ^ "Alabama vs Sewanee (TN)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2011.