The Crimson Tide opened the season with a victory over
Howard before they
upsetFordham 7–6 in an intersectional contest at the
Polo Grounds in week two. After their victory over
Mercer, Alabama was shut out 21–0 by
Tennessee, their second consecutive shutout loss against the Volunteers. The Crimson Tide then rebounded with a
homecoming victory over
Mississippi State. Alabama then went winless over their next three conference games with a tie against
Kentucky followed by shutout losses to both
Tulane and
Georgia Tech. The Crimson Tide rebounded in their final game of the season to defeat
Vanderbilt.
Alabama was not ranked in the final AP poll, but it was ranked at No. 17 in the 1939
Williamson System ratings,[1] and at No. 22 in the final
Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.[2]
To open the 1939 season, Alabama defeated Howard (now
Samford University) 21–0 at Denny Stadium.[13][14] After a scoreless first half, the Crimson Tide scored their first touchdown on a one-yard Paul Spencer run in the third quarter.[13] Alabama then closed the game with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns for the 21–0 win. The first came on a five-yard Herschel Mosley pass to
Holt Rast and the second on a second, one-yard run by Spencer.[13] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Howard to 17–0–1.[15]
On the road against a favored
Fordham squad, the Crimson Tide defeated the
Rams 7–6 at the
Polo Grounds in an intersectional matchup.[14][16][17] The Crimson Tide scored their only points of the game in the first quarter. Jimmy Nelson scored Alabama's only touchdown on an 18-yard run to cap a 40-yard drive, and then
Hayward Sanford connected on the
extra point to give the Crimson Tide a 7–0 lead.[16] Sanford later missed a 33-yard
field goal in the first, and the Rams turned the ball over on downs at the Alabama 19-yard line to keep the score 7–0 at the end of the quarter.[16][17] Fordham then scored their only points of the game late in the fourth after Dom Principe scored on a short touchdown run; however, Alex Yudikaitis missed the extra point which proved to be the margin in their loss.[17] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Fordham to 1–1.[18]
This game is also noted as being the second televised
college football game after the
1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game played one week earlier.[19] The game was televised exclusively in New York City as it was broadcast over
W2XBS and only a few hundred televisions were thought to be in existence at the time.[19]
A week after the road win at Fordham, Alabama defeated the
MercerBears 20–0 at Denny Stadium in the first all-time meeting between the schools.[14][20][21] The Crimson Tide took a 7–0 first quarter lead after Paul Spencer scored on a one-yard touchdown run to cap a 42-yard drive.[20] After a scoreless second quarter, Alabama scored a pair of third-quarter touchdowns for the 20–0 victory. Gene Blackwell scored first on an eight-yard run and Herschel Mosley scored on a four-yard run.[20]
On the Monday prior to their annual game against the
Volunteers, Alabama was selected to the No. 8 and Tennessee was selected to the No. 5 position in the first
AP Poll of the 1939 season.[23] In the game, Alabama was
shut out by
rivalTennessee 21–0 before an overflow crowd of 40,000 at Shields-Watkins Field.[14][22] After a scoreless first quarter, Tennessee took a 7–0 lead in the second after Johnny Butler scored on a 56-yard run.[22] Up by a touchdown at the end of the third, a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown runs gave the Volunteers the 21–0 win. The first was made by Bob Foxx on an 11-yard run and the second by
Buss Warren om a 12-yard run.[22]
Although Alabama was shut out and lost by three touchdowns,
Tennessee head coachRobert Neyland said of the Crimson Tide's performance that "I don't think the score indicates the difference between the teams. It should have been about 7 to 0."[24] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 13–7–2.[25]
After their loss to Tennessee, Alabama dropped from No. 8 to No. 20 in the AP Poll as they entered their annual
homecoming game.[27] Against
Mississippi State the Crimson Tide defeated the
Maroons 7–0 before 15,000 fans at Denny Stadium.[14][26] The only points of the game came in the first quarter when
Charley Boswell threw a four-yard touchdown pass to
Holt Rast.[26] Alabama outgained the Maroons in rushing yardage 173 to 65 in the victory.[26] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State to 19–5–2.[28]
As Alabama entered their contest against
Kentucky, they gained one position the rankings to No. 19 and the
Wildcats entered the rankings at No. 15 in the weekly AP Poll.[30] In the game, the Crimson Tide battled the Wildcats to a 7–7 tie in the first game played at Legion Field of the season.[14][29] After a scoreless first,
Holt Rast blocked a Kentucky
punt that was recovered by Alabama at the Wildcats' two-yard line.[29] Two plays later, Paul Spencer scored on a short run and Bud Waites converted the
extra point to give the Crimson Tide a 7–0 lead.[29] Still down by a touchdown at the end of the third, Kentucky tied the game in the fourth on a short Noah Mullins run and Jim Hardin extra point.[29] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Kentucky 17–1–1.[31]
After their tie with Kentucky, the Crimson Tide dropped out of the weekly AP Poll, and
Tulane took the No. 7 position after their victory over
Ole Miss.[33] In New Orleans, the Crimson Tide was
shutout by the
Green Wave 13–0 before a crowd of 52,000 at Tulane Stadium.[14][32] After a scoreless first, Tulane took a 6–0 halftime lead when Harry Hays scored a touchdown on a 69-yard
reverse.[32] Robert Kellogg then scored the Green Wave's other touchdown in the third with his three-yard run.[32] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Tulane to 12–4–1.[34]
In their final home game of the season game against
Georgia Tech Alabama lost their second consecutive game by a shutout, 6–0 against the
Yellow Jackets at Legion Field.[14][35] The only score of the game was set up after R. W. Murphy recovered a John Hanson
fumble at the Alabama 38-yard line. Three plays later the Yellow Jackets scored on a 24-yard E. M. Wheby touchdown reception from Johnny Bosch, and after
Holt Rast blocked the extra point attempt, Georgia Tech led 6–0.[35] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 11–11–3.[36]
In their season finale against the
VanderbiltCommodores, Alabama won 39–0 at Dudley Field on
Thanksgiving Day to end a two-game losing streak.[14][37] In the first half touchdowns were scored on a Jimmy Nelson touchdown reception in the first and by a 77-yard Herschel Mosley run and a 67-yard Paul Spencer run in the second.[37] Up by three touchdowns at halftime, the Crimson Tide scored three second half touchdowns in the 39–0 victory. Second half touchdowns were scored on a 20-yard Jimmy Nelson reception and by Spencer on an eight-yard run and by Hal Newman on an 18-yard reception from Billy Harrell as time expired.[37] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 12–9.[38]
"1939 Season Recap"(PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from
the original(PDF) on June 4, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
^
abcdDanzig, Allison (October 8, 1939). "Ram is outplayed". The New York Times. ProQuest Historical Newspapers. p. 85.
^DeLassus, David.
"Alabama vs Fordham". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from
the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
^
ab"Televised Games".
2011 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book(PDF). Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. p. 131. Archived from
the original(PDF) on May 23, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
^Boni, Bill (October 17, 1939).
"Pitt wins top in grid poll". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 8. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
^White, Bill (October 24, 1939).
"Vols acclaimed best in nation". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 8. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
^Boni, Bill (October 31, 1939).
"Vols continue in No. 1 spot". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 8. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
^DeLassus, David.
"Alabama vs Kentucky". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from
the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
^Fullerton, Hugh S. Jr. (November 7, 1939).
"Vols increase lead in voting". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. Associated Press. p. 8. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
^DeLassus, David.
"Alabama vs Tulane". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from
the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 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.