1947 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

The 1947 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1947 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 53rd overall and 14th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Harold Drew, in his first year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished with a record of eight wins and three losses (8–3 overall, 5–2 in the SEC) and with a loss in the Sugar Bowl.

After the Crimson Tide opened the season with a victory over, Alabama lost consecutive. games against Tulane and Vanderbilt to open the season 1–2. However, the Crimson Tide rebounded to win their final seven games against Duquesne, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, LSU and Miami. Alabama then lost to Texas in the Sugar Bowl to finish the season 8–3. The 1947 season marked the first for Harold Drew as head coach for the Crimson Tide. Drew was hired as the replacement for long-time head coach Frank Thomas after he resigned his post due to personal health conditions in January 1947.

To date, 1947 is the last season that the Crimson Tide did not play in-state archrival Auburn.

Mississippi Southern

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To open the 1946 season, the Crimson Tide defeated the Mississippi Southern Golden Eagles at Legion Field 34–7 in what was the first all-time meeting between the schools. The Crimson Tide took a 6–0 lead in the first quarter when Harry Gilmer threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Rebel Steiner. Norwood Hodges extended the Alabama lead to 13–0 at halftime with his eight-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Early in the third quarter, Mississippi scored their only points of the game on a 66-yard Bubba Phillips touchdown run to cut the Crimson Tide lead to 13–7. Alabama responded with 21 unanswered points for the 34–7 victory. Touchdowns were scored on a four-yard Gilmer run in the third and on a two-yard Hodges and one-yard Ed Salem run in the fourth quarter.

Tulane

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To open conference play, Alabama traveled to New Orleans and lost to the Tulane Green Wave 21–20. After a scoreless first quarter, the Crimson Tide took a 6–0 lead after Norwood Hodges scored on a one-yard touchdown run. However, the Green Wave responded on the kickoff that ensued when Ed Price returned it 101-yards for a 7–6 Tulane lead. A Bennie Ellender touchdown pass as the second quarter ended gave the Green Wave a 14–6 halftime lead. Ray Prats extended the Tulane lead to 21–6 early in the third quarter after he returned an interception 65-yards for a touchdown. The Crimson Tide responded with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns, but lost by a single point. Alabama touchdowns in the third were scored by Hodges on a two-yard run and by Billy Cadenhead on an eight-yard run. The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Tulane to 15–5–1.

Vanderbilt

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Against Vanderbilt, Alabama lost 14–7 at Dudley Field in a game dominated by the Commodores' pass defense. Vanderbilt scored the only points of the first half when Jamie Wade threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to John North for a 7–0 lead. In the fourth quarter, Robert Berry scored for the Commodores on an 11-yard run after they intercepted a Harry Gilmer pass. A late 23-yard Gilmer touchdown pass to Carl Mims to make the final score 14–7 and breakup the Vanderbilt shutout attempt. The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 16–11.

Duquesne

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In what was the first all-time game against Duquesne, the Dukes lost 26–0 in the first Denny Stadium game of the season. After a scoreless first quarter, the Crimson Tide took a 7–0 halftime lead after Billy Cadenhead scored on a six-yard run. The Alabama lead was extended further in the third quarter after a 58-yard Norman Mosley punt return and a one-yard Norwood Hodges touchdown run to make the score 20–0 as they entered the final period. In the fourth, Travis Hicks scored the final points of the game and made the final score 26–0.

Tennessee

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Against Tennessee, the Crimson Tide shutout Volunteers 10–0 before a sellout crowd at Legion Field. After a scoreless first half, a nine-yard Billy Cadenhead touchdown run in the third and a seven-yard Hugh Morrow field goal in the fourth provided for the 10–0 margin of victory. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 17–9–3.

Georgia

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Against Georgia, the Crimson Tide defeated the Bulldogs 17–7 before 48,000 fans at Sanford Stadium. The Crimson Tide took an early 7–0 lead after Harry Gilmer returned a punt 80-yards for a touchdown. The Bulldogs responded in the second quarter with their only points on an 83-yard John Rauch touchdown pass to Eli Maricich to tie the game 7–7 at halftime. Alabama retook the lead in the third on an 84-yard run that saw Lowell Tew run 44-yards before he tossed a lateral pass to Billy Cadenhead who took it the final 40-yards for the touchdown. A seven-yard Hugh Morrow field goal in the fourth made the final score 17–7. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 16–14–3.

Kentucky

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In Lexington, the Crimson Tide defeated the Wildcats 13–0 at McLean Stadium who were led by former Crimson Tide player Bear Bryant. Alabama scored all of their points on a pair of touchdowns in the first half. The first came on a three-yard Harry Gilmer run in the first quarter and the second on a two-yard Billy Cadenhead run in the second quarter. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Kentucky 24–1–1.

Georgia Tech

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Against the Yellow Jackets, the Crimson Tide had their second consecutive upset victory with their 14–7 at Legion Field. Alabama took a 14–0 lead into the fourth quarter after a five-yard Harry Gilmer touchdown pass to Rebel Steiner in the first quarter and on a one-yard Gilmer run in the second quarter. Tech scored their only points late in the fourth quarter on a four-yard Robert McCoy touchdown run to make the final score 14–7. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 14–12–3.

LSU

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On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, Alabama defeated LSU 41–12 to close out conference play for the season. Immediately following the win, the Crimson Tide accepted an invitation to play in the 1948 Sugar Bowl. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against LSU to 13–4–3.

Miami

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This game against the Miami Hurricanes was originally scheduled to be played on Friday, November 28. However, severe weather and poor field conditions postponed its being played until the following evening, and in what was their final regular season game, Alabama defeated Miami 21–6 at Burdine Stadium. Miami took a 6–0 lead in the first quarter after Harold Schuler threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Ed Houck. The Crimson Tide then responded with 21 unanswered points to win the game 21–6. Touchdowns were scored on a three-yard Harry Gilmer pass to Rebel Steiner in the second quarter and on runs by Gilmer and Jim Cain in the third quarter. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Miami to 2–0.

Texas

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Against the Texas Longhorns, the Crimson Tide were defeated 27–7 in the 1948 Sugar Bowl. The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Texas to 0–4.