1945 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

1945 Alabama Crimson Tide football
National co-champion (NCF)
SEC champion
Rose Bowl champion
Rose Bowl, W 34–14 vs. USC
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
APNo. 3
Record10–0 (6–0 SEC)
Head coach
CaptainGame captains
Home stadiumDenny Stadium
Legion Field
Cramton Bowl
Seasons
← 1944
1946 →
1945 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Alabama $ 6 – 0 – 0 10 – 0 – 0
No. 14 Tennessee 3 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 0
No. 15 LSU 5 – 2 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
No. 18 Georgia 4 – 2 – 0 9 – 2 – 0
Ole Miss 3 – 3 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Georgia Tech 2 – 2 – 0 4 – 6 – 0
Mississippi State 2 – 3 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Auburn 2 – 3 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Vanderbilt 2 – 4 – 0 3 – 6 – 0
Florida 1 – 3 – 1 4 – 5 – 1
Tulane 1 – 3 – 1 2 – 6 – 1
Kentucky 0 – 5 – 0 2 – 8 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1945 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1945 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 51st overall and 12th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Frank Thomas, in his 14th year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery. They finished with a perfect season (10–0 overall, 6–0 in the SEC) and with a victory in the Rose Bowl over USC. This team was the second season of the "War Babies" as coined by head coach Thomas.[1][2]

The team led the nation in total defense, allowing an average of only 109.9 yards per game.[3] The Crimson Tide was particularly tough against the rush, allowing an average of only 33.9 rushing yards per game and less than one yard per carry (320 opposition carries for 305 yards gained).[3] On offense, Alabama ranked second nationally behind Army, averaging 421.7 yards per game.[3] The team's statistical leaders included Lowell Tew with 715 rushing yards and Harry Gilmer with 905 passing yards. Gilmer led the nation with a .648 pass completion percentage.[4]

The Crimson Tide opened the season on the road with a victory over Keesler Field after Jackson Army Air Base canceled their game at Denny Stadium. Alabama then defeated LSU in Baton Rouge before their first home win of the season at the Cramton Bowl over South Carolina. After victories over both Tennessee and Georgia at Legion Field, the Crimson Tide routed both Kentucky and Vanderbilt on the road to extend their record to 7–0. They then closed the season with a pair of games at Denny Stadium where they defeated the Pensacola NAS and Mississippi State to complete an undefeated regular season. One month later, Alabama won the Rose Bowl over USC to finish the season undefeated.

The 1945 season was the fourth perfect season in Alabama history, following the perfect seasons of 1925, 1930 and 1934. However, Alabama did not win the national championship in 1945; that honor went to the Army Cadets team that went 9–0 and outscored its opponents by a 412–46 margin. The Crimson Tide finished third in the AP poll behind the Cadets and Navy.[5]

  1. ^ Browning, Al (April 20, 1978). "Gilmer leader for War Babies". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 15. Retrieved September 6, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
  2. ^ Scott, Richard (2004). Legends of Alabama Football. New York: Sports Publishing, LLC. pp. 65–66. ISBN 9781582612775.
  3. ^ a b c W.J. Bingham, ed. (1946). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1946. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 30.
  4. ^ W.J. Bingham, ed. (1946). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1946. A.S. Barnes and Company. pp. 34–35.
  5. ^ "1945 Final Football Polls - College Poll Archive - Historical College Football, Basketball, and Softball Polls and Rankings".