| Year: | 1960 |
| Team: | Alabama Crimson Tide |
| Conference: | Southeastern Conference |
| Short Conf: | SEC |
| Aprank: | 9 |
| Coachrank: | 10 |
| Record: | 8–1–2 |
| Conf Record: | 5–1–1 |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Captain2: | Bobby Boylston |
| Champion: | Bluebonnet Bowl co-champion |
| Bowl Result: | T 3–3 vs. Texas |
The 1960 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1960 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 66th overall and 27th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his third 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, one loss and two ties (8–1–2 overall, 5–1–1 in the SEC) and with a tie against Texas in the Bluebonnet Bowl.
After Alabama upset Georgia in week one, they entered the polls for the first time at the No. 5 position for their game against Tulane. However, they tied the Green Wave and dropped to No. 15 prior to their win over Vanderbilt. The next week, Alabama was upset in Knoxville by Tennessee and as a result exited the polls. The Crimson Tide then proceeded to win all six of their regular season games that remained.
After a victories over Houston on homecoming and on the road at Mississippi State, Alabama scored their most points in a game since the 1952 season when they defeated 51–0. After an unsuccessful bid to allow for a "sudden death" overtime period in the event of a tie in their game against Georgia Tech, Alabama defeated both the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta and Tampa at home prior to their victory over Auburn in the Iron Bowl. The Crimson Tide then closed the season with a tie against Texas in the Bluebonnet Bowl.
See also: 1960 Georgia Bulldogs football team.
To open the 1960 season, the Crimson Tide scored 21 second quarter points en route to a 21–6 upset over the Georgia Bulldogs at Legion Field.[2] [3] [4] After a scoreless first quarter, touchdowns were scored on a three-yard run by Tommy White and on runs of one and nine-yards by Bobby Skelton that made the halftime score 21–0.[2] [3] Alabama never relinquished the lead, but Georgia ended the shutout bid late in the fourth quarter when Fran Tarkenton threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Dan Davis that made the final score 21–6.[2] [3] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia to 24–18–4.[5]
See also: 1960 Tulane Green Wave football team.
After their upset victory over Georgia in their first game of the season, Alabama entered the polls for the first time of the season at the No. 5 position.[7] In their first road game of the season, the Crimson Tide scored a touchdown in the final minute that prevented an upset by the Tulane Green Wave in this 6–6 tie at New Orleans.[4] [6] After a scoreless first quarter, Tulane took a 6–0 halftime lead after Tommy Mason scored on a three-yard touchdown run.[6] Pat Trammell tied the game in the final minute with his four-yard touchdown run, but the game then ended in a tie after a failed extra point by the Crimson Tide.[6] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Tulane to 18–10–3.[8]
See also: 1960 Vanderbilt Commodores football team.
After their tie against Tulane, Alabama dropped ten spots to the No. 15 position in the AP Poll prior to their game against Vanderbilt.[11] In their game against the Commodores, the Crimson Tide rallied to a 21–0 victory after being held scoreless in the first half.[4] [9] [10] Billy Richardson scored the first points of the game with his one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.[9] [10] Later in the quarter, Alabama's lead was extended further to 9–0 after Charles Binkley snapped the ball over the head of Russell Morris on a punt attempt and out of the endzone for a safety. The Crimson Tide then took the free kick that ensued 49-yards for a touchdown with the points made on a 36-yard Bobby Skelton touchdown pass to Norbie Ronsonet for a 15–0 lead.[9] [10] The last touchdown of the game came in the final minute of the fourth quarter when Bud Moore returned an interception 32-yards and made the final score 21–0.[9] [10] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Vanderbilt to 19–16–4.[12]
See also: 1960 Tennessee Volunteers football team.
In their annual rivalry game against Tennessee, early turnovers proved costly for the Crimson Tide in this 20–7 loss to the Volunteers at Knoxville.[4] [13] Ray Abruzzese fumbled the first play of the game for Alabama to set up the Vols' first score on an eight-yard Bill Majors touchdown pass to Charles Wyrick.[13] Later in the first quarter, Tennessee took a 14–0 lead after a Tommy White fumble was recovered by Cotton Letner and returned 41-yards for a touchdown.[13] After a three-yard Glenn Glass touchdown early in the second quarter made the Volunteers' lead 20–0, Alabama responded with their only points of the game on a 13-yard Laurien Stapp touchdown pass to Leon Fuller that made the final margin 20–6.[13] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 18–19–6.[14]
A week after their first loss of the season at Tennessee, the Crimson Tide returned home and shutout the Houston Cougars 14–0 on homecoming in Tuscaloosa.[4] [15] [16] Both Crimson Tide touchdowns were set up after Cougar turnovers gave them good field position. The first touchdown was set up after Lee Roy Jordan recovered a Charlie Rieves fumble at the Cougars' 31-yard line. Eight plays later Alabama led 7–0 after Laurien Stapp scored on a one-yard run.[15] [16] On the Houston drive that ensued, Billy Richardson intercepted a Don Sessions pass and returned it to the Cougars' 18-yard line. Four plays later Alabama scored what proved to be the final points of the game on a one-yard Richardson run.[15] [16] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Houston to 2–0.[17]
See also: 1960 Mississippi State Maroons football team.
On homecoming in Starkville, Alabama scored their only touchdown in the first quarter and shutout the Mississippi State Maroons 7–0.[4] [18] [19] The Crimson Tide scored the lone points of the game on their second offensive possession when Pat Trammell scored on an 18-yard touchdown run.[18] [19] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi State to 32–10–3.[20]
See also: 1960 Furman Purple Hurricane football team.
Against the Furman Paladins, Alabama scored their most points in a game since the 1953 Orange Bowl in this 51–0 victory at Denny Stadium.[4] [21] [22] After Bobby Skelton threw and eight-yard touchdown pass to Butch Wilson in the first, he followed it with a three-yard touchdown pass to Richard O’Dell in the second quarter.[21] [22] Pat Trammell then made the halftime score 21–0 with his one-yard run late in the half.[21] [22] After a one-yard Cotton Clark touchdown run extended the Alabama lead to 29–0 in the third, the Crimson Tide scored 22 fourth quarter points to win 51–0.[21] [22] Fourth quarter points were scored on a blocked punt for a safety, and touchdowns on a 62-yard Walter Cureton touchdown run, a 52-yard Laurien Stapp pass to Jerry Spruiell and a five-yard Stapp run.[21] [22] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Furman to 5–0.[23]
See also: 1960 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team.
Behind a 24-yard game-winning Richard O’Dell field goal with only six seconds left in the game, the Crimson Tide upset the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 16–15 at Grant Field.[4] [24] [25] Tech dominated the first half and built a 15–0 halftime lead over Alabama. They scored on an eight-yard Jimmy Nail touchdown run, a 47-yard Thomas Wells field goal and on a three-yard Stanley Gann touchdown run.[24] [25] Alabama responded in the third quarter with a one-yard Leon Fuller touchdown run that cut the Jackets' lead to 15–6.[24] [25] The Crimson Tide then closed the game with a three-yard Bobby Skelton touchdown pass to Norbie Ronsonet and the 24-yard O'Dell field goal as time expired to win 16–15.[24] [25] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Georgia Tech to 21–18–3.[26]
In the week that led into this game, Bear Bryant and Georgia Tech head coach Bobby Dodd agreed to make a request to then SEC commissioner Bernie Moore to allow for a "sudden death" overtime period in the event the game was tied at the end of regulation.[27] At the time, it marked the first time that an overtime period was formally requested by college football teams.[27] Ultimately, Moore denied the request and cited that as a conference he was unable to violate existing NCAA rules that specified only 60 minutes for football games.[28] [29]
See also: 1960 Tampa Spartans football team.
After their upset over Georgia Tech, Alabama reentered the AP Poll at the No. 18 position in the week leading to their game against Tampa.[31] In what was the first and only meeting against the Spartans, Alabama won 34–6 in the final Denny Stadium game of the season.[4] [30] [32] The Crimson Tide took an 18–0 halftime lead after they scored three first half touchdowns. The first was on a one-yard Mike Fracchia run, the second on a one-yard Pat Trammell run and the third on a 30-yard Bobby Skelton pass to Bill Oliver.[30] After a one-yard Laurien Stapp run in the third extended the Alabama lead to 26–0, Tampa scored their only points on a three-yard Ronnie Perez touchdown pass to Charles Truelock.[30] The Crimson Tide then closed the game win a second, one-yard Trammell touchdown run and won 34–6.[30]
See also: 1960 Auburn Tigers football team.
As they entered their season finale against No. 8 Auburn, the Crimson Tide moved up one spot to the No. 17 position after their victory over Tampa.[35] At Legion Field in the annual Iron Bowl game, Alabama shut out the Tigers for the second consecutive season, this time by a score of 3–0.[4] [33] [34] The only points in this defensive struggle came in the second quarter on a 22-yard Tommy Brooker field goal.[33] [34] The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Auburn to 11–13–1.[36]
See also: 1960 Texas Longhorns football team and 1960 Bluebonnet Bowl.
Immediately after their victory over Auburn in their season finale, Bryant accepted an invitation to play in the Bluebonnet Bowl against Texas.[33] Against the Longhorns, each team only scored a single field goal in this 3–3 tie.[37] [38] Tommy Brooker connected on a 30-yard field goal for Alabama in the third and Dan Petty tied the game in the fourth for Texas with his 20-yard kick.[37] [38] The tie brought Alabama's all-time record against Texas to 0–4–1.[39]
Several players that were varsity lettermen from the 1960 squad were drafted into the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL) in the 1962 and 1963 drafts. These players included the following:
| Year | Round | Overall | Player name | Position | NFL/AFL team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 NFL draft [40] | 4 | 43 | Tackle | Washington Redskins | |
| 5 | 69 | End | St. Louis Cardinals | ||
| 16 | 211 | End | Washington Redskins | ||
| 16 | 219 | Running back | Baltimore Colts | ||
| 1962 AFL Draft [41] | 5 | 39 | End | Houston Oilers | |
| 6 | 46 | Guard | Boston Patriots | ||
| 17 | 131 | End | Dallas Texans | ||
| 23 | 180 | Safety | Buffalo Bills | ||
| 24 | 187 | Quarterback | Dallas Texans | ||
| 1963 NFL draft | 1 | 6 | Linebacker | Dallas Cowboys | |
| 2 | 24 | Back | Baltimore Colts | ||
| 3 | 33 | Back | St. Louis Cardinals | ||
| 1963 AFL Draft [42] | 2 | 14 | Linebacker | Boston Patriots | |
| 6 | 41 | Tight end | Oakland Raiders |
Prior to the 1972 NCAA University Division football season, NCAA rules prohibited freshmen from participating on the varsity team, and as such many schools fielded freshmen teams.[43] [44] For the 1960 season, the Alabama freshmen squad was coached by Sam Bailey and finished their season with a record of two wins and one loss (2–1).[45] In their first game of the season, Alabama was shut out by Tulane at New Orleans, 19–0.[46] Green Wave touchdowns were scored by Bill Hatchett on a one-yard run in the first and on a pair of fourth-quarter scores that were set up by Crimson Tide turnovers.[46]
In their second game, the Crimson Tide defeated Mississippi State by a final score of 10–6 at Denny Stadium on a Monday.[47] After a scoreless first quarter, State took a 6–0 lead in the second quarter on a 66-yard Wayne Gaines touchdown pass to Bobby Jones. Alabama responded later in the period with a 14-yard Hudson Harris touchdown run to take the lead and then added a 35-yard Tim Davis field goal in the third that made the final score 10–6.[47] In the final freshmen game of the season, Alabama defeated Auburn 23–6 before 4,000 fans on a Monday at Denny Stadium.[45] Alabama points were scored on a six-yard Dale Layton touchdown pass to Jerry Beard, a nine-yard Layton touchdown run, a 26-yard Larry Wall touchdown run and a 37-yard Tim Davis field goal.[45] Auburn scored their only points in the fourth on a touchdown pass from Frank James to Reggie Allen, and in the loss, the Tigers fumbled the ball eight times with Alabama having recovered seven of them.[45]
| Name | Position | Seasons at Alabama | Alma Mater | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Alabama (1936) | |||
| Sam Bailey | Assistant coach | 3 | Ouachita Baptist (1949) | |
| Assistant coach | 2 | Kentucky (1950) | ||
| Assistant coach | 3 | Kentucky (1950) | ||
| Don Cochran | Assistant coach | 1 | Alabama (1959) | |
| Assistant coach | 3 | Kentucky (1943) | ||
| Bob Ford | Assistant coach | 2 | Memphis State (1955) | |
| Jim Goostree | Assistant coach | 4 | Tennessee (1952) | |
| Clem Gryska | Assistant coach | 1 | Alabama (1948) | |
| Dude Hennessey | Assistant coach | 1 | Kentucky (1955) | |
| Pat James | Assistant coach | 3 | Kentucky (1951) | |
| Elwood Kettler | Assistant coach | 1 | Texas A&M (1955) | |
| Carney Laslie | Assistant coach | 4 | Alabama (1934) | |
| Assistant coach | 3 | Alabama (1948) | ||
| Assistant coach | 3 | Texas A&M (1957) | ||
| Reference:[49] | ||||
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