Program courtesy of Paul W. Bryant Museum
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mobile went from a sleepy little southern port to a boom town manufacturing center. Nearly 100,000 new workers flooded into the city. The shipyards were hastily putting afloat Liberty and Merchant ships. Alcoa was cranking out alumina for airplanes and Brookley Field was building bombers. Boarding houses around town were sleeping men in shifts, and empty lots sprouted tents for all the new inhabitants. The federal government produced a documentary film, “Wartown,” to describe Mobile’s new progress and the challenges it faced. In the fall of 1942, right in the middle of all of this hustle and bustle, the city would host a college football game. And not just any football game, but one featuring perennial national championship contender: the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.
There was much debate over whether football should be played that year at all. Travel was restricted due to gasoline and rubber shortages. Some officials feared another attack on large gatherings. As a result, the Rose Bowl was moved from Pasadena to Durham. It was rumored that espionage agents were attempting to blow up the aluminum plant, and German U-boats were spotted in Mobile Bay.
Although 18-year-olds would not be included in the draft until November 1942, some colleges found themselves short of young men to compete in athletics and canceled their football programs for the duration of the war. Howard College (now Samford University) was one of these, leaving Alabama with an opening in its schedule for October 10. Keesler Field in Biloxi also canceled their season, leaving the Pensacola Naval Air Station Goslings with an October 10 opening, as well. Thus, the Crimson and White and Blue and Gold squads scheduled a game against each other to fill their open dates.
Mobile’s Hartwell Field was a natural location for the game due its proximity to the two teams. At the time, the stadium (named for Mobile Mayor Charles Hartwell) primarily hosted baseball. Temporary bleachers were added to bring the seating capacity to 12,000.
The Crimson Tide drove down from Tuscaloosa the day before the game in “You-Rent-Its” rental cars. The Naval Air Flyers bused over on the day of the game.
The Crimson Tide
Bama came into the game 2-0 and ranked number 3 nationally, with victories over SW Louisiana and Mississippi State already under its belt. The team was the defending national champion in at least one poll. Bama was led by Notre Dame alum Frank Thomas, who in college had roomed with George Gipp (as in “win one for the Gipper”). Thomas had continued the tradition of winning national championships started by Wallace Wade in the 1920s.
Pensacola caught a break when Bama team captain Joe Domnanovich was injured against Mississippi State and couldn’t dress out for the game in Mobile. But Bama still had Russ Craft, one of the best running backs in the SEC, and fullback Don Salls. Anchoring the Bama line were tackles Don Whitmire and Charlie Compton.
Pensacola: The “Annapolis of the Air”
Bama would face an older and more experienced team in the Goslings, one of the top service teams in the country. The NAS, also undefeated, was led by George “Potsy” Clark. Clark, like Thomas, was no stranger to winning championships. Clark was head coach of the Detroit Lions when they won their first NFL title in 1935. His Gosling team included George Sauer, former Nebraska Cornhusker All-American and Green Bay Packer halfback; Jim Blumenstock, triple threat ace of the Fordham Rams Sugar Bowl Champion of 1941; Homer Hazel, all-SEC Guard at Ole Miss; and Bill Leckonby, the starting tailback for the NFL’s Brooklyn Dodgers. Former Florida All-American Quarterback and two-time NFL champion with the Chicago Bears, Carl Brumbaugh, was the best passer in Pensacola’s line-up until Roger Staubach was stationed at the Navy Base in 1967. This was a well-coached All-Star team and a very dangerous opponent for the Crimson Tide. In their previous game, the Goslings had won 75-0. Said Coach Thomas, “I doubt Alabama could score 75 points in a dummy scrimmage.”
The Game
On this day, the Tide was master of the air, land, and sea. Bama had 85 yards passing and 295 yards on the ground, while the Navy lost 2 yards on the ground and only gained 120 yards in the air. Russ Craft scored twice in the Tide’s bench-clearing 27-0 victory. Famous Birmingham News Sports Editor, Zip Newman, reported:
“The game proved one thing – that experience can’t offset speed – not until it has had time to get together. The Flyers were in condition but not for meeting a team that could run as few Thomas’ teams have been able to do since the Howell-Hutson Rose Bowl winner. Don’t worry about the Pensacola Base over-emphasizing football.”
Mobile, famous for Mardi Gras and future Senior Bowls, proved its love for pageantry during the game. Over 8,000 people watched, including many dressed in every service uniform. Half-time featured the Keesler Army Air Force Band; the Navy Flyers brought their live Gosling mascot; colorful Azalea Trail Maids added their usual charm and hospitality.
Top Hartwell Field was located at the intersection of Tennessee and Ann streets in Mobile. Photo Courtesy of DigitalBallparks.com
Bottom An aerial photo of Hartwell Field from the 1970s. Photo Courtesy of William Lavendar, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of South Alabama
Aftermath
The State of Georgia was unkind to Bama following the win. The Tide lost to Georgia, Georgia Tech, and another service team, Georgia Pre-Flight, assisted by a young coach named Paul “Bear” Bryant. The Tide did win the Orange Bowl and finished number 10 in the nation.
The Goslings also suffered losses to Georgia Pre-Flight and the Jacksonville Naval Air Station, led by Mobile’s Riley Smith. Pensacola finished number 8 among service teams due to their strength of schedule.
Following the season, 57 out of 58 members of the 1942 Crimson Tide served in the war, including six players who took the oath to join the Marines at half-time of Bama’s last home game. Among these was Charlie Compton, who was nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor. Like many players after the war, he returned to Tuscaloosa, lettered in football, and was a teammate of future Mobile County Probate Judge “Red” Noonan. Don Whitmire transferred to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he also was an All-American, and eventually became an Admiral. Fullback Don Salls was wounded in France and received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart; Halfback George Gammon flew B-17 Bombers (his was painted with the name “Bama Gal”). Thirty-nine percent of these crews were either killed or went missing in action.
Several Goslings were awarded the Navy Cross, the second-highest decoration for Sailors and Marines.
Both programs canceled the 1943 season due to a shortage of football players.
The 1942 game was considered both an artistic and financial success. It was reported that 5,000 more tickets would have been sold if Hartwell had better accommodations. An organization called the Stadium Society was put together by the publisher of the Press Register, Al Chandler, to secure a modern football stadium for Mobile and encourage more major games and attractions. Coach Thomas promised Mobile a choice game each season. The seeds were sown for Ladd Stadium, which was constructed in 1948 from steel unused by the shipyards. Alabama would return that year to christen the new stadium.
Wartown continued to turn out ships and bombers, but for one perfect afternoon in the fall of 1942, she provided star-spangled entertainment for our troops and workers.
