Leonard B. "Stub" Allison (1892-1961)
The head football coach at Washington (1920), South Dakota (1922-1926) and California (1935-1944). His "Thunder Team" at Berkley in 1937 was one of the best in the school's history finishing 10-0-1 and besting Alabama in the 1938 Rose Bowl. Allison's squads gradually fell off from that peak and he was fired in 1944 with a .578 overall win percentage at Cal.
Johnny Mack Brown (1904-1974)
Dubbed "the Dothan Antelope" as a nod to his hometown and running ability, Brown was one of the most electric playmakers for Alabama in the early 1920s. His two-touchdown performance were key in the Crimson Tide's victory in the 1926 Rose Bowl. After college, Brown returned to the West Coast to become a film actor best know for westerns from the 1940s. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1957.
Paul W. Bryant (1913-1983)
A talented end from Fordyce, Arkansas who played at Alabama from 1931-1935 including the 1935 Rose Bowl team. Was selected in the 4th round of the 1936 NFL draft by the Brooklyn Dodgers but went on to become an assistant coach under Frank Thomas at Alabama. He left to pursing his coaching career at other programs but returned to Alabama as head coach in 1957. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
Johnny "Hurri" Cain (1908-1977)
A fullback and quarterback for Alabama from 1930-1932, playing under both Wallace Wade and Frank Thomas. The Montgomery native played in the 1931 Rose Bowl and went on to earn All-American honors the following year. Cain went on to be a head coach at Southwestern Louisiana. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973.
Newell J. "Jeff" Cravath (1903-1953)
A player and assistant at USC under Howard Jones during the "Thundering Herd" era of the late 20s and early 30s. He was named the Trojans' head coach in 1941 and during his nine-year tenure, Cravath led them to four Rose Bowls including to three consecutive ones. Forced to step down after a 2-5-2 record in 1950, Cravath had a .644 winning percentage as USC's coach.
Henry Gorham Crisp (1896-1970)
Alabama's longtime assistant football coach and Athletic Director. Crisp was a standout player for Virginia Polytechnic Institute, he was hired at Alabama in 1921 as a track coach. Head football coach Xen Scott brought him on his staff as an assistant oversee offensive and defensive lines and he served in that capacity through the 1950s. Crisp also served as Alabama's basketball coach form 1924 to 1946. He retired in 1967.
Harold Delbert "Red" Drew (1894-1979)
One of the first assistants hired when Frank Thomas took over the Alabama program in 1931. The Maine native was responsible for ends and was responsible for the development of Don Hutson and Paul W. Bryant. Drew took over the Crimson Tide program in 1947 after stepped down due to failing health. He retired from coaching in 1954 after earning a 54-28-7 (.646) record as Alabama's head coach.
Harry Gilmer (1926-2016)
The Crimson Tide's halfback from 1944 through 1947 was a dynamic runner and as well as an unorthodox but effective passer. In his sophomore season he led the nation in passing and was named an All-American. He played professionally for the Washington Redskins and the Detroit Lions who he also served as head coach in the 1960s. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.
John Heisman (1869-1936)
Between 1892 and 1927, Heisman was coach of eight different schools; Oberlin, Buchtel (University of Akron), Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Penn, Washington & Jefferson and Rice. He was recognized as an innovator particularly for plays featuring shifts and pulling linemen. He retired with a career record of 186-70-18 (.712). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.
Dr. George Hutcheson Denny (1870-1955)
President of the University of Alabama from 1912-1936. He took the semi-autonomous football program and put it under the direct control of the university's athletics department. Denny also took an active role in the administration of the team and was directly responsible for hiring successful coaches Xen Scott, Wallace Wade and Frank Thomas. The university's football stadium was named in his honor.
Orin E. "Babe" Hollingbery (1893-1974)
Head coach at Washington State from 1926 to 1942. His record of 93-53-14 (.625) is the best of any coach in the history of the program. The Hollister, Calif. native was also the West coach for the inaugural East-West All-Star Game in 1925. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of fame in 1979.
Frank Howard (1909-1996)
A guard on the Alabama football team from 1928-1930 on an academic scholarship. His final game for the Crimson Tide was the 1931 Rose Bowl game against Washington State. That same year he was hired as an assistant coach at Clemson, a position he held until 1940 when he was named the Tigers' head coach. He retired in 1969 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
Millard Fillmore "Dixie" Howell (1912-1971)
An All-American quarterback, Howell played for the Crimson Tide from 1932 to 1935. His ability to connect with end Don Hutson created one of the game's first great passing combinations. The duo were a key factor in Alabama's 1935 Rose Bowl victory over Stanford. Howell played with the Washington Redskins for one season before becoming a head coach at Arizona State and Idaho. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1970.
Allison T. "Pooley" Hubert (1901-1978)
The World War I veteran arrived in Tuscaloosa in 1922 as a 20-year-old tackle prospect but Coach Wallace Wade switched him to the backfield where became a force on the Crimson Tide offense. The Meridian, Miss. native was named an All-American his senior year and he was a key element of Alabama's 1926 Rose Bowl victory. He went on to coach at Southern Miss and the Virginia Military Institute. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1964.
Don Hutson (1913-1997)
An All-American receiver for Alabama from 1932 to 1934, Hudson and quarterback "Dixie" Howell were such a powerful offensive combination they redefined the passing attack for the game. After starring in the 1935 Rose Bowl game, Hutson went on to an 11-year professional career with the Green Bay Packers. He is considered the first modern receiver in the game. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.
William "Bill" Gray Little (1873-1938)
W.G. Little enrolled at the University of Alabama in 1888 but left to attend Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass in 1891. While in the northeast, Little learned to play football and brought his uniform and equipment with him when he returned to Alabama as a law student in 1892. He then organized the school's first team and served as its first captain.
Vaughn Mancha (1921-2011)
An All-American center at Alabama from 1944 through 1947, Mancha anchored the offense that played in the 1946 Rose Bowl and two Sugar Bowls. Mancha went on to play professionally for the Boston Yanks and later coached at Livingston State, Colombia and Florida State were he also served as Athletic Director. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
Dan McGugin (1879-1936)
Over his 30-year career as head coach at Vanderbilt, McGugin led the Commodores to ten conference titles, four unbeaten seasons and retired in 1934 with a career record of 197-55-19 (.761). As a guard for Michigan he played in the first Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 1902. He promoted intersectional games and several of his players and assistants went on to lead other programs. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.
Knute Rockne (1888-1931)
Notre Dame's legendary coach from 1918 to 1930. Rockne's teams launched the Fighting Irish onto the sport's national stage with dynamic offenses such as the single-wing "Notre Dame Box". At the time of his death in 1931, he had amassed a 105-12-5 (.881) record and had brought the forward pass to prominence. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.
Xenophon Cole Scott (1882-1924)
The Alabama football coach from 1919 to 1922. A sportswriter in Cleveland, Ohio, Scott amassed a significant reputation as a football coach at Western Reserve University, Case and Nebraska State Normal School. When Alabama resumed football after World War I, Scott was hired and soon transformed the team into a Southern power. He resigned in 1922 with a 29-9-3 (.744) record.
Fred Sington (1910-1988)
An All-American tackle for Alabama from 1928 to 1930, Sington played on the 1931 Rose Bowl squad his senior year. He was also the president of the student body that year and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. After graduating he played professional baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Washington Senators. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.
Riley Smith (1911-1999)
A standout quarterback for the Crimson Tide from 1933-1935 who was noted for his skill at passing, blocking, punting and kicking. The Greenwood, Miss. native played on the 1935 Rose Bowl squad and was named an All-American that year. He was the first NFL player to enter the league through the league's draft and played for the Boston/Washington Redskins. He went to become a coach at Washington & Lee. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
Frank Thomas (1898-1954)
Coach of the Alabama football team from 1931-1946. Thomas led the team to three rose bowls before retiring due to ill health. His record at Alabama was 115-24-7 (.812). Played quarterback at Notre Dame under Knute Rockne from 1920-1922. He went on to be an assistant at Georgia and head coach at Chattanooga before being tapped for the Alabama job. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.
Claude Earl "Tiny" Thornhill (1893-1956)
After Glenn Scobey Warner resigned as head coach of Stanford in 1932, Thornhill was hired to replace him. After three Rose Bowl appearances, including a loss against Alabama in 1935, Thornhill's squads faltered. He was fired in 1939 with a career 35-25-7 (.575) record. Thornhill was an All-American guard for Warner at Pittsburgh and played professionally for several years before entering coaching.
Wallace Wade (1892-1986)
Coach of the Alabama football team from 1923-1930. Wade ked the team to three Rose Bowls before leaving for Duke University. His record at Alabama was 61-13-3 (.812). Wade played in the 1916 Rose Bowl for Brown. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.
Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner (1871-1954)
A pioneer of the sport, Warner 43-year career included stints at Georgia, Cornell, Pittsburgh, Temple and Carlisle Indian School. As Stanford coach from 1924 to 1931, Warner lead the team to three Rose Bowl games including the 1937 matchup with Alabama. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.
