Title
University of Alabama coaches, 1934
Subject
Football Coaches --University of Alabama
Thomas, Frank William, 1898-1954
Harold D. "Red" Drew, 1894-1979
Jennings Bryan "J.B." Whitworth, 1908-1960
Burnum, Paul, 1900-1981
Description
Shown in the photo on the front row: Harold Drew, Frank W. Thomas, Paul Burnum, and J.B. Whitworth. On the back row are assistants John Cain, Carney Laslie, Joe Sharpe and Bob Clark.
Coach Frank W. Thomas received his football training under Knute Rockne at Notre Dame, where he played quarterback. Thomas served as head football coach at the University of Chattanooga, then came to Alabama in 1931 to replace Wallace Wade, who resigned. At Alabama, between 1931 and 1946, Thomas’ teams won 155, lost only 24 and tied 7 games. His teams won two national championships and four Southeastern Conference titles.
Assisting Thomas in 1934 were Athletic Director Hank Crisp, basketball coach and the man responsible for the Tide’s great forward wall (not in photograph); Harold Drew, J.B. Whitworth, baseball coach and instructor of guards and Paul Burnum, whose ability to get the first-year men ready for varsity competition was widely known. John Cain, Joe Sharpe and Carney Laslie rendered invaluable aid as individual instructors of the backs, centers and tackles respectively. Bob Clark was assisting Coach Drew with the 1934 track squad.
Harold D. “Red” Drew developed the ends in the Crimson Tide football team while building strong track teams. He followed Frank Thomas as head football coach from 1947 to 1954, attaining a record of 55-28-7. His teams attended the Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl and won the Orange Bowl. His 1953 team were Southeastern Conference champions. Drew also coached track and field teams for 23 seasons, retiring in 1965.
J.B. (Jennings Bryan) “Ears” Whitworth was an Alabama graduate and played tackle for the Crimson Tide. He was assistant coach at Alabama (coaching baseball at Alabama from 1933 to 1934), Louisiana State University and the University of Georgia prior to becoming head coach at Alabama, following Harold “Red” Drew. He served as head coach from 1955-1957 with a 14-game losing streak in 1956. Whitworth was fired in 1957 and replaced by Paul W. “Bear” Bryant.
Paul Burnam was the coach of multiple sports at the University of Alabama, having served as head coach of basketball and baseball teams and as an assistant for the football team. Burnam was head football coach at Tuscaloosa High School where he led the Black Bears to an undefeated record, five state championships and two national championships during his five-year tenure there.
Coach Frank W. Thomas received his football training under Knute Rockne at Notre Dame, where he played quarterback. Thomas served as head football coach at the University of Chattanooga, then came to Alabama in 1931 to replace Wallace Wade, who resigned. At Alabama, between 1931 and 1946, Thomas’ teams won 155, lost only 24 and tied 7 games. His teams won two national championships and four Southeastern Conference titles.
Assisting Thomas in 1934 were Athletic Director Hank Crisp, basketball coach and the man responsible for the Tide’s great forward wall (not in photograph); Harold Drew, J.B. Whitworth, baseball coach and instructor of guards and Paul Burnum, whose ability to get the first-year men ready for varsity competition was widely known. John Cain, Joe Sharpe and Carney Laslie rendered invaluable aid as individual instructors of the backs, centers and tackles respectively. Bob Clark was assisting Coach Drew with the 1934 track squad.
Harold D. “Red” Drew developed the ends in the Crimson Tide football team while building strong track teams. He followed Frank Thomas as head football coach from 1947 to 1954, attaining a record of 55-28-7. His teams attended the Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl and won the Orange Bowl. His 1953 team were Southeastern Conference champions. Drew also coached track and field teams for 23 seasons, retiring in 1965.
J.B. (Jennings Bryan) “Ears” Whitworth was an Alabama graduate and played tackle for the Crimson Tide. He was assistant coach at Alabama (coaching baseball at Alabama from 1933 to 1934), Louisiana State University and the University of Georgia prior to becoming head coach at Alabama, following Harold “Red” Drew. He served as head coach from 1955-1957 with a 14-game losing streak in 1956. Whitworth was fired in 1957 and replaced by Paul W. “Bear” Bryant.
Paul Burnam was the coach of multiple sports at the University of Alabama, having served as head coach of basketball and baseball teams and as an assistant for the football team. Burnam was head football coach at Tuscaloosa High School where he led the Black Bears to an undefeated record, five state championships and two national championships during his five-year tenure there.
Creator
The Corolla
Source
The Corolla
Date
1934
Contributor
Betty Slowe (Description)
Type
Photograph
Identifier
2564
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Original Format
Photograph