1915 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

The 1915 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1915 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 23rd overall and 20th season as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA). The team was led by head coach Thomas Kelly, in his first year. It was in 1915 Alabama moved its on campus home games from The Quad, where all on-campus home games had been played since 1893, and to a new location, University Field (later renamed Denny Field in honor of school president George Denny in 1920). Home games were also played at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a 6-2 record, 4-1 in the SIAA.

Game notes
William T. "Bully" Van de Graaff, who punted, kicked, and played tackle, was named Alabama's first All-American in 1915.

Alabama opened the season 5-0 with four shutout victories and a 23-10 win over Sewanee. Against Mississippi College Van de Graaff kicked four field goals and missed a fifth from 54 yards out when the ball hit the upright. The victory over Sewanee was the first for Alabama in that series since 1894. Alabama led the Tigers 10–0 at the half and continued to lead by that score after Sewanee marched inside the Alabama 20 four times in the third but came away with no points. The Tigers finally scored a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, then blocked a punt and kicked a field goal to tie the game 10–10. However, Van de Graff knocked the ball out of a Sewanee player's hand and ran it back 65 yards for a touchdown, then tacked on two more field goals as the Tide beat the Tigers for only the second time in 12 meetings.

Coach Kelley was hospitalized with typhoid fever two days prior to the Tulane game, and as a result missed the last five games of the season. Athletic director B. L. Noojin and former quarterback Farley Moody then served as co-head coaches for the remainder of the season. The 1915 season in its entirety is still officially credited to Kelley.

Schedule

 * Source: Rolltide.com: 1915 Alabama football schedule

Awards
For his efforts, William T. Van de Graaff was selected to the 1915 College Football All-America Team. His selection was the first ever for an Alabama football player.