When the Alabama-Vanderbilt game was for a berth in the Rose Bowl

 Alabama and Vanderbilt meet in Nashville this fall for the 86th time in their history. That's only three fewer meetings than Alabama has had versus Auburn. Alabama should win this game with ease as the Tide looks to play in the revamped playoff format. Vandy will certainly try --and hope to win,but realistically hope for a good performance and respectablity. As the 86th game looms, the Tide leads the series 63-18-4. But there was a time when this was a big game and not a 'gimme' for Alabama. 

Vanderbilt quarterback Watson Brown asks the crowd for silence as Vandy upsets Alabama, 14-10 in 1969

In fact when Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant answered "Mama's Call" in 1958 Alabama led the series by a mere 17-16-2. With the exception an occassional dip in the road,Alabama has continued to play for conference and national championships. Vanderbilt has emerged as a college baseball power. But way back in 1937 these two were as good as any team in America and arguably played that year's "Game of the Year."

Coach Bryant was 21-1-2 vs Vandy from 1958-1982 and was an assistant for the Tide in 1937 game

Alabama had finished the 1936 season 8-0-1 and 4th in the final AP Poll. Vandy finished 1936 3-5-1 with its first losing season in 21 years.Frank Thomas' Tide "rolled" into Nashville Thanksgiving Day of 1937 8-0-0 and 4th in the nation. Alabama was ranked as high as number two after a win over Tennessee but dropped two spots prior to the Vandy game. Only one time had Alabama trailed in the fourth quarter, and that was to Tulane in New Orleans.

Alabama was led by captain Leroy Monsky , Charlie Holm and Joe Kilgrow in 1937

Vanderbilt was coached by Ray Morrison who had been an All-Southern quarterback for Vandy in 1911 and had come to home to Nashville after leading SMU from 1922 to 1934. Morrison, one of the finest athletes to every wear the black and gold was actually Vandy's 'interim' head coach in 1918,during WWI as well as head baseball and head basketball coach. Vandy started 1937 4-0 with wins over then Big Ten member the University of Chicago and Morrison's former team,SMU. It was on the train ride to Dallas where plans for made for the following week's game vs powerful LSU.

Morrison's offensive coach, Henry Frnka, who would lead Tulane to glory years 10 years later, had scouted the Tigers and worried Vandy couldn't beat them. However, Frnka told Morrison about a play he had used as Greenville (Texas) HS head coach three years earlier that he was sure would work. As fate would have it Greenville HS was playing a game in Dallas that night and Frkna convinced Morrison to go with him to see that game (Vandy coaches violated every protocol of 'not looking ahead.' Evidently SMU was a 'gimme.') Frnka convinced his former assistant and now HC of Greenville,Dennis Vinzant to run the play. During the game Greenville ran the play, what was believed to be the origin of the 'Fumblerooski.'

Vandy did eke out a 6-0 win over SMU and returned to Nashville to face an LSU, or "L.S.U." as referred in newpapers. LSU was 6th in the nation and had not lost a regular season game in three years and was the 13 member SEC two-time reigning champion. Vandy had vaulted into the polls as #20 but the Tigers were favored having not allowed a point all season.

The 'Fumblerooski' was installed in secrecy,which is hard to fathom today.The week of the LSU game, Morrison dismissed the entire squad after practice--including assistants--except the 11 offensive starters and Frnka. The play was run over and over.

On a cold day, LSU received the kickoff and had to punt. Vandy returned the ball near midfield. After one short game it was decided to run the play. Vanderbilt, like many if not most teams ran "the" or variation of the Single-Wing.Vandy's All-World center,Carl Hinkle snapped the ball to the blocking back, or fullback who would typically 'spin' and keep or pitch out. Vandy's right guard and tackle, Greer Ricketson and Ed Merlin switched positions and Ricketson appeared to "pull" to block for 'Dutch' Reinschmidt. While spinning, Reinschmidt laid the ball on the ground and sprinted to the left being pursued by Tigers. Ricketson 'tripped' and laid on the ball and counted to three (debateable if replay would allow this today) and picked up the ball and raced 50 yards down the 'Western Sideline' as one time Vanderbilt and Arkansas play by play announcer,Paul Eells referred to it. Ricketson scored and Vandy led, 7-0.

Vandy's "Hidden Ball Play", a/k/a "Fumblerooksi helped upset LSU, 7-6. 

While this happended early in the game, LSU was stunned and didn't recover until late in the game. The Tigers did score in the last minute to cut the lead to 7-6. With the two point conversion not being an option for 21 more years, LSU had to go for a tie. The conversion snap went over the holder's head and Vandy then recovered the on-side kick and the game ended shortly.

The Commodores rose to #7 but a loss in Atlanta to Georgia Tech dropped them back to #20. But two more wins and a win in Knoxville over Tennessee, 13-7 got Vandy back to #12.

The California Golden Bears clinched the 'home' berth in the Rose Bowl winning the Pacific Coast Conference-one of the many league names over the years which applied to the now all but defunct Pac 12. The Rose Bowl committee needed a team now to represent "The East." That year's committee seemed to express more of an interest in a team from a conference,without really stating a reason. This rationale would eliminate #1 and defending Rose Bowl champion ,Pittsburgh. But it would give them an option of the Thanksgiving bash in Nashville between Alabama and Vandy.

Los Angeles Times readers appeared to be high on Alabama and Vanderbilt

If the Tide and Commodore game wasn't big enough, SEC Title on the line, Sugar Bowl and maybe even Rose Bowl on the line, it was Homecoming on West End. In this era being someone's homecoming opponent wasn't the perceived insult as it is today. In fact,Vanderbilt had been Tennessee's homecoming opponent the week before. All 22,000 seats at Dudley Field were sold and scalpers were asking for as much as $15 a seat. NBC radio selected this game as it's "National Game of the Week' and would make it available to almost 100 radio stations across the country. In addition, Grantland Rice would be covering the game. Rice,the premier sports writer in America and former Vandy player and graduate would be making his first trip to Nashville in over 10 years. With national radio and Rice, this was as much of a "Gameday" as there could be in 1937.

Vanderbilt alum and famed sports writer,Grantland Rice presence added to the buildup of the 1937 Alabama-Vandy game. If Rice was covering an event,it was a big deal

Alabama was an early six to seven point favorite.But with Thursday's forecast of rain, those who set these things determined Vandy was a better "mudder." By game day the line had shrunk to three points and two at some venues.

'Banner' headlines regaled the point spread and festivities

Gameday started with filled hotel rooms in Nashville and parades, including Alabama's own "Million Dollar Band" and homecoming parades emenating from downtown to the Vandy campus. While overcast, the rain never materialized and the game was set.

Neither squad could do anything for most of the first half. With the score 0-0 nearing halftime, near mid-field Vanderbilt tried the 'hidden ball play' again. While the play that beat LSU a month earlier resonated across the country, Morrison had edited it out of films that he sent to opponents for scouting purposes. But someone associated with Alabama knew about it as the Tide smashed through to cause and recover a fumble on the Vandy 44. With under two minutes left Alabama drove and scored with six seconds left in the half. Joe Kilgrow hit Tut Warren for a touchdown and as Kilgrow's extra point try was wide, the Tide took a 6-0 lead into the clubhouse.

After both teams traded punts twice in the third,Vandy started to move. Bert Marshall, who played HS for Frnka at Greenville,TX, got "hot" at least for 1937, and drove Vandy deep.Marshall then hit Hardy Housman for a short game and Housman drug two Alabama players with him over the goal line. Vanderbilt's conversion was good and Vandy led, 7-6 going into the final stanza.

Kilgrow and Charlie Holm started moving the ball almost at will against the Vandy front. The Tide had a first and goal at the Commodore 5. Alabama failed to gain on the first three downs and then eschewed a field goal attempt. Kilgrow lofted a wounded duck into the endzone which was batted around by two Alabama players and two Vandy players and fell harmlessly into the endzone. Vandy had held and seemed in good position to win.

With 10 minutes left Alabama started on its 23. The Tide mixed running and passing while the clock kept moving. On fourth down at the Vanderbilt 16, this time Alabama would kick. But Haywoond "Sandy" Sanford would come on to kick instead of Kilgrow who had simply moved back as if to kick. Sanford's 22 yard kick barely cleared Vandy's Hinkle's leap and the ball went over the crossbar for a 9-7 lead.

Sanford's kick barely cleared Carl Hinkle's leap to give the Tide the lead. Hinkle,consensus All-American for Vandy finished 7th in the 1937 Heisman race.

Vanderbilt got the ball back twice but couldn't penetrate midfield. Alabama hung on and won,9-7. Along with the SEC Championship, four days later the Rose Committee would officially invite Alabama. Alabama would decline the Sugar Bowl bid and accept the Rose bid. Vanderbilt, holding out hope that the Orange Bowl after waiting on the Rose and Sugar would offer the Commodores a bid, were disappointed and ended their season 7-2-0.

But the week of Thanksgiving 1937 was 'old hat' for Alabama, and like most ever season finale, Vandy got to taste the big time.