The 1964 Black Bears were coached by Billy Henderson with Tom Tarleton, Marion Pierson, Tom Danner and Gerald Stephens assisting. They returned at least one letterman at each backfied position so expectations were high for the 1964 season. In fact they returned lettermen at every position on offense except center.
The Black Bears defense proved to be one of the best units in the state in 1964. They allowed ten opponents only 34 points. Sidney Lanier scored 21 of those points and only Ensley and Lee Montgomery were able to score against them with one touchdown each. Actually the Lee touchdown came on a kickoff turn of 99 yards.
Tuscaloosa breezed through their schedule with only a second game loss to Lanier keeping them from their first undefeated season since 1949. The 1949 Black Bears finished 9-0 under head coach Frank Kendall with Billy Henderson serving as his assistant.
Sidney Lanier led the polls until a final weekend loss to Lee Montgomery dropped them to third in the final poll by the Birmingham Post-Herald. The Black Bears edged out an undefeated Coffee team in the final poll by the Birmingham Post-Herald. Coffee was named state champions by the Associated Press final poll after Tuscaloosa led the poll the previous week.
Coach Henderson had been the Head coach for six seasons following the 1964 year and had accumulated a record of 42-13-4. Tuscaloosa had finished third in the state in 1963 losing only to Lanier 7-0 and Ensley 9-6.
|