University of Alabama
Crimson Tide
Programs
and
Games

Go to the bottom of the page to see the programs covers

            Part of the experience of going to a football game is that of purchasing a game program. The program is a historical marker for that particular game. The earliest accounts of game programs go back to the first game ever played in 1892.

1892

          Over the past 100 years programs for the Crimson Tide have changed dramatically. During the 1920's, 30's and up to 1940, programs for Alabama were larger in size than they are today. During this era game programs measured approximately 13" x 11" and would featured the photo of a Crimson Tide player on the cover.

 

 

1933

         From the early 40's to the mid 60's, programs would be smaller in size, approximately 8"X10", and feature "stock" covers drawn by renowned program artist Lon Keller. What is meant by "stock" covers is that the University would have several different covers from which to choose. All they had to do was put the game information on the cover.     

 

1959

      
    By the mid 60's players would appear on the covers first time since 1940. The size of the programs would once again change to the size that we have today. For the 1968 and 1969 season, the game programs would feature a series of pullout posters of great Alabama legends like Johnny Mack Brown, Don Hutson and Joe Namath. The posters would return 20 years later.

1966

          The 1970 season would bring the most radical change to game programs in history. That year and for the next six, the University would introduce weekly newspapers that would be sold on game day called "Crimson Tide Illustrated." These "programs" would be much cheaper to produce and could be changed from week to week since there were printed like newspapers. The size of them would make them very hard to carry around. They were the size of a current Sporting News. These programs today are very hard to find today since most people would throw them away after games.

1974

         For the 1977 season regular size programs returned to Alabama home games. From that year till the present the covers would either feature current players or members of the coaching staff. Coach Paul W. Bryant would appear on the cover of programs numerous times during the late 70's and till his retirement in 1982. He last appearance on a regular season cover during his tenure at the University of Alabama was the 1982 Auburn game.

 

 

1982