1903 Alabama Crimson White football team
American college football season
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The 1903 Alabama Crimson White football team[A 1] (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1903 college football season. The team was led by head coach W. A. Blount, in his first season, and played their home games at The Quad in Tuscaloosa and at West End Park in Birmingham, Alabama. In what was the eleventh season of Alabama football, the team finished with a record of three wins and four losses (3â4, 3â4 SIAA). Alabama did not have another losing season until their 1951 season.
| 1903 Alabama Crimson White football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Record | 3â4 (3â4 SIAA) |
| Head coach |
|
| Captain | W. S. Wyatt |
| Home stadium | The Quad West End Park |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson + | 2 | â | 0 | â | 1 | 4 | â | 1 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cumberland (TN) + | 4 | â | 1 | â | 1 | 6 | â | 1 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 5 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 7 | â | 1 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 5 | â | 1 | â | 1 | 6 | â | 1 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 2 | â | 0 | â | 2 | 3 | â | 0 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 3 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 1 | â | 1 | â | 1 | 2 | â | 1 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas | 0 | â | 0 | â | 1 | 5 | â | 1 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky State | 0 | â | 0 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 1 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 3 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 2 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 2 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 5 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech | 1 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 5 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | 0 | â | 1 | â | 1 | 2 | â | 2 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mercer | 0 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 0 | â | 1 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nashville | 0 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 1 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 0 | â | 5 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 5 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SW Presbyterian | â | â | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alabama opened the season with a pair of shutout losses on the road. After their loss at Vanderbilt, they were defeated by Mississippi A&M at Columbus in what was their first all-time win against Alabama. They then won their first game against Auburn at Montgomery. Alabama then played back-to-back Monday games and lost to Sewanee at Birmingham and defeated LSU in the first Tuscaloosa game of the season. They then closed the season with a loss to eventual SIAA co-champion Cumberland and their first all-time victory over Tennessee in their final game on Thanksgiving.
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 10 | at Vanderbilt | L 0â30 | 1,000 | [3] | |
| October 16 | at Mississippi A&M |
| L 0â11 | 5,000 | [4] |
| October 23 | vs. Auburn | W 18â6 | 1,200 | [5] | |
| November 2 | Sewanee | L 0â23 | 2,400 | [6] | |
| November 9 | LSU | W 18â0 | [7] | ||
| November 14 | Cumberland (TN) | L 0â44 | [8] | ||
| November 26 | Tennessee | W 24â0 | [9] |
- Scoring note:[A 2]
Game summaries
Vanderbilt
| Team | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Vanderbilt | 18 | 12 | 30 |
- Date: October 10
- Location: Dudley Field
Nashville, Tennessee - Game attendance: 1,000
- Referee: Crawford
- Source:[10]
Alabama opened the 1903 season with a 30â0 loss against Vanderbilt in the first all-time meeting between the schools at Dudley Field. Vanderbilt took an 18â0 halftime lead after first half touchdowns were scored twice by Ed Hamilton and followed by John J. Tigert.[11] The Commodores then closed the game with two touchdowns in the second half scored by Dan Blake and Bob Blake for the 30â0 victory.[11] Tigert converted all five PAT's in their victory.[12] Frank Kyle starred for the Commodores in the contest with runs of 30, 35, 48 and 50-yards against the Crimson White.[11]
The starting lineup was: R. L. Lodge (left end), Aubrey Boyles (left tackle), W. C. Oates (left guard), James C. Gwin (center), J. C. Fortune (right guard), John Roberts Peavy (right tackle), W. S. Sherrill (right end), W. S. Wyatt (quarterback), Auxford Burks (left halfback), Truman Smith (right halfback), Frank B. Clark (fullback).[10]
Mississippi A&M
| Team | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Mississippi A&M | 0 | 11 | 11 |
- Date: October 16
- Location: Columbus Fairgrounds
Columbus, Mississippi - Game attendance: 5,000
- Source:[13]
A week after their loss to Vanderbilt, Alabama was defeated the Aggies of Mississippi A&M (now known as Mississippi State University) 11â0 at the Columbus Fairgrounds in Columbus, Mississippi.[12] The game was played before 5,000 fans in a light drizzle with the Aggies scoring all of their points in the second half after a scoreless first.[14]
Auburn
| Team | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Alabama | 6 | 12 | 18 |
| Auburn | 0 | 6 | 6 |
- Date: October 23
- Location: Riverside Park
Montgomery, Alabama - Game attendance: 1,200
After being shut out for their first two games, Alabama upset the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now known as Auburn University) 18â6 before 1,200 fans at Riverside Park in Montgomery.[17][18] J. V. Boyles scored a touchdown for Alabama to cap a 19-play, 79-yard drive on their opening possession and with the extra point took a 6â0 lead.[17]
In the second half, Alabama extended their lead to 12â0 after Truman Smith scored on a 45-yard touchdown run.[17] After Auburn cut the lead to 12â6 with a W. G. Boyd touchdown run, Alabama scored the final points of the game on a 25-yard Smith run for the 18â6 victory.[17]
The starting lineup was: R. L. Lodge (left end), Aubrey Boyles (left tackle), W. C. Oates (left guard), James C. Gwin (center), J. C. Fortune (right guard), John Roberts Peavy (right tackle), W. S. Sherrill (right end), W. S. Wyatt (quarterback), Auxford Burks (left halfback), Truman Smith (right halfback), Frank B. Clark (fullback).[15][16]
Sewanee
| Team | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Sewanee | 18 | 5 | 23 |
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Date: November 2
- Location: West End Park
Birmingham, Alabama - Game attendance: 2,400
Playing Sewanee for the first time since the 1896 season, Alabama was shut out 23â0 at West End Park in Birmingham. John Schaffer starred for the Tigers with three separate runs of 40-yards in the victory.[20] The game was originally scheduled to be played in Tuscaloosa, but was subsequently moved to Birmingham in an effort to increase gate receipts.[12] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Sewanee to 1â3.[21]
The starting lineup was: R. L. Lodge (left end), Aubrey Boyles (left tackle), W. C. Oates (left guard), James C. Gwin (center), Guy Redden (right guard), John C. McCorquodale (right tackle), W. S. Sherrill (right end), W. S. Wyatt (quarterback), Auxford Burks (left halfback), Truman Smith (right halfback), W. McMahon (fullback).[19]
LSU
| Team | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSU | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Alabama | 12 | 6 | 18 |
- Date: November 9
- Location: The Quad
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Alabama secured their first all-time victory over LSU with its 18â0 win at Tuscaloosa.[12] Both John Roberts Peavy and W. S. Sherrill scored first half touchdowns, and Truman Smith scored on a fake punt returned 65-yards for the 18â0 victory.[12] The starting lineup was: R. L. Lodge (left end), Aubrey Boyles (left tackle), W. C. Oates (left guard), James C. Gwin (center), Guy Redden (right guard), John Roberts Peavy (right tackle), W. S. Sherrill (right end), W. S. Wyatt (quarterback), Auxford Burks (left halfback), Truman Smith (right halfback), W. McMahon (fullback).[22][7]
Cumberland (TN)
Against Cumberland of Lebanon, Tennessee, Alabama lost 44â0 on The Quad in Tuscaloosa.[23]
The starting lineup was: W. S. Sherrill (left end), John Roberts Peavy (left tackle), W. C. Oates (left guard), James C. Gwin (center), Guy Redden (right guard), Aubrey Boyles (right tackle), R. L. Lodge (right end), W. S. Wyatt (quarterback), Auxford Burks (left halfback), Truman Smith (right halfback), W. McMahon (fullback).[24]
Tennessee
| Team | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Alabama | 24 | 0 | 24 |
- Date: November 26
- Location: West End Park
Birmingham, Alabama
- Source:[25]
A week after their 44â0 loss to Cumberland, Alabama defeated Tennessee 24â0 at Birmingham.[23] Alabama scored touchdowns on runs of three-yards by W. McMahon, one-yard by John Roberts Peavy, one-yard by Auxford Burks and two-yards by Truman Smith.[25]
The starting lineup was: R. L. Lodge (left end), Aubrey Boyles (left tackle), Guy Redden (left guard), James C. Gwin (center), W. C. Oates (right guard), John Roberts Peavy (right tackle), W. S. Sherrill (right end), W. S. Wyatt (quarterback), Auxford Burks (left halfback), Truman Smith (right halfback), W. McMahon (fullback).[25]
Players
Line
| Player | Position |
|---|---|
| Aubrey Boyles | tackle |
| J. C. Fortune | guard |
| J. C. Granade | tackle |
| James C. Gwin | center |
| R. L. Lodge | end |
| W. C. Oates | guard |
| John Roberts Peavy | tackle |
| Guy Redden | guard |
| W. S. Sherrill | end |
Backfield
| Player | Position |
|---|---|
| Auxford Burks | halfback |
| Frank B. Clark | |
| Floy Hall | |
| W. McMahon | |
| Truman Smith | |
| W. S. Wyatt |
Source:[12]
Notes
- For the 1903 season, point values were different from those used in contemporary games. In 1893 a touchdown was worth five points, a field goal was worth five points and a conversion (PAT) was worth one point.
