1917 Florida Gators football team
American college football season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1917 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1917 college football season. The season was Alfred L. Buser's first of three as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. The 1917 season was a disappointment; the team completed their football season with an SIAA conference record of 1â3[1] and an overall record of 2â4.[2]
- Alfred L. Buser (1st season)
- Artie Fuller
- Rowdy Bill Wilkinson
| 1917 Florida Gators football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Record | 2â4 (1â3 SIAA) |
| Head coach |
|
| Captains |
|
| Home stadium | University Athletic Field |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech $ | 4 | â | 0 | â | 0 | 9 | â | 0 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 5 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 5 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Centre | 1 | â | 0 | â | 0 | 7 | â | 1 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 3 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 1 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 3 | â | 1 | â | 1 | 5 | â | 2 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 4 | â | 2 | â | 1 | 5 | â | 2 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | 2 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 3 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 2 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 5 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | 2 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 5 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wofford | 1 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Furman | 1 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 5 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 1 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 2 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 1 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 1 | â | 4 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howard (AL) | 0 | â | 2 | â | 1 | 3 | â | 3 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Citadel | 0 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi College | 0 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 0 | â | 5 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Before the season
Coach Buser was a former All-American lineman for the Wisconsin Badgers, and promised to bring a Midwestern power football style of play to revive the Gators after the winless 1916 season.[3] Captain "Rowdy Bill" Wilkinson was the team's only returning letterman.[4]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 13 | South Carolina | W 21â13 | [5] | |
| October 20 | Tulane |
| L 0â52 | [6] |
| October 27 | Southern College* |
| W 19â7 | [7] |
| November 3 | at Auburn | L 0â68 | [8] | |
| November 17 | vs. Clemson | L 7â55 | [9] | |
| November 29 | at Kentucky* | L 0â52 | [10] | |
| ||||
Game summaries
South Carolina
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
| ⢠Florida | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
- Date: October 13
- Location: Gainesville, FL
- Referee: Street (W&L)
- Sources:[3]
On opening day, Florida came from behind with three touchdowns in the third quarter to beat South Carolina 21â13.[3]
The starting lineup was Clemmons (left end), Wurtrich (left tackle), Connell (left guard), Wells (center), Swink (right guard), Brannon (right tackle), Thomas (right end), Fuller (quarterback), Wilkinson (left halfback), Ball (right halfback), Lightsey (fullback).[3]
Tulane
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Tulane | 7 | 20 | 18 | 6 | 51 |
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Date: October 20
- Location: Gainesville, FL
- Referee: John Counselman
- Sources:[11]
Tulane overwhelmed the Gators 52â0,[11] several times skirting the ends for long gains.[12] The Gators were frequently penalized for offsides and hurdling.[12]
The starting lineup was Clemmons (left end), Wurtrich (left tackle), Connell (left guard), Wells (center), Otto (right guard), Brannon (right tackle), Thomas (right end), Fuller (quarterback), Wilkinson (left halfback), Ball (right halfback), Lightsey (fullback).[11]
Southern College
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern College | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| ⢠Florida | 6 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 19 |
- Date: October 27
- Location: Gainesville, FL
- Referee: Ted Arnold
- Sources:[13]
The Gators extended their winning streak over the Southern College to four games, winning 19â7.[13] After the first ten minutes, Florida replaced its backfield with second-string men.[13]
The starting lineup was Clemmons (left end), Wutrich (left tackle), Swink (left guard), Dye (center), Cornell (right guard), Brannon (right tackle), Thomas (right end), Fuller (quarterback), Marshall (left halfback), Leifeste (right halfback), Lightsey (fullback).[13]
Auburn
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Auburn | 14 | 19 | 21 | 14 | 68 |
- Date: November 6
- Location: Auburn, AL
- Referee: Tom Dutton
- Sources:[14]
Florida endured its sixth-straight loss to coach Mike Donahue's Auburn team. The Plainsmen had their biggest win on the season over Florida, 68â0.[14]
The starting lineup was Clemmons (left end), Wutrich (left tackle), Connell (left guard), Dye (center), Otto (right guard), Brannon (right tackle), Thomas (right end), Fuller (quarterback), Wilkinson (left halfback), Ball (right halfback), Fernald (fullback).[14]
Clemson
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Clemson | 21 | 7 | 20 | 7 | 55 |
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
- Date: November 17
- Location: Barrs Field
Jacksonville, FL - Referee: Streit (Auburn)
Clemson defeated the Gators 55â7.[15] Florida's only score came on a forward pass, Loomis to Thomas.[15]
The starting lineup was Clemmons (left end), Wutrich (left tackle), Connell (left guard), Dye (center), Otto (right guard), Brannon (right tackle), Thomas (right end), Loomis (quarterback), Wilkinson (left halfback), Ball (right halfback), Lightsey (fullback).[15]
Kentucky
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Kentucky | 13 | 13 | 20 | 6 | 52 |
- Date: November 29
- Location: Stoll Field
Lexington, KY - Referee: Swain (Dickerson)
- Sources:[17]
On Thanksgiving, in the school's first-ever game against the Kentucky Wildcats, Florida lost 52â0.[17] Kentucky used its substitutes by the second half.[18]
The starting lineup was Clemmons (left end), Wuthrich (left tackle), Connell (left guard), Dye (center), Gunn (right guard), Brannon (right tackle), Thomas (right end), Loomis (quarterback), Wilkinson (left halfback), Ball (right halfback), Fernald (fullback).[17]
Personnel
Line
| Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cutie Brannon | Tackle | 6 | Gainesville | 5'7" | 170 | 21 | |
| Gordon Clemmons | End | 6 | Plant City | 5'10" | 140 | 19 | |
| Harvey Connell | Guard | 6 | Orlando | 6'0" | 180 | 19 | |
| Colonel Dye | Center | 4 | Bradentown | 5'11" | 170 | 19 | |
| Rat Paul Hayman | End | Punta Gorda | 5'7" | 150 | 21 | ||
| P. C. Swink | Guard, tackle | 2 | Spartanburg, SC | 5'10" | 155 | 20 | |
| Clarence Thomas | End | 6 | Gainesville | 5'11" | 160 | 18 | |
| Fats Wuthrich | Tackle | 6 | Brewster | 5'8" | 170 | 20 |
Backfield
| Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heinie Ball | Halfback | 5 | Sanford | 5'5" | 155 | 20 | |
| Billy Canova | Quarterback | Lake City | 5'6" | 150 | 19 | ||
| Fernie Fernald | Fullback | 2 | Tarpon Springs | 5'9" | 155 | 18 | |
| Horace Loomis | Quarterback | 2 | Plant City | 5'9" | 135 | 19 | |
| Alf Marshall | Halfback | 1 | Clearwater | 5'7" | 145 | 21 | |
| Rowdy Bill Wilkinson | Halfback | 5 | Gainesville | 5'8" | 145 | 25 |
