1919 Auburn Tigers football team
American college football season
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The 1919 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1919 college football season. It was the Tigers' 28th overall season and they competed as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA). The team was led by head coach Mike Donahue, in his 15th year, and played their home games at Drake Field in Auburn, Alabama. They finished with a record of eight wins and one loss (8â1 overall, 5â1 in the SIAA) and as SIAA champions.
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| 1919 Auburn Tigers football | |
|---|---|
| |
SIAA champion | |
| Conference | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Record | 8â1 (5â1 SIAA) |
| Head coach |
|
| Base defense | 7â2â2 |
| Captain | Pete Bonner |
| Home stadium | Drake Field Rickwood Field |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn $ | 5 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 8 | â | 1 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 6 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 8 | â | 1 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Centre | 1 | â | 0 | â | 0 | 9 | â | 0 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 3 | â | 1 | â | 1 | 3 | â | 4 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech | 3 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 7 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | 3 | â | 1 | â | 1 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 3 | â | 1 | â | 2 | 5 | â | 1 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Furman | 2 | â | 1 | â | 1 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 5 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 4 | â | 2 | â | 2 | 4 | â | 2 | â | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 3 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 3 | â | 2 | â | 2 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 2 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wofford | 1 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 2 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transylvania | 1 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 2 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 1 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Citadel | 1 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 4 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 1 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 6 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgetown (KY) | 0 | â | 0 | â | 0 | 0 | â | 2 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 0 | â | 3 | â | 2 | 3 | â | 3 | â | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | 0 | â | 4 | â | 1 | 1 | â | 7 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mercer | 0 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 0 | â | 2 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi College | 0 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 5 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howard (AL) | 0 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 5 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The team's captain was tackle Pete Bonner. His brother Thomas Herbert "Herb" Bonner also attended Auburn and was a guard on the team.[1]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 27 | Marion* | W 37â0 | [2] | ||
| October 4 | at Howard (AL) | W 19â6 | [3] | ||
| October 11 | Camp Gordon* |
| W 25â13 | [4] | |
| October 17 | Clemson |
| W 7â0 | [5] | |
| October 25 | at Vanderbilt | L 6â7 | [6] | ||
| November 1 | vs. Georgia | W 7â0 | 8,000 | [7] | |
| November 8 | at Spring Hill* | Mobile, AL | W 19â0 | [8] | |
| November 15 | Mississippi A&M |
| W 7â0 | 8,000 | [9] |
| November 27 | at Georgia Tech | W 14â7 | [10] | ||
| |||||
Game summaries
Marion Military Institute
The season opened with a 37â0 victory over the Marion Military Institute.
Howard (AL)
In the second week of play, the Tigers had a poor showing but managed to beat the Howard Bulldogs, 19â6.[13][14]
Camp Gordon
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Gordon | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13 |
| ⢠Auburn | 6 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 25 |
- Date: October 10
- Location: Drake Field
Auburn, Alabama - Referee: Kid Woodruff
- Sources:[13]
Auburn came back to beat the Fifth Division of Camp Gordon 25â13 in a "nerve-wracking" game.[13] Beretsky of the fifth division ran a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown.[13] The pounding of Red Howard and Ed Sherling led the comeback.[13]
The starting lineup was Shirley (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Sizemore (left guard), Snider (center), Warren (right guard), Rogers (right tackle), Pruitt (right end), Trapp (quarterback), Scott (left halfback), Howard (right halfback), Shirling (fullback).[13]
Clemson
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Auburn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
- Date: October 17
- Location: Drake Field
Auburn, Alabama - Referee: Alcock (Washington & Lee)
- Sources:[15]
Auburn beat Clemson 7â0. "It was anybody's game until the last quarter", when Sherling scored Auburn's lone touchdown. Rodney Ollinger starred on defense.[15]
The starting lineup was Ollinger (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Sizemore (left guard), Snider (center), H. Bonner (right guard), Rogers (right tackle), Pruitt (right end), Trapp (quarterback), Scott (left halfback), Howard (right halfback), Shirling (fullback).[15]
At Vanderbilt
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| ⢠Vanderbilt | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
- Date: October 25
- Location: Dudley Field
Nashville, Tennessee - Referee: Bradley Walker
- Sources:[16]
Auburn suffered the season's only loss to Dan McGugin's Vanderbilt Commodores 7â6. Josh Cody returned a fumble 15 yards for a touchdown and made the winning extra point.[16] A bit after, Ed Sherling ran in from the 1-yard line, but Pete Bonner missed goal.[16]
Vanderbilt's Tom Lipscomb and Frank Goar were sent in on Auburn's last drive. Goar had been sick and Lipscomb was suffering from an injured ankle. The two spurned the team to victory in what the Vanderbilt yearbook called "the greatest defensive stand ever staged by any Vanderbilt team."
The starting lineup was Ollinger (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Sizemore (left guard), Snider (center), H. Bonner (right guard), Rogers (right tackle), Pruitt (right end), Trapp (quarterback), Scott (left halfback), Howard (right halfback), Shirling (fullback).[16]
Georgia
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Auburn | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Date: November 1
- Location: Memorial Stadium
Columbus, Georgia - Game attendance: 8,000
- Game weather: Heavy rain
- Referee: John Counselman
- Sources:[17]
In heavy rain and mud, Auburn defeated Georgia 7â0.[17] Red Howard ran through the entire Georgia team for 52 yards and the touchdown.[17][18]
The starting lineup was Ollinger (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Sizemore (left guard), Caton (center), H. Bonner (right guard), Rogers (right tackle), Pruitt (right end), Trapp (quarterback), Williamson (left halfback), Howard (right halfback), Shirling (fullback).[17]
Spring Hill
The Spring Hill Badgers, coached by Auburn great Moon Ducote, fell to Auburn 10â0. A slippery field led to weak punting.[19] The starting lineup was Ollinger (left end), H. Bonner (left tackle), Griffin (left guard), Snider (center), Rogers (right guard), Martin (right tackle), Pruitt (right end), Trapp (quarterback), Shirey (left halfback), Stubbs (right halfback), Shirling (fullback).[19]
Mississippi A&M
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miss. A&M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Auburn | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
- Date: November 15
- Location: Rickwood Field
Birmingham, Alabama - Game attendance: 8,000
- Referee: Holligan (Michigan)
- Sources:[20]
In a meeting of unbeatens, Auburn beat the Mississippi Aggies 7â0. Herb Bonner recovered a fumble for the game's only touchdown.[20] Rodney Ollinger was as a standout as a punter and on defense.[20]
The starting lineup was Ollinger (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Warren (left guard), Caton (center), Rogers (right guard), H. Bonner (right tackle), Pruitt (right end), Trapp (quarterback), Williamson (left halfback), Howard (right halfback), Shirling (fullback).[20]
At Georgia Tech
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Auburn | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 14 |
| Ga. Tech | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
- Date: November 27
- Location: Grant Field
Atlanta - Referee: Jogger Elcock
- Sources:[21]
In John Heisman's last game as Georgia Tech head coach,[22] Auburn gave Tech its first loss to an SIAA school in five years (since Auburn won in 1914) by a 14â7 score. Fatty Warren proved the star of the game.
The first touchdown of the game was made by Jack McDonough.[21] Judy Harlan later fell on his own punt for a safety.[21] In the third quarter, Warren blocked a Dewey Scarboro punt and Sloan recovered the ball and ran it 35 yards for a touchdown.[21] Warren "waddled" for a 40-yard touchdown off a Jimmy Brewster fumble for the 14â7 victory.[21][22][23] Zelda Sayre sent captain Pete Bonner a telegram after the win, it read:[24]
"Shooting a seven, aren't we awfully proud of the boys, give them my loveâknew we could."
She signed it "Zelder Sayre".
The starting lineup was Ollinger (left end), P. Bonner (left tackle), Sloan (left guard), Caton (center), Rogers (right guard), Warren (right tackle), Pruitt (right end), Trapp (quarterback), Stubbs (left halfback), Howard (right halfback), Shirling (fullback).[21]
SIAA title
For defeating Tech and due to charges of professionalism aimed at undefeated Centre, Auburn was SIAA champion. Fuzzy Woodruff recalls "Auburn claimed it. "We defeated Tech" said Auburn. "Yes, but we defeated you" said Vanderbilt. "Yes", said Alabama, "but Tech, Tulane, and Tennessee took your measure. We defeated Georgia Tech, who tied Tulane, so we are champions...The newspapers, however, more or less generally supported the claim of Auburn..."[25]
