1926 Florida Gators football team
American college football season
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The 1926 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1926 college football season. The season was Harold Sebring's second and least successful campaign as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Sebring's 1926 Florida Gators finished 2â6â2 overall,[1] and 1â4â1 in the Southern Conference, placing nineteenth of twenty-two teams in the conference standings.[2]
- Harold Sebring (2nd season)
| 1926 Florida Gators football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Southern Conference |
| Record | 2â6â2 (1â4â1 19th SoCon) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive scheme | Notre Dame Box |
| Captain | Lamar Sarra |
| Home stadium | Fleming Field |
Uniform | |
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| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 7 Alabama $ | 8 | â | 0 | â | 0 | 9 | â | 0 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 5 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 8 | â | 1 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 4 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 8 | â | 1 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | 4 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 4 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia | 4 | â | 2 | â | 1 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VPI | 3 | â | 2 | â | 1 | 5 | â | 3 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington and Lee | 3 | â | 2 | â | 1 | 4 | â | 3 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech | 4 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 5 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Carolina | 3 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 5 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 3 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 3 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 2 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 2 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VMI | 2 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 5 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | 2 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 5 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maryland | 1 | â | 3 | â | 1 | 5 | â | 4 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 1 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 2 | â | 7 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 1 | â | 4 | â | 1 | 2 | â | 6 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 1 | â | 4 | â | 1 | 2 | â | 6 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NC State | 0 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 6 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 0 | â | 5 | â | 0 | 2 | â | 6 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The highlights of the season were the Gators' two victories home field over the Southern College Moccasins and Clemson Tigers, which were interspersed among four close losses to the Chicago Maroons (6â12), the Ole Miss Rebels (7â12), the Mercer Bears (3â7) and the Kentucky Wildcats (13â18), crushing defeats by the Georgia Bulldogs (9â32) and coach Wallace Wade's undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide (0â49), and two low-scoring ties with the HampdenâSydney Tigers (0â0) and the Washington & Lee Generals.
Before the season
Florida was set to play one of its hardest schedules.[3] Former fullback Ray Dickson assisted Sebring.[4]
Bill Middlekauff, a fullback who played on the 1923 and 1924 teams, returned to the squad.[5] Key losses from the previous year included Edgar C. Jones.
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 25 | Southern College* | W 16â0 | [6] | ||
| October 2 | at Chicago* | L 6â12 | 30,000 | [7] | |
| October 6 | Ole Miss |
| L 7â12 | [8] | |
| October 16 | at Mercer* |
| L 3â7 | 6,000 | [9] |
| October 23 | vs. Kentucky | L 13â18 | [10] | ||
| October 30 | at Georgia | L 9â32 | [11] | ||
| November 6 | Clemson |
| W 33â0 | [12] | |
| November 13 | at Alabama | L 0â49 | [13] | ||
| November 20 | vs. HampdenâSydney* | T 0â0 | 4,500 | [14] | |
| November 27 | vs. Washington & Lee |
| T 7â7 | [15] | |
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Game summaries
Southern College
The season opened with a 16â0 home victory over Southern College.
Chicago
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| ⢠Chicago | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
- Date: October 2
- Location: Stagg Field, Chicago, IL
- Game attendance: 20,000
Amos Stagg's Chicago Maroons defeated Florida 12â6. A 60-yard forward pass from Wally Marks to Laurie Apitz scored first for Chicago. Stanley Rouse added two more field goals.[16][17]
Ole Miss
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Ole Miss | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
- Date: October 6
- Location: Gainesville, FL
Ole Miss beat Florida with a "lucky pass."[18] from Petty to Ap Applewhite.[19]
The starting lineup was Stanley (left end), Davis (left tackle), Allen (left guard), Sarra (center), Tucker (right guard), Clemons (right tackle), Oosterhoudt (right end), Walker (quarterback), Owens (left halfback), Merrin (right halfback), Bishop (fullback).[19]
Mercer
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Florida | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Mercer | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
- Date: October 9
- Location: Macon, GA
- Referee: Herman Stegeman
The Mercer Bears surprised and beat Florida in a close loss, 7â3.[20] Florida's Bishop made a 30-yard field goal.[20] The game's umpire was Buck Flowers.[20]
The starting lineup was Oosterhoudt (left end), Davis (left tackle), J. Stewart (left guard), Sarra (center), Tucker (right guard), Clemmons (right tackle), Stanley (right end), Bowyer (quarterback), Owens (left halfback), Beck (right halfback), Bishop (fullback).[20]
Kentucky
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Kentucky | 12 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 18 |
| Florida | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
- Date: October 20
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
- Game weather: Hot
- Referee: Alex Cunningham
Once after three days practice, Sebring took his men to Kingsley Lake.[21][22] Injuries plagued the season.[23] Florida lost to Kentucky 13â18. The game was hot, "with the thermometer standing in the eihties. A spectator, J. D. Alverman, 50, dropped dead during an exciting moment of the game.[24]
Kentucky scored first, when captain Frank Smith bucked across the goal line.[24] The extra point was missed. Florida took the lead after a Kentucky fumble on a punt was recovered by Tommy Owens.[24] Beck went over, and Owens added the extra point. By a series of forward passes, Kentucky got another touchdown.[24] Owens went right around end for Florida to regain the lead.[24] After a scoreless third period, Kentucky put together a winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.[24]
The starting lineup was Oosterhoudt (left end), Clemons (left tackle), Tucker (left guard), Harris (center), Stewart (right guard), Chaplin (right tackle), Dehoff (right end), Bowyer (quarterback), Beck (left halfback), Owens (right halfback), Ihrig (fullback).[23]
Georgia
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 9 |
| ⢠Georgia | 6 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 32 |
- Date: October 30
- Location: Athens, GA
- Game attendance: 5,000
- Game weather: Warm
- Referee: Hull
Georgia crushed the Gators 32â9. The weather was too warm, and the game suffered from several penalties.[25]
The starting lineup was Oosterhoudt (left end), Clemons (left tackle), Ripley (left guard), Sarra (center), Tucker (right guard), Chaplin (right tackle), Trogden (right end), Bowyer (quarterback), Owens (left halfback), Larson (right halfback), Davis (fullback).[25]
Clemson
At home, Florida defeated the Clemson Tigers 33â0. Willie DeHoff caught two touchdowns.[26]
Alabama
Wallace Wade's undefeated national champion Alabama Crimson Tide rolled over the Gators 49â0.[27]
The starting lineup was Stanley (left end), Green (left tackle), Tucker (left guard), Sarra (center), Allen (right guard), Clemons (right tackle), Oosterhoudt (right end), Bowyer (quarterback), Owens (left halfback), Livingston (right halfback), Ihrig (fullback).[28]
HampdenâSydney
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HampdenâSydney | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Date: November 20
- Location: Plant Field
Tampa, FL - Game attendance: 10,000[29]
The Gators and the HampdenâSydney Tigers fought to a scoreless tie. Tommy Owens suffered a broken collarbone.[30]
Washington & Lee
Coach Pat Herron's Washington and Lee Generals tied Florida 7â7.
Postseason
"The wolves began to clamor for Sebring's scalp as the 1926 season ended" wrote Pete Norton.[31]
Players
Depth chart
The following chart provides a visual depiction of Florida's lineup during the 1926 season with games started at the position reflected in parentheses. The chart mimics a Notre Dame Box on offense.
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