1914 Florida Gators football team

The 1914 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1914 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. The season was C. J. McCoy's first year of three as the head coach of the Gators team. McCoy's 1914 Florida Gators completed their ninth varsity football season on a four-game winning streak, with an overall record of 5–2[1] and an SIAA conference record of 3–2.[2]

1914 Florida Gators football
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1914 record5–2 (3–2 SIAA)
Head coach
CaptainJohn Sutton, Puss Hancock
Home stadiumUniversity Athletic Field
1914 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
Tennessee + 6 0 0  9 0 0
Auburn + 4 0 1  8 0 1
Texas A&M 2 0 0  6 1 1
Ole Miss 2 1 1  5 4 1
Mississippi A&M 4 2 0  6 2 0
Sewanee 4 2 0  5 3 0
Florida 3 2 0  5 2 0
Georgia 2 2 1  3 5 1
Clemson 2 2 0  5 3 1
Alabama 3 3 0  5 4 0
Kentucky 1 1 0  5 3 0
LSU 1 2 1  4 4 1
Chattanooga 1 3 0  5 4 0
Vanderbilt 1 3 0  2 6 0
Mississippi College 0 1 1  4 3 1
Wofford 0 1 0  1 7 1
Centre 0 1 0  1 3 1
Mercer 0 3 0  5 4 0
Tulane 0 3 1  3 3 1
The Citadel 0 3 0  2 5 0
  • + Conference co-champions

Before the season

End Joe Swanson was shifted to fullback.[3]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResult
October 10vs. AuburnJacksonville, FL (rivalry)L 20–0
October 17King CollegeW 36–0
October 24vs. Sewanee
L 26–0
October 31vs. Florida Southern*Tampa, FLW 59–0
November 7Wofford
  • University Field
  • Gainesville, FL
W 66–0
November 14at The CitadelW 7–0
November 26Mercer
  • University Field
  • Gainesville, FL
W 14–0
  • *Non-conference game

Primary source: 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide.[1]

Season summary

Auburn

Auburn at Florida
1 234Total
Auburn 0 0713 20
Florida 0 000 0

Coach Mike Donahue's Auburn team was nearly as strong as the season before, and beat Florida 200 en route to another SIAA title. In contrast to last year, the Gators held Auburn scoreless in the first half,[3] and the loss was seen as a moral victory and sign of progress.[5] However, the Gators also lost their captain. John Sutton left the game feeling poorly, and further examination revealed a weak heart.[5] Roy "Puss" Hancock took over for Sutton as captain.[6]

Auburn's backfield played well and fullback Bedie Bidez scored two touchdowns.[4] Florida gave way to Auburn's superior weight by the second half.[3][4]

King College

In the second week of play, Florida enjoyed a first-time victory against the King College Tornado, 36–0.[7]

Sewanee

Sewanee at Florida
1 234Total
Sewanee 13 706 26
Florida 0 000 0

Florida suffered a shutout loss to the Sewanee Tigers, 26–0. Florida was outplayed in the first half.[9] In the final period, Sewanee quarterback Lee Tolley had an 85-yard touchdown run.[8]

The starting lineup was Henderson (left end), Lotspeich (left tackle), Goldsby (left guard), Farrior (center), Yon (right guard), Hancock (right tackle), Freeman (right end), Oates (quarterback), Fuller (left halfback), Sparkman (right halfback), Swanson (fullback).[8]

Florida Southern

In Tampa, Florida extended the winning streak over Florida Southern 59–0.[10]

Wofford

Florida beat Wofford for the first time 66–0.[11]

The Citadel

Florida at The Citadel
1 234Total
Florida 7 000 7
The Citadel 0 000 0
  • Date: November 14
  • Location: College Park Stadium
    Charleston, SC
  • Game weather: Heavy rain

In Charleston, the Gators defeated The Citadel 7–0 in a heavy rain and a field saturated with inches of mud.[12] Rammy Ramsdell returned the opening kickoff back 40 yards, and Jim Sparkman eventually carried it over for the decisive touchdown,[12] "before the ball was wet."[13]

Mercer

Florida closed the season with a 14–0 win over the Mercer Baptists on Thanksgiving.[11]

Postseason

Florida ranked in the top half of the SIAA. The yearbook remarked that a Gator squad had never had more "guts".[14]

Personnel

Linemen

Player Position Games
started
High school Height Weight Age
CapplemanGuard5'9"16023
CowsertEnd5'8"14518
FreemanEnd5'11"16020
Jack GoldsbyGuard5'9"18519
Puss HancockTackle5'10"18523
B. HendersonEnd5'9"15519
Daddy LotspiechTackle5'10"16523
Rex FarriorCenterHillsborough5'9"16818
ReidEnd5'10"16719
John B. SuttonTackle6'0"18523
Roy Van CampTackle, Back5'10"16220
Everett YonGuard6'0"17519

Backfield

Player Position Games
started
High school Height Weight Age
Artie FullerFullback5'11"15819
Rammy RamsdellQuarterbackHillsborough5'10"14820
Jim SparkmanHalfback5'8"16718
Joe SwansonFullback6'0"16521
ThompsonHalfback5'7"15023

[15]

Coaching staff

  • Head coach: Charles J. McCoy
  • Manager: Ed Embry

References

  1. 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  2. Roger Saylor, "Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Archived 2011-05-26 at WebCite," College Football Historical Society, The LA84 Foundation (1993). Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  3. University of Florida 1915, p. 97
  4. "Auburn 20, Florida 0". The Atlanta Constitution. October 11, 1914. p. 3. Retrieved July 22, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  5. McEwen 1974, p. 58
  6. Marty Cohen (1995). Gator Tales. p. 11. ISBN 9781880652459.
  7. University of Florida 1915, p. 98
  8. "Tigers Romp Over Plucky Floridians". Sewanee Purple. October 29, 1914. hdl:11005/1027.
  9. "Sewanee Defeated Florida". The Houston Post. October 25, 1914. p. 19. Retrieved July 23, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  10. University of Florida 1915, p. 99
  11. University of Florida 1915, p. 101
  12. "Citadel-Florida Game Played In Heavy Rain". The Wilmington Morning Star. November 15, 1914. p. 7. Retrieved July 22, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  13. University of Florida 1915, p. 100
  14. University of Florida 1915, p. 95
  15. University of Florida 1915, pp. 95–100

Bibliography

  • McEwen, Tom (1974). The Gators: A Story of Florida Football. Huntsville, Alabama: The Strode Publishers. ISBN 0-87397-025-X.
  • University of Florida (1915). The Seminole. 6.
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