1926 Florida Gators football team

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 2–6–2 overall,[1] and 1–4–1 in the Southern Conference, placing nineteenth of twenty-two teams in the conference standings.[2]

1926 Florida Gators football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
1926 record2–6–2 (1–4–1 19th SoCon)
Head coach
Offensive schemeNotre Dame Box
CaptainLamar Sarra
Home stadiumFleming Field
Uniform
1926 Southern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
Alabama $ 8 –0 –0  9 –0 –1
Tennessee 5 –1 –0  8 –1 –0
Vanderbilt 4 –1 –0  8 –1 –0
South Carolina 4 –2 –0  6 –4 –0
Georgia 4 –2 –0  5 –4 –0
Virginia 4 –2 –1  6 –2 –2
VPI 3 –2 –1  5 –3 –1
Washington and Lee 3 –2 –1  4 –3 –2
Georgia Tech 4 –3 –0  4 –5 –0
North Carolina 3 –3 –0  4 –5 –0
Auburn 3 –3 –0  5 –4 –0
LSU 3 –3 –0  6 –3 –0
Ole Miss 2 –2 –0  5 –4 –0
Mississippi A&M 2 –3 –0  5 –4 –0
VMI 2 –4 –0  5 –5 –0
Tulane 2 –4 –0  3 –5 –1
Maryland 1 –3 –1  5 –4 –1
Clemson 1 –3 –0  2 –7 –0
Florida 1 –4 –1  2 –6 –2
Kentucky 1 –4 –1  2 –6 –1
NC State 0 –4 –0  4 –6 –0
Sewanee 0 –5 –0  2 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion

The highlights of the season were the Gators' two victories home field over the Florida Southern Moccasins and Clemson Tigers, which were interspersed among four close losses to the Chicago Maroons (6–12), the Ole Miss Rebels (7–12), the Mercer Bears (3–7) and the Kentucky Wildcats (13–18), crushing defeats by the Georgia Bulldogs (9–32) and coach Wallace Wade's undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide (0–49), and two low-scoring ties with the Hampden–Sydney Tigers (0–0) 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
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 23Florida Southern*
W 16–0
October 2at Chicago*
L 12–6
October 6Mississippi
  • Fleming Field
  • Gainesville, FL
L 12–7
October 16at Mercer*Macon, GAL 7–3
October 23vs. Kentucky
L 18–13
October 30at Georgia
L 32–9
November 6Clemson
  • Fleming Field
  • Gainesville, FL (HC)
W 33–0
November 13at Alabama
L 49–0
November 20vs. Hampden–Sydney*
T 0–010,000
November 27vs. Washington & Lee
  • Durkee Field
  • Jacksonville, FL
T 7–7
  • *Non-conference game

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

Season summary

Florida Southern

The season opened with a 16–0 home victory over the Florida Southern Moccasins.

Chicago
Week 2: Florida at Chicago
1 234Total
Florida 6 000 6
• Chicago 6 303 12

Amos Stagg's Chicago Maroons defeated Florida 12–6. A 60-yard forward pass from Walter E. Marks to Apitz scored first for Chicago. Stanley Rouse added two more field goals.[6][7]

Ole Miss
Week 3: Ole Miss vs. Florida
1 234Total
• Ole Miss 6 006 12
Florida 0 007 7

Ole Miss beat Florida with a "lucky pass."[8] from Petty to Ap Applewhite.[9]

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).[9]

Mercer
Week 4: Florida at Mercer
1 234Total
• Florida 6 000 6
Mercer 0 300 3

The Mercer Bears surprised and beat Florida in a close loss, 7–3.[10] Florida's Bishop made a 30-yard field goal.[10] The game's umpire was Buck Flowers.[10]

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).[10]

Kentucky
Week 5: Kentucky at Florida
1 234Total
• Kentucky 12 006 18
Florida 7 600 13

Once after three days practice, Sebring took his men to Kingsley Lake.[11][12] Injuries plagued the season.[13] Florida lost to Kentucky 13–18. 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.[14]

Kentucky scored first, when captain Frank Smith bucked across the goal line.[14] The extra point was missed. Florida took the lead after a Kentucky fumble on a punt was recovered by Tommy Owens.[14] Beck went over, and Owens added the extra point. By a series of forward passes, Kentucky got another touchdown.[14] Owens went right around end for Florida to regain the lead.[14] After a scoreless third period, Kentucky put together a winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.[14]

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).[13]

Georgia
Week 6: Florida at Georgia
1 234Total
Florida 0 270 9
• Georgia 6 13130 32
  • Date: October 30
  • Location: Athens, GA
  • Game attendance: 5,000
  • Game weather: Warm
  • Referee: Hull

Georgia crushed the Gators 32–9. The weather was too warm, and the game suffered from several penalties.[15]

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).[15]

Clemson

At home, Florida defeated the Clemson Tigers 33–0. Willie DeHoff caught two touchdowns.[16]

Alabama

Wallace Wade's undefeated national champion Alabama Crimson Tide rolled over the Gators 49–0.[17]

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).[18]

Hampden–Sydney
Week 9: Hampden–Sydney vs. Florida
1 234Total
Hampden–Sydney 0 000 0
Florida 0 000 0

The Gators and the Hampden–Sydney Tigers fought to a scoreless tie. Tommy Owens suffered a broken collarbone.[20]

Washington & Lee

Coach Pat Herron's Washington and Lee Generals tied Florida 7–7.

Postseason

"The wolves began to clamor for Sebring's scalp as the 1926 season ended" wrote Pete Norton.[21]

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 parenthesis. The chart mimics a Notre Dame Box on offense.

LE
Frank Oosterhoudt (3)
Dutch Stanley (2)
 
 
LTLGCRGRT
Jus Clemons (2)Tucker (2)Lamar Sarra (4)Tucker (3)Jus Clemons (3)
Davis (2)Allen (1)Harris (1)Allen (1)Tiny Chaplin (2)
Green (1)Ripley (1)Stewart (1)
 Stewart (1)
RE
Frank Oosterhoudt (2)
Willie DeHoff (1)
Dutch Stanley (1)
Trogden (1)
QB
Goof Bowyer (4)
Speedy Walker (1)
RHB
Tommy Owens (4)
Cecil Beck (1)
LHB
Cecil Beck (1)
Larson (1)
Livingston (1)
Joe Merrin (1)
Tommy Owens (1)
FB
Horse Bishop (2)
Elmer Ihrig (2)
Davis (1)

References
  1. 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida (2015).
  2. 2009 Southern Conference Football Media Guide, Year-by-Year Standings, Southern Conference, Spartanburg, South Carolina, pp. 74–77 (2009).
  3. "Florida Gators to Play Through Strenuous Grid Schedule in 1926 Sport". St. Petersburg Times. August 10, 1926.
  4. "Dickson Takes Hand in Gator Training Work". The Miami News.
  5. "Middlekauff Cheers Gator Football Men". St. Petersburg Times. September 17, 1926.
  6. "Chicago Maroons Take Measure of Florida Gators". The Anniston Star. October 3, 1926. p. 8. Retrieved January 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Floridians Lose 12 to 6 and Gain Esteem of Fans". Sarasota Herald. October 3, 1926.
  8. "Lucky Pass Gives Ole Miss Victory In Florida Clash". The Anniston Star. October 10, 1926. p. 8. Retrieved January 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Woodruff 1928, p. 140
  10. "Mercer Wins Over Gators In Close One". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. October 17, 1926.
  11. "Gators Relax After Drills". St. Petersburg Times. October 22, 1926.
  12. "Crippled Gators To Meet Kentucky Wildcats Today". The Evening Independent. October 23, 1926.
  13. "Crippled Gators To Meet Kentucky Wildcats Today". Evening Independent. October 23, 1926.
  14. "'Gators Lose To Kentucky On Hot Field". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. October 24, 1926.
  15. "Georgia Downs Gators By Huge Score In Athens". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. October 21, 1926.
  16. "'Gators Take Easy One From Clemson Tiger". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. November 7, 1926.
  17. 1926 Recap
  18. "Alabama Beats 'Gators Badly In Montgomery". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. November 14, 1926.
  19. Kaleidoscope. 1927. Hampden–Sydney, VA: Hampden–Sydney College. 1927. p. 93. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  20. "'Gators Fight Virginians To Scoreless Tie". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. November 21, 1926.
  21. Pete Norton (December 23, 1934). "Sport Outlook". St. Petersburg Times.
  • Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. 3.
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