American college football season
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 1–3[ 1] and an overall record of 2–4.[ 2]
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
[ 2]
Game summaries
South Carolina
South Carolina at Florida
1
2 3 4 Total
South Carolina
0
7 0 6
13
• Florida
0
0 21 0
21
On opening day, Florida came from behind with three touchdowns in the third quarter to beat South Carolina 21–13.[ 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
Tulane at Florida
1
2 3 4 Total
• Tulane
7
20 18 6
51
Florida
0
0 0 0
0
Tulane overwhelmed the Gators 52–0,[ 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]
Florida Southern
Florida Southern at Florida
1
2 3 4 Total
Southern
0
0 7 0
7
• Florida
6
0 6 7
19
The Gators extended their winning streak over the Florida Southern to four games, winning 19–7.[ 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
Florida at Auburn
1
2 3 4 Total
Florida
0
0 0 0
0
• Auburn
14
19 21 14
68
Florida endured its sixth-straight loss to coach Mike Donahue 's Auburn team. The Plainsmen had their biggest win on the season over Florida, 68–0.[ 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
Clemson at Florida
1
2 3 4 Total
• Clemson
21
7 20 7
55
Florida
0
0 0 7
7
Clemson defeated the Gators 55–7.[ 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
Florida at Kentucky
1
2 3 4 Total
Florida
0
0 0 0
0
• Kentucky
13
13 20 6
52
On Thanksgiving, in the school's first-ever game against the Kentucky Wildcats , Florida lost 52–0.[ 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
Coaching staff
Head coach: Al Buser
Manager: W. E. Stone
Assistant managers: E. B. Casler, J. W. Dalton[ 19]
References
^ Roger Saylor, "Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Archived 2011-05-23 at the Wayback Machine ," College Football Historical Society, The LA84 Foundation (1993). Retrieved September 11, 2010.
^ a b 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.
^ a b c d "Gators Smash Carolina Defense And Win Brilliant 21-13 Victory" . The Florida Alligator . October 17, 1917.
^ University of Florida 1918 , p. 73
^ "South Carolina defense swept away for Florida victory" . The Tampa Tribune . October 14, 1917. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Tulane swamps the Alligators" . The Tampa Sunday Tribune . October 21, 1917. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Southern fights 'Gators to finish" . The Tampa Sunday Tribune . October 28, 1917. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Florida downed by Auburn Tigers by score of 68 to 0" . The Montgomery Advertiser . November 4, 1917. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Too much Clemson for Florida team" . The Columbia Record . November 18, 1917. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Kentucky romps" . The Commercial Appeal . November 30, 1917. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ a b c "Tulane Swamps The Alligators" . The Florida Alligator . October 24, 1917.
^ a b "Tulane 52, Florida 0" . The Atlanta Constitution . October 21, 1917. p. 4. Retrieved July 26, 2016 – via Newspapers.com .
^ a b c d "Southern Puts Up A Stiff Fight But Gators Prove Too Strong" . The Florida Alligator . October 31, 1917.
^ a b c "Auburn Had Little Trouble Defeating The Light Gator Eleven" . The Florida Alligator . November 7, 1917.
^ a b c d Roy L. Bishop (November 21, 1917). "Superior Weight of Clemson Eleven Enabled Them To Defeat Florida Team" . The Florida Alligator .
^ "Clemson Defeats Florida's Eleven" . Miami Herald . Miami, Florida . November 18, 1917. p. 8. Retrieved April 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
^ a b c "Florida Loses To Kentucky 52-0" . The Florida Alligator . December 5, 1917.
^ "State Wins Final Game" . The Courier Journal . November 30, 1917. p. 7. Retrieved July 26, 2016 – via Newspapers.com .
^ University of Florida 1918 , pp. 72–77
Bibliography
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