The 1913 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1913 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. The season was George Pyle's fifth and last as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Pyle's 1913 Florida Gators completed their eighth varsity football season with an overall record of 4–3 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide , University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015. and their fourth year in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) with a conference record of 2–2.Roger Saylor, " Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association ," College Football Historical Society, The LA84 Foundation (1993). Retrieved September 11, 2010.
The 144–0 defeat of Florida Southern is the largest in school history.
Schedule
Game summaries Florida Southern The highlight of the Gators' 1913 campaign was a 144–0 victory over Florida Southern, still the most lopsided game in program history despite shortening the quarters from 15 to 12 minutes each. Back Harvey Hester scored 7 touchdowns, a record which also still stands, while Louis Tenney scored five touchdowns; Swanson three, and future team captain Rex Farrior scored a touchdown in his first collegiate game.
Auburn
Sources:
The defeat of Florida Southern was followed five days later by a 55–0 loss to an Auburn Tigers team that finished its season undefeated and untied. Auburn scored five touchdowns in the first half. Captain Kirk Newell retired in the third period due to the heat.
The starting lineup was Henderson (left end), Coarsey (left tackle), Sutton (left guard), Price (center), Bullock (right guard), Ward (right tackle), Buie (right end), Swanson (quarterback), Lawler (left halfback), Hester (right halfback), Tenney (fullback).
Maryville In the third week of play, Florida overwhelmed , 39–0, using several forward passes. Price made two field goals, including one of 40 yards.
Georgia Tech
Sources:
Coach John Heisman's Georgia Tech team defeated Florida 3–13. Heisman said the Gators played the best football he'd seen a Florida squad play. Florida scored first with a 30-yard placekick field goal from Price. In the third quarter, a 25-yard pass from Homer Cook to Cushman netted a touchdown for the Yellow Jackets. Cook scored again in the final period.
The starting lineup was Buie (left end), Coarsey (left tackle), Sutton (left guard), Price (center), Lotspeich (right guard), Hancock (right tackle), Henderson (right end), Mosley (quarterback), Tenney (left halfback), Hester (right halfback), Swanson (fullback).
South Carolina The South Carolina Gamecocks beat the visiting Gators 13–0 in a steady rain. Florida's star back Harvey Hester had been suspended by the university for missing class, but Coach Pyle brought him to Columbia anyway, where he played under the name "Burnett". University president Albert Murphree was unamused by Pyle's "skullduggery", and the incident played a part in the coach's dismissal at the end of the season.
The Citadel
Sources:
The Gators defeated The Citadel 18–13 in a close game. Buie and Hester scored in the first period. Citadel came back in the second quarter with a long pass from Weeks to Bolton. In the third quarter, Buie blocked a Citadel kick, leading to another touchdown. Another pass got Citadel's final touchdown.
Mercer The Gators also defeated the Mercer Baptists, 24–0, for their first win in six games against the Baptists. Captain Tenney was the feature of the contest.
Postseason George Pyle finished his five-year tenure as the coach of the Florida Gators with an overall record of 26–7–3. After leaving Florida, Pyle became the athletic director of the West Virginia Mountaineers." West Virginia Is Coming Along Well," The Pittsburg Press, Sporting Section, p. 3 (September 20, 1914). Retrieved March 23, 2010. John Sutton was elected captain for next season.
Personnel Line Sam Buie endCappleman guardJames Coarsey tackleW. H. Crom guardRex Farrior guard Hillsborough 5'9"16817Henry Freeman endRoy Hancock tackleW. B. Henderson endDaddy Lotspiech guard 5'10"16522J. A. Miller endT. E. Price centerJohn Sutton tackle 6'0"18522F. M. Swanson center
Backfield Trux Bullock fullbackPaul Burnett halfbackHarvey Hester halfbackJack Lawless fullbackGeorge Moseley quarterbackRammy Ramsdell quarterback Hillsborough5'10"14819Alex Shaw halfbackJoe Swanson fullback 6'0"16520Louis E. Tenny halfback
References
Bibliography