1925 Florida Gators football team

1925 Florida Gators football
Conference	Southern Conference
Record	8–2 (3–2 SoCon)
Head coach	Harold Sebring (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Notre Dame Box
Captain	Edgar C. Jones
Home stadium	Fleming Field
Uniform
Seasons ←  1924 1926  →

1925 Southern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 2 Alabama +	7	–	0	–	0			10	–	0	–	0
No. 6 Tulane +	5	–	0	–	0			9	–	0	–	1
North Carolina	4	–	0	–	1			7	–	1	–	1
Washington and Lee	5	–	1	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Virginia	4	–	1	–	1			7	–	1	–	1
Georgia Tech	4	–	1	–	1			6	–	2	–	1
Kentucky	4	–	2	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Florida	3	–	2	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Auburn	3	–	2	–	1			5	–	3	–	1
VPI	3	–	3	–	1			5	–	3	–	2
Vanderbilt	3	–	3	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Tennessee	2	–	2	–	1			5	–	2	–	1
South Carolina	2	–	2	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
Georgia	2	–	4	–	0			4	–	5	–	0
Sewanee	1	–	4	–	0			4	–	4	–	1
Mississippi A&M	1	–	4	–	0			3	–	4	–	1
VMI	1	–	5	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
LSU	0	–	2	–	1			5	–	3	–	1
NC State	0	–	4	–	1			3	–	5	–	1
Ole Miss	0	–	4	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Clemson	0	–	4	–	0			1	–	7	–	0
Maryland	0	–	4	–	0			2	–	5	–	1
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from Dickinson System

The 1925 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1925 Southern Conference football season. This was law student Harold Sebring's first of three seasons as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Sebring's 1925 Florida Gators finished 8–2 overall, ^[1] and 3–2 in the Southern Conference, placing eighth of twenty-two teams in the conference standings. ^[2]

The Gators compiled their best win–loss record to date, losing only to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 7–23 in Atlanta, Georgia and coach Wallace Wade's undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide 0–34 in Montgomery, Alabama. The highlights of the season included conference victories over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Clemson Tigers, Mississippi A&M Aggies and Washington & Lee Generals.

Captain and halfback Edgar C. Jones set a Florida single-season scoring record (108 points) that lasted until 1969.

Before the season

Practice began on September 14. ^[3] Coaches Tom Sebring, A. C. Tipton, Everett Yon, and Herb Bunker were in charge of the first workout. ^[4] Though he graduated, Clyde Norton was eligible to return. ^[5] Despite losing eight players, prospects were bright. ^{[6] [7]} 1925 saw the south's widespread use of the forward pass. ^[8] As coach Sebring recalled, quarterback Edgar C. Jones "held back from calling plays for himself the year before. I told him not to hold back." ^[9]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
October 3	Mercer *	Fleming Field Gainesville, FL	W 24–0	8,000	[10]
October 10	Florida Southern *	Fleming Field Gainesville FL	W 9–0		[11]
October 10	Hampden–Sydney *	Fleming Field Gainesville, FL	W 22–6		[12]
October 17	at Georgia Tech	Grant Field Atlanta, GA	L 7–23		[13]
October 24	Wake Forest *	Fleming Field Gainesville, FL	W 24–3		[14]
October 31	Rollins *	Fleming Field Gainesville, FL	W 61–0		[15]
November 7	at Clemson	Riggs Field Clemson, SC	W 42–0		[16]
November 14	at Alabama	Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL (rivalry)	L 0–34		[17]
November 21	vs. Mississippi A&M	Plant Field Tampa, FL	W 12–0	12,000	[18]
November 26	vs. Washington & Lee	Barrs Field Jacksonville, FL	W 17–14	15,000	[19]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^[1]

Game summaries

Week 1: Mercer

Week 1: Mercer at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total Mercer 0 0 0 0 0 •Florida 7 0 10 7 24 Date: October 3 Location: Fleming Field Gainesville, FL

In the opening contest at Fleming Field in Gainesville on October 3 against coach Stanley L. Robinson's Mercer Bears, Florida won 24–0. ^[20]

Horse Bishop scored in the first five minutes. ^[20] Dick Brown added the extra point. In the third quarter, Brown added a field goal, and Cy Williams recovered a Mercer fumble in the endzone. ^[20] Brown again converted the extra point. Cecil Beck ran across the final touchdown; Edgar C. Jones added the extra point. ^[20]

Week 2: Florida Southern and Hampden-Sydney

Week 2a: Florida Southern

Week 2a: Florida Southern at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total Fla. Southern 0 0 0 0 0 •Florida 0 3 6 0 9 Date: October 10 Location: Fleming Field Gainesville, FL

In the first game of a doubleheader in Gainesville on October 10, the Gators defeated the Florida Southern Moccasins 9–0, using mostly reserves. ^[20]

Tom Fuller made a field goal, the lone score of the first half. In the third period, Glen Whitaker intercepted a Southern pass and raced 20 yards for a touchdown. ^[20]

Week 2b: Hampden–Sydney

Week 2b: Hampden–Sydney at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total Hamp.–Sydney 0 0 0 6 6 •Florida 3 7 6 6 22 Date: October 10 Location: Fleming Field Gainesville, FL

Florida defeated Hampden–Sydney College 22–6 in the second game of the doubleheader. ^[20]

Edgar C. Jones scored first with a field goal. Lamar Sarra once scored after blocking a punt, gathering the ball, and running 10 yards to the endzone. ^[20] Burnett added the extra point. Tiny Chaplin made the next touchdown; and the final touchdown was a 22-yard run by Jones. ^[20]

Hampden–Sydney's score came when Atkins picked up a Florida fumble and raced 40 yards for a touchdown. ^[20]

Week 3: at Georgia Tech

Week 3: Florida at Georgia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total Florida 0 0 7 0 7 •Ga. Tech 7 3 13 0 23 Date: October 17 Location: Grant Field Atlanta, GA

A view of the game against Georgia Tech at Grant Field

Florida lost big to Bill Alexander's Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 23–7. The Gators made just five first downs to Tech's 15. ^[21] "After 5,000 fans had journeyed to Atlanta certain that captain Edgar Jones...would lead the Saurians to a glorious victory." ^[22]

Tech's Doug Wycoff scored two touchdowns. Wycoff scored first, and Ike Williams added the extra point. In the second period, Williams made a 12-yard field goal. Wycoff and Sam Murray scored in the third period, with one extra point converted by Williams.

The lone Gator touchdown came after a series of forward passes put them within Tech territory, including one of nearly 20 yards from Edgar C. Jones to Livingston. A 26-yard end run from Jones brought Florida to Tech's 4-yard line. Jones then scored through the line and kicked goal. ^{[21] [23]}

The starting lineup was: Anderson (left end), Williams (left tackle), Stewart (left guard), Sarra (center), Norton (right guard), Goldstein (right tackle), Todd (right end), Stanley (quarterback), Ihrig (left halfback), Bishop (right halfback), Chaplin (fullback). ^{[24] [25]}

Week 4: Wake Forest

Week 4: Wake Forest at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total Wake 3 0 0 0 3 •Florida 0 10 7 7 24 Date: October 24 Location: Fleming Field Gainesville, FL

The Gators practiced at night with whitewashed footballs in preparation for the homecoming contest with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. ^[26] On the back of Edgar C. Jones, who accounted for every point for his squad, Florida won 24–3. ^[27]

A field goal by Wake's Rackley gave the Demon Deacons a 3–0 lead at the end of the first quarter. ^[28] Jones then scored a touchdown, extra point, and converted a field goal by half's end. ^[29] A pass from Burnett to Jones made Florida's next touchdown. Jones went through tackle for the final score.

Week 5: Rollins

Florida rolled up a 61–0 score on the Rollins Tars, scoring 26 in the first quarter. ^[30]

Week 6: at Clemson

Week 6: Florida at Clemson

1 2 3 4 Total •Florida 6 0 21 15 42 Clemson 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 7 Location: Riggs Field Clemson, SC Referee: Perr (Sewanee)

In the most impressive win of the season, the Gators beat the Clemson Tigers 42–0 on the road.

Edgar C. Jones had a 28-yard run lead to a touchdown and another 30-yard touchdown run. Fullback Horse Bishop accounted for three touchdowns: one a run of 20 yards from scrimmage and two 30-yard interception returns. ^[31] Capt. Jones was declared the best back to run on a South Carolina gridiron in a number of years. ^[32]

The starting lineup was: Green (left end), Williams (left tackle), Norton (left guard), Sarra (center), Davis (right guard), Petronis (right tackle), Whitaker (right end), Stanley (quarterback), Brown (left halfback), Jones (right halfback), Bishop (fullback). ^[31]

Week 7: at Alabama

Week 7: Florida at Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total Florida 0 0 0 0 0 •Alabama 7 6 7 14 34 Date: November 14 Location: Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL Referee: Kittleman

A large crowd was expected in Montgomery for the game against coach Wallace Wade's Alabama Crimson Tide. ^[33] The return to the lineup of Tide center Gordon Holmes, injured against Georgia Tech, and the battle between backs Mack Brown and Edgar C. Jones brought intrigue. ^[33]

Goldy Goldstein.

Mack Brown made two touchdowns; Red Barnes two, and Pooley Hubert one on an interception. Brown's first score came when he caught the ball on a pass from Hubert at the 15-yard line, dodged Jones and scored. ^[34] A pass from Hubert to Brown in the end zone netted the second score. Florida's Scott returned the kickoff to Alabama's 20-yard line, nearly breaking the tackle there. Two Barnes interceptions set up his touchdowns, one a 16-yard run after catch and another an end run. Jones attempted a drop kick, which was short and returned by Brown for 35 yards. A drive and a pass to Barnes got Alabama to Florida's 3-yard line, and Hubert scored over center. ^[34]

Goldy Goldstein was the undisputed star for the Gators. ^[35]

The starting lineup was: Green (left end), Williams (left tackle), Norton (left guard), Sarra (center), Stewart (right guard), Goldstein (right tackle), E. Jones (right end), W. Jones (quarterback), Brown (left halfback), Burnett (right halfback), Bishop (fullback). ^[36]

Week 8: Mississippi A&M

Week 8: Mississippi A&M at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total Miss. A&M 0 0 0 0 0 •Florida 0 6 6 0 12 Date: November 21 Location: Plant Field Tampa, FL Game attendance: 20,000

For the ninth week of play, the Gators met coach Bernie Bierman's Mississippi Aggies in Tampa on Plant Field and won 12–0.

Edgar C. Jones, Lamar Sarra, and Greek Petronis were nursing injuries from the Alabama loss, ^[37] and the Mississippi Aggies had lost to Alabama by just a touchdown. ^[38] Despite this, Jones kicked two field goals and scored the only touchdown in a 12–0 victory.

After a bitterly fought first quarter, Jones netted 27-yard and 40-yard field goals for a 6–0 lead at the half. Jones ran off tackle for the game's only touchdown. Some 20,000 were in attendance. ^[39]

Week 9: Washington & Lee

Week 9: Washington & Lee at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total W&L 0 7 7 0 14 •Florida 3 0 7 7 17 Date: November 26 Location: Barrs Field Jacksonville, FL Game attendance: 15,000

The annual Thanksgiving game in Jacksonville with coach James DeHart's Washington & Lee Generals was marked by both teams' use of the forward pass and brought the highlight of the season. Once behind by a 14–3 deficit, Florida came back and won 17–14. ^[40]

The yearbook remarked: "Not since the 1923 Alabama game has Florida participated in a more brilliant, thrilling, and colorful football game." Edgar C. Jones made a 29-yard field goal in the first quarter, but the Generals responded with a touchdown from Palmer in the second. A 25-yard finger-tip touchdown catch by Spotts put the Gators behind 14–3. Jones ran in a touchdown; 14–10. Then in the fourth quarter Cy Williams blocked a Generals' punt. On fourth down, Jones caught the winning touchdown from Horse Bishop. ^[40]

Postseason

For the third year in a row, Goldy Goldstein made composite All-Southern. Captain Edgar C. Jones played in a charity game. ^[41]

Players

Depth chart

The following chart provides a visual depiction of Florida's lineup during the 1925 season with games started at the position reflected in parentheses. The chart mimics a Notre Dame Box on offense.

LE Tom Green (2) Stonebruise Anderson (1)   LT LG C RG RT Cy Williams (3) Clyde Norton (2) Lamar Sarra (3) Clyde Davis (1) Goldy Goldstein (2) Jack Stewart (1) Clyde Norton (1) Greek Petronis (1)   Jack Stewart (1) RE Edgar Jones (1) Todd (1) Whitaker (1) QB Spic Stanley (2) W. Jones (1) RHB Horse Bishop (1) Burnett (1) Edgar C. Jones (1) LHB Dick Brown (2) Elmer Ihrig (1) FB Horse Bishop (2) Tiny Chaplin (1)

Line

Player	Position	Games started	Hometown	Prep school	Height	Weight	Age
W. F. "Stonebruise" Anderson	guard
Ralph Champlain	tackle
Clyde Davis	guard
Goldy Goldstein	guard		Jacksonville, Florida	Duval High	6'3"	210	21
Tom Green	end
Cadillac Harry	tackle
Clyde Norton	guard
Frank Oosterhoudt	end
Greek Petronis	tackle
Ralph Proctor	center
Lamar Sarra	center
Jack Stewart	guard
Edgar Todd	end
Glen Whitaker	end
Cy Williams	tackle		Sopchoppy, Florida		6'0"	200

Backfield

Edgar C. Jones

Player	Position	Games started	Hometown	Prep school	Height	Weight	Age
Cecil Beck	halfback
Horse Bishop	fullback
Dick Brown	halfback
Tiny Chaplin	fullback				6'1"	195
Tom Fuller	fullback
Elmer Ihrig	fullback		Fort Myers, Florida	Fort Myers High	5'8"	174	21
Edgar C. Jones	halfback/quarterback		Jacksonville, Florida	Jacksonville High
Spic Stanley	halfback

^[42]

See also

• 1925 College Football All-Southern Team

References

1. 2012 Florida Football Media Guide Archived 2013-05-27 at the Wayback Machine , University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 107–116 (2012). Retrieved September 16, 2012.
2. 2009 Southern Conference Football Media Guide, Year-by-Year Standings, Southern Conference, Spartanburg, South Carolina, p. 74 (2009). Retrieved August 30, 2010.
3. "'Gator Fans Look For A Real Football Season At Gainesville This Year". The Evening Independent. September 1, 1925.
4. D. L. Graham, Jr. (September 9, 1925). "Gator Outfit Will Be A Real Fighting Aggregation". The Evening Independent.
5. "Star To Take Extra Course During Season". The Miami News. September 5, 1925.
6. "Florida Loses Many Grid Stars But Followers In Hopes For Real Contest". The Evening Independent. August 31, 1925.
7. D. L. Graham, Jr. (September 14, 1925). "Rat Team Of 1924 Expected To Help 'Gators This Year". The Evening Independent.
8. Schmidt, Raymond (June 18, 2007). Shaping College Football. Syracuse University Press. ISBN   9780815608868.
9. Carlson 2007 , p. 33
10. "Florida atones for 1924 defeat by trimming Mercer 24 to 0 in initial game". The Miami News. October 4, 1925. Retrieved December 10, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
11. "Reserves beat Southern team by 6–0 margin". Tampa Sunday Tribune. October 11, 1925. Retrieved December 10, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
12. "Virginians lose, 22 to 6; Fumble costs Florida record first blemish". Tampa Sunday Tribune. October 11, 1925. Retrieved December 10, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
13. "Georgia Tech decisively defeats Florida Alligators to wipe away deadlock of two years standing". The Palm Beach Post. October 18, 1925. Retrieved December 10, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
14. "Florida defeats Baptist Demons". The News and Observer. October 25, 1925. Retrieved December 10, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
15. "Florida Gators romp over Rollins Tars by 61–0 count". The Orlando Morning Sentinel. November 1, 1925. Retrieved December 10, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
16. "Florida runs wild on Clemson field". The Virginian-Pilot. November 8, 1925. Retrieved December 10, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
17. "Gators lose to Crimson Tide 34 to 0". Tampa Sunday Tribune. November 15, 1925. Retrieved December 10, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
18. "Mississippi Aggies lose to Florida, 12–0". The Commercial Appeal. November 22, 1925. Retrieved December 10, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
19. "Florida Alligators defeat Washington and Lee 17–14". Orlando Morning Sentinel. November 27, 1925. Retrieved December 10, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
20. University of Florida 1926 , pp. 114–117
21. "Florida 'Gators Lose Hard Battle". The Index-Journal. October 18, 1925. p. 7. Retrieved September 4, 2015– via Newspapers.com.
22. "St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive Search".
23. Universal Service (October 18, 1925). "Florida Beaten In Great Battle By Gold Tornado". St. Petersburg Times.
24. "Two Year Deadlock With Florida 'Gators Broken By Georgia Tech, 23 to 7". The Anniston Star. October 18, 1925. p. 8. Retrieved September 5, 2015– via Newspapers.com.
25. Woodruff 1928 , p. 96
26. "[No title]". Anniston Star. October 22, 1925. p. 12. Retrieved September 5, 2015– via Newspapers.com.
27. "Jones Plays Whole Game". Florence Morning News. October 25, 1925. p. 10. Retrieved September 5, 2015– via Newspapers.com.
28. Woodruff 1928 , p. 103
29. "Florida Gators Sweep To Victory Over Deacon Clan". Anniston Star. October 25, 1925. p. 10. Retrieved September 5, 2015– via Newspapers.com.
30. University of Florida 1926 , p. 118
31. "Clemson Loses To 'Gator Team". Florence Morning News. November 8, 1925. p. 14. Retrieved September 5, 2015– via Newspapers.com.
32. "Gators Return After Victory". St. Petersburg Times. November 10, 1925.
33. "Crimson Tide Rushing Upon Gator Eleven". Anniston Star. November 14, 1925. p. 6. Retrieved September 4, 2015– via Newspapers.com.
34. "1925 Season" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 19, 2017.
35. "Crimson Tide Overcomes Gators; Goldstein Stars For Losing Aggregation". The Anniston Star. November 15, 1925. p. 8. Retrieved September 4, 2015– via Newspapers.com.
36. "Alabama Machine Crushes Florida". The Index-Journal. November 15, 1925. p. 7. Retrieved September 5, 2015– via Newspapers.com.
37. "'Gator Squad Meets Aggies In Poor Trim". Anniston Star. November 18, 1925. p. 9. Retrieved September 4, 2015– via Newspapers.com.
38. "Aggies To Give Florida 'Gators Hard Run, Claim". Anniston Star. November 19, 1925. p. 12. Retrieved September 4, 2015– via Newspapers.com.
39. "Florida's Gators Whip Miss. Aggies". Asheville Citizen Times. November 22, 1925. p. 42. Retrieved January 6, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
40. "Thanksgiving Games in Old Dominion Reviewed". The Bee. Associated Press. November 27, 1925. p. 16. Retrieved September 5, 2015– via Newspapers.com.
41. "Gator Captain To Play Game In California". New Smyrna Daily News. December 22, 1925. p. 3. Retrieved September 5, 2015– via Newspapers.com.
42. "Gators Awarded Varsity Letters Include Manager". December 5, 1925.

Bibliography

• Carlson, Norm (2007). University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators. Atlanta, Georgia: Whitman Publishing, LLC. ISBN   978-0-7948-2298-9.
• University of Florida (1926). The Seminole. Vol. 17.
• Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. Vol. 3.

External links

• Media related to 1925 Florida Gators football team at Wikimedia Commons