1897 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season

Last updated

1897 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season
League NCAA
Sport College football
DurationOctober 2, 1897
through January 8, 1898
Number of teams16
Regular Season
Season champions Vanderbilt
Football seasons
←  1896
1898  →
1897 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Vanderbilt $ 3 –0 –06 –0 –1
Georgia 2 –0 –02 –1 –0
Auburn 2 –0 –12 –0 –1
Tennessee 1 –0 –04 –1 –0
Central (KY) 1 –1 –01 –2 –0
Nashville 1 –1 –01 –1 –0
Alabama 0 –0 –01 –0 –0
Texas 0 –0 –06 –2 –0
LSU 0 –0 –01 –1 –0
Sewanee 1 –2 –11 –3 –1
Clemson 0 –1 –02 –2 –0
Mercer 0 –1 –00 –2 –1
Cumberland (TN) 0 –1 –00 –1 –0
Kentucky State College 0 –2 –02 –4 –0
SW Presbyterian 0 –0 –00 –0 –0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1897 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season was the college football games played by the members schools of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association as part of the 1897 college football season

Contents

The season began on October 2. Conference play began on October 9 with Georgia shutting out Clemson 24–0 in Athens.

After the Sewanee game, Coach R. G. Acton's Vanderbilt Commodores claimed the program's first ever conference title. [1] This was followed by a challenge met by the other southern team to claim a championship, South Atlantic school Virginia; which claims seven prior championships of the South. The game ended a 0–0 tie. Said Coach Acton, "It was the best game ever played in the South." Vanderbilt held all opponents scoreless. [2]

The Texas Longhorns averaged the most points per game in the conference. [3]

The 1897 season was one in which a member school, Tulane University, was barred from intercollegiate football participation by SIAA President, Dr. Dudley. This was part of a sanction handed down in response to the LSU game the previous season in which Tulane was forced to forfeit for having fielded an ineligible player. [4] [5]

The season was also notable for the game Virginia played against Georgia, featuring the death of Richard Von Albade Gammon. [6]

Season overview

Results and team statistics

Conf. RankTeamHead coachOverall recordConf. recordPPGPAG
1 Vanderbilt R. G. Acton 6–0–13–019.90.0
2 Georgia Charles McCarthy 2–12–018.75.7
3 Auburn John Heisman 2–0–12–0–113.31.3
4 Tennessee 4–11–012.83.2
5 (tie) Central H. McC. Anderson1–11–1
5 (tie) Nashville 1–11–1
5 (tie) Alabama Allen McCants 1–00–06.00.0
5 (tie) Texas Walter F. Kelly 6–20–020.54.5
5 (tie) LSU Allen Jeardeau 1–10–014.016.0
10 Sewanee J. G. Jayne1–3–11–2–13.05.6
11 (tie) Clemson William M. Williams 2–20–17.014.5
11 (tie) Cumberland 0–10–1
11 (tie) Georgia Tech J. B. Wood0–10–10.028.0
11 (tie) Mercer Gordon Saussy 0–1–10–10.013.0
15 Kentucky State Lyman B. Eaton2–40–24.719.7
? Southwestern Presbyterian

Key

PPG = Average of points scored per game
PAG = Average of points allowed per game

Regular season

Index to colors and formatting
Non-conference matchup; SIAA member won
Non-conference matchup; SIAA member lost
Non-conference matchup; tie
Conference matchup

SIAA teams in bold.

Week One

DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendanceReference
October 2 Kentucky University Kentucky State Lexington, KY W 8–6 [7]

Week Two

DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendanceReference
October 9Kentucky UniversityVanderbilt Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 22–0 [8]
October 9ClemsonGeorgia Herty Field • Athens, GA UGA 24–0 [9]
October 11Kentucky State Kentucky Wesleyan Winchester, KY L 0–4 [10]
October 15 King (TN) TennesseeBaldwin Park • Knoxville, TN W 28–0 [11]

Week Three

DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendanceReference
October 16Mercer Gordon Institute Barnesville, GA T 0–0 [12]
October 16SewaneeNashvilleNashville, TNNASH 6–5 [13]
October 18Central (KY)Sewanee Hardee Field • Sewanee, TN SEW 4–0 [14]

Week Four

DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendanceReference
October 23San AntonioTexas Varsity Athletic Field • Austin, TX W 10–0 [15]
October 23 Georgia Tech GeorgiaHerty Field • Athens, GAW 24–0600 [16]
October 23AuburnMercerCentral City Park • Macon, GA AUB 26–0 [17]
October 23 Williamsburg (KY) TennesseeBaldwin Park • Knoxville, TNW 6–0 [18]
October 23 Georgetown (KY) Kentucky StateLexington, KYW 20–4 [19]
October 23ClemsonCharlotte YMCA Latta Park • Charlotte, NC W 10–0
October 23 VMI VanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TNW 12–0 [20]
October 25Clemson North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC L 28–0 [21]
October 29AuburnNashville Nashville, TN AUB 14–4 [22]

Week Five

DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendanceReference
October 30AuburnSewaneeHardee Field • Sewanee, TNT 0–0 [23]
October 30 Washington and Lee CentralLexington, KYL 0–22 [24]
October 30 Virginia Georgia Brisbine Park • Atlanta, GA L 4–175,000 [25]
October 30Kentucky StateVanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TNVAN 50–0400 [26]
October 30TexasDallasCycle Park • Dallas, TX L 4–18 [27]
November 1Texas Fort Worth Fort Worth, TX L 0–6 [28]
November 3Texas Add-Ran Christian Waco, TX W 18–10 [29]

Week Six

DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendanceReference
November 5North CarolinaSewaneeHardee Field • Sewanee, TNL 6–12 [30]
November 6North CarolinaVanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TNW 31–0 [31]
November 6CentralKentucky StateLexington, KYCENT 18–0 [32]
November 8North CarolinaTennesseeBaldwin Park • Knoxville, TNL 0–16 [33]
November 10Clemson South Carolina Columbia, SC W 18–6 [34]

Week Seven

DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendanceReference
November 13Tuscaloosa Athletic ClubAlabama The Quad • Tuscaloosa, AL W 6–0 [35]
November 13Houston Town TeamTexasVarsity Athletic Field • Austin, TXW 42–6 [36]

Week Eight

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendanceReference
November 20TexasSan Antonio San Antonio, TX W 12–0 [37]
November 25Fort WorthTexasVarsity Athletic Field • Austin, TXW 38–0 [38]
November 25 Centre Kentucky StateLexington, KYL 0–36 [39]
November 25SewaneeVanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TNVAN 10–0 [40]
November 25Tennessee VPI Roanoke, VA W 18–0 [41]

Week Nine

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendanceReference
November 26TennesseeBristol Athletic Club Bristol, TN W 12–0 [42]

Week Ten

DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendanceReference
December 7VirginiaVanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TNT 0–02,400 [43]

Week Eleven

DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendanceReference
December 11DallasTexasVarsity Athletic Field • Austin, TXW 20–16 [44]

Week Twelve

Week Thirteen

DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendanceReference
December 20Montgomery Athletic ClubLSU State Field • Baton Rouge, LA W 28–6 [45]

Week Fourteen

Week Fifteen

Week Sixteen

DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendanceReference
January 8 Cincinnati LSUState Field • Baton Rouge, LAL 0–28 [46]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1902 LSU Tigers football team</span> American college football season

The 1902 LSU Tigers football team represented the Tigers of Louisiana State University during the 1902 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. W. S. Borland returned in 1902 for his second season as LSU head coach. The seven-game 1902 season was the longest for the Tigers since their first game in 1893 and also featured the most games on the road: five games played away and only two in Baton Rouge. Despite a single conference loss to Vanderbilt, the 1902 LSU team claimed an SIAA co-championship with Clemson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1897 Vanderbilt Commodores football team</span> American college football season

The 1897 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represent Vanderbilt University during the 1897 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. Vanderbilt was in its eighth season of playing football; coached by R. G. Acton. The Commodores finished the season without being scored on. Vanderbilt played in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) and won the SIAA Championship, the first claimed in school history.

The 1898 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University during the 1898 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. Vanderbilt was in its ninth season of playing football, coached by R. G. Acton in his third and last year at Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt's 1898 record was 1–5. This was Vanderbilt's first losing season.

The 1936 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1936 college football season. Led by third-year head coach Ray Morrison, the Commodores compiled an overall record of 3–5–1 with a mark of 1–3–1 in conference play, finishing ninth in the SEC. They played their six home games at Dudley Field in Nashville, Tennessee. Vanderbilt began the season by shutting out Middle Tennessee and Chicago, but did not score a point over the next four games before shutting Sewanee for their third win of the season. On October 17, the Commodores lost, 16–0, to the SMU Mustangs. Morrison had served as head coach for the Mustangs from 1922 to 1934.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1903 Vanderbilt Commodores football team</span> American college football season

The 1903 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University during the 1903 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. James R. Henry coached Vanderbilt for one season in 1903. His squad finished the season with a 6–1–1 record. The season was marred only by the upset loss to Cumberland. John J. Tigert and Bob Blake were both Rhodes Scholars.

The 1907 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University during the 1907 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. The team's head coach was Dan McGugin, who served his fourth season in that capacity. Members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Commodores played five home games in Nashville, Tennessee and finished the season with a record 5–1–1 and 3–0 in SIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1902 Vanderbilt Commodores football team</span> American college football season

The 1902 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University during the 1902 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. W. H. Watkins was in his second year coaching Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt was playing in its 13th season of football. The Commodores had wins over Cumberland, Ole Miss, Central of Kentucky, Tennessee, Washington University, Kentucky, Tulane and LSU. The Tulane and LSU contests were played with one day's rest between games for the Commodores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sewanee–Vanderbilt football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Sewanee–Vanderbilt football rivalry was an American college football rivalry between the Sewanee Tigers and Vanderbilt Commodores. They were both founding members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA), the Southern Conference, and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Both teams' histories feature some powerhouses of early Southern football, e.g. 1899 Sewanee Tigers football team and 1906 Vanderbilt Commodores football team. It was the oldest of Vanderbilt's rivalries; dating back to 1891 when Vanderbilt played its second ever football game and Sewanee played its first. Vanderbilt leads the series 40–8–4. It used to be claimed as the oldest rivalry in the south, older than the "South's Oldest Rivalry" between North Carolina and Virginia. Usually played towards the end of the season on Thanksgiving Day, the two teams have not met again since 1944.

The 1908 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University during the 1908 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. The team's head coach was Dan McGugin, who served his fifth season in that capacity. Members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA), the Commodores played eight home games in Nashville, Tennessee and finished the season with a record of 7–2–1 overall and 3–0–1 in SIAA.

The 1918 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the 1918 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season, which was interim head coach Ray Morrison's first year as a head coach. Morrison was asked to fill in for Dan McGugin who was in the United States Army at the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1903 Cumberland Bulldogs football team</span> American college football season

The 1903 Cumberland Bulldogs football team represented Cumberland University in the 1903 college football season. The team was a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA), compiling a 6–1–1 record. The Bulldogs notably beat Vanderbilt and tied John Heisman's Clemson at year's end in a game billed as the "SIAA Championship Game." They also beat Alabama, LSU, and Tulane in five days. The school claims a share of the SIAA title. It has been called "the best football team in the history of Cumberland."

The 1898 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season was the college football games played by the members schools of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association as part of the 1898 college football season. This was the first season Georgia Tech participated in the conference.

The 1896 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season was the college football games played by the members schools of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association as part of the 1896 college football season. The season began on October 3.

The 1928 Southern Conference football season was the college football games played by the member schools of the Southern Conference as part of the 1928 college football season. The season began on September 22.

The 1930 Southern Conference football season was the college football games played by the member schools of the Southern Conference as part of the 1930 college football season. The season began on September 20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1891 Sewanee Tigers football team</span> American college football season

The 1891 Sewanee Tigers football team represented the Sewanee Tigers of Sewanee: The University of the South during the 1891 college football season. In the inaugural season of Sewanee football, the Tigers compiled a 1–2 record. The team's quarterback was Ellwood Wilson, considered the "founder of Sewanee football." He had come from Lawrenceville, New Jersey, where he played football before, to Sewanee in 1889. While introducing the sport to Sewanee, he was forced to use a piece of wood shaped like a football until he found a real one. Sewanee's first intercollegiate game was the first instance of the Sewanee–Vanderbilt rivalry and Vanderbilt's second ever game. The win over Tennessee was that program's first game.

The 1897 Sewanee Tigers football team represented the Sewanee Tigers of Sewanee: The University of the South during the 1897 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1903 Sewanee Tigers football team</span> American college football season

The 1903 Sewanee Tigers football team represented the Sewanee Tigers of Sewanee: The University of the South in the 1903 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season.

The 1910 Sewanee Tigers football team represented Sewanee: The University of the South during the 1910 college football season as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA). The Tigers were led by head coach Harris G. Cope in his second season and finished with a record of eight wins and two losses.

The 1901 Nashville Garnet and Blue football team represented the University of Nashville during the 1901 college football season. The second of first two opponents is unknown. The 1901 team was likely the best football team in Nashville's history. Coached by Charley Moran, though they lost to southern power Vanderbilt, they "mopped up with about everything else."

References

  1. ↑ "Vanderbilt Official Athletic Site - Vanderbilt University". Archived from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Vanderbilt Official Athletic Site - Vanderbilt University". Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Texas Season Schedule - databaseFootball.com/NCAA". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  4. ↑ Hardesty, Dan. "LSU:The Louisiana Tigers". The Strode Publishers.Huntsville, Alabama. 1975. pg 24-25.
  5. ↑ "Baton Rouge Wins Without Winning". The Daily Picayune. October 25, 1896. pg. 8.
  6. ↑ William Hanford Edwards (1916). Football Days: Memories of the Game and of the Men Behind the Ball. p. 244.
  7. ↑ "State College wins a game". The Courier-Journal. October 3, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Kentucky University loses at other game at Nashville". The Sunday Leader. October 10, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "University of Georgia defeats Clemson College". The Morning News. October 10, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Winchester 4, State College 0". The Courier-Journal. October 12, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "U of T wins first game of the year". The Journal and Tribune. October 16, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Neither could score, the football game at Barnesville resulted in a draw". The Macon Telegraph. October 17, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "U. of N. downs Sewanee in a brilliant game". The Nashville American. October 17, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Sewanee defeats Central". The Nashville American. October 19, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "The boys on the gridiron; The Varsity eleven capture their first scalp yesterday". Austin Daily Statesman. October 24, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Georgians showed some strong plays". The Atlanta Constitution. October 25, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Auburn wins the first game". The Atlanta Constitution. October 24, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Game at Knoxville". Chattanooga Daily Times. October 24, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Kentucky State College wins from Georgetown". The Lexington Herald. October 24, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Vanderbilt's game, local collegians defeat the V.M.I. boys by a score of 12 to 0". The Nashville American. October 20, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "The University won, Clemson College defeated by a score of twenty-eight to nothing". The News and Observer. October 26, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Alabama boys are winners". The Nashville American. October 30, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "Sewanee 0, Auburn 0". The Times-Democrat. October 31, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "Defeat". The Sunday Leader. October 31, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "Virginia wins, University practically walks over Georgia". The Richmond Dispatch. October 31, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ "Fifty to noting, the score by which S.C. loses to Vanderbilt". The Lexington Herald. October 31, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "The Dallas team beat the "Varsity aggregation yesterday". Fort Worth Register. October 31, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "'Varsity again downed, Was outclassed by the local eleven of Fort Worth". The Houston Post. November 2, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "'Varsity Won". Austin Daily Statesman. November 4, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ "Purple of Sewanee is trailed in the dust before North Carolina's stalwarts". The Nashville American. November 6, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  31. ↑ "Goal from the field, Phil Connell's good foot ably assists in piling up a victorious score". The Nashville American. November 7, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ "K.S.C. meets defeat at Richmond yesterday". The Lexington Herald. November 7, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  33. ↑ "Two victories for Carolina". The Tar Heel. November 16, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  34. ↑ "Clemson wins; The Carolina boys are wondering how it happened". The Watchman and Southron. November 17, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  35. ↑ "Football game: The University defeated the Tuscaloosa Athletics yesterday on the college campus". The Age-Herald. Birmingham, Alabama: NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. November 19, 1897. p. 3.
  36. ↑ "By a score of 42 to 6, Houston was very easily defeated by 'Varsity". The Houston Post. November 14, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  37. ↑ "The 'Varsity team defeated the San Antonio eleven by a score of 12 to 0". Austin Daily Statesman. November 21, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  38. ↑ "'Varsity won yesterday". Austin Daily Statesman. November 26, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  39. ↑ "Game between Centre and State College yesterday; Results in a sad defeat for the local team". The Lexington Herald. November 26, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  40. ↑ "Vanderbilt wins; Sewanee defeated by a score of 10 to 0 in Nashville yesterday". Birmingham Age-Herald. November 26, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  41. ↑ "Tennessee Shuts Out Blacksburg". The Times . Library of Virginia. November 26, 1897. p. 1. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  42. ↑ "U of T wins again". The Knoxville Tribune. November 27, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  43. ↑ "Vanderbilt, 0; Virginia, 0". Chicago Daily Tribune. December 7, 1897. p. 7. Retrieved January 7, 2017– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  44. ↑ "Varsity was victorious, Dallas by a score of twenty to sixteen". The Houston Post. December 12, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  45. ↑ "Baton Rouge easily defeats Montgomery". The Daily Picayune. December 21, 1897. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  46. ↑ "Baton Rouge was outclassed". The Daily Picayune. January 4, 1898. Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.