1914 Auburn Tigers football team

1914 Auburn Tigers football
SIAA co-champion
Conference	Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record	8–0–1 (4–0–1 SIAA)
Head coach	Mike Donahue (10th season)
Base defense	7–2–2
Captain	Henry W. Robinson
Home stadium	Drake Field Rickwood Field
Seasons ←  1913 1915  →

1914 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Tennessee +	6	–	0	–	0			9	–	0	–	0
Auburn +	4	–	0	–	1			8	–	0	–	1
Texas A&M	2	–	0	–	0			6	–	1	–	1
Ole Miss	2	–	1	–	1			5	–	4	–	1
Mississippi A&M	4	–	2	–	0			6	–	2	–	0
Sewanee	4	–	2	–	0			5	–	3	–	0
Florida	3	–	2	–	0			5	–	2	–	0
Georgia	2	–	2	–	1			3	–	5	–	1
Clemson	2	–	2	–	0			5	–	3	–	1
Alabama	3	–	3	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Kentucky	1	–	1	–	0			5	–	3	–	0
LSU	1	–	2	–	1			4	–	4	–	1
Chattanooga	1	–	3	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Vanderbilt	1	–	3	–	0			2	–	6	–	0
Mississippi College	0	–	1	–	1			4	–	3	–	1
Wofford	0	–	1	–	0			1	–	7	–	1
Central University	0	–	1	–	0			1	–	3	–	1
Mercer	0	–	3	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Tulane	0	–	3	–	1			3	–	3	–	1
The Citadel	0	–	3	–	0			2	–	5	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions

The 1914 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University (then called the Alabama Polytechnic Institute) in the 1914 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. It was the Tigers' 23rd overall season and they competed as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA). The team was led by head coach Mike Donahue, in his 10th year, and played their home games at Drake Field in Auburn, Alabama. They finished as SIAA Champions with a record of eight wins, zero losses and one tie (8–0–1 overall, 4–0–1 in the SIAA) and outscored opponents 193–0.

Auburn's strong defense, which held opponents scoreless all season, helped the team garner a retroactive national title by James Howell's computer rating system. ^[1] Auburn did not claim this title until 2025. ^[2]

Before the season

Auburn returned another powerful team minus Kirk Newell. ^[3] "Bull" Kearley was shifted from halfback to end to add speed to the defensive line. ^[4]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 26	Marion *	Drake Field Auburn, AL	W 39–0		[5]
October 3	Fourth District Agricultural School*	Drake Field Auburn, AL	W 60–0		[6]
October 10	at Florida	Barrs Field Jacksonville, FL (rivalry)	W 20–0		[7]
October 17	Clemson	Drake Field Auburn, AL (rivalry)	W 28–0		[8]
October 24	Mississippi A&M	Rickwood Field Birmingham, AL	W 19–0		[9]
November 7	at Georgia Tech *	Grant Field Atlanta, GA (rivalry)	W 14–0		[10]
November 14	Vanderbilt	Rickwood Field Birmingham, AL	W 6–0	10,000	[11]
November 21	at Georgia	Grant Field Atlanta, GA (rivalry)	T 0–0		[12]
December 5	vs. Carlisle *	Grant Field Atlanta, GA	W 7–0		[13]
*Non-conference game Source: [14] [15]

Season summary

Marion Military Institute

The season opened with a 28–0 win over the Marion Military Institute.

Fourth District

Against the Fourth District Agricultural School of Hamilton, Alabama came the season's biggest win, 60–0.

At Florida

Auburn at Florida

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Auburn	0	0	7	13	20
Florida	0	0	0	0	0

• Date: October 10
• Location: Jacksonville, Florida

• Sources: ^[16]

In Jacksonville, Auburn defeated the Florida Gators 20–0. Auburn's team was nearly as strong as the season before and claims another SIAA title. In contrast to the prior season, the 20–0 loss was seen as a moral victory and sign of progress for the Gators. ^[17] However, the Florida also lost its captain. John Sutton left the game feeling poorly, and further examination revealed a weak heart. ^[17] Auburn's backfield performed well, and Florida gave way by the second half. ^[16] Bedie Bidez made two touchdowns. ^[16]

Clemson

Auburn beat the Clemson Tigers 28–0.

Mississippi A&M

Despite several fumbles, Auburn beat the Mississippi Aggies 19–0. One touchdown came on a delayed pass of 35 yards. ^[18]

The starting lineup was Steed (left end), Culpepper (left tackle), Sample (left guard), Pitts (center), Taylor (right guard), Louiselle (right tackle), Robinson (right end), Arnold (quarterback), Hairston (left halfback), Hart (right halfback), Harris (fullback). ^{[18] [19]}

Georgia Tech

Auburn at Georgia Tech

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Auburn	0	7	0	7	14
Ga. Tech	0	0	0	0	0

• Date: November 7
• Location: Grant Field
  Atlanta
• Referee: Innis Brown

Sources: ^[20]

Auburn defeated John Heisman's Georgia Tech team 14–0. Tech would not lose to a southern team for 5 years after this.

Auburn scored first in the second quarter, Prendergast carrying the ball over. ^[20] Red Hart had a 10-yard touchdown run in the fourth for the other score. ^[20]

The starting lineup was Kearley (left end), Steed (left tacle), Taylor (left guard), Pitts (center), Thigpen (right guard), Louiselle (right tackle), Robinson (end), Hairston (quarterback), Prendergast (left halfback), Hart (right halfback), Harris (fullback). ^[20]

Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt at Auburn

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Vanderbilt	0	0	0	0	0
•Auburn	6	0	0	0	6

• Date: November 14
• Location: Rickwood Field
  Birmingham, Alabama
• Game attendance: 10,000
• Referee: Bradley Walker

Sources: ^[21]

In dreary weather, Auburn beat the Vanderbilt Commodores 6–0. In less than eight minutes of play, Red Harris made the decisive touchdown. ^[21]

The starting lineup was Kearley (left end), Steed (left tacle), Taylor (left guard), Pitts (center), Thigpen (right guard), Louiselle (right tackle), Robinson (end), Hairston (quarterback), Prendergast (left halfback), Hart (right halfback), Harris (fullback). ^[21]

Georgia

All-American David Paddock and the Georgia Bulldogs held the Tigers to a scoreless tie. Auburn fumbled often in their own territory, then stood "like Petain at Verdun." ^[22]

Carlisle

In final game of the season, Auburn defeated the Carlisle Indians led by Pete Calac and coached by Pop Warner. It was the first intersectional game in Atlanta.

Postseason

Auburn claimed a share of an SIAA title.

References

1. "1914 NCAA Division IA Football Power Ratings".
2. Rauterkus, Peter (August 19, 2025). "Auburn football recognizing seven additional national championships". al.com. Alabama Media Group. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
3. Woodruff 1928 , p. 5
4. "Auburn's Best Defense Ever Led the 1914 Tigers to an Undefeated Season Now Recognized as a National Championship". August 12, 2014.
5. "Auburn Tigets get a 39 to 0 victory". The Birmingham News. September 27, 1914. Retrieved May 19, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Auburn gets 60 to win; Forward passes feature". The Birmingham News. October 4, 1914. Retrieved May 19, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
7. "Florida holds Auburn close". The Atlanta Journal. October 11, 1914. Retrieved May 19, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
8. "Auburn defeats Clemson team 28 to 0". The Nashville Tennessean. October 18, 1914. Retrieved May 19, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
9. "Auburn defeats A. & M. 19 to 0". The Birmingham Age-Herald. October 25, 1914. Retrieved May 19, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
10. "Auburn 14, Georgia Tech 0". The Journal and Tribune. November 8, 1914. Retrieved May 19, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
11. "Lone touchdown gives Auburn eleven victory". The Commercial Appeal. November 15, 1914. Retrieved May 19, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
12. "Georgia outplayed Auburn, earning a moral victory; Scoreless tie the result". The Atlanta Constitution. November 22, 1914. Retrieved May 19, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
13. "Auburn's goal is still uncrossed". The Atlanta Constitution. December 6, 1914. Retrieved May 19, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
14. 2009 Auburn Football Media Guide (PDF). Auburn, Alabama: Auburn Media Relations Office. 2009. p. 185. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
15. "1914 Auburn University Football Schedule". Auburn University Athletics. Archived from the original on September 1, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
16. "Auburn 20, Florida 0". The Atlanta Constitution. October 11, 1914. p. 3. Retrieved July 22, 2016– via Newspapers.com.
17. McEwen, The Gators, p. 58.
18. "Auburn Beats Mississippi 19 to 0". The Tennessean. October 25, 1914. p. 32. Retrieved May 10, 2016– via Newspapers.com.
19. Woodruff 1928 , p. 10
20. "Georgia Tech Beaten By Auburn". The Tennessean. November 8, 1914. p. 27. Retrieved May 10, 2016– via Newspapers.com.
21. "Auburn Defeats Vanderbilt". Greensboro Daily News. November 15, 1914. p. 6. Retrieved May 10, 2016– via Newspapers.com.
22. Woodruff 1928 , p. 15

Additional sources

• Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. Vol. 2.