Only three first-string players from the 1922 Colorado football team returned in 1923. Accordingly, coach Witham and his staff were required to draw on untested players to develop the 1923 roster. After four weeks of practice, the team faced the Western State Mountaineers in Boulder on October 6, 1923. In order to test the candidates at each position, coach Witham sent 35 players into the game. Colorado won by a 51-0 score. [14] [4]
On October 13, Colorado rolled to its second impressive victory, defeating Colorado Teachers by a 60-0 score. Using a balanced rushing and passing attack, Colorado scored nine touchdowns. G. E. Helmer, sports editor of the Silver and Gold described the team in action against the Teachers as "the smoothest-running team that had worn the Silver and Gold for many years." [15] [5]
On October 20, Colorado defeated BYU, 41–0, for its third consecutive shutout victory. Colorado relied heavily on its passing offense, using "strange formations" that left BYU bewildered. [6] G. E. Helmer wrote: "The Mormons could not fathom the overhead game launched by Quinlan with Handy, Healy, Bohn, and Hartshorn on the receiving ends." [16]
On October 27, Colorado defeated Denver, 21–7, on a muddy field in Denver. Colorado's offense was led by the rushing of halfback Fred Hartshorn and the passing of quarterback Arthur Quinlan. Denver's only score came on a 60-yard interception return in the third quarter. [7] G. E. Helmer described the field condition as "deplorable" and wrote: "The mud was six inches deep on all parts of the field except a strip fifteen yards wide which ran down the center." [17] Despite the field conditions, Colorado completed 15 of 30 passes for 206 yards. [18]
On November 3, Colorado celebrated homecoming with a 17–7 victory over Colorado College. [8] The game was played on a wet field in Boulder. Quinlan kicked a field goal and was credited with "uncanny ability at tossing a wet and slippery ball." [19] Hatfield Chilson had the play of the game, returning a kickoff to Colorado College's one-yard line. [19]
On November 10, Colorado defeated the Colorado School of Mines, 47–0, on the road in Denver. [9] Colorado scored seven touchdowns in the game. Quinlan broke two bones in his right hand, and he was replaced at quarterback by Hatfield Chilson who "proved an accurate passer and a flashy runner." [20]
On November 17, Colorado defeated Utah, 17–7, before a record crowd of 12,000 spectators at Cummings Field in Salt Lake City. [10] Chilson started at quarterback in place of the injured Quinlan. With Utah leading, Colorado lined up for a field goal to be kicked by Quinlan with his arm in a sling. The ball was snapped to Chilson who threw a touchdown pass to Bohn to tie the score. Earl Loser scored Colorado's second touchdown, and Quinlan kicked a field goal to give Colorado its final tally of 17 points. Hartshorn also returned a kick 60 yards but was caught from behind. G. E. Helmer praised Chilson's performance at quarterback: "Chilson, with his accurate passing, generalship, and flashy running, proved himself to be quite capable of filling the quarterback position." [21]
On November 24, Colorado defeated Wyoming, 20–3, at Gamble Field in Boulder. Coach Witham played the second string against Wyoming. [22] [11]
On Thanksgiving, November 27, Colorado met Colorado Agricultural at Colorado Field in Fort Collins for their annual rivalry game. Colorado entered the game with several players injured, including halfback William Bohn (broken wrist), tackle Douglas McLean (broken nose), end Richard Handy (sprained ankle), and quarterback Arthur Quinlan (broken throwing hand). [22] Both teams were undefeated against conference opponents, and the winner would be crowned as the conference champion.
Colorado won by a 6–3 score as neither team scored a touchdown, and both teams were limited to field goals. Though not fully healed, team captain Arthur Quinlan returned to the quarterback position and kicked both Colorado field goals. [12] The final, game-winning field goal was set up by "a spectacular dash" by Quinlan "who threw off four Aggie tacklers and raced 63 yards before being stopped." [13] Quinlan then kicked the ball through the cross-bars with only 45 seconds remaining in the game. G. E. Helmer opined that the match was "one of the greatest games ever played in this conference." [22] The victory gave Colorado its first conference championship in 10 years.
On November 30, 1923, the All-Rocky Mountain Conference football team selected by the conference coaches was announced. Four Colorado players were named to the first team: halfback Fred Hartshorn; end Jack Healy; guard William McGlone; and tackle Douglas McLean. Three more players were named to the second team: quarterback Arthur Quinlan; halfback William Bohn; and fullback Earl Loser. [23]
On December 3, 1923, the team held its banquet in Boulder. Varsity letters were presented, and halfback Fred Hartshorn was elected by secret ballot as the 1924 team captain. Fullback Earl Loser was elected vice-captain. [24]
The team's roster included 18 players who were awarded varsity "C" letters for their efforts. The 18 letter winners were:
Others who played for the team but did not receive varsity letters included:
John Leo "Paddy" Driscoll was an American football and baseball player and football coach. A triple-threat man in football, he was regarded as the best drop kicker and one of the best overall players in the early years of the National Football League (NFL). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
The 1922 Florida Gators football team represented the Florida Gators of the University of Florida during the 1922 Southern Conference football season. The season was law professor William G. Kline's third and last year as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Kline's 1922 Florida Gators finished 7–2 overall, and 2–0 in their first year as members of the new Southern Conference, placing fifth of twenty-one teams in the conference standings.
The 1923 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1923 Southern Conference football season. This was Major James Van Fleet's first of two seasons as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Van Fleet was a serving officer in the U.S. Army and a professor of military tactics in the university's Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program, and had been a standout fullback on the undefeated West Point Cadets team of 1914. Van Fleet's 1923 Florida Gators finished 6–1–2 overall, and 1–0–2 in the Southern Conference, placing third of twenty-one teams in the conference standings.
The 1924 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1924 Southern Conference football season. This was Major James Van Fleet's second and final year as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Van Fleet's 1924 Florida Gators finished 6–2–2 overall, and 2–0–1 in the Southern Conference, placing second of twenty-two teams in the conference standings.
The 1923 Michigan football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan during the 1923 Big Ten Conference football season. In their 23rd year under head coach Fielding H. Yost, Michigan compiled an undefeated 8–0 record, tied for the Big Ten Conference football championship, and outscored its opponents by a combined total of 150 to 12. The season was part of a 20-game undefeated streak for Michigan that began on October 29, 1921, and continued until October 18, 1924. During the combined 1922 and 1923 seasons, Yost's teams compiled a 14–0–1 record.
The 1923 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1923 Southern Conference football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 30th overall and 2nd season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). The team was led by head coach Wallace Wade, in his first year, and played their home games at Denny Field in Tuscaloosa, at Rickwood Field in Birmingham and at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of seven wins, two losses and one tie.
The 1924 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1924 Southern Conference football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 31st overall and 3rd season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). The team was led by head coach Wallace Wade, in his second year, and played their home games at Denny Field in Tuscaloosa, at Rickwood Field in Birmingham and at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of eight wins and one loss, as Southern Conference champions and won the Champ Pickens Trophy.
The 1896 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1896 Western Conference football season. In its first and only season under head coach William Ward, the team compiled a 9–1 record, tied for second place in the Western Conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 262 to 11.
The 1897 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1897 Western Conference football season. In its first season under head coach Gustave Ferbert, the team compiled a 6–1–1 record, finished third in the Western Conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 166 to 31.
The 1893 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football that represented the University of Michigan as a member of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the Northwest during the 1893 college football season. In its second season under head coach Frank Barbour, the team compiled a 7–3 record and outscored its opponents by a combined score of 278 to 102.
The 1929 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1929 Big Ten Conference football season. The team compiled a 5–3–1 record, tied for seventh place in the Big Ten, and outscored its opponents by a total of 109 to 75. In late May 1929, Tad Wieman was removed as the team's head coach. Harry Kipke was hired as his replacement in mid-June; Kipke remained as Michigan's head football coach for nine seasons.
The 1928 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1928 Big Ten Conference football season. The Wolverines compiled a 3–4–1 record, tied for seventh place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by their opponents by a total of 62 to 36.
The 1924 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1924 Big Ten Conference football season. Coached by George Little in his first and only year as Michigan's head football coach, the team compiled a record of 6-2, outscored opponents 155–54, and finished in fourth place in the Big Ten Conference standings.
The 1924 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the 1924 Southern Conference football season. The 1924 season was Dan McGugin's 20th year as head coach. Members of the Southern Conference, the Commodores played six home games in Nashville, Tennessee, at Dudley Field and finished the season with a record of 6–3–1. Vanderbilt outscored its opponents 150–53. Fred Russell's Fifty Years of Vanderbilt Football dubs it "the most eventful season in the history of Vanderbilt football."
The 1899 Chicago Maroons football team represented the University of Chicago during the 1899 college football season and won the Western Conference championship.
The 1923 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1923 college football season. In its ninth and final season under head coach Pop Warner, the team compiled a 5–4 record and outscored opponents by a total of 83 to 45. The team played its home games at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.
The 1912 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1912 college football season. In its fourth and final season under head coach Joseph H. Thompson, the team compiled a 3–6 record and was outscored by a total of 122 to 113.
The 1924 Colorado Silver and Gold football team was an American football team that represented the University of Colorado as a member of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) during the 1924 college football season. In its fifth year under head coach Myron E. Witham, the team compiled an 8–1–1 record, won the conference championship, was not scored upon during the regular season, lost a postseason game to undefeated Hawaii in the Poi Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 237 to 13. The team's string of nine consecutive shutouts remains the longest in program history.
The 1898 Western University of Pennsylvania football team was an American football team that represented the Western University of Pennsylvania as an independent during the 1898 college football season.
The 1923 Colorado Agricultural Aggies football team represented Colorado Agricultural College in the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) during the 1923 college football season. In their 13th season under head coach Harry W. Hughes, the Aggies compiled a 5–2–1 record, tied for second place in the RMC, and outscored all opponents by a total of 121 to 35. The team played its home games at Colorado Field in Fort Collins, Colorado.