Wikipedia

1919 Auburn Tigers football team

The 1919 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1919 college football season. It was the Tigers' 28th 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 15th year, and played their home games at Drake Field in Auburn, Alabama. They finished with a record of eight wins and one loss (8–1 overall, 5–1 in the SIAA) and as SIAA champions.

1919 Auburn Tigers football
SIAA champion
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record8–1 (5–1 SIAA)
Head coach
Base defense7–2–2
CaptainPete Bonner
Home stadiumDrake Field
Rickwood Field
Seasons
← 1918
1920 →
1919 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Auburn $ 5 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 0
Alabama 6 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 0
Centre 1 – 0 – 0 9 – 0 – 0
Kentucky 3 – 1 – 1 3 – 4 – 1
Georgia Tech 3 – 1 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
Tulane 3 – 1 – 1 6 – 2 – 1
Vanderbilt 3 – 1 – 2 5 – 1 – 2
Furman 2 – 1 – 1 6 – 2 – 1
Mississippi A&M 5 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
Georgia 4 – 2 – 2 4 – 2 – 3
LSU 3 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
Clemson 3 – 2 – 2 6 – 2 – 2
Florida 2 – 2 – 0 5 – 3 – 0
Wofford 1 – 1 – 0 3 – 2 – 1
Transylvania 1 – 1 – 0 2 – 4 – 0
Ole Miss 1 – 4 – 0 4 – 4 – 0
The Citadel 1 – 4 – 0 4 – 4 – 1
Sewanee 1 – 4 – 0 3 – 6 – 0
Georgetown (KY) 0 – 0 – 0 0 – 2 – 0
Tennessee 0 – 3 – 2 3 – 3 – 3
South Carolina 0 – 4 – 1 1 – 7 – 1
Mercer 0 – 1 – 0 0 – 2 – 0
Mississippi College 0 – 4 – 0 3 – 5 – 1
Howard (AL) 0 – 4 – 0 3 – 5 – 2
  • $ – Conference champion

Before the season

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The team's captain was tackle Pete Bonner. His brother Thomas Herbert "Herb" Bonner also attended Auburn and was a guard on the team.[1]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 27Marion*
W 37–0[2]
October 4at Howard (AL)
W 19–6[3]
October 11Camp Gordon*
  • Drake Field
  • Auburn, AL
W 25–13[4]
October 17Clemson
W 7–0[5]
October 25at Vanderbilt
L 6–7[6]
November 1vs. Georgia
W 7–08,000[7]
November 8at Spring Hill*Mobile, ALW 19–0[8]
November 15Mississippi A&M
  • Rickwood Field
  • Birmingham, AL
W 7–08,000[9]
November 27at Georgia Tech
W 14–7[10]
  • *Non-conference game

[11][12]

Game summaries

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Marion Military Institute

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The season opened with a 37–0 victory over the Marion Military Institute.

Howard (AL)

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In the second week of play, the Tigers had a poor showing but managed to beat the Howard Bulldogs, 19–6.[13][14]

Camp Gordon

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Camp Gordon at Auburn
1 234Total
Camp Gordon 7 060 13
• Auburn 6 0019 25

Auburn came back to beat the Fifth Division of Camp Gordon 25–13 in a "nerve-wracking" game.[13] Beretsky of the fifth division ran a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown.[13] The pounding of Red Howard and Ed Sherling led the comeback.[13]

The starting lineup was Shirley (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Sizemore (left guard), Snider (center), Warren (right guard), Rogers (right tackle), Pruitt (right end), Trapp (quarterback), Scott (left halfback), Howard (right halfback), Shirling (fullback).[13]

Clemson

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Clemson at Auburn
1 234Total
Clemson 0 000 0
• Auburn 0 007 7
  • Date: October 17
  • Location: Drake Field
    Auburn, Alabama
  • Referee: Alcock (Washington & Lee)

Auburn beat Clemson 7–0. "It was anybody's game until the last quarter", when Sherling scored Auburn's lone touchdown. Rodney Ollinger starred on defense.[15]

The starting lineup was Ollinger (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Sizemore (left guard), Snider (center), H. Bonner (right guard), Rogers (right tackle), Pruitt (right end), Trapp (quarterback), Scott (left halfback), Howard (right halfback), Shirling (fullback).[15]

At Vanderbilt

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Auburn at Vanderbilt
1 234Total
Auburn 0 600 6
• Vanderbilt 0 700 7

Auburn suffered the season's only loss to Dan McGugin's Vanderbilt Commodores 7–6. Josh Cody returned a fumble 15 yards for a touchdown and made the winning extra point.[16] A bit after, Ed Sherling ran in from the 1-yard line, but Pete Bonner missed goal.[16]

Vanderbilt's Tom Lipscomb and Frank Goar were sent in on Auburn's last drive. Goar had been sick and Lipscomb was suffering from an injured ankle. The two spurned the team to victory in what the Vanderbilt yearbook called "the greatest defensive stand ever staged by any Vanderbilt team."

The starting lineup was Ollinger (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Sizemore (left guard), Snider (center), H. Bonner (right guard), Rogers (right tackle), Pruitt (right end), Trapp (quarterback), Scott (left halfback), Howard (right halfback), Shirling (fullback).[16]

Georgia

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Auburn vs. Georgia
1 234Total
• Auburn 7 000 7
Georgia 0 000 0

In heavy rain and mud, Auburn defeated Georgia 7–0.[17] Red Howard ran through the entire Georgia team for 52 yards and the touchdown.[17][18]

The starting lineup was Ollinger (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Sizemore (left guard), Caton (center), H. Bonner (right guard), Rogers (right tackle), Pruitt (right end), Trapp (quarterback), Williamson (left halfback), Howard (right halfback), Shirling (fullback).[17]

Spring Hill

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The Spring Hill Badgers, coached by Auburn great Moon Ducote, fell to Auburn 10–0. A slippery field led to weak punting.[19] The starting lineup was Ollinger (left end), H. Bonner (left tackle), Griffin (left guard), Snider (center), Rogers (right guard), Martin (right tackle), Pruitt (right end), Trapp (quarterback), Shirey (left halfback), Stubbs (right halfback), Shirling (fullback).[19]

Mississippi A&M

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Mississippi A&M at Auburn
1 234Total
Miss. A&M 0 000 0
• Auburn 0 700 7

In a meeting of unbeatens, Auburn beat the Mississippi Aggies 7–0. Herb Bonner recovered a fumble for the game's only touchdown.[20] Rodney Ollinger was as a standout as a punter and on defense.[20]

The starting lineup was Ollinger (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Warren (left guard), Caton (center), Rogers (right guard), H. Bonner (right tackle), Pruitt (right end), Trapp (quarterback), Williamson (left halfback), Howard (right halfback), Shirling (fullback).[20]

At Georgia Tech

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Auburn at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
• Auburn 0 266 14
Ga. Tech 7 000 7

In John Heisman's last game as Georgia Tech head coach,[22] Auburn gave Tech its first loss to an SIAA school in five years (since Auburn won in 1914) by a 14–7 score. Fatty Warren proved the star of the game.

The first touchdown of the game was made by Jack McDonough.[21] Judy Harlan later fell on his own punt for a safety.[21] In the third quarter, Warren blocked a Dewey Scarboro punt and Sloan recovered the ball and ran it 35 yards for a touchdown.[21] Warren "waddled" for a 40-yard touchdown off a Jimmy Brewster fumble for the 14–7 victory.[21][22][23] Zelda Sayre sent captain Pete Bonner a telegram after the win, it read:[24]

"Shooting a seven, aren't we awfully proud of the boys, give them my love—knew we could."

She signed it "Zelder Sayre".

The starting lineup was Ollinger (left end), P. Bonner (left tackle), Sloan (left guard), Caton (center), Rogers (right guard), Warren (right tackle), Pruitt (right end), Trapp (quarterback), Stubbs (left halfback), Howard (right halfback), Shirling (fullback).[21]

Postseason

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For defeating Tech and due to charges of professionalism aimed at undefeated Centre, Auburn was SIAA champion. Fuzzy Woodruff recalls "Auburn claimed it. "We defeated Tech" said Auburn. "Yes, but we defeated you" said Vanderbilt. "Yes", said Alabama, "but Tech, Tulane ,and Tennessee took your measure. We defeated Georgia Tech, who tied Tulane, so we are champions...The newspapers, however, more or less generally supported the claim of Auburn..."[25]

References

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  1. ^ Gene Hinton (September 12, 1920). "Auburn Is Ready For Gong". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 5. Retrieved August 24, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ "Auburn wins first game of season by defeating Marion". The Montgomery Advertiser. September 28, 1919. Retrieved September 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Auburn makes poor showing in opener". The Montgomery Advertiser. October 5, 1919. Retrieved September 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Auburn narrowly escapes defeat at Soldiers' hands". The Birmingham Age-Herald. October 12, 1919. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Clemson unable to score; Auburn wins". The Birmingham News. October 18, 1919. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Vandy downs Auburn". The Atlanta Journal. October 26, 1919. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Touchdown gives Auburn victory over Georgia U". The Commercial Appeal. November 2, 1919. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Plainsmen humble Spring Hill, 19–0". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 9, 1919. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Auburn blanks Mississippi A. & M." Nashville Banner. November 16, 1919. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Golden Tornado loses to Auburn". The News Scimitar. November 28, 1919. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ 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 19, 2012.
  12. ^ "1919 Auburn University Football Schedule". Auburn University Athletics. Archived from the original on September 1, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Gene Hinton (October 12, 1919). "Auburn's Plainsmen Victorious 25 to 18 Over Fifth Division". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  14. ^ "Auburn Outplayed By Howard Team". The Tennessean. October 5, 1919. p. 18. Retrieved August 24, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  15. ^ a b c "Alabama Tigers Defeat Clemson". The Atlanta Constitution. October 18, 1919. p. 16. Retrieved June 5, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  16. ^ a b c d "Cody Leads Teammates To Hard-Won Victory". The Tennessean. October 26, 1919. p. 20. Retrieved June 5, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  17. ^ a b c d Gene Hinton (November 2, 1919). "In Gruelling Fight Red and Black Holds Plainsmen, 7 to 0". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 3. Retrieved May 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  18. ^ "Sammy Howard, Mayor of Phenix City, Alabama" (PDF). Congressional Record – Senate. October 18, 1995.
  19. ^ a b "Plainsmen Held To Close Score By Spring Hill". The Atlanta Constitution. November 9, 1919. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  20. ^ a b c d Gene Hinton (November 16, 1919). "Auburn's Plainsmen Down Mississippi By seven to Nothing". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 4. Retrieved May 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  21. ^ a b c d e f "Outplaying Tornado, Auburn Eleven Won". The Atlanta Constitution. November 28, 1919. p. 19. Retrieved May 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  22. ^ a b 1920 Glomerata p. 173
  23. ^ John Staton (November 17, 1921). "Golden Tornado Spends Day Studying Auburn Formations". Atlanta Constitution. p. 12. Retrieved April 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
  24. ^ Jeremy Henderson (October 27, 2014). "Zelda Fitzgerald, Auburn fan".
  25. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 105

Additional sources

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