1906 Florida football team
| 1906 Florida Gators football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Independent |
| 1906 record | 5–3 |
| Head coach | Jack Forsythe |
| Offensive scheme | Minnesota shift |
| Captain | Thomas Guy Hancock |
The 1906 Florida football team was the first official varsity team fielded by the new University of the State of Florida (now known as the University of Florida);[1] during the 1906 college football season. The 1906 Florida gridders were known as "Pee Wee's Boys" in honor of their coach, Jack "Pee Wee" Forsythe,[2] a former Clemson Tigers lineman who played for coach John Heisman from 1901 to 1903.[3][4] The team finished its inaugural season with a winning record of 5–3.[5] Forsythe employed the Minnesota shift and played on the team as an end.
Background
Florida has fielded a team every season since 1906, with the exception of 1943. During the early 1900s, the Florida football team competed in the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS), but was not affiliated with an athletic conference. The University of Florida did not adopt the "Florida Gators" nickname for its sports teams until 1911, and the early Florida football teams were known simply as "Florida" or the "Orange and Blue." The Florida football teams played their home games in a variety of locations, including the university's Gainesville, Florida campus.
Old FAC, pre 1905
Intramural football had been played at the Florida Agricultural College since 1899. The 1904 team went winless in a Florida team's first campaign against southern powers.
Buckman Act
After the Buckman Act in 1905, the modern University of Florida (still in Lake City) hired coach C. A. Holton and was ready to play its first season. The team played merely one half of football against the Julia Landon Institute of Jacksonville. The season was described by Tom McEwen as "lame duck, confusing, and troubled."[6] Players were banned by Andrew Sledd from playing as they were behind in their studies. Also, a state championship with Stetson never materialized due to disputes over location. It was scheduled to take place in Palatka. The captain of the 1905 team was William M. Rowlett. Of all the players from the earlier predecessor teams of the Florida Gators, only tackle William Gibbs of the 1905 Lake City team is known to have played for the new university's team in Gainesville in the fall of 1906.[6]
Schedule and results
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 27 | Rollins | The Baseball Park • Gainesville, Florida | W 6–0 | ||||||
| 11–2–1906 | Riverside Athletic Club | Gainesville, Florida | W 19–0 | ||||||
| 11–4–1906 | Savannah Athletic Club | Savannah, Georgia | L 2–27 | ||||||
| 11–9–1906 | Rollins | Winter Park, Florida | L 0–5 | ||||||
| 11–16–1906 | Mercer | Macon, Georgia | L 3–27 | ||||||
| 11–18–1906 | Athens Athletic Club | Athens, Georgia | W 10–0 | ||||||
| 11–24–1906 | Gainesville Athletic Club | Gainesville, Florida | W 6–0 | ||||||
| 11–30–1906 | Riverside Athletic Club | Jacksonville, Florida | W 39–0 | ||||||
Primary source: 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide.[5]
Season summary
Rollins
"Pee Wee's Boys" beat the Rollins College Tars 6–0 in their first game played in Gainesville, Florida on October 26, 1906. The game was scoreless in the first half, Florida getting the win late.[7] The game was played on a baseball field just north of where Florida Field is today.[8][9]
Riverside A. C.
Florida beat Riverside Athletic Club 19–0.
Savannah A. C.
The Florida team suffered its first defeat to the Savannah Athletic Club, 27–2.[10]
Rollins
Rollins won the second game, 5–0. Again nobody scored until the final few minutes.[11]
Mercer
Coach E. E. Tarr started Mercer's early winning streak over Florida with a 27–3 win.[12]
Riverside A. C.
Florida again beat Riverside Athletic Club 39–0.
Players
- Arthur Albertson
- Albert Baars
- A. C. Bennett
- D. S. Bryan
- H. B. Coe
- Roy Corbett
- J. B. Earman
- Pee Wee Forsythe, end
- William Gibbs, tackle
- Pat Graham
- Thomas Guy Hancock, fullback
- Kent Johnson
- James Kirk
- Guy McCord
- Alf Neilsen
- Charles Puleston
- Ralph Radar
- A. I. Roe
- Jim Shands
- C. Thompkins
- T. C. Thompson
- R. M. Whidden
References
- ↑ Norm Carlson, University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators, Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia, pp. 7–11 (2007).
- ↑ McEwen, p. 43
- ↑ Clemson Tigers Football, All-Time Starters, 1896–1905. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ↑ 2008 Clemson Football Media Guide, Former Head Coaches, Clemson Athletic Department, Clemson, South Carolina, p. 170 (2008). Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- 1 2 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- 1 2 McEwen, pp. 36–37
- ↑ "No. 95 - FLORIDA 6, ROLLINS 0
1906". Gainesville.com. - ↑ McCarthy, p. 12
- ↑ Mike Bynum. The Greatest Moments of Florida Gators Football. p. 2.
- 1 2 McEwen, p. 40
- ↑ McEwen, p. 41
- ↑ "Mercer Football Historical Notes".
Bibliography
- McCarthy, Kevin M (2000). Fightin' Gators: A History of University of Florida Football. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-0559-6.
- McEwen, Tom (1974). The Gators: A Story of Florida Football. Huntsville, Alabama: The Strode Publishers. ISBN 0-87397-025-X.
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