1909 University of New Mexico football team

The 1909 University of New Mexico football team was an American football team that represented the University of New Mexico as an independent during the 1909 college football season. The team compiled a 4–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 117 to 75.[1] Walter R. Allen was the team captain.[1]

1909 University of New Mexico football
Conference	Independent
1909 record	4–2
Head coach	Samuel McBirnie (1st season)
Home stadium	Traction Park

1909 Western college football independents records
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Washington			–					7	–	0	–	0
St. Vincent's			–					6	–	0	–	0
Montana			–					6	–	0	–	1
Utah			–					4	–	1	–	0
Washington State			–					4	–	1	–	0
Arizona			–					3	–	1	–	0
New Mexico			–					4	–	2	–	0
USC			–					3	–	1	–	2
Oregon Agricultural			–					4	–	2	–	1
Oregon			–					3	–	2	–	0
Hawaii			–					2	–	2	–	0
Utah Agricultural			–					2	–	2	–	1
Idaho			–					3	–	4	–	0
Wyoming			–					3	–	5	–	0
New Mexico A&M			–					1	–	3	–	1

In September 1909, the school hired Samuel T. McBirnie (possibly Sam P. McBirney) as its head football coach. McBirnie was a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who had coached an Oklahoma football team in 1908 and was regularly employed as a cashier at the Tulsa National Bank.[2] After six weeks in Albuquerque, McBirnie returned to his home in Tulsa. Assistant coach Hamilton H. Conwell and Hugh J. Collins took over the coaching responsibilities for the final game of the season against New Mexico A&M.[3]

In a season of highs and lows, the team achieved both its greatest margin of victory (51–0 over New Mexico A&M) and its greatest margin of defeat (0–53 against Colorado) to that point in program history.[1]

At the end of the season, University of New Mexico players won six of eleven spots on the All-New Mexico football team: Silva at center; "Doc" Cornish at quarterback; McConnell at right tackle; Price at left tackle; Galles at end; and Walt Allen at right halfback.[4]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
October 26	at El Paso Military Institute	Washington Park El Paso, TX	L 0–11		[5][6]
October 30	El Paso Military Institute	Traction Park Albuquerque, New Mexico Territory	W 15–0		[7]
November 6	at Colorado	Boulder, CO	L 0–53	1,500	[8]
November 13	New Mexico Military	Traction Park Albuquerque, New Mexico Territory	W 28–2	> 600	[9]
November 25	at Arizona	Tucson, Arizona Territory (rivalry)	W 23–11	1,500	[10]
December 3	New Mexico A&M	Traction Park Albuquerque, New Mexico Territory (rivalry)	W 51–0	1,000	[11][12]

References

1. "2018 New Mexico Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of New Mexico. 2018. p. 139. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
2. "Oklahoma Man Will Coach 'Varsity Football Team". The Albuquerque Morning Journal. September 30, 1909. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "M'Birnie Leaves for Home". The Albuquerque Morning Journal. November 28, 1909. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "New Mexico All-Star Football Team for Season Just Closed". The Albuquerque Morning Journal. December 8, 1909. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "U. of N.M. to Play Here Today". El Paso Times. October 26, 1909. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "'Varsity Loses To El Paso Cadets 11 to 0". The Albuquerque Morning Journal. October 27, 1909. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "El Paso Cadets Go Down to Defeat Before Brilliant Work of Varsity Eleven". The Albuquerque Morning Journal. October 31, 1909. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "New Mexico Goes Down to Defeat at Hands of Fast Colorado Aggregation". The Albuquerque Morning Journal. November 7, 1909. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Varsity Worsts Soldier Eleven in Spectacular Exhibition by Score of 28 to 2". The Albuquerque Morning Journal. November 14, 1909. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Varsity Victorious at Tucson; Arrive Home Tomorrow With Silver Cup". The Albuquerque Morning Journal. November 26, 1909. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Gridiron Battle at Traction Park this Afternoon to Be Hard Fought Contest". The Albuquerque Morning Journal. December 3, 1909. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Varsity Undisputed Gridiron Champions of New Mexico Arizona and West Texas". The Albuquerque Morning Journal. December 4, 1909. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.