1920 Florida Gators football team

The 1920 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1920 college football season. The season was law professor William G. Kline's first of three as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Kline's 1920 Florida Gators compiled a marginally better 6–3 overall record than the 1919 Gators,[1] but a lesser 1–2 conference record against Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) competition.

1920 Florida Gators football
Conference	Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1920 record	6–3 (1–2 SIAA)
Head coach	William G. Kline (1st season)
Captain	Paul Baker
Home stadium	Fleming Field

1920 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Georgia +	7	–	0	–	0			8	–	0	–	1
Tulane +	5	–	0	–	0			6	–	2	–	1
Georgia Tech +	4	–	0	–	0			8	–	1	–	0
Alabama	6	–	1	–	0			10	–	1	–	0
Centre	4	–	1	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Furman	3	–	1	–	0			9	–	1	–	0
South Carolina	3	–	1	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Tennessee	5	–	2	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Auburn	4	–	2	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Mississippi A&M	4	–	2	–	0			5	–	3	–	0
Sewanee	3	–	3	–	1			4	–	3	–	1
Vanderbilt	3	–	3	–	0			4	–	3	–	1
Transylvania	2	–	2	–	0			3	–	4	–	0
Howard (AL)	2	–	3	–	0			3	–	5	–	1
Mississippi College	2	–	4	–	0			3	–	5	–	0
Florida	1	–	2	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Clemson	2	–	6	–	0			4	–	6	–	1
LSU	1	–	3	–	0			5	–	3	–	1
Chattanooga	1	–	3	–	0			3	–	4	–	1
The Citadel	1	–	4	–	0			2	–	6	–	0
Ole Miss	0	–	2	–	0			4	–	3	–	0
Kentucky	0	–	3	–	1			3	–	4	–	1
Georgetown (KY)	0	–	2	–	0			0	–	3	–	0
Millsaps	0	–	3	–	0			0	–	3	–	0
Mercer	0	–	4	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Wofford	0	–	4	–	0			0	–	8	–	1
+ – Conference co-champions

While the Gators improved their series records against traditional in-state opponents like the Florida Southern Moccasins and the Stetson Hatters, they also suffered a shutout defeat by the Tulane Green Wave and lost their fourth consecutive game to the Georgia Bulldogs.

Before the season

Kline was a former halfback for the Illinois Fighting Illini, and had previously coached the Nebraska Cornhuskers.[2]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
October 9	Newberry*	Fleming Field Gainesville, FL	W 21–0
October 16	Florida Southern*	Fleming Field Gainesville, FL	W 13–0
October 23	Rollins*	(Forfeit)	W 1–0
October 30	vs. Mercer	Valdosta, GA	W 30–0
November 6	vs. Tulane	Plant Field Tampa, FL	L 14–0
November 11	vs. Stetson*	Palatka, FL	W 26–0	3,000+
November 13	at Georgia	Sanford Field Athens, GA (rivalry)	L 56–0
November 20	Stetson*	Fleming Field Gainesville, FL	W 21–0
November 25	at Oglethorpe*	Memorial Stadium Columbus, GA	L 21–0
*Non-conference game

Primary source: 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide.[1]

Season summary

Newberry

In the season's opening week, the Gators beat the Newberry Indians 21 to 0. The substitutes were sent in by the end.[3]

Florida Southern

Week 2: Florida Southern at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total Southern 0 0 0 0 0 • Florida 0 0 7 6 13 Date: October 23 Location: Fleming Field, Gainesville, FL

The Gators got revenge on the Florida Southern Moccasins for last year's loss with a 13–0 win. C. Anderson scored first, in the third quarter. Tully Hoyt Carlton scored the second after a series of forward passes from C. Anderson to Carlton.[3] After the second score, Carlton failed to make the extra point for the only time all season.[3]

Rollins

Florida defeated Rollins by forfeit, who did not show up for the game.[4]

Mercer

Florida easily defeated Mercer. "Carlton was the outstanding hero of the game. He ran through the entire Mercer aggregation several times for long gains and scored three of Florida's touchdowns.[5]

Florida's starting lineup against Mercer: Swanson (left end), Baker (left tackle), Norton (left guard), Perry (center), Meisch (right guard), Vandergrift (right tackle) Driggers (right end), B. Anderson (quarterback), C. Anderson (left halfback), Carlton (right halfback), Stanley (fullback).[5]

Tulane

Week 5: Tulane at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total • Tulane 0 0 0 14 14 Florida 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 6 Location: Plant Field, Tampa, FL Referee: Ham Dowling Sources[6]

The Gators were beaten 14 to 0 by Tulane after the Gators had outplayed them for two periods.[6] Despite the loss, Tootie Perry played one of the best games seen in Tampa.[7]

The starting lineup was Swanson (left end), Baker (left tackle), Meisch (left guard), Wilsky (center), Perry (right guard), Vandergrif (right tackle), Briggers (right end), B. Anderson (quarterback), C. Anderson (left halfback), C. (right halfback), Merren (fullback).[6]

Stetson

Florida beat Stetson 26 to 0 in a game in Palatka. The first team played lightly through the first quarter, and then substitutes were used. The field was soggy and hard to play on. The only thrill of the game came when Crom Anderson ran 90 yards for a touchdown.[8]

Georgia

Week 7: Florida at Georgia

1 2 3 4 Total Florida 0 0 0 0 0 • Georgia 7 28 14 7 56 Date: November 13 Location: Sanford Field Athens, GA Referee: W. R. Tichenor

Georgia's Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) champion "ten second backfield" and powerful line rolled up a large, 56–0 score on the Gators. Florida put up a hard fight until Georgia got its first touchdown across, pouring it on from there. Georgia running back Sheldon Fitts was the star of the contest.[9][10]

Wilsky and Carlton were recovering from injuries suffered in the Tulane game, and during the game Meisch and Vandegrift were carried off. Jim Merrin played best for the Gators.

Florida's starting lineup against Georgia: Swanson (left end), Baker (left tackle), Otto (left guard), Perry (center), Hodges (right guard), Vandergrift (right tackle) Coleman (right end), B. Anderson (quarterback), Pomeroy (left halfback), C. Anderson (right halfback), Merrin (fullback).[9]

Stetson

Florida defeated the Stetson Hatters by three touchdowns using mostly straight football. "The only spectacular play of the game was when C. Anderson ran 80 yards for a touchdown, but unfortunately Florida was offside."[11]

Florida's starting lineup against Stetson: Coleman (left end), Baker (left tackle), Meisch (left guard), Wilsky (center), Perry (right guard), Dimberline (right tackle) Hughes (right end), B. Anderson (quarterback), C. Anderson (left halfback), Carlton (right halfback), Robinson (fullback).[11]

Oglethorpe

Week 9: Florida at Oglethorpe

1 2 3 4 Total Florida 0 0 0 0 0 • Oglethorpe 7 7 7 0 21 Date: November 25 Location: Memorial Stadium Columbus, GA Sources[12]

The Gators made thirteen first downs to Oglethorpe's three, yet lost 21 to 0. Oglethorpe made its first two touchdowns off fumbles.[12]

Florida's starting lineup against Oglethorpe: Swanson (left end), Baker (left tackle), Perry (left guard), Wilsky (center), Norton (right guard), Hodges (right tackle) Hughes (right end), Carlton (quarterback), Pomeroy (left halfback), C. Anderson (right halfback), Robinson (fullback).[12]

Players

Line

Player	Position	Games started	Hometown	Prep school	Height	Weight	Age
Paul Baker	tackle
Roy Driggers	end
Herbie Ford	tackle
Lanky Hodges	tackle
Ed Meisch	guard
Snowball Norton	guard
Conch Otto	guard
Tootie Perry	guard
Bob Swanson	end
Vandy Vandegrift	tackle
Count Wilsky	center

Backfield

Player	Position	Games started	Hometown	Prep school	Height	Weight	Age
B. Anderson	quarterback
Crom A. Anderson	halfback
Tully Hoyt Carlton	halfback
Jim Merrin	fullback

References

1. 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 107–108 (2015). Retrieved August 15, 2015.
2. Scott 1918, p. 255
3. University of Florida 1921, p. 119
4. McCarthy 2000, p. 19
5. "Mercer Bows In Defeat Before Florida 'Gators". The Florida Alligator. 9 (6). November 5, 1920.
6. "'Gators Trimmed By Tulane". The Atlanta Constitution. November 7, 1920. p. 2. Retrieved July 23, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "'Gators Put Up Strong Fight Against Tulane". The Florida Alligator. 19 (17). November 12, 1920.
8. "Place Stetson on Shelf with Second Squad". The Florida Alligator. 9. November 19, 1920.
9. "'Gators Lose To Georgia In One-Sided Bout". The Florida Alligator. 9. November 19, 1920.
10. "'Gators Are Beaten By Red and Black In One-Sided Game". The Red and Black. November 19, 1920. p. 8.
11. "Florida Wins East Victory Over Hatters". Florida Alligator. November 26, 1920.
12. "Petrels Defeat 'Gators". The Atlanta Constitution. November 26, 1920. p. 15. Retrieved July 23, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.

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.
• Scott, Franklin W. (1918). Semi-Centennial Alumni Record of the University of Illinois. Chicago, Illinois: R.H. Donnelley & Sons Company.
• University of Florida (1921). The Seminole. 12.