1930 Florida Gators football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1930 Florida Gators football Southern Conference SoCon 6–3–1 4–2–1 Charlie Bachman 3rd Notre Dame Box Red Bethea Fleming Field, Florida Field 30sGatoruniform.png The 1930 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 1930 college football season. The season was Charlie Bachman's third as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Bachman's 1930 Florida Gators finished the season with a 6–3–1 overall record and a 4–2–1 Southern Conference record, placing seventh of twenty-three teams in the conference standings. 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide https://web.archive.org/web/20151208143532/http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2015/media_guide.pdf 2015-12-08 , University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 108–109 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015.2009 Southern Conference Football Media Guide, Year-by-Year Standings https://web.archive.org/web/20120220164221/http://www.soconsports.com/fls/4000/socon/files/09fbguide/74-77standings.pdf?SPSID=35576&SPID=1781&DB_OEM_ID=4000 February 20, 2012 , Southern Conference, Spartanburg, South Carolina, p. 74 (2009). Retrieved August 30, 2010. Among the season's highlights were the Gators' conference victories over the NC State Wolfpack (27–0), Auburn Tigers (7–0), Clemson Tigers (27–0), and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (55–7)—their first win in seven tries against the Yellow Jackets. Also notable was an intersectional victory over the Chicago Maroons (19–0) on Chicago's home field. The season also featured the (delayed) opening of Florida Field, which debuted in November with a 20–0 homecoming loss to Wallace Wade's national champion Alabama Crimson Tide in front of a school record crowd of 18,000. Though Florida's 6-3-1 record in 1930 fell short of expectations, it would later be regarded as somewhat of a high point. Bachman coached the Gators to losing seasons the next two years before leaving the program, and the Gators would post only three winning seasons between 1930 and 1956. Before the season Florida entered the 1930s coming off the two best seasons in program history under returning head coach Charlie Bachman, who led a talented squad that included record-setting halfback Red Bethea. Despite a potentially challenging schedule, expectations were that the recent string of success would continue.The Seminole Yearbook 1930 University of Florida UF Digital Collections https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00022765/00021/images New stadium Fleming Field had been the home of Florida's football program since 1911. By the mid 1920s, its small capacity and primitive amenities were increasingly seen as inadequate, particularly after the Gators first gained national attention during their best season to date in 1928. University president John J. Tigert led a fundraising drive through the newly created University Athletic Association, and construction on a much larger stadium commenced in a shallow depression just south of Fleming Field on April 16, 1930. The project was slated to be complete early in the fall term but was delayed when workers encountered a previously unknown underground stream. The stream was diverted by the installation of a large culvert under the playing surface, and the Gators finally moved into Florida Field for the last home game of the season.Carlson 2007 41 . Schedule September 27 w y 1930 Southern College Moccasins Southern College Fleming Field Gainesville, FL 45–6 October 4 w y NC State Plant Field Tampa, FL 27–0 10,000 October 11 w y Auburn Fairfield Stadium Jacksonville, FL rivalry 7–0 October 18 w y y Chicago Stagg Field Chicago, IL 19–0 10,000 October 25 l y 1930 Furman Paladins Furman Fleming Field Gainesville, FL 13–14 November 1 t y Georgia Municipal Stadium Savannah, GA rivalry 0–0 November 8 l y Alabama Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry 0–20 18,000 November 15 w y Clemson Fairfield Stadium Jacksonville, FL 27–0 November 27 w y Georgia Tech Grant Field Atlanta, GA 55–7 December 6 l y Tennessee Fairfield Stadium Jacksonville, FL rivalry 6–13 Game summaries Week 1: Southern College thumb|200px|Image from Florida-Southern College game. The Gators faced Southern College on Fleming Field in Gainesville to open the season on September 27, winning 45 to 6. Southern scored its points in the second quarter, at that point making the game tied 6 to 6. The Gators responded with a barrage of points which continued until the final whistle. Red Bethea had three touchdowns on his first three touches, including runs of 46 and 48 yards. This got Bethea a column in Ripley's Believe It Or Not.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19921030&id=dLozAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YOoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4539,9398035&hl=en Gainesville Sun October 30, 1992 Mike Week 2: North Carolina State Week 2: North Carolina State at Florida NC State Florida 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 0 October 4 Plant FieldTampa, Florida 10,000 For the second week of play, Florida beat the North Carolina State Wolfpack on Plant Field in Tampa 27 to 0. After being held scoreless in the first half with a number of fumbles, a 37-yard end run from Red Bethea sparked the Gator attack.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167897/kingsport_times/ Kingsport Times 2 October 5, 1930 'Gators Trounce The Wolfpack September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com Ed Sauls had a 61-yard kick return, which ended when he stumbled and fell. On the next play he scored. Sam Gurneau and Charlie Cobb starred for NC State.http://d.lib.ncsu.edu/collections/catalog/technician-v11n4-1930-10-10/pages/technician-v11n4-1930-10-10_0003 Florida Eleven Defeat Wolfpack In Last Half 27-0 The Technician October 10, 1930 Week 3: Auburn Week 3: Auburn at Florida Auburn Florida 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 October 11 Fairfield StadiumJacksonville, Florida The Gators just defeated coach Chet A. Wynne's Auburn Tigers in Jacksonville by a 7 to 0 score; seen as a moral victory by the Tigers.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167900/the_anniston_star/ Anniston Star Tigers Furnish Day's Surprise In Conference October 12, 1930 14 September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com Ed Sauls scored Florida's touchdown in the final period, and Monk Dorsett got the extra point. Week 4: at Chicago Week 4: Florida at Chicago Florida Chicago 0 13 0 6 0 0 0 0 October 18 Stagg FieldChicago 10,000 Near 0 Joe Magidsohn On October 18, 1930, the Gators defeated coach Amos Alonzo Stagg's Chicago Maroons at Stagg Field 19 to 0 in a game was affected by wintry blasts of near-zero temperatures.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167115/the_postcrescent/ The Post-Crescent 12 October 18, 1930 Cold Bothers 'Gators September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com n . The victory was historic for the Florida football program, representing the first time the Gators had won an inter-sectional game outside the South.Florida Eleven to Seek First Grid Victory on Foreign Soil in Chicago Next Saturday The Independent St. Petersburg, Florida (AP story) October 16, 1930 5 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19301016&id=691PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qlQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3152,4336552 The Gators had previously lost all six games it had played in the North—to Indiana in 1916, Harvard in 1922 and 1929, Army in 1923 and 1924, and Chicago in 1926.Galloping Gator: Lee Roy Red Bethea, who set the... Orlando Sentinel September 13, 1986 Bill Buchalter https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1986/09/13/galloping-gator-lee-roy-red-bethea-who/ Red Bethea was the star of the historic victory over Chicago, rushing for 218 yards to set a school record that would not be broken until 1987, when Emmitt Smith ran for 224 yards in his first collegiate start. The Associated Press called Bethea Florida's "siege gun,"Alabama Takes Rank as Feared Eleven in South Milwaukee Sentinel AP October 20, 1920 13 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19301020&id=-lRQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Fg8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5149,3024307July 2026 InternetArchiveBot and noted that his rushing total was "better than the whole Chicago backfield."Red Bethea Better Than All Chicago Backfield In Play Sarasota Herald AP October 21, 1930 8 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19301021&id=9XMdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LGQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4282,2158569 Bethea contributed to all of Florida's points.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167112/the_brownsville_herald/ The Brownsville Herald Gators Down Chicago 19-0 8 October 19, 1930 September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com The first came after Bethea made a series of 5-yard runs, down to the 5-yard line as the first quarter ended. He then ran behind Muddy Waters for the score. Later, Bethea ran down to the 2-yard line on a fake reverse. Ed Sauls went over for the touchdown. Proctor kicked goal. In the fourth quarter, Bethea ran for a 70-yard touchdown, "accomplished by brilliant, running, twisting, and swerving."https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167123/the_lincoln_star/ The Lincoln Star Florida Gators Swamp Chicago 8 October 19, 1930 September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com Bethea "went wide around the right side of the line, cut back to the left, reversed to the center and tore 70-yards."https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167600/the_capital_times/ The Capital Times 24 Richard H. Hippelhauser Gators Track Up Midway in 19 to 0 Spree September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com Chicago suspended its football program in 1939. One fellow quipped "Florida did it. When Florida beat them, that was the last straw."McEwen, Tom, The Gators: A Story of Florida Football, The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama (1974). 0-87397-025-X. The starting lineup for the Gators against Chicago: Parnell (left end) Waters (left tackle), Steele (left guard), Clemons (center), McRae (right guard), Proctor (right tackle), Nolan (right end), Dorsett (quarterback), Bethea (left halfback), Sauls (right halfback), Silsby (fullback).https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167135/decatur_herald/ Decatur Herald Red-Headed Halfback Leads Florida 'Gators In 19-0 Triumph at Chicago 18 October 19, 1930 September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167136/kingsport_times/ Kingsport Times October 19, 1930 3 September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com Gators Leave Tracks All Over Field; Bethea Stars Week 5: Furman Week 5: Furman at Florida Furman Florida 0 0 7 7 0 7 0 6 October 25 Fleming FieldGainesville, Florida Coach Dad Amis's Furman Purple Hurricane upset the Gators 14 to 13. Every score of the contest was made via the forward pass.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167909/the_anniston_star/ The Anniston Star Furman Upsets Dope, Defeating Florida, 14-13 October 26, 1930 12 September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com A missed extra point by Florida's Parnell and one made by Furman's Allred proved to be the difference.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167908/the_indexjournal/ The Index-Journal Hurricane Upset Dope Bucket And Beat Alligators 5 October 26, 1930 September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com The loss did not sit well with the alumni. Week 6: at Georgia Week 6: Florida at Georgia Florida Georgia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 November 1 Municipal StadiumSavannah, Georgia The scoreless tie with the Georgia Bulldogs provided the upset of the conference that week,https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167629/the_san_bernardino_county_sun/ The San Bernardino County Sun November 3, 1930 20 Gators Hold Georgia to 0 to 0 Score September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com as Georgia had defeated Yale and would lose just two games: to conference co-champions Alabama and Tulane. Sportswriter Lawrence Perry attributed Georgia's inability to score to its lack of using the forward pass at key intervals.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167635/oakland_tribune/ Oakland Tribune Lawrence Perry Georgia Still Powerful In South 25 November 3, 1930 September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com Twice Georgia backs Spurgeon Chandler, Jack Roberts, and Austin Downes threatened Florida's goal but were turned back. The starting lineup for the Gators against Georgia: Parnell (left end) Waters (left tackle), Steele (left guard), Clemons (center), James (right guard), Proctor (right tackle), Hall (right end), Dorsett (quarterback), Bethea (left halfback), Sauls (right halfback), Jenkins (fullback).https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167869/kingsport_times/ Kingsport Times 3 Georgia's March Toward Gridiron Honors Checked November 2, 1930 September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com Week 7: Alabama thumb|left|190px|The first game at Florida Field. Week 7: Alabama at Florida Alabama Florida 0 6 0 14 0 0 0 0 November 8 Florida FieldGainesville, Florida 18,000 Arthur R. Hutchins The seventh week of play featured the first ever game on Florida Field, which had been slated for an August opening that was delayed due to unforeseen construction challenges.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167525/altoona_tribune/ Altoona Tribune Gators To Open Stadium August 6, 1930 11 September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com The new, 22,000 seat stadium6 Go Gators Peter Golenbock planned to eventually house 50,000. The visiting team was Wallace Wade's Alabama Crimson Tide, and the eventual national champions spoiled Florida Field's debut by thumping the Gators 20–0. Despite the score, Florida showed much defensive strength, holding the undefeated Tide to 6 points until tiring late in the contest, with lineman Muddy Waters given praise.1930 Season http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/30-m-footbl-recap.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20160304131230/http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/30-m-footbl-recap.pdf March 4, 2016 dead However, Florida's offense struggled all afternoon against an Alabama defense that would only allow 13 points all season.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167530/the_indexjournal/ 6 The Index-Journal Alabama Dashed Florida Aside November 9, 1930 September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com The first score came when John Campbell broke through the line for 21 yards.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167524/abilene_reporternews/ Abilene Reporter-News Crimson Wave Rolling On As Alabama Wins November 9, 1930 4 September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com Later, after much wear on the Gator defense, Campbell scored on a short run through center. John Tucker, a substitute, also scored on a short run. Johnny Cain was also cited as a strength for the Tide. The starting lineup for the Gators against Alabama: Parnell (left end), Waters (left tackle), Steele (left guard), Clemons (center), Forsyth (right guard), Proctor (right tackle), Hall (right end), Dorsett (quarterback), Bethea (left halfback), Sauls (right halfback), Jenkins (fullback). Week 8: Clemson Using many passes, the Gators beat coach Josh Cody's Clemson Tigers 27 to 0. Two scores came on long passes from Monk Dorsett to John Hall. Coach Bachman said "Dorsett's quarterbacking has been the finest since I took charge of the 'Gators."https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19301122&id=7sxPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n1QDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3951,2413131&hl=en The Evening Independent November 22, 1930 Star of Gators to Oppose Dodd Week 9: at Georgia Tech Week 9: Florida at Georgia Tech Florida Ga. Tech 6 21 7 21 7 0 0 0 November 27 Grant FieldAtlanta The Gators beat coach Bill Alexander's Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets for the first time, handing them their worst defeat in years, 55 to 7.Carlson 2007 43 Red Bethea scored three touchdowns, Ed Sauls two, and John Hall one. After the Tech game, newspapers posted how Bethea "made the Florida fans forget there ever was a Cannonball Clyde Crabtree."https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3175813/the_ogden_standardexaminer/ The Ogden Standard-Examiner 18 Another Redhead November 28, 1930 September 7, 2015 Newspapers.com Week 10: Tennessee Week 10: Tennessee at Florida Tennessee Florida 0 6 0 7 0 0 6 0 December 7 Fairfield StadiumJacksonville, Florida The season's final game saw a bitterly fought contest end in a 13 to 6 loss to coach Robert Neyland's Tennessee Volunteers. Buddy Hackman scored both of Tennessee's touchdowns.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167882/the_jacksonville_daily_journal/ The Jacksonville Daily Journal Tennessee Wins From Florida September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com December 7, 1930 10 Tennessee quarterback Bobby Dodd also starred.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167865/kingsport_timesnews/ Chips Dodd Forced To Display His Genius To Win Over Gators; Hackman Is Co-Star of Tilt December 8, 1930 2 September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com Kingsport Times-News A fake play with Vols center Gene Mayer netted 27 yards, placing the ball on Florida's 13-yard line. Dodd then passed to Hackman for the touchdown. Florida scored after a Hackman fumble put the ball on the 25-yard line. A pass to Parnell got a touchdown.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3167881/oakland_tribune/ Oakland Tribune Tennessee In Triumph Over Florida, 13-6 December 7, 1930 27 September 6, 2015 Newspapers.com In the final few minutes, Hackman won the game with a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown. An account of Bobby Dodd's trickery: "Against Florida in 1930 he got his teammates in a huddle and told them about a play he had used in high school. When the ball was snapped, it was placed on the ground unattended. The players ran in one direction. Then the center returned, picked up the ball, and waltzed to the winning touchdown."1435 Bobby Dodd College Football Hall of Fame 2009-08-01 This play would later come to be popularly known as the "fumblerooski", after Nebraska famously used it in the 1984 Orange Bowl versus Miami.http://journalstar.com/sports/huskers/football/yards-a-lineman-s-dream/article_0d88acbc-14ed-5075-b0a9-dc880e9995f6.html 19 yards: A lineman's dream Lincoln Journal Star on Journalstar.com, By Brian Christopherson, July 27, 2012 2012-10-07https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-jim-weber/finding-fumblerooski-gone-not-forgotten.html Finding the fumblerooski: Gone, but not forgotten yahoo.com Jim Weber 2013-08-28 2010-08-23 Postseason Carlos Proctor was elected captain for next season.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19301216&id=Ac1PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n1QDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3969,5717274&hl=en The Evening Independent December 16, 1930 Veteran Tackle Honored Guard Jimmy Steele was composite All-Southern.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1917499// Unanimous Vote of Coaches and Sports Writers Places Dodd At Top of Quarterback Candidates Dillow Graham 2 Newspapers.com The Kingsport Times December 4, 1930 March 4, 2015 Personnel Depth chart The following chart provides a visual depiction of Florida's lineup during the 1930 season with games started at the position reflected in parentheses. The chart mimics a Notre Dame Box on offense. LE Ed Parnell Spurgeon Cherry   LT LG C RG RT Muddy Waters Jimmy Steele Ben Clemons Bill McRae Carlos Proctor Scabby Pheil J. D. Williamson Frank Clark Wilbur JamesAl Dodge Ramsey Don Forsyth RE Joe Hall Jimmy Nolan   QB Monk Dorsett Red McEwen RHB Ed Sauls Harvey Yancey LHB Red Bethea Al Rogero FBJenkins Link Silsby Line Florida Gators Player Position Gamesstarted High school Height Weight AgeTom AndersonSpurgeon Cherry endFrank Clark center Culver6'1"17021Ben Clemons center Leon6'2"18524Al Dodge tackleDon Forsyth guardJoe Hall endWilbur James guard Orlando5'11"18621Bill McRae guard West Palm Beach6'1"17221Jimmy Nolan end Duval5'10"17022Joe Norfleet end Newberry6'0"17523NorthEd Parnell endClarence "Scabby" Pheil tackle St. PetersburgCarlos Proctor tackle Hillsborough 23Ramsey centerJimmy Steele guard Hillsborough 6'0"18521Dale Waters tackle Newcastle 6'2"18521J. D. Williamson guard Backfield Starters Florida Gators Player Position Gamesstarted High school Height Weight AgeRed Bethea halfback Riverside5'9"17222Monk Dorsett quarterback DuvalJenkins fullbackAl Rogero halfbackEd Sauls halfback Leon 5'11"18522Lincoln "Link" Silsby fullbackHarvey Yancey halfback Duval 5'10"16022 Subs Florida Gators Player Position High school Height Weight AgeBroward McClellan fullback Blountstown J. Milton "Red" McEwen quarterbackWauchula 5'8"15521Homer Seay halfback See also 1930 College Football All-Southern Team 1930 College Football All-America Team References Additional sources Carlson Norm University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators Whitman Publishing, LLC Atlanta, Georgia 2007 978-0-7948-2298-9 Florida Category:Florida Gators football seasons Florida Gators football