1908 Auburn Tigers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1908 Auburn Tigers football 1908 Auburn Tigers football team.jpg 280 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association SIAA 6–1 4–1 Mike Donahue 4th 7–2–2 Tom McLure Drill FieldWest End Park SIAA champion The 1908 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1908 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. The team went 6–1, outscoring opponents 158–10. Auburn featured a strong defense that held all but one opponent scoreless. The team was the first during the second term of coach Mike Donahue at Auburn. The only points allowed all year was in the 10–2 loss to LSU, a team accused of professionalism. LSU claimed the title, but most sportswriters crowned Auburn SIAA champion. The win over Sewanee was dubbed by one writer "Auburn's Greatest Victory In Many Years". Before the season Mike Donahue returned as head coach. Pat Dwyer assisted Donahue. Newcomers included running back Lewie Hardage. Schedule October 3 w y Howard (AL) West End Park Birmingham, AL 18–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1763031/football-howard-defeated-by-auburn-nei/ The Atlanta Constitution Auburn 18, Howard 0 October 4, 1908 May 15, 2022 Newspapers.com October 10 w y 1908 Gordon Bulldogs Gordon College (Georgia) Gordon Drill Field Auburn, AL 42–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-auburn-crushes-go/146978605/ The Birmingham Age-Herald Auburn crushes Gordon October 11, 1908 May 10, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 w y Mercer Cenetral City Park Macon, GA 23–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121079668/auburn-23-mercer-0/ Auburn 23; Mercer 0 The Atlanta Constitution October 18, 1908 March 17, 2023 Newspapers.com October 24 12:00 p.m. w Sewanee West End Park Birmingham, AL 6–0 3,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-auburn-downs-m/136976406/ The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn downs mountain men October 25, 1908 December 17, 2023 Newspapers.com October 31 3:45 p.m. l LSU Drill Field Auburn, AL 2–10 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-auburn-lost-to-louis/146977967/ The Atlanta Journal Auburn lost to Louisiana State November 1, 1908 May 10, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 w y Georgia Tech Ponce de Leon Park Atlanta, GA 44–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-auburn-downs-g/146978689/ The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn downs Georgia Tech November 8, 1908 May 10, 2024 Newspapers.com November 26 w Georgia Montgomery Baseball Park Montgomery, AL 23–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-orange-and-blu/146978948/ The Montgomery Advertiser Orange and Blue Waves triumphant over plucky Georgia eleven and Auburn takes the championship November 27, 1908 May 10, 2024 Newspapers.com Game summaries Howard (AL) Auburn 18 0 Howard 0 0 Birmingham, Alabama afternoon 70°, Clear Frank Jones Source:"Auburn Wins Game", Montgomery Advertiser, October 4, 1908. In a game of a 20- and 15-minute halves, Auburn scored three touchdowns in the first half to put away Howard at West End Park in Birmingham, Alabama. Despite being outweighed by Howard, Auburn had success running against the Bulldogs' tackles in the first half. The second half saw no score on either side with Auburn held in check by the punting of Bennie, Howard's left tackle. Both teams were reported to show a lack of preparation, with Auburn's talent making the difference in the game.Glomerata (1909), 276–282. Gordon College Gordon 0 0 Auburn 30 12 Auburn, Alabama afternoon 63°, Cloudy Source:"Runs Over Gordon", Montgomery Advertiser, October 11, 1908. In a game where the Tigers were not forced to punt, Auburn easily defeated the high school team from Gordon College in quick game at the Auburn athletic field. Auburn took the opening kickoff and drove for its first touchdown in the first two minutes, followed by four more touchdowns before the end of the half through the rushing of Lew Hardage and D. Herron. Auburn's scrubs scored two more touchdowns in the second half to finish out the game. thumb|left|130px|Lew Hardage Mercer Auburn 6 17 Mercer 0 0 Macon, Georgia 80°, Partly cloudy Source: Auburn was held to a single score in the first half, but wore down Mercer's line in the second half, scoring three touchdowns behind the running of Lew Hardage. Mercer's Poole returned an Auburn interception 70 yards before being dragged down short of the goal line by Auburn halfback W. W. Wynne, which was the only threat to score the Baptists had all game. Sewanee Sewanee 0 0 Auburn 0 6 Birmingham, Alabama 12:00 pm 3,000 65°, Cloudy Bradley Walker Source: Sewanee held the ball for most of the first half, exploiting Auburn's tackles—brought in against the inside run—with runs around end. Sewanee was unable to score, however, with Auburn's George Sparkman recovering a Sewanee fumble on the Auburn two yard line. Auburn began to move the ball consistently on the visitors late in the first half, ending the period in Sewanee territory."Auburn Downs Mountain Men", Montgomery Advertiser, October 25, 1908. In the second half, changes in Auburn's defense stymied Sewanee's end runs and field position gradually shifted in Auburn's favor. With seven minutes left in the game, Auburn's Lew Hardage returned a Sewanee punt 45 yards for the game's only touchdown. It was dubbed by one source "Auburn's Greatest Victory In Many Years"https://archive.org/details/19081111 204 Auburn's Greatest Victory In Many Years November 11, 1908 Orange and Blue The starting lineup was Sparkman (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Locke (left guard), Davis (center), Allen (right guard), Esslinger (right tackle), Reynolds (right end), McLure (quarterback), Wynne (left halfback), Hardage (right halfback), Penton (fullback).Woodruff 1928 217–218 Louisiana State LSU 5 5 Auburn 2 0 Auburn, Alabama 3:45 pm 70°, Fair James Halligan Source: Undefeated LSU met undefeated Auburn for the top spot in the SIAA at the Auburn athletic field. thumb|left|130px|T. C. Locke The first touchdown came from John Seip. Later in the half, Auburn's T. C. Locke blocked an LSU punt which was recovered by LSU's Fenton behind his own goal for a safety. LSU made the second score using conventional football.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5205416/the_atlanta_constitution/ The Atlanta Constitution Auburn Loses To L. S. U. Team November 1, 1908 3 May 9, 2016 Newspapers.com “We won every game that fall except LSU,” Auburn star Walker Reynolds told Clyde Bolton in 1973. “But LSU had a pro team.”http://www.thewareaglereader.com/2013/09/auburns-1908-team-goes-undefeated-despite-losing-to-professional-lsu-team/ Auburn's 1908 team went undefeated despite losing to professional LSU team The starting lineup was Sparkman (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Locke (left guard), Davis (center), Allen (right guard), Esslinger (right tackle), Reynolds (right end), McLure (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Wynne (right halfback), Penton (fullback). Georgia Tech Auburn 23 21 Ga. Tech 0 0 Atlanta, Georgia Butler (North Carolina) Source: Auburn ran up a 44–0 score on coach John Heisman's Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in their annual rivalry contest. Lew Hardage and George Penton made two touchdowns each, including a 108-yard kick return by Hardage. Walker Reynolds and George Sparkman had one each. Reynolds' was a 35-yard run and Sparkman's a 65-yard run. Reynolds contributed six extra points.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3194636/the_atlanta_constitution/ Atlanta Constitution Auburn Beats Yellow Jackets 4 November 8, 1908 September 10, 2015 Newspapers.com The starting lineup was Hill (left end), J. G. Davis (left tackle), Motley (left guard), Beaver (center), Allen (right guard), Locke (right tackle), Reynolds (right end), McLure (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Wynne (right halfback), Penton (fullback). Georgia Georgia 0 0 Auburn 6 17 Montgomery, Alabama Very hot Butler (North Carolina) Source: As expected – "there is nothing to this game but Auburn,"https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3194720/the_atlanta_constitution/ Atlanta Constitution 7 Auburn v. Georgia November 23, 1908 September 10, 2015 Newspapers.com Auburn handled the Georgia Bulldogs easily in their annual rivalry game. After seven minutes had elapsed, end Walker Reynolds ran for an 80-yard touchdown using the stiff arm "amidst the wildest enthusiasm." The Bulldogs held the Tigers the rest of the first half.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3194729/the_atlanta_constitution/ Atlanta Constitution 4 November 27, 1908 Auburn Trims Georgia Team September 10, 2015 Newspapers.com The starting lineup was Hill (left end), J. G. Davis (left tackle), Motley (left guard), Beaver (center), Allen (right guard), Bonner (right tackle), Reynolds (right end), McLure (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Locke (right halfback), Penton (fullback). Postseason Southern champions Amidst fears of many players being ineligible under SIAA rules most sportswriters did not include LSU for consideration as conference champions.Spalding's Football Guide 1909 75 Shawnee Mission, Kansas, NCAA Publishing Service https://archive.org/stream/officialfootball1909nati#page/75 Auburn and Vanderbilt were among those listed as alternative Southern champions. Most chose Auburn.Woodruff 1928 223 Awards and honors Captain and quarterback and Tom McLure was selected All-Southern by Vanderbilt coach Dan McGugin and Georgia Tech coach John Heisman. McGugin describes his play: "McClure was not particularly fast, but a spirited leader, an excellent general and a sure tackler."293 The Kappa Alpha Journal 24 3 Contributions https://books.google.com/books?id=8ZdOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA293 Order Kappa Alpha 1907 Lew Hardage was selected All-Southern by McGugin; and J. G. Davis was selected All-Southern by Heisman.http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/atlnewspapers/id:aga1909-4572 12 March 5, 2015 Digital Library of Georgia Not News, But Views Percy Whiting November 24, 1909 Players Starters Line Auburn Tigers Name Position Gamesstarted Hometown Prep school Height Weight AgeBurton Gray Allen guard Demopolis, AlabamaBig Chief Bonner tackleJames Grover Davis centerHarry Esslinger tackle Gurley, AlabamaT. C. Locke guardWalker Reynolds end GMAGeorge B. Sparkman, Jr. end Tampa, FloridaHillsborough Backfield Auburn Tigers Name Position Gamesstarted Hometown Prep school Height Weight AgeLew Hardage halfback Decatur, AlabamaTom McLure quarterback Jacksonville, AlabamaGeorge Penton fullback Rockford, AlabamaWalter Woolf Wynne halfback Subs Line Auburn Tigers Name Position Hometown Prep school Height Weight AgeJames Jefferson Beaver centerHomer Cogdell guard Inverness, Alabama 176James Gillis Gauntt guardWilliam Augustus Harman endArmstrong Hill endSheep Lamb tackle Eutaw, Alabama 181James Walter Motley guardJ. D. Spigener guardWilliam Swart end Backfield Auburn Tigers Name Position Hometown Prep school Height Weight AgeJohn E. Davis fullback Oak Grove, Alabama 168Benjamin Edward Harris halfbackDaniel Herren halfback Unlisted Auburn Tigers Name PositionC. E. GaumL. H. HubbardA. H. Skinner Coaching staff Head coach: Mike Donahue Assistant coaches: James Dwyer, Dan Wilkinson Manager: Thomas Bragg References Additional sources A History of Southern Football 1890–1928 Woodruff Fuzzy 1 1928 Auburn Category:Auburn Tigers football seasons Auburn Tigers football