1923 Florida Gators football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1923 Florida Gators football Southern Conference SoCon 6–1–2 1–0–2 James Van Fleet 1st Notre Dame Box W. M. Robinson Fleming Field 20Gatorsuniform.png The 1923 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1923 Southern Conference football season. This was Major James Van Fleet's first of two seasons as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Van Fleet was a serving officer in the U.S. Army and a professor of military tactics in the university's Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program, and had been a standout fullback on the undefeated West Point Cadets team of 1914. Van Fleet's 1923 Florida Gators finished 6–1–2 overall, 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. 107–108 (2015). Retrieved August 15, 2015. and 1–0–2 in the Southern Conference, placing third of twenty-one teams in the conference standings.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. Notably, Florida alumni and students celebrated their first-ever homecoming with a 19–7 victory over the Mercer Baptists. The Gators tied the defending SoCon champion Georgia Tech Golden Tornado, and the highlight of the 1923 season was a 16–6 upset of coach Wallace Wade's previously undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide on a muddy, rain-soaked field in Birmingham, Alabama in the final game of the year. Before the season The 1923 team was built on sophomores.Pete Norton Sports Outlook https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19341223&id=NhVPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6420,98800 St. Petersburg Times December 23, 1934 The 1922 Florida freshmen won the southern crown for freshmen squads.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4229940/winstonsalem_journal/ December 1, 1922 Florida Freshmen Claim The Crown Associated Press 6 February 5, 2016 Newspapers.com The team included Cy Williams, Goldy Goldstein, Edgar Jones, and Bill Middlekauff. One preseason account reads: "Big Cy Williams, star Freshman tackle of last year and probably the Varsity tackle of this year, was the immediate cause of the 'dummy's' downfall for when he dove into the lifeless foe, it collapsed and Cy was deluged with sawdust. A new 'dummy' was brought out but it is predicted that it will not last long under the fierce tackling of the Gators gridders." https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19230919&id=NkMvAAAAIBAJ&pg=4791,1950153 'Ark' Newton Ready To Go Newton Virgil M. September 19, 1923 St. Petersburg Times Schedule October 6 l y y Army The Plain West Point, NY 0–20 https://www.newspapers.com/article/buffalo-courier-army-has-trouble-beating/136851338/ Buffalo Courier Army has trouble beating Florida October 7, 1923 December 15, 2023 Newspapers.com October 13 t y Georgia Tech Grant Field Atlanta, GA 7–7 12,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-florida-fights/136851407/ The Montgomery Advertiser Florida fights Golden Tornado on even terms October 14, 1923 December 15, 2023 Newspapers.com October 19 w y 1923 Rollins Tars Rollins Fleming Field Gainesville, FL 28–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-florida-trims-rollis/136851448/ The Birmingham News Florida trims Rollins "Tars" by safe margin October 21, 1923 December 15, 2023 Newspapers.com October 27 w y Wake Forest Plant Field Tampa, FL 16–7 7,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-gators-defeat-wake-for/136851505/ Tampa Sunday Tribune Gators defeat Wake Forest 16 to 7 October 28, 1923 December 15, 2023 Newspapers.com November 3 w y y Mercer Fleming Field Gainesville, FL 19–7 5,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85939501/gators-win-uphill-fight-over-mercer/ Tampa Sunday Tribune Gators win uphill fight over Mercer November 4, 1923 December 15, 2023 Newspapers.com November 10 w y y Stetson DeLand, FL 27–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-gators-run-roughsho/136851660/ The Orlando Sentinel Gators run roughshod over Green and White Hatter "11" November 11, 1923 December 15, 2023 Newspapers.com November 17 w y y 1923 Southern College Blue and White Southern College Adair Field Lakeland, FL 53–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-news-florida-gators-wallop-sou/136851746/ The Macon News Florida Gators wallop Southern November 18, 1923 December 15, 2023 Newspapers.com November 24 t y Mississippi A&M Barrs Field Jacksonville, FL 13–13 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-mississippi-aggies/136851805/ The Commercial Appeal Mississippi Aggies battle Florida to 13 to 13 tie November 25, 1923 December 15, 2023 Newspapers.com November 29 w y Alabama Rickwood Field Birmingham, AL rivalry 16–6 10,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71422757/ St. Petersburg Times Rats lose but varsity beats Alabama squad November 30, 1922 December 15, 2023 Newspapers.com Game summaries Week 1: at Army Week 1: Florida at Army Florida Army 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 6 October 6 West Point, NY In the season's first game, the Gators to the surprise of many held coach John McEwan's Army team scoreless in the first half, but managed to lose the game 20–0 in the second. Edgar Garbisch missed two first-half field goals.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3058372/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/ The Brooklyn Daily Eagle Army Eleven Comes Strong At the End 49 October 7, 1923 August 21, 2015 Newspapers.com In the third quarter Army's passing game began to work, leading to a touchdown by William H. Wood. A blocked punt led to another Wood score. In the fourth quarter, Tiny Hewitt broke through the line for a 35-yard run, leading to the final score by quarterback George Smythe.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3058375/springfield_missouri_republican/ Springfield Missouri Republican October 7, 1923 3 Florida Defeated By West Point Team August 21, 2015 Newspapers.com The starting lineup was: Lightsey (left end), Williams (left tackle), Goldstein (left guard), Cornwall (center), Norton (right guard), Robinson (right tackle), Merrin (right end), Newton (quarterback), Middlekauff (left halfback), Case (right halfback), Jones (fullback). Week 2: at Georgia Tech Week 2: Florida at Georgia Tech Florida Ga. Tech 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 October 13 Grant FieldAtlanta, GA 12,000 The Gators contest with coach Bill Alexander's Georgia Tech Golden Tornado brought interest after the prior week's game with Army.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3148482/harrisburg_telegraph/ Lawrence Perry Game's For The Sake Harrisburg Telegraph 19 October 12, 1934 September 8, 2015 Newspapers.com In front of 12,000 at Grant Field, the Gators were up 7–0 until a rush of substitutes in the fourth quarter got Tech the tying score.University of Florida 1924 99 The tie "knocked the Golden Tornado...off of its pedestal as the top team in Southern football."Carlson 2007 28 The tie excited fans and "provided more positive national for Florida football than it had ever received." thumb|120px|left|Bill Middlekauff Florida scored after a 25-yard Ark Newton interception return. A Newton pass to Edgar C. Jones then got the ball to Tech's 3-yard line.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6022424/the_indexjournal/ The Index Journal October 14, 1923 6 Tech and Florida Tie at Seven-Seven In Hard Struggle July 27, 2016 Newspapers.com From there, Bill Middlekauff hit the line for a touchdown. The starting lineup was: Lightsey (left end), Williams (left tackle), Norton (left guard), Cornwall (center), Goldstein (right guard), Robinson (right tackle), Merwin (right end), Jones (quarterback), Brown (left halfback), Newton (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).Woodruff 1928 243 Week 3: Rollins Week 3: Rollins at Florida Rollins Florida 0 0 0 0 21 0 7 0 October 19 Ted Arnold Florida scored three touchdowns in the first quarter against the Rollins Tars and eased up afterwards, winning 28–0. The big score was as expected. The Stetson Collegiate said the Gators "rank as the best in the South."http://digitalcollections.net.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/CFM/id/90218 Stetson Collegiate 32 7 October 23, 1929 [No title] Rollins did not manage a first down the entire first half. The starting lineup was: Merrin (left end), Williams (left tackle), Smith (left guard), Cornwall (center), Goldstein (right guard), Robinson (right tackle), Lightsey (right end), Jones (quarterback), Brown (left halfback), Pomeroy (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19231021&id=T0MvAAAAIBAJ&pg=4626,5238343&hl=en St. Petersburg Times Fighting 'Gators Nip Rollins Tars Virgil M. Newton October 21, 1923 Week 4: Wake Forest Week 4: Wake Forest at Florida Wake Florida 0 0 7 0 9 7 0 0 October 27 Plant FieldTampa, FL 7,000 Ted Arnold Sources:https://wakespace.lib.wfu.edu/bitstream/handle/10339/3659/ogb_1923-11-02.pdf Old Gold and Black November 2, 1923 Frank S. Wright Florida Gators Have Close Call At Hands Wake Forest Outfit On Plant Field in Tampa, the Gators defeated the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 16–7. Wake Forest was held scoreless in the first half while Florida scored two touchdowns with one extra point and a field goal. The Demon Deacons scored in the third quarter on a series of runs and forward passes. They again threatened the goal in the fourth quarter, but were stopped at the 2-yard line on downs.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3060490/the_indexjournal/ The Index-Journal Florida Eleven Beats Wake Forest Outfit October 28, 1923 6 August 21, 2015 Newspapers.com The starting lineup was: Lightsey (left end), Williams (left tackle), Smith (left guard), Cornwall (center), Goldstein (right guard), Robinson (right tackle), Merrin (right end), Jones (quarterback), Newton (left halfback), Pomeroy (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback). Week 5: Mercer Week 5: Mercer at Florida Mercer Florida 7 0 0 0 0 7 6 6 November 4 Fleming FieldGainesville, FL 5,000 In front of the largest crowd yet to see a game in Gainesville (5,000), Florida defeated coach Stanley L. Robinson's Mercer Baptists at its first ever homecoming 19–7.https://books.google.com/books?id=lUafJmAa9RcC&pg=PA44 44 Gridiron Glory Days: Football at Mercer, 1892-1942 Robert E. Wilder 2011 9780881462678 Florida had 18 first downs to Mercer's 2. Mercer's touchdown came in the first quarter on the recovery of an Ark Newton punt blocked by Mercer's Crook Smith. Mercer's Kid Cecil also had many spectacular runs. A 28-yard pass from Edgar C. Jones to Spec Lightsey got the Gators' first touchdown. Another touchdown came on a Bill Middlekauff run as the third quarter closed, after a drive utilizing both the run and the pass. The final score came on a run around end by Dick Brown. Middlekauff said after the game, "Mercer's line is the strongest one I have seen this year–and I have plunged the Army's and Tech's."http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/mercercluster/id:mer1923-0096 Mercer Cluster Baptists, Undaunted After Reverse, Await Petrel Clash November 8, 1923 6 Week 6: Stetson Week 6: Stetson at Florida Stetson Florida 0 0 0 0 7 0 13 7 November 10 Fleming FieldGainesville, FL In the sixth week of play, the Gators defeated the Stetson Hatters 27–0. Florida opened the game expecting to need only substitutes. This was quickly recognized as foolish; and a mix of substitutes and starters scored the first touchdown.http://digitalcollections.net.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/CFM/id/90269 Stetson Collegiate 14 32 December 12, 1923 Gators Invade DeLand Stetson's offense then got going, with a run of 28 yards and 55 yards resulting in a touchdown if not for a holding penalty. Then the Gators sent in the varsity. Still, Stetson outperformed Florida in the second quarter. The lack of reserves wore on Stetson, and Florida opened up the contest in the second half. Week 7: Southern College In the seventh week of play, Florida rolled up the largest score of the season on 1923 Southern College Blue and White Southern College in Lakeland, 53–0.University of Florida 1924 101 Week 8: Mississippi A&M Week 8: Mississippi A&M at Florida Miss A&M Florida 7 6 0 0 7 0 6 0 November 24 Barrs FieldJacksonville, FL The Gators and coach Earl Abell's Mississippi A&M Aggies fought to a 13–13 tie. The Aggies also tied conference champion Vanderbilt. In the first minutes of play, Luckett scored for Mississippi A&M. The Gators answered with a touchdown on a pass from Jones to Ark Newton. In the second quarter, from his own 1-yard line, Newton had a 96-yard punt, topping his previous record of 92. It went 65 yards in the air.University of Florida 1924 102https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14965563/the_tampa_tribune/ Florida Wages Uphill Fight Against Aggies, Tieing Score 13 to 13 11 November 25, 1923 November 7, 2017 Newspapers.com The Tampa Tribune The Gators failed to capitalize on the long punt, and fumbled at the 7-yard line on its next possession. After an exchange of punts, Luckett ran for 53 yards on a double pass play, setting up another Aggie touchdown. After another exchange of punts, two passes set up the tying score: Newton to Lightsey and Jones to Newton. Bill Middlekauff then made the tying score from the 5-yard line with four line plunges. Newton missed the extra point. The starting lineup was: Lightsey (left end), Williams (left tackle), Norton (left guard), Cornwall (center), Goldstein (right guard), Robinson (right tackle), Merwin (right end), Jones (quarterback), Newton (left halfback), Pomeroy (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback). Week 9: at Alabama Week 9: Florida at Alabama Florida Alabama 0 0 9 7 0 6 0 0 November 29 Rickwood FieldBirmingham, AL 10,000 Rain On a muddy field with pools of water, the Gators upsethttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/3060555/the_monroe_newsstar/ The Monroe News-Star Surprises of South Upset Title Dope November 30, 1923 7 August 21, 2015 Newspapers.com the previously undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide with a comeback, 16–6 victory on Thanksgiving Day,https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3044932/the_bee/ The Bee Florida Licks Alabama, 16-6 Associated Press 17 November 17, 1923 August 19, 2015 Newspapers.com https://books.google.com/books?id=FXabX0BP7xIC&q=1923+gators+football&pg=PP19 The Greatest Moments of Florida Gators Football Mike Bynum 1998 4 9781571671967https://books.google.com/books?id=nWARAQAAMAAJ&q=%22wallace+wade%22+%22van+fleet%22 ESPN college football encyclopedia 275 9781401337032 MacCambridge Michael September 2005 putting the Florida program in the national spotlight for the first time.https://books.google.com/books?id=z6UJBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA30 30 Gone Pro: Florida: Gator Athletes Who Became Pros Steve Rajtar 21 July 2014 9781578605439 It was the Tide's first year under head coach Wallace Wade. The upset gave his previous school of Vanderbilt the SoCon title. In an attempt to drum up publicity, Champ Pickens photographed a stuffed alligator and drew tiny Crimsons swarming around it. Florida back Edgar C. Jones scored all of his team's points.Carlson 2007 28–30 The Gator scores by Jones came on runs of 10 yards around right end, a 12-yard place kick, and a 20-yard run around right end. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19231130&id=Dt5PAAAAIBAJ&pg=3168,4870937 Gators Trounce Alabama In Titular Grid Contest November 30, 1923 August 19, 2015 The Evening Independent The punting of Ark Newton and the line play of captain Robbie Robinson (in his final game) and Goldy Goldstein also helped the Gators get the victory. thumb|140px|Edgar C. Jones. In the first half, Alabama's Grant Gillis won the punting battle and Florida was on the defensive, turning back multiple scoring threats from inside the 10-yard line. Pooley Hubert scored first.http://bryantmuseum.com/TLGDetails.asp?GameDate=11/29/1923 Alabama vs.Florida 2020-05-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20180130205935/http://bryantmuseum.com/TLGDetails.asp?GameDate=11%2F29%2F1923 2018-01-30 dead The Gators eschewed their stockings in the second half, due to the rain and mud, and waited until the last minute to come out for the kickoff, while Alabama was already lined up. Because of this maneuver, Wade never spoke to coach Van Fleet again.McEwen, Tom, The Gators: A Story of Florida Football, The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama (1974). 0-87397-025-X. A few minutes into the second half, Newton complete a 12-yard pass to Dick Brown, down at Alabama's 20-yard line. Brown went around left end for 9 yards; then Jones went around right end for 10 yards and the tying touchdown. Newton missed the extra point. Moments later Newton kicked a punt of 60 yards, from his own 20-yard line to the same of Alabama's. Gillis botched the ensuing Alabama punt. Bill Middlekauff ran behind left guard twice, and Newton ran behind right tackle once, netting 8 yards in three plays. From the 12-yard line, Jones converted a placekick. Newton continued to punt well, and attempted a 53-yard field goal which barely missed. He also tried a 60-yard field goal which was blocked, recovered by Florida's Joe Merrin on Alabama's 20-yard line. Runs at the line failed, and Jones went around right end for 20 yards and the final touchdown. After the game, Van Fleet said "Tom Sebring helped in that game with an idea. Ark needed a little more time (to punt) than most. Sebring proposed we worry only about the kick and not the runback, leaving an extra blocker for Ark. It worked."http://www.stetson.edu/law/lawreview/media/remebering-a-great-dean-harold-l-tom-sebring.pdf Bruce R. Jacob Remembering A Great Dean: Harold L. "Tom" Sebring 88 Stetson Law Review 30 The starting lineup was: Lightsey (left end), Williams (left tackle), Norton (left guard), Cornwall (center), Goldstein (right guard), Robinson (right tackle), Merrin (right end), Jones (quarterback), Newton (left halfback), Brown (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).Ten Thousand See Battle of Thrills as Crimson Tide Is Downed By Gator Clan, 16-6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14966925/the_orlando_sentinel/ The Orlando Sentinel November 30, 1923 5 November 8, 2017 Newspapers.com Postseason Robbie Robinson, Goldy Goldstein and Ark Newton became the first Gators to make the composite All-Southern team.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2416&dat=19240410&id=FaAuAAAAIBAJ&pg=4144,360506&hl=en "Baby" Gators Seeking To Test Miami High's Speed in Track and Field Meet Miami News-Metropolis April 10, 1924 Edgar C. Jones and Bill Middlekauff made Billy Evans's "Southern Honor Roll".https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2874017/freeport_journalstandard/ Freeport Journal-Standard December 20, 1923 8 Billy Evans' All-Southern Honor Roll July 24, 2015 Newspapers.com Robinson and Goldstein made Evans' National Honor Roll. Personnel Depth chart The following chart provides a visual depiction of Florida's lineup during the 1923 season with games started at the position reflected in parentheses. The chart mimics a Notre Dame Box on offense. LE Spec Lightsey (5)Joe Merrin (1)  LT LG C RG RT Cy Williams (6)Clyde Norton (3) Sam Cornwall (6) Goldy Goldstein (5) Robbie Robinson (6) Horse Smith (2) Clyde Norton (1) Goldy Goldstein (1) RE Joe Merrin (5) Spec Lightsey (1)  QB Edgar C. Jones (5)Ark Newton (1) RHB Stewart Pomeroy (3) Lawrence Case (1)Dick Brown (1) Ark Newton (1) LHB Ark Newton (3) Dick Brown (2) Bill Middlekauff (1) FBBill Middlekauff (5)Edgar C. Jones (1) Line thumb|140px|Goldy Goldstein. thumb|140px|Captain Robinson. Starters Florida Gators Player Position Gamesstarted Hometown Prep school Height Weight AgeSam Cornwall centerGoldy Goldstein guard Jacksonville, FloridaDuval High6'3"21019Spec Lightsey endJoe Merrin endClyde Norton guardRobbie Robinson tackle Mobile, Alabama 6'0"18021Horace Smith guardCy Williams tackle Sopchoppy, Florida 6'0"200 Subs Florida Gators Player Position Hometown Prep school Height Weight AgeAlexander guardBoyd endRalph Champlin guardFowler guardHamilton endCadillac Harry guardHartridge endMorris tackleMervin Mounts endNielsen endNolte centerEzra Raasch guardJ. R. Rose endEdgar Todd endTowles endWyatt end Backfield thumb|150px|Ark Newton. Starters Florida Gators Player Position Gamesstarted Hometown Prep school Height Weight AgeRichard Brown halfback Edgar C. Jones quarterback Jacksonville, Florida 19Bill Middlekauff fullback Miami, Florida 6'2"20019Ark Newton halfback Camden, ArkansasCamden High6'1"18520Stewart Pomeroy halfback Subs Florida Gators Player Position Hometown Prep school Height Weight AgeOsmond Bie halfback Robert Brumby quarterback Lawrence Case halfback Flood halfback J. Johnson halfback Jack Matthews fullback John Murphree quarterback Owen Pittman halfback Randall quarterback Sibert halfback George Stanley quarterback Yetter halfback http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00028291/00399/3j The Florida Alligator 3 Wearers Of "F" On The Campus June 26, 1923 Coaching staff Head coach: James Van Fleet Assistants: Tom Sebring, Everett Yon, George Weber, Rex Farrior (freshmen) Manager: Frank Evans See also 1923 College Football All-Southern Team References 30em Bibliography Carlson Norm University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators Whitman Publishing, LLC Atlanta, Georgia 2007 978-0-7948-2298-9 http://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00022765/00015/105j The Seminole 15 1924 University of Florida A History of Southern Football 1890–1928 Woodruff Fuzzy 1928 2 Florida Category:Florida Gators football seasons Florida Gators football