1917 Auburn Tigers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1917 Auburn Tigers football Auburn Tigers logo (pre-1971).png 125 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association SIAA 6–2–1 5–1 Mike Donahue 13th 7–2–2 Carey Robinson Drake FieldRickwood Field The 1917 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1917 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. It was the Tigers' 26th season and they competed as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA). The team was led by head coach Mike Donahue, in his 13th year, and played their home games at Drake Field in Auburn, Alabama. They finished with a record of six wins, two losses and one tie (6–2–1 overall, 5–1 in the SIAA). Led by Walter Camp All-America Honorable Mention Moon Ducote, Auburn lost its two games to Davidson and Georgia Tech, widely regarded as the two best teams in the south.College Football Historical Society February 1988 1 3 http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv01/CFHSNv01n3a.pdf Georgia Tech's 1917 backfield, better than Four Horsemen Bernie McCarty dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120719/http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv01/CFHSNv01n3a.pdf 2016-03-04 Georgia Tech was the south's first national champion. Auburn held undefeated Big Ten champion Ohio State to a scoreless tie. Schedule Eastern October 6 w y 8th Ohio Infantry Soldiers Field Montgomery, AL 13–0 2,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101834403/auburn-downs-fast-team-of-ohioans-by-sco/ The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn downs fast team of Ohioans by score of 13 to 0 October 7, 1917 May 14, 2022 Newspapers.com October 13 w Howard (AL) Drake Field Auburn, AL 53–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101833039/auburn-tigers-run-wild-over-howard-bapti/ The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers run wild over Howard Baptists October 14, 1917 May 14, 2022 Newspapers.com October 19 w y Clemson Riggs Field Clemson, SC 7–0 rivalry https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101834650/auburn-defeats-clemson-tigers/ The Columbia Record Auburn defeats Clemson Tigers October 20, 1917 May 14, 2022 Newspapers.com October 27 w Mississippi A&M Rickwood Field Birmingham, AL 13–6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101834708/the-plainsmen-have-tough-game/ The Atlanta Constitution The Plainsmen have tough game October 28, 1917 May 14, 2022 Newspapers.com November 3 w Florida Drake Field Auburn, AL rivalry 68–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101834827/florida-downed-by-auburn-tigers-by-score/ The Montgomery Advertiser Florida downed by Auburn Tigers by score of 68 to 0 November 4, 1917 May 14, 2022 Newspapers.com November 10 l y y Davidson Grant Field Atlanta, GA 7–21 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101834916/davidson-defeats-auburn/ The Journal and Tribune Davidson defeats Auburn November 11, 1917 May 14, 2022 Newspapers.com November 17 w y Vanderbilt Dudley Field Nashville, TN 31–7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101834988/auburn-triumphs-over-vanderbilt-commodor/ The Birmingham News Auburn triumphs over Vanderbilt Commodores in annual tilt November 18, 1917 May 14, 2022 Newspapers.com November 24 t y Ohio State Soldiers Field Montgomery, AL 0–0 10,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123381/auburn_tie_with_ohio_state_1917/ The Atlanta Constitution Auburn Tigers play Ohio State to scoreless tie November 25, 1917 May 14, 2022 Newspapers.com November 29 l y Georgia Tech Grant Field Atlanta, GA rivalry 7–68 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101835152/passes-prove-georgia-techs-biggest-asset/ The News and Observer Passes prove Georgia Techs biggest asset November 30, 1917 May 14, 2022 Newspapers.com Game summaries 8th Ohio Infantry The season opened with a 13–0 victory over the 8th Ohio Infantry at Montgomery. Howard (AL) In the second week of play, the Tigers defeated the Howard Baptists, 53–0. Clemson Auburn at Clemson Auburn Clemson 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 October 19 Clemson, South Carolina John R. Bender Sources: Auburn beat Clemson on Riggs Field 7–0, in a close game. Ducote starred for Auburn and Stumpy Banks starred for Clemson.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5369306/the_atlanta_constitution/ Clemson Tigers Lose To Auburn Plainsmen 14 October 20, 1917 May 24, 2016 The Atlanta Constitution Auburn's starting lineup was Ducote (left end), Caton (left tackle), Samford (left guard), Rogers (center), Warren (right guard), Bonner (right tackle), Styles (right end), Robinson (quarterback), Donahue (left halfback), Creel (right halfback), Revington (fullback). Mississippi A&M Mississippi A&M at Auburn Miss. A&M Auburn 6 0 0 0 0 7 6 0 October 27 Birmingham, Alabama Thomas (Purdue) Sources: Auburn won a tough game with the Mississippi Aggies, winning 13–6. The Aggies score when their tackle, Horton, picked up a fumble and ran 95 yards for a touchdown.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5365433/the_atlanta_constitution/ 3 The Plainsmen Have Tough Game The Atlanta Constitution October 28, 1917 May 24, 2016 Newspapers.com Auburn's starting lineup was Styles (left end), Caton (left tackle), Sizemore (left guard), Rogers (center), Warren (right guard), Bonner (right tackle), Gibson (right end), Ducote (quarterback), Donahue (left halfback), Trapp (right halfback), Revington (fullback). Florida Florida at Auburn Florida Auburn 0 0 0 0 14 19 21 14 November 6 Auburn, Alabama Tom Dutton Sources: Auburn's biggest win was 68–0 over Florida.http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00028291/00197 The Florida Alligator November 7, 1917 Auburn Had Little Trouble Defeating The Light Gator Eleven Auburn's starting lineup was Creel (left end), Styles (left tackle), Sizemore (left guard), Caton (center), Warren (right guard), Bonner (right tackle), Gibson (right end), Ducote (quarterback), Donahue (left halfback), Trapp (right halfback), Revington (fullback). Davidson Davidson vs. Auburn Davidson Auburn 0 7 7 7 0 0 7 0 November 10 Atlanta 2:30 p.m. Lewis (Virginia) Sources:Jemison Dick Dick Jemison Plainsmen Twelve Pounds Heavier Than Davidson https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99631089/the-atlanta-constitution/ The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia November 10, 1917 14 April 12, 2022 Newspapers.com Davidson, led by Buck Flowers, beat the Tigers 21–7 in an upset, one of the greatest in Southern history.Atlanta Constitution Dick Jemison November 11, 1917 Ralph Flowers, Demon Halfback, Defeats Auburn Newspapers.com Part 1 Part 2 http://www.davidsonwildcats.com/sports/2007/8/23/cheermascotname.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193520/http://www.davidsonwildcats.com/sports/2007/8/23/cheermascotname.aspx March 3, 2016 Wildcat Origin March 22, 2015 Flowers returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown, caught a pass for a second touchdown, set up a third touchdown with an 85-yard return to Auburn's two-yard line, and kicked all three extra points for the Wildcats. He also prevented Auburn from scoring with a tackle at the goal line.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1979&dat=19830411&id=S6EiAAAAIBAJ&pg=2753,6856766 Sumter Daily Item Renowned Athlete Buck Flowers Dies April 11, 1983 3A Auburn's starting lineup was Esslinger (left end), Styles (left tackle), Sizemore (left guard), Caton (center), Warren (right guard), Bonner (right tackle), Gibson (right end), Robinson (quarterback), Donahue (left halfback), Ducote (right halfback), Revington (fullback). Vanderbilt Auburn at Vanderbilt Auburn Vanderbilt 6 6 13 6 0 0 0 7 November 17 Nashville, Tennessee Bradley Walker Sources: The Tigers defeated Dan McGugin's Vanderbilt Commodores 31–7.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/127047/auburn_vandy_1917/ Vady Beaten By Plainsmen; Count 31 to 7 3 November 18, 1917 May 24, 2016 Newspapers.com The Atlanta Constitution Auburn's starting lineup was Gibson (left end), Styles (left tackle), Sizemore (left guard), Caton (center), Warren (right guard), Bonner (right tackle), Creel (right end), Robinson (quarterback), Donahue (left halfback), Ducote (right halfback), Revington (fullback). Ohio State Ohio State at Auburn Ohio St. Auburn 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 November 24 Montgomery, Alabama Bradley Walker Sources: Auburn held undefeated Big Ten champion Ohio State to a scoreless tie less than a week before the Tech game.http://www.databasefootball.com/College/teams/teamyear.htm?TeamID=10&Season=1917 1917 Auburn Tigers usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20151210062802/http://www.databasefootball.com/College/teams/teamyear.htm?TeamID=10&Season=1917 2015-12-10 Ohio State, led by Chic Harley, had been favored 4 or 5 to 1.Heisman Schlabach 2012 160 Coach John Heisman (who previously coached at Auburn) and his players were at the game, rooting for the Tigers. Auburn stopped Ohio State inside its 10-yard line five times.https://books.google.com/books?id=qjTsnaizks8C&pg=PA12 12 Stadium Stories: Auburn Tigers Phillip Marshall 2005 9780762723119 Auburn's starting lineup was Creel (left end), Styles (left tackle), Sizemore (left guard), Caton (center), Warren (right guard), Bonner (right tackle), Gibson (right end), Robinson (quarterback), Donahue (left halfback), Ducote (right halfback), Revington (fullback).https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123381/auburn_tie_with_ohio_state_1917/ Auburn Tigers Play Ohio State To Scoreless Tie The Atlanta Constitution 3 November 25, 1917 Newspapers.com July 12, 2015 Georgia Tech Auburn at Georgia Tech Auburn Ga. Tech 0 0 0 7 20 13 21 14 November 29 Grant FieldAtlanta 20,000 Jogger Elcock Sources:https://smartech.gatech.edu/bitstream/handle/1853/26046/1917-12-04_07_10.pdf?sequence=1 The Technique Golden Tornado Wins Great Victory 4 December 4, 1917 In the season's final game, Georgia Tech, for year's considered the South's greatest, Auburn 68–7. Tech piled up 472 yards on the ground in 84 rushes and 145 yards in the air.McCarty Bernie Georgia Tech's 1917 backfield, better than the Four Horsemen: Part 2 1 4 May 1988 College Football Historical Society Newsletter https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070443/http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv01/CFHSNv01n4h.pdf March 4, 2016 http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv01/CFHSNv01n4h.pdf 16–17 Joe Guyon scored four touchdowns, and Everett Strupper had a 65-yard touchdown run. According to the Atlanta Journal,It was not the length of the run that featured it was the brilliance of it. After getting through the first line, Stroop was tackled squarely by two secondary men, and yet he squirmed and jerked loosed from them, only to face the safety man and another Tiger, coming at him from different angles. Without checking his speed Everett knifed the two men completely, running between them and dashing on to a touchdown. In the second quarter, Moon Ducote broke through the line toward the goal with blocking by Pete Bonner and William Donahue. After Guyon dove at Ducote and missed, Guyon gave chase and tackled him at the 26-yard line. For Auburn's only score Ducote circled around end for 17 yards and lateraled to Donahue, who ran down the sideline for a six-yard touchdown. Heisman: The Man Behind The Trophy Heisman John M. Schlabach Mark Mark Schlabach New York Simon & Schuster 2012 978-1-4516-8291-5 https://books.google.com/books?id=yjYn6FVEqCQC 161 Guyon was the star of the game,https://web.archive.org/web/20160305073141/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2951308/greensboro_daily_news/ March 5, 2016 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2951308/greensboro_daily_news/ Georgia Tech Defeats Auburn Eleven 68 to 7 November 30, 1917 13 Greensboro Daily News August 4, 2015 Newspapers.com accounting for four touchdowns and having his best day passing. Strupper had touchdown runs of 62 and 50 yards. Auburn's starting lineup was Gibson (left end), Martin (left tackle), Sizemore (left guard), Caton (center), Warren (right guard), Bonner (right tackle), Styles (right end), Robinson (quarterback), Donahue (left halfback), Ducote (right halfback), Revington (fullback) Postseason Despite the lopsided loss to Tech, Auburn was considered a strong team. Ducote and Bonner were the only non-Tech, unanimous All-Southern selections.https://archive.org/stream/officialfootball19181nati#page/n27/mode/2up/search/%22all-southern%22 Spalding Football Guide 1918 Shawnee Mission, Kansas, NCAA Publishing Service Coach Donahue later said that Ducote was "undoubtedly the best ever."see Gridiron Gasps, The Tuscaloosa News, January 10, 1933. References Auburn Category:Auburn Tigers football seasons Auburn Tigers football