1893 Texas Longhorns football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1893 Texas Longhorns football 1893 Texas football team (cropped).jpg 285 Independent 4–0 None Paul McLane Zoo Park, Hyde Park none State champions The 1893 Texas Varsity football team represented The University of Texas (now known as the University of Texas at Austin Longhorns) in the 1893 college football season. In Texas' first year of organized college football the team compiled a perfect 4–0 record, and outscored its opponents by a combined total of 98 to 16. The season included Texas' first ever college football game, an upset victory over the Dallas Foot Ball Club who had been considered the best team in the state.https://texassports.com/documents/2013/8/30/FB-year-by-year-results.pdf?id=2423 All-Time Resultshttps://www.burntorangenation.com/2023/11/30/23969371/university-of-texas-first-varsity-football-game-130-years-ago-today-1893 The University of Texas played its first football game 130 years ago today November 30, 2023 December 3, 2024 burntorangenation.com The season began with a thanksgiving day game against the Dallas Foot Ball Club , who had not been beaten since their formation in 1891. The 'Varsity prevailed 18–16 in a hard-fought contest, it was considered a major upset. Flush with victory the team scheduled two games against the best of the San Antonio club teams, who combined to form the San Antonio Town Team. Texas won the first game 30–0 on December 16 and the re-match 34–0 on February 3, 1894. In the final game of the season they hosted the Dallas club in Austin on February 22, whom they shutout 16–0 to finish the season undefeated. Background The University of Texas had been established in 1883 and football on a intramural level was organized sporadically over the course of the next decade, the most significant attempts of which were a scrimmage against the Bickler Academy in December 1883 that more closely resembled rugby, and two clubs formed in 1891 who left no recorded history. Lack of success left the student body disinterested in the game in these early years, to the degree that hardly any athletics were played during the 1892-93 school year.https://jimnicar.com/2014/01/09/hullabaloo-uts-first-home-football-game/ Hullabaloo! UT’s First Home Football Game January 9, 2014 January 31, 2026 jimnicar.comMaysel 1970 p. 1 By 1893 college football was well established in the East, but no organized collegiate teams yet existed in Texas. Various "town teams" had picked up the game in the years prior and scrimmaged each other, but the size of these teams and even what version of the game they played, varied wildly. Of these town teams the Dallas Foot Ball Club were the self-proclaimed "champions of Texas" having gone undefeated for several years. They had a reputation of being tough enough that none of the other teams in the state could stand up against them. The origin of the first Longhorn football team can be traced to the return of Laredo natives Paul McLane and his brother Ray from the East where Paul had attended Columbia College, along with graduate student James Morrison who transferred from Hampden–Sydney College, in 1893. Paul McLane almost certainly learned the game from his time playing on the 1892 Columbia freshman squad.n Columbia did not field a varsity squad in 1892, Columbia Lions School History Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football February 1, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/columbia/index.html but did organize a freshman team. Paul's name can be found in student publications that prove he was at least involved with the team's end of season dinner. January 12, 1893 Columbia Spectator, Volume XXXI, Number 7 https://archive-publications.library.columbia.edu/?a=d&d=cs18930112-01.2.23&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------- Columbia Spectator Columbia College Columbia University Library Collections February 1, 2026 Additionally, he was erroneously referred to as R. McLean in other student publications that show he played during the season. October 6, 1892 Columbia Spectator, Volume XXXI, Number 1 https://archive-publications.library.columbia.edu/?a=d&d=cs18921006-01.2.25&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------- Columbia Spectator Columbia College Columbia University Library Collections February 1, 2026 December 1, 1892 Columbia Spectator, Volume XXXI, Number 5 https://archive-publications.library.columbia.edu/?a=d&d=cs18921201-01.2.22&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------- Columbia Spectator Columbia College Columbia University Library Collections February 1, 2026 His brother Ray may have learned the game from him. Morrison was a native Virginian, and had attended Hampden–Sydney College there from 1888-1891 where he played the gamen The school did not organize a football team until a year later,http://hscathletics.com/sports/fball/Year_by_Year.pdf Hampden-Sydney Athletics Hscathletics.com June 1, 2014 April 30, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140430014057/http://hscathletics.com/sports/fball/Year_by_Year.pdf dead so it is unknown how Morrison learned the game.. He moved to Austin to serve as secretary to his elderly uncle Robert Lewis Dabney who was by then professor of philosophy and political science at UT. These three men organized, trained, and lead the first team, and are considered the founders of Longhorn football.https://texaslsn.org/the-1890s-1926s/ Longhorn Football 1883– 1926 January 22, 2024 December 20, 2024 texaslsn.org Paul McLane, apparently the most knowledgeable about football, assumed the role of coach of the budding team who learned the techniques of the game during 4:30 pm daily practices. Practice was held at the northwest corner of campus behind the Chemistry Lab. On November 11 the team, bolstered by some non-student athletes and members of the Austin Athletic Club, participated in an intrasquad exhibition game in Austin. In a city of just 15,000 people around 700 showed up to the game and had to wait through a thirty minute delay while a student rode to town on horseback to retrieve a new ball when the first one was "too lovingly embraced by Al Jacks at the very commencement of the game" and burst. Jacks was a non-student and local Austin baseball figure. The outcome of the game was either a 6–6 tie (according to the literary magazine The Texas University), or called for darkness with the "select team" leading 10–2 (according to the Austin Daily Statesman). The Statesman declared "The boys proved themselves very expert and the coming national game from now on with be seen in Austin." Spectators apparently had a more mixed reaction to the game.Maysel 1970 p. 2 Also during the fall of 1893, the Dallas club, having heard of the formation of a football team at the state university, challenged the newcomers to a thanksgiving day game in Dallas, and a November 30 date was agreed to. The Texas team did not have the adequate funds to make the trip up, so an Austin haberdashery lent the team $100 and Peter Lawless, a ticket agent, supplied round-trip tickets. The team boldly arrived at 8:30 pm in Dallas. Billy Richardson recalled "When we got there, we all bought big cigars and strutted down Main Street." Fans accompanying the team to Dallas created Texas' first yell: Hullabaloo, hullabaloo, Ray, 'ray, 'ray. Hoo-ray, Hoo-ray. 'Varsity, 'varsity, U.T.A. Schedule November 30 w y Dallas Athletic Club Dallas Fair Grounds Dallas, TX 18–16 2,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84740328/varsity-club-wins-defeats-the-dallas-c/ The Austin Daily Statesman Varsity club wins – Defeats the Dallas club by eighteen to sixteen December 1, 1893 September 4, 2021 Newspapers.comDallas-Austin Fort Worth Gazette December 1, 1893 8 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86071158/1893-12-01/ed-1/seq-8/ December 16 w San Antonio Town Team Zoo Park Austin, TX 30–0 500–600 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84740910/one-more-scalp-dangles-from-the-belt-of/ The Austin Daily Statesman One more scalp dangles from the belt of the varsity football eleven December 17, 1893 September 4, 2021 Newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/84740945/san-antonio-defeated/ The Houston Post San Antonio defeated December 17, 1893 September 4, 2021 Newspapers.com February 3, 1894 4:15 p.m. w y San Antonio Town Team Jockey Club Grounds San Antonio, TX 34–0 500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84741095/austin-vs-san-antonio-five-hundred-pe/ The Galveston Daily News Austin vs. San Antonio – Five hundred people witness the varsity eleven's victory, score 31 to 0 February 4, 1894 September 4, 2021 Newspapers.comWon by Austin Houston Daily Post February 4, 1894 4 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86071197/1894-02-04/ed-1/seq-4/ February 22, 1894 3:05 p.m. w Dallas Athletic Club Hyde Park Austin, TX 16–0 Varsity Wins Fort Worth Gazette February 25, 1894 6 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86071158/1894-02-25/ed-1/seq-6/ Game summaries at Dallas Athletic Club Texas vs. Dallas Athletic Club Texas Dallas 12 6 10 6 November 30, 1893 Dallas Fair GroundsDallas, Texas 2,000 On November 30 the Varsity team defeated the Dallas Athletic Club 18–16 at the Fair Grounds in Dallas in front of a crowd of around 2,000 people. Since football was a relatively new sport to the state, the Dallas club was considered the champions of the state and hadn't been beaten or scored against since their inception. Texas won the coin toss and scored a touchdown within 3 minutes which was promptly answered by Dallas with their own T.D. At some point Texas and Dallas both scored again but Dallas failed on their conversion attempt. Since at the time touchdowns were worth 4 points and PATs worth 2; the score at the end of the first half stood 12–10 with Texas in the lead. Both teams scored one touchdown in the second half in what was described as "sharp and close playing" to bring the final score to 18–16. Following the victory Texas was declared the "Champion eleven of Texas". San Antonio Town Team Texas vs. San Antonio Town Team San Antonio Texas 0 0 12 18 December 16, 1893 Zoo ParkAustin, Texas 3:00 PM CST 500–600 On December 16 the Varsity team beat the San Antonio Town Team 30–0 at Zoo Park in Austin. San Antonio won the toss and made a "brilliant run" that brought them to the Texas 25 but turned the ball over on downs. Texas then scored a touchdown after a slow drive downfield. San Antonio turned the ball over again on downs and Texas almost lost it on a fumble, but John Myers recovered. Texas' James Morrison scored the second touchdown to bring the score to 12–0 near the end of the half. Texas received the ball to start the second half and drove down to the Town Teams' endzone but fumbled and San Antonio lost it on a safety, they drove down to their 25 but turned the ball over again and Texas scored their third touchdown but failed on the extra point, Texas 16–0. Throughout the game San Antonio had only been running the wedge play and as the Texas' defensive front adjusted they were more successful at stopping it, they got the ball back and Ray Mclane fumbled the ball just before the S.A. endzone after a 45 yard run San Antonio again jumped on it and got another safety, then got stopped on their 25. Texas scored two more touchdowns and missed one of the extra points to make the final score 30–0. at San Antonio Town Team Texas at San Antonio Town Team Texas San Antonio 16 18 0 0 February 3, 1894 Jockey Club GroundsSan Antonio, Texas 4:15 PM CST 500 On February 3 of 1894 the Varsity team again beat the San Antonio Town Team, this time 34–0 at the Jockey Club Grounds in San Antonio. The game was viewed by a crowd of about 500; which was "largely composed of the society element of both Austin and San Antonio". San Antonio's primary formation again was the Flying Wedge but they lacked cohesion and Texas remained in control of the game, apart from a few missed extra points, with their superior rushing game. Dallas Athletic Club On February 22 of 1894 the Varsity team again beat the Dallas Athletic Club, this time 16–0 at Hyde Park in Austin. Personnel The team, like all other college football teams at the time, operated under the one-platoon system which did not include separate offensive and defensive units and rarely utilized substitutions. The basic formation of five linemen, two ends, two halfbacks, one fullback and one quarterback, was the standard Texas offense for several decades onward. Lettermen Texas Longhorns Player Position Gamesstarted Home town Weight Age Class Prep School NotesCharles BennettTackle2Helena, Texas 24 Law '95 b Charles Dickson Bennett's first cousin Hugh Bennett Ruckman was a member of UT's 1901 football team years later.Addison Perry Day Fullback4Ballinger, Texas 150 20 Lit. '97 David S. FurmanHalfback4Belton, Texas 140 19 Anly. '96 Belton High School Richard Unett LeeHalfback, QB3Austin, Texas135 20 Law '95 b Regarded as one of the best athletes at UT during his time there, Lee played baseball and ran track in addition to football. While practicing for the pole vault competition at UT's upcoming field day in April of 1894 he was injured and developed an unspecified illness, passing away on September 22, 1894, at the age of 21.Billy RichardsonGuard1Mexia, Texas 165 19 Mexia High School b William Henry Richardson's head injury in the second Dallas game left him in the hospital when the 1893 team picture was taken, and erroneously left off the retroactive Letterman list until 1933.Maysel 1970 p. 5–6Paul McLaneEnd3Laredo, Texas170 19 Engi. '97Columbia College b Paul McLane (1874-1897) did not return to UT the next year, but he played one more time in an exhibition game against Missouri after the end of the 1896 season, as the team had several injured players and was shorthanded. He died a few months later in his hometown of Laredo on April 21, 1897.Ray McLaneEnd4Laredo, Texas 160 17 Engi. '97 b Ray McLane (born 1876) was the last surviving member of the 1893 team when he passed away in 1960 at the age of eighty-four.William P. McLeanQuarterback3Mount Pleasant, Texas 135 21Law '95 Southwestern PresbyterianVictor C. MooreGuard3Austin, Texas 19 Lit. '97 The Webb School James MorrisonTackle, End3Lexington, VA175 22 Bio./Chem.(P.G.) Hampden–Sydney College John H. MyersCenter4Oakland, Texas210 21 Law '95 John W. PhilpGuard4Dallas, Texas19019 Law '95 Staunton Military Academy b John William Philp would later serve as the Republican nominee in the 1914 Texas gubernatorial election.Rob E.L. RoyTackle4Johnsons Station, Texas 150 24 Law '94 Southwestern University https://www.burntorangenation.com/2023/11/30/23969371/university-of-texas-first-varsity-football-game-130-years-ago-today-1893 The University of Texas played its first football game 130 years ago today November 30, 2023 January 30, 2026 burntorangenation.comhttps://texaslonghorns.com/sports/2013/6/27/FB_1893_Roster 1893 Football Roster January 30, 2026 texaslonghorns.com Substitutes Texas Longhorns Player Position Gamesstarted Home town Weight Age Class Prep School NotesJesse Andrews 0Waterproof, Louisiana 19 Lit. '95 Jefferson College Edward Batts 0Bastrop, Texas 21 Sc. '97 Ross L. Clark 0Oak Cliff, Texas 21 Law '95 Grove's High School Bibb Graves 0Hope Hull, Alabama 20 Law (P.G.) University of Alabama Al JacksHalfback1Austin, Texas 23 John F. Maverick 0San Antonio, Texas 19 Engi. '97 San Antonio Academy Robert F. Turner 0Monroe, North Carolina Law '95 Managers Walter J. Crawford, Analysis '94 Albert Lefevre, Class of 1894 https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/items/76186720-2370-41b1-9f80-22f0193ec30d Cactus Yearbook 1894 utexas.edu 2026-01-30 1894Wells Jonathan https://texasandlonghornhistory.substack.com/p/revealed-the-university-of-texas-longhorn-football-lettermen-map REVEALED: The Texas Longhorn football lettermen map November 30, 2026 September 30, 2026 substack.comThe University of Texas CATALOGUE 1893–94 Notes n Biographical b References Further reading Lou Maysel Here Come the Texas Longhorns 1893-1970 (1970). Texas Category:Texas Longhorns football seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Texas Longhorns football