1927 Florida Gators football team

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1927 Florida Gators football
Conference Southern Conference
1927 record 7–3 (5–2 6th SoCon)
Head coach Harold Sebring
Assistant coach Joe Bedenk
Assistant coach Nash Higgins
Captain Bill Middlekauff
Home stadium Fleming Field
Seasons
« 1926 1928 »
1927 Southern Conference football standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
Georgia Tech + 7 – 0 – 1     8 – 1 – 1
Tennessee + 5 – 0 – 1     8 – 0 – 1
NC State + 4 – 0 – 0     9 – 1 – 0
Vanderbilt 5 – 0 – 2     8 – 1 – 2
Georgia 6 – 1 – 0     9 – 1 – 0
Florida 5 – 2 – 0     7 – 3 – 0
Ole Miss 3 – 2 – 0     5 – 3 – 1
Virginia 4 – 4 – 0     5 – 4 – 0
Clemson 2 – 2 – 0     5 – 3 – 1
Alabama 3 – 4 – 1     5 – 4 – 1
LSU 2 – 3 – 1     4 – 4 – 1
Mississippi A&M 2 – 3 – 0     5 – 3 – 0
Washington and Lee 2 – 3 – 0     4 – 4 – 1
VPI 2 – 3 – 0     5 – 4 – 0
Maryland 3 – 5 – 0     4 – 7 – 0
South Carolina 2 – 4 – 0     4 – 5 – 0
VMI 2 – 4 – 0     6 – 4 – 0
Tulane 2 – 5 – 1     2 – 5 – 1
North Carolina 2 – 5 – 0     4 – 6 – 0
Sewanee 1 – 4 – 0     2 – 6 – 0
Kentucky 1 – 5 – 0     3 – 6 – 1
Auburn 0 – 6 – 1     0 – 7 – 2
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1927 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 1927 college football season. The season was Tom Sebring's third and last season as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. After suffering a 0–12 upset loss at the hands of the Davidson College Wildcats, the Gators rallied to defeat the Auburn Tigers 33–6, defeating the Tigers for the first time and ending a six-game losing streak, and to upset coach Wallace Wade's Alabama Crimson Tide 13–6. Sebring's 1927 Florida Gators finished 7–3 overall, and 5–2 in the Southern Conference, placing sixth of twenty-two teams in the conference standings.[1][2]

The loss to Davidson featured captain Frank Oosterhoudt, who was later declared ineligible, and replaced at captain by Bill Middlekauff.[3][4] With Middlekauff at captain, the Gators suffered just two further losses: to conference co-champions NC State; and to Georgia's "Dream and Wonder team". NC State was led by Hall of Famer and Gainesville native Jack McDowall.

Schedule and results

Date Opponent Site Result Attendance
September 24 Florida Southern* Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida W 26–7  
October 1 Davidson* Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida L 0–12   7,000
October 8 Auburn Auburn, Alabama W 33–6  
October 15 Kentucky Barrs Field • Jacksonville, Florida W 27–6  
October 23 North Carolina State Plant Field • Tampa, Florida L 6–12  
October 30 Mercer* Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida (HC) W 32–6  
November 6 Georgia Barrs Field • Jacksonville, Florida L 0–28  
November 12 Alabama Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, Alabama W 13–6  
November 24 Washington & Lee Barrs Field • Jacksonville, Florida W 20–7  
December 3 Maryland Barrs Field • Jacksonville, Florida W 7–6   2,000
*Non-conference game.

Primary source: 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide.[1]

Season summary

File:Middlekauff.png
Captain Middlekauff.

Week 1: Florida Southern

The first game of the season occurred on September 24 at Fleming Field in Gainesville. The Gators defeated Florida Southern 26 to 7.

Week 2: Davidson

The second week brought the low point of the season–an upset by the Davidson Wildcats. Favored to win by two touchdowns and of superior weight, the Gators lost 12 to 0.[5] They came within scoring just once, held at the 1-yard line.[5] Despite a limp, Clyde Crabtree was twice sent into the game at crucial moments in hopes of a score.[5] In his first year on the varsity and with a broken wrist, Rainey Cawthon played against Davidson.[6]

On October 4, captain Frank Oosterhoudt was declared ineligible; his replacement by unanimous vote was Bill Middlekauff.[7][8][9]

Week 3: at Auburn

Spurred on by a new captain, the Gators traveled to Auburn and beat the Auburn Tigers for the first time 33–6. Bill Middlekauff and Clyde Crabtree were both cited as players of the game.[10] Everett Strupper was referee.[11] Crabtree scored two touchdowns and Middlekauff one Goof Bowyer made the first touchdown, a 44-yard run. Tommy Owens also had a touchdown.

The Gators' freshmen team also beat Auburn's freshmen team that week.[12]

The starting lineup for the Gators against Auburn: Hodges (left end), Bryan (left tackle), Allen (left guard), Kirschner (center), Reeves (right guard), Clemons (right tackle), Stanley (right end), Brumbaugh (quarterback), Bowyer (left halfback), Bishop (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).[11]

Week 4: Kentucky

Week 4: Kentucky at Florida
1 2 3 4 Total
Kentucky 0 6 0 0 6
• Florida 7 0 13 7 27
  • Date: October 15, 1927
  • Location: Fairfield Stadium
    Jacksonville, FL
  • Game attendance: 10,000

The Gators avenged last year's loss to the Kentucky Wildcats with a 27 to 6 victory in Jacksonville, outplaying the Wildcats in all but the second quarter.[13] Carl Brumbaugh was sidelined with an injury.[14]

Florida's first touchdown came after some six minutes of play when Bill Middlekauff went over. Florida's final touchdown was on a triple-pass play of Middlekauff to Clyde Crabtree to Dale Van Sickel.[13] In the last half, the Gators made 17 first downs to Kentucky's 11.[15]

Week 5: North Carolina State

Week 5: North Carolina State at Florida
1 2 3 4 Total
• NC State 0 0 0 12 12
Florida 0 0 0 6 6

In the fifth week of play, the Gators faced coach Gus Tebell's North Carolina State Wolfpack on Plant Field in Tampa, losing 12–6. Neither team scored until the final period.[16]

A drive brought the Wolfpack to the 3-yard line, the feature play of which was a 30-yard pass from their Hall of Fame captain, Gainesville native Jack McDowall to Childress. A pass from McDowall to Frank Goodwin got the score.[17] The Gators then began passing desperately in an attempt to win. A pass bounced off the hands of a Florida back and into McDowall's, who returned the ball 75 yards for the deciding score.[18] On the ensuing kickoff, Gator back Tommy Owens ran it back for an 88-yard touchdown.[17][19][20]

Since McDowall had been turned down by his native University of Florida, legend has it just afterwards he mailed Sebring the game ball.[21]

The starting lineup for the Gators against NC State: Van Sickel (left end), Bryan (left tackle), Allen (left guard), Kirschner (center), Reeves (right guard), Clemons (right tackle), Stanley (right end), Bowyer (quarterback), Beck (left halfback), Yancey (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).[17]

Week 6: Mercer

For homecoming, some 9,000[22] watched Florida beat the Mercer Bears 32 to 6. Rainey Cawthon once completed a 53-yard pass during the game. Florida's five touchdowns were scored by: Bill Middlekauff, Willie DeHoff, Cecil Beck, Spic Stanley, and Goof Bowyer. Mercer's Phoney Smith had a 65 yard touchdown run. Middlekauff made the first score of the contest.[23]

Week 7: Georgia

The "Dream and Wonder" team beat the Gators 28 to 0 after leading just 7–0 at the half. Some 16,000 were in attendance. Quarterback Goof Bowyer broke his leg in the game against Georgia.[24] Middlekauff entered the game with an injury, and aggravated it further.[25]

Week 8: at Alabama

Week 8: Florida at Alabama
1 2 3 4 Total
• Florida 0 7 0 6 13
Alabama 0 0 0 6 6

The Gators upset[26] the Alabama Crimson Tide 13 to 6 in Montgomery.[27] Florida's yearbook remarked: "The South rocked under the great Orange and Blue victory." Clyde Crabtree returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter.[28] Alabama's Molton Smith intercepted Crabtree's pass in the fourth quarter and ran for a 45-yard touchdown. After an Alabama penalty, Carl Brumbaugh ran across for the second and decisive touchdown.[28] Crabtree also had two 55-yard kickoff returns, and gained more from scrimmage that afternoon than did the Tide. Crabtree accounted for 271 yards.[28]

Week 9: Washington & Lee

Before a crowd of some 12,000 in Jacksonville, Florida beat coach Pat Herron's Washington & Lee Generals 20 to 7. Dale Van Sickel scored Florida's three touchdowns. The Gators 75-piece band made the trip.[29]

Week 10: Maryland

Week 10: Maryland at Florida
1 2 3 4 Total
Maryland 0 6 0 0 6
• Florida 0 7 0 0 7

In a cold and driving rain, a placekick for extra point by Dutch Stanley proved the difference in a 7–6 win over coach Curley Byrd's Maryland Terrapins. Six Gators played their final game.[30][31]

"Playing on a sodden field, unfamiliar to both teams,"[32] Florida scored after Clyde Crabtree returned a punt to Maryland's 38-yard line. He and Carl Brumbaugh worked the ball further towards the goal, and Bill Middlekauff carried it over the goal line in the captain's final game. Roberts of Maryland had a 38-yard touchdown run through tackle. The pass for extra point failed, however.[32]

The starting lineup for the Gators against Maryland: Stanley (left end), Clemons (left tackle), Allen (left guard), Kirschner (center), Reeves (right guard), Bryan (right tackle), Van Sickel (right end), Crabtree (quarterback), Brumbaugh (left halfback), Bishop (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).[32]

Postseason

Goof Bowyer was elected captain for next year.[24] In no two seasons had Florida won as many conference contests as in 1927. Sebring graduated from the university's College of Law in 1928, and later became a circuit court judge and chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court. Many sports commentators believe that the team that Sebring recruited for 1928 would become the greatest Gators football squad until at least the 1960s.

Players

Line

  • Chester Allen, guard
  • Louis Bono, center
  • Joe Bryan, tackle
  • Jus Clemons, tackle
  • Donald DeHoff
  • Willie DeHoff, end
  • Goldy Goldstein, guard
  • Hodges, end
  • Tubby Kirchner, center
  • Glenn Pless
  • Alex "Rip" Reeves, guard
  • Mills Smith
  • Dutch Stanley, end
  • Charlie Tucker
  • Dale Van Sickel, end

Backfield

Coaching staff

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 107–108 (2015). Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2009 Southern Conference Football Media Guide, Year-by-Year Standings, Southern Conference, Spartanburg, South Carolina, p. 74 (2009). Retrieved August 30, 2010.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ki2f9GJ298
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ http://bryantmuseum.com/TLGDetails.asp?GameDate=11/12/1927
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/27-m-footbl-recaps.pdf
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
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