Florida Gators football, 1920–1929

The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The University of Florida fielded its first official varsity football team in the fall of 1906, and has fielded a team every season since then, with the exception of 1943. During the 1920s, the Gators competed in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) until 1921, and the Southern Conference after 1921. The Gators played their home games on University Field, later renamed Fleming Field, located on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus.

This article includes a game-by-game list of the Florida Gators' ten football seasons from 1920 to 1929. During the 1920s, the Gators were coached by William G. Kline (1920–1923), James Van Fleet (1923–1924), Harold L. "Tom" Sebring (1925–1927) and Charles W. "Charlie" Bachman (1928–1932). Kline, Van Fleet, Sebring and Bachman compiled an overall record of 64–25–14 (.689) during the decade.

Contents: 1920  · 1921  · 1922  · 1923  · 1924  · 1925  · 1926  · 1927  · 1928  · 1929

1920

1920 Florida Gators football
Conference Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1920 record 6–3 (1–3 SIAA)
Head coach William G. Kline
Home stadium University Field
Seasons
« 1919 1921 »

Season overview

The 1920 college football season was law professor William G. Kline's first of three as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Kline was a former halfback for the Illinois Fighting Illini, and had previously coached the Nebraska Cornhuskers. While the Gators improved their series records against traditional in-state opponents like the Florida Southern Moccasins and the Stetson Hatters, they also suffered a shutout defeat by the Tulane Green Wave and lost their fourth consecutive game to the Georgia Bulldogs. Kline's 1920 Florida Gators compiled a marginally better 6–3 overall record than the 1919 Gators,[1] but a lesser 1–3 conference record against Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) competition.

Schedule and results

Date Opponent Site Result
10–9–1920 Newberry* Gainesville, Florida W 21–0  
10–16–1920 Rollins* (Forfeit) W 1–0  
10–23–1920 Florida Southern* Gainesville, Florida W 13–0  
10–30–1920 Mercer Valdosta, Georgia W 30–0  
11–6–1920 Tulane Tampa, Florida L 0–14  
11–11–1920 Stetson* Gainesville, Florida W 21–0  
11–13–1920 Georgia Sanford Field • Athens, Georgia L 0–56  
11–20–1920 Stetson* Gainesville, Florida W 26–0  
11–25–1920 Oglethorpe Memorial Stadium • Columbus, Georgia L 0–21  
*Non-conference game.

1921

1921 Florida Gators football
Conference Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1921 record 6–3–2 (4–1–2 SIAA)
Head coach William G. Kline
Home stadium University Field
Seasons
« 1920 1922 »

Season overview

The 1921 college football season was the second for William Kline as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. The Gators split a pair of games against football teams from two U.S. Army training bases, and improved their record against major collegiate competition by edging the Alabama Crimson Tide 9–2 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama; the Gators' two losses against the Tennessee Volunteers (0–9) and the North Carolina Tar Heels (10–14) were competitive and close. Kline's 1921 Florida Gators produced a marginally improved 6–3–2 overall record compared to the 1920 Gators,[1] and a much better 4–1–2 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) conference record.

Schedule and results

Date Opponent Site Result
10–1–1921 Fort Benning* Columbus, Georgia W 6–0  
10–8–1921 Rollins* Orlando, Florida W 33–0  
10–10–1921 Carlstrom Field* Gainesville, Florida L 0–19  
10–15–1921 Mercer Gainesville, Florida W 7–0  
10–22–1921 Tennessee Shields-Watkins Field • Knoxville, Tennessee L 0–9  
10–29–1921 Howard Montgomery, Alabama W 34–0  
11–5–1921 South Carolina Tampa, Florida T 7–7  
11–12–1921 Alabama Denny Field • Tuscaloosa, Alabama W 9–2  
11–18–1921 Mississippi College Gainesville, Florida T 7–7  
11–26–1921 Oglethorpe Gainesville, Florida W 21–3  
12–3–1921 North Carolina* Jacksonville, Florida L 10–14  
*Non-conference game.

1922

1922 Florida Gators football
Conference Southern Conference
1922 record 7–2 (2–0 5th SoCon)
Head coach William G. Kline
Home stadium University Field
Seasons
« 1921 1923 »

Season overview

The 1922 college football season was law professor William Kline's third and last year as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Kline's 1922 Florida Gators finished 7–2 overall,[1] and 2–0 in their first year as members of the new Southern Conference, placing fifth of twenty-one teams in the conference standings.[2] After the 1922–1923 school year, Kline returned to the University of Nebraska, where he was the head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers basketball and Cornuhuskers baseball teams, and later became a published author of books on coaching football, basketball and baseball.

Schedule and results

Date Opponent Site Result
10–7–1922 Furman* Gainesville, Florida L 6–7  
10–14–1922 Rollins* Orlando, Florida W 19–0  
10–21–1922 American Legion* Tampa, Florida W 14–0  
10–28–1922 Howard* Gainesville, Florida W 57–0  
11–4–1922 Harvard* Harvard Stadium • Cambridge, Massachusetts L 0–24  
11–11–1922 Mississippi College* Tampa, Florida W 58–0  
11–18–1922 Tulane New Orleans, Louisiana W 27–6  
11–25–1922 Oglethorpe* Atlanta, Georgia W 12–0  
12–25–1922 Clemson Barrs Field • Jacksonville, Florida W 47–14  
*Non-conference game.

1923

1923 Florida Gators football
Conference Southern Conference
1923 record 6–1–2 (1–0–2 3rd SoCon)
Head coach James Van Fleet
Home stadium University Field
Seasons
« 1922 1924 »

Season overview

The 1923 college football season was Major James Van Fleet's first of two 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. Notably, Florida alumni and students celebrated their first-ever Homecoming with a 19–7 victory over the Mercer Bears. 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. Van Fleet's 1923 Florida Gators finished 6–1–2 overall,[1] and 1–0–2 in the Southern Conference, placing third of twenty-one teams in the conference standings.[2]

Schedule and results

Date Opponent Site Result
10–6–1923 U.S. Military Academy* West Point, New York L 0–20  
10–13–1923 Georgia Tech Grant Field • Atlanta, Georgia T 7–7  
10–19–1923 Rollins* Gainesville, Florida W 28–0  
10–27–1923 Wake Forest Tampa, Florida W 16–7  
11–3–1923 Mercer* Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) W 19–7  
11–10–1923 Stetson* Gainesville, Florida W 27–0  
11–17–1923 Florida Southern* Lakeland, Florida W 53–0  
11–24–1923 Mississippi State Barrs Field • Jacksonville, Florida T 13–13  
11–29–1923 Alabama Rickwood Field • Birmingham, Alabama W 16–6  
*Non-conference game.

1924

1924 Florida Gators football
Conference Southern Conference
1924 record 6–2–2 (2–0–1 2nd SoCon)
Head coach James Van Fleet
Home stadium Fleming Field
Seasons
« 1923 1925 »

Season overview

The 1924 college football season was Major James Van Fleet's second and final year as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. The Gators traveled further during the 1924 season than any other college football team in the country, and received national recognition for their ties against the powerhouse Texas Longhorns and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Van Fleet's 1924 Florida Gators finished 6–2–2 overall,[1] and 2–0–1 in the Southern Conference, placing second of twenty-two teams in the conference standings.[2] The U.S. Army transferred Van Fleet to the Panama Canal Zone after the 1924 season, and he would later become a regimental, divisional and corps commander during World War II and the commander of all United States and United Nations armed forces during the Korean War.

Schedule and results

Date Opponent Site Result
10–4–1924 Rollins* Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida W 77–0  
10–11–1924 Georgia Tech Grant Field • Atlanta, Georgia T 7–7  
10–18–1924 Wake Forest Tampa, Florida W 34–0  
10–25–1924 Texas* Clark Field • Austin, Texas T 7–7  
11–1–1924 Florida Southern* Fleming Field • Gainesville Florida W 27–0  
11–8–1924 U.S. Military Academy* Michie Stadium • West Point, New York L 7–14  
11–14–1924 Mercer* Macon, Georgia L 0–10  
11–22–1924 Mississippi State Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, Alabama W 27–0  
11–27–1924 Drake* Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) W 10–0  
12–6–1924 Washington & Lee Barrs Field • Jacksonville, Florida W 16–6  
*Non-conference game.

1925

1925 Florida Gators football
Conference Southern Conference
1925 record 8–2 (3–2 8th SoCon)
Head coach Harold Sebring
Home stadium Fleming Field
Seasons
« 1924 1926 »

Season overview

The 1925 college football season was law student Harold L. "Tom" Sebring's first of three as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. The Gators compiled their best win-loss record to date, losing only to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 7–23 in Atlanta, Georgia and coach Wallace Wade's undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide 0–34 in Montgomery, Alabama. The highlights of the season included conference victories over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Clemson Tigers, Mississippi State Bulldogs and Washington & Lee Generals. Sebring's 1925 Florida Gators finished 8–2 overall,[1] and 3–2 in the Southern Conference, placing eighth of twenty-two teams in the conference standings.[2]

Schedule and results

Date Opponent Site Result
10–3–1925 Mercer* Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida W 24–0  
10–10–1925 Florida Southern* Fleming Field • Gainesville Florida W 9–0  
10–10–1925 Hampden-Sydney* Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida W 22–6  
10–17–1925 Georgia Tech Grant Field • Atlanta, Georgia L 7–23  
10–24–1925 Wake Forest* Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) W 24–3  
10–31–1925 Rollins* Fleming Field • Gaineville, Florida W 65–0  
11–7–1925 Clemson Clemson, South Carolina W 42–0  
11–14–1925 Alabama Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, Alabama L 0–34  
11–21–1925 Mississippi State Tampa, Florida W 12–0  
11–26–1925 Washington & Lee Barrs Field • Jacksonville, Florida W 17–14  
*Non-conference game.

1926

1926 Florida Gators football
Conference Southern Conference
1926 record 2–6–2 (1–4–1 19th SoCon)
Head coach Harold Sebring
Home stadium Fleming Field
Seasons
« 1925 1927 »

Season overview

The 1926 college football season was Tom Sebring's second and least successful campaign as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. The highlights of the season were the Gators' two victories home field over the Florida Southern Moccasins and Clemson Tigers, which were interspersed among four close losses to the Chicago Maroons (6–12), the Ole Miss Rebels (7–12), the Mercer Bears (3–7) and the Kentucky Wildcats (13–18), crushing defeats by the Georgia Bulldogs (9–32) and coach Wallace Wade's undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide (0–49), and two low-scoring ties with the Hampden-Sydney Tigers (0–0) and the Washington & Lee Generals. Sebring's 1926 Florida Gators finished 2–6–2 overall,[1] and 1–4–1 in the Southern Conference, placing nineteenth of twenty-two teams in the conference standings.[2]

Schedule and results

Date Opponent Site Result
9–23–1926 Florida Southern* Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida W 16–0  
10–2–1926 Chicago* Stagg Field • Chicago, Illinois L 6–12  
10–6–1926 Mississippi Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida L 7–12  
10–16–1926 Mercer* Macon, Georgia L 3–7  
10–23–1926 Kentucky Barrs Field • Jacksonville, Florida L 13–18  
10–30–1926 Georgia Sanford Field • Athens, Georgia L 9–32  
11–6–1926 Clemson Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) W 33–0  
11–13–1926 Alabama Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, Alabama L 0–49  
11–20–1926 Hampden-Sydney* Tampa, Florida T 0–0  
11–27–1926 Washington & Lee Barrs Field • Jacksonville, Florida T 7–7  
*Non-conference game.

1927

1927 Florida Gators football
Conference Southern Conference
1927 record 7–3 (5–2 6th SoCon)
Head coach Harold Sebring
Home stadium Fleming Field
Seasons
« 1926 1928 »

Season overview

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

Schedule and results

Date Opponent Site Result
9–24–1927 Florida Southern* Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida W 26–7  
10–1–1927 Davidson* Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida L 0–12  
10–8–1927 Auburn Auburn, Alabama W 33–6  
10–15–1927 Kentucky Barrs Field • Jacksonville, Florida W 27–6  
10–23–1927 North Carolina State Tampa, Florida L 6–12  
10–30–1927 Mercer* Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) W 32–6  
11–6–1927 Georgia Barrs Field • Jacksonville, Florida L 0–28  
11–12–1927 Alabama Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, Alabama W 13–6  
11–24–1927 Washington & Lee Barrs Field • Jacksonville, Florida W 20–7  
12–3–1927 Maryland Barrs Field • Jacksonville, Florida W 7–6  
*Non-conference game.

1928

1928 Florida Gators football
Conference Southern Conference
1928 record 8–1 (6–1 3rd SoCon)
Head coach Charlie Bachman
Home stadium Fleming Field
Seasons
« 1927 1929 »

Season overview

The 1928 college football season was future Hall-of-Famer Charles W. "Charlie" Bachman's first of five as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Among the many football highlights of 1928 was the Gators' 26–6 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs, which ended an eight-game losing streak versus the Bulldogs. The Gators played their final game against coach Robert Neyland's 8–0–1 Tennessee Volunteers on their home field in Knoxville, Tennessee. The game was played after a hard rain, and both teams scored two touchdowns on the muddy field. The Volunteers missed one extra point conversion, but the Gators missed two and lost the game by a single point, 12–13. The Gators finished 8–1 overall,[1] and 6–1 in the Southern Conference, placing third of twenty-three teams in the conference, behind the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7–0) and the Volunteers (6–0–1).[2] Bachman's 1928 Florida Gators scored more points than any other college football team in the country, and the 1928 Gators were remembered by many sports commentators as the best Florida football team until at least the 1960s.

Schedule and results

Date Opponent Site Result
10–6–1928 Florida Southern* Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida W 26–0  
10–13–1928 Auburn Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida W 27–0  
10–20–1928 Mercer* Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) W 73–0  
10–27–1928 North Carolina State Fairfield Stadium • Jacksonville, Florida W 14–7  
11–3–1928 Sewanee Fairfield Stadium • Jacksonville, Florida W 71–6  
11–10–1928 Georgia Savannah, Georgia W 26–6  
11–17–1928 Clemson Fairfield Stadium • Jacksonville, Florida W 27–6  
11–29–1928 Washington & Lee Fairfield Stadium • Jacksonville, Florida W 60–6  
12–8–1928 Tennessee Shields-Watkins Field • Knoxville, Tennessee L 12–13  
*Non-conference game.

1929

1929 Florida Gators football
Conference Southern Conference
1929 record 8–2 (6–1 4th SoCon)
Head coach Charlie Bachman
Home stadium Fleming Field
Seasons
« 1928 1930 »

Season overview

The 1929 college football season was Charlie Bachman's second as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. The highlights of the year included Southern Conference victories over the Virginia Military Institute Keydets, Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, Clemson Tigers, South Carolina Gamecocks and Washington & Lee Generals, and a 20–6 intersectional upset over coach John McEwan's Oregon Ducks in a neutral site game played in the old Madison Square Garden stadium in Miami, Florida. Bachman's 1929 Florida Gators finished with an overall record of 8–2,[1] and a conference record of 6–1, placing fourth of twenty-three conference teams.[2]

Schedule and results

Date Opponent Site Result
9–28–1929 Florida Southern* Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida W 54–0  
10–5–1929 Virginia Military Institute Tampa, Florida W 18–7  
10–11–1929 Auburn Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, Alabama W 19–0  
10–19–1929 Georgia Tech Grant Field • Atlanta, Georgia L 6–19  
10–26–1929 Georgia Fairfield Stadium • Jacksonville, Florida W 18–6  
11–2–1929 Harvard* Harvard Stadium • Cambridge, Massachusetts L 0–14  
11–16–1929 Clemson Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) W 13–7  
11–23–1929 South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina W 20–7  
11–28–1929 Washington & Lee Fairfield Stadium • Jacksonville, Florida W 25–7  
12–7–1929 Oregon* Madison Square Garden Stadium • Miami, Florida W 20–6  
*Non-conference game.

See also

American football portal
College football portal
Florida portal

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 116–125 (2011). Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h 2009 Southern Conference Football Media Guide, Year-by-Year Standings, Southern Conference, Spartanburg, South Carolina, p. 74 (2009). Retrieved August 30, 2010.

Bibliography

External links

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