1897 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season
The 1897 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season was the college football games played by the members schools of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association as part of the 1897 college football season
1897 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season | |
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League | NCAA |
Sport | College football |
Duration | October 2, 1897 through January 8, 1898 |
Number of teams | 16 |
Regular Season | |
Season champions | Vanderbilt |
1897 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vanderbilt $ | 3 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Georgia | 2 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Auburn | 2 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tennessee | 1 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Central (KY) | 1 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nashville | 1 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alabama | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Texas | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LSU | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sewanee | 1 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Clemson | 0 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cumberland (TN) | 0 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Georgia Tech | 0 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mercer | 0 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kentucky State College | 0 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SW Presbyterian | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The season began on October 2. Conference play began on October 9 with Georgia shutting out Clemson 24–0 in Athens.
After the Sewanee game, Coach R. G. Acton's Vanderbilt Commodores claimed the program's first ever conference title.[1] This was followed by a challenge met by the other southern team to claim a championship, South Atlantic school Virginia; which claims seven prior championships of the South. The game ended a 0–0 tie. Said Coach Acton, "It was the best game ever played in the South." Vanderbilt held all opponents scoreless.[2]
The Texas Longhorns averaged the most points per game in the conference.[3]
The 1897 season was one in which a member school, Tulane University, was barred from intercollegiate football participation by SIAA President, Dr. Dudley. This was part of a sanction handed down in response to the LSU game the previous season in which Tulane was forced to forfeit for having fielded an ineligible player.[4][5]
The season was also notable for the game Virginia played against Georgia, featuring the death of Richard Von Albade Gammon.[6]
Season overview
Results and team statistics
Conf. Rank | Team | Head coach | Overall record | Conf. record | PPG | PAG |
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1 | Vanderbilt | R. G. Acton | 6–0–1 | 3–0 | 19.9 | 0.0 |
2 | Georgia | Charles McCarthy | 2–1 | 2–0 | 18.7 | 5.7 |
3 | Auburn | John Heisman | 2–0–1 | 2–0–1 | 13.3 | 1.3 |
4 | Tennessee | 4–1 | 1–0 | 12.8 | 3.2 | |
5 (tie) | Central | H. McC. Anderson | 1–1 | 1–1 | ||
5 (tie) | Nashville | 1–1 | 1–1 | |||
5 (tie) | Alabama | Allen McCants | 1–0 | 0–0 | 6.0 | 0.0 |
5 (tie) | Texas | Walter F. Kelly | 6–2 | 0–0 | 20.5 | 4.5 |
5 (tie) | LSU | Allen Jeardeau | 1–1 | 0–0 | 14.0 | 16.0 |
10 | Sewanee | J. G. Jayne | 1–3–1 | 1–2–1 | 3.0 | 5.6 |
11 (tie) | Clemson | William M. Williams | 2–2 | 0–1 | 7.0 | 14.5 |
11 (tie) | Cumberland | 0–1 | 0–1 | |||
11 (tie) | Georgia Tech | J. B. Wood | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0.0 | 28.0 |
11 (tie) | Mercer | Gordon Saussy | 0–1–1 | 0–1 | 0.0 | 13.0 |
15 | Kentucky State | Lyman B. Eaton | 2–4 | 0–2 | 4.7 | 19.7 |
? | Southwestern Presbyterian | |||||
Key
PPG = Average of points scored per game
PAG = Average of points allowed per game
Regular season
Index to colors and formatting |
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Non-conference matchup; SIAA member won |
Non-conference matchup; SIAA member lost |
Non-conference matchup; tie |
Conference matchup |
SIAA teams in bold.
Week One
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Reference |
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October 2 | Kentucky University | Kentucky State | Lexington, KY | W 8–6 |
Week Two
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 9 | Kentucky University | Vanderbilt | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN | W 22–0 | ||
October 9 | Clemson | Georgia | Herty Field • Athens, GA | UGA 24–0 | ||
October 11 | Kentucky State | Kentucky Wesleyan | Owensboro, KY | L 4–0 | ||
October 15 | King | Tennessee | Waite Field • Knoxville, TN | W 28–0 |
Week Three
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 16 | Sewanee | Nashville | Nashville, TN | NASH 6–5 | ||
October 18 | Central | Sewanee | McGee Field • Sewanee, TN | SEW 4–0 |
Week Four
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 23 | San Antonio | Texas | Clark Field • Austin, TX | W 10–0 | ||
October 23 | Georgia Tech | Georgia | Herty Field • Athens, GA | UGA 24–0 | ||
October 23 | Auburn | Mercer | Macon, GA | AUB 26–0 | ||
October 23 | Cumberland | Tennessee | Waite Field • Knoxville, TN | TENN 6–0 | ||
October 23 | Georgetown (KY) | Kentucky State | Lexington, KY | W 20–4 | ||
October 23 | Clemson | Charlotte YMCA | Charlotte, NC | W 10–0 | ||
October 23 | VMI | Vanderbilt | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN | W 12–0 | ||
October 25 | Clemson | North Carolina | Chapel Hill, NC | L 28–0 | ||
October 29 | Auburn | Nashville | Nashville, TN | AUB 14–4 |
Week Five
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 30 | Auburn | Sewanee | McGee Field • Sewanee, TN | T 0–0 | ||
October 30 | Washington & Lee | Central | Lexington, KY | L 22–0 | ||
October 30 | Virginia | Georgia | Piedmont Park • Atlanta, GA | L 17–4 | ||
October 30 | Vanderbilt | Kentucky State | Stoll Field • Lexington, KY | VAN 50–0 | ||
October 30 | Texas | Dallas | Dallas, TX | L 18–4 | ||
November 1 | Texas | Fort Worth | Fort Worth, TX | L 6–0 | ||
November 3 | Texas | TCU | Waco, TX | W 18–10 |
Week Six
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November 5 | North Carolina | Sewanee | McGee Field • Sewanee, TN | L 12–6 | ||
November 6 | North Carolina | Vanderbilt | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN | W 31–0 | ||
November 6 | Central | Kentucky State | Lexington, KY | CENT 18–0 | ||
November 8 | North Carolina | Tennessee | Waite Field • Knoxville, TN | L 16–0 | ||
November 10 | Clemson | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | W 18–6 |
Week Seven
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November 13 | Tuscaloosa A. C. | Alabama | The Quad • Tuscaloosa, AL | W 6–0 | ||
November 13 | Houston Town Team | Texas | Clark Field • Austin, TX | W 42–6 |
Week Eight
Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November 20 | Texas | San Antonio | San Antonio, TX | W 12–0 | |||
November 25 | Fort Worth | Texas | Clark Field • Austin, TX | W 38–0 | |||
November 25 | Centre | Kentucky State | Lexington, KY | L 36–0 | |||
November 25 | Sewanee | Vanderbilt | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN | VAN 10–0 | |||
November 25 | Virginia Tech | Tennessee | Waite Field • Knoxville, TN | W 18–0 |
Week Nine
Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Reference |
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November 26 | Tennessee | Bristol A. C. | Bristol, TN | W 12–0 |
Week Ten
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 7 | Virginia | Vanderbilt | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN | T 0–0 | 2,400 | [7] |
Week Eleven
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Reference |
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December 11 | Dallas | Texas | Clark Field • Austin, TX | W 20–16 |
Week Thirteen
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Reference |
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December 20 | Montgomery A. C. | LSU | State Field • Baton Rouge, LA | W 28–6 |
Week Sixteen
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 8 | Cincinnati | LSU | State Field • Baton Rouge, LA | L 26–0 |
References
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-11-11. Retrieved 2017-01-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Vanderbilt Official Athletic Site - Vanderbilt University". Archived from the original on 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
- "Texas Season Schedule - databaseFootball.com/NCAA". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
- Hardesty, Dan. "LSU:The Louisiana Tigers". The Strode Publishers.Huntsville, Alabama. 1975. pg 24-25.
- "Baton Rouge Wins Without Winning". The Daily Picayune. October 25, 1896. pg. 8.
- William Hanford Edwards. Football Days: Memories of the Game and of the Men Behind the Ball. p. 244.
- "Vanderbilt, 0; Virginia, 0". Chicago Daily Tribune. December 7, 1897. p. 7. Retrieved January 7, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.