1909 Florida football team

The 1909 Florida football team represented the University of Florida during the 1909 college football season. The University of the State of Florida officially shortened its name to the University of Florida in 1909, and the season was George E. Pyle's first as the head coach of the University of Florida football team.[1] Pyle's 1909 Florida football team finished its fourth varsity football season 6–1–1.[2]

1909 Florida football
Conference	Independent
1909 record	6–1–1
Head coach	George E. Pyle (1st season)
Captain	Ralph Rader

1909 Southern college football independents records
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Arkansas			–					7	–	0	–	0
Texas A&M			–					7	–	0	–	1
Mississippi College			–					3	–	0	–	0
Stetson			–					3	–	0	–	1
Kentucky State			–					9	–	1	–	0
Virginia			–					7	–	1	–	0
North Carolina A&M			–					6	–	1	–	0
VPI			–					6	–	1	–	0
Florida			–					6	–	1	–	1
Elon			–					4	–	1	–	0
Spring Hill			–					4	–	1	–	0
Catholic University			–					0	–	1	–	1
North Carolina			–					5	–	2	–	0
Kendall			–					2	–	1	–	0
VMI			–					4	–	3	–	0
Navy			–					4	–	3	–	1
Texas			–					4	–	3	–	1
Tulane			–					4	–	3	–	2
West Virginia			–					4	–	3	–	2
Oklahoma			–					6	–	4	–	0
William & Mary			–					6	–	4	–	0
Georgetown			–					3	–	2	–	1
Oklahoma A&M			–					5	–	3	–	0
Davidson			–					3	–	4	–	2
Chattanooga			–					2	–	3	–	2
Wake Forest			–					2	–	4	–	0
Maryland			–					2	–	5	–	0
South Carolina			–					2	–	6	–	0
Delaware			–					1	–	6	–	1

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result
October 8		Gainesville Athletic Club	The Baseball Park Gainesville, FL	W 5–0
October 23		at Olympics	Jacksonville, FL	W 9–0
October 30		Rollins	The Baseball Park Gainesville, FL	W 14–0
November 6	3:00 p. m.	at Stetson	DeLand, FL	L 26–0
November 15		at Rollins	Orlando, FL	W 28–3
November 20		Olympics	The Baseball Park Gainesville, FL	W 11–0
November 24		Stetson	The Baseball Park Gainesville, FL	T 5–5
November 28		Tallahassee Athletic Club	The Baseball Park Gainesville, FL	W 24–0

Primary source: 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide.[2]

Season summary

Gainesville A. C.

The season opened with a 5–0 defeat of the Gainesville Athletic Club.

at Olympics

1 2 Total • Florida 3 6 9 Olympics 0 0 0 Location: Jacksonville, FL Sources

In the second week of play, Dummy Taylor kicked three field goals to beat the Olympics 9–0 in Jacksonville.[3][4]

The starting lineup was Moody (left end), Wagner (left tackle), McMillian (left guard), Storter (center), Cox (right guard), Rader (right tackle), Johnston (right en), Pile (quarterback), Shands (left halfback), Taylor (right halfback), Vidal (fullback).[5]

Rollins

Florida also defeated the Rollins Tars twice. In the first game in Gainesville, Florida beat Rollins 14–0 in a contest described as "fast and furious".[6] Taylor hit McCormick on a 20-yard pass,[6] and scored every point.[7]

The starting lineup was Moody (left end), Wagner (left tackle), Skipper (left guard), Storter (center), Cox (right guard), Rader (right tackle), McCormick (right end), Edgerton (quarterback), Shands (left halfback), Taylor (right halfback), Vidal (fullback).[6]

Stetson

1 2 Total Florida 0 0 0 • Stetson 12 14 26 Location: DeLand, FL Game start: 3:00 p. m. Referee: E. W. Palmer Sources[8]

The 1909 Florida football team played the Stetson Hatters twice in the same season for the second year, first losing 0–26 on the Hatters' home field in DeLand, Florida.[9]

The starting lineup was Moody (left end), Wagner (left tackle), McMillan (left guard), Baker (center), Cox (right guard), Rader (right tackle), Johnstone (right end), Edgerton (quarterback), Shands (left halfback), Taylor (right halfback), Vidal (fullback).[9][8]

Rollins

1 2 Total • Florida 11 17 28 Rollins 3 0 3 Location: Orlando, FL Sources[10]

In a second game in Orlando, Florida beat Rollins 28–3. Florida fumbled the kickoff and Rollins made a field goal.[10] Taylor ran 45 and 75 yards for touchdowns in the first half.[10] In the second half, Taylor had another 60-yard run.[10] Edgerton had a 30-yard run and McCormick one of 80 yards.[10] The game was called early due to darkness.[10]

Olympics

The Gators met the Olympics at home again and beat them 11–0. Under favorable weather, Taylor and Moody scored touchdowns for Florida.[11]

The starting lineup was Moody (left end), Wagner (left tackle), McMillan (left guard), Storter (center), Cox (right guard), Rader (right tackle), McCormick (right end), Edgerton (quarterback), Shands (left halfback), Taylor (right halfback), Vidal (fullback).[11]

Stetson

1 2 Total Stetson 0 5 5 Florida 5 0 5 Location: Gainesville, FL Game attendance: 1,000 Sources[12]

Stetson was also tied 5–5 on the Orange and Blue's home field in Gainesville.[13] 1909 is the last season in which Stetson claims a state championship.[13][14] About 200 Stetson fans came to Gainesville.[15][12]

The starting lineup was Moody (left end), Waggoner (left tackle), Tenny (left guard), Storter (center), Cox (right guard), Rader (right tackle), Woolery (right end), Edgerton (quarterback), Bartleson (left halfback), Taylor (right halfback), Vidal (fullback).[13]

Tallahassee A. C.

In the season's final game, the Tallahassee Athletic Club was beaten 24–0.

References

1. Carlson 2007, p. 14
2. 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015.
3. "On this date in Gators history: October 23, 1909". October 23, 2012.
4. "Dummy Taylor Dies at Gainesville Home". Ocala Star Banner. September 12, 1955. p. 6.
5. "University Wins Over Jacksonville". Gainesville Daily Sun. October 24, 1909. p. 2. Retrieved July 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "University Wins Over Rollins Team". Gainesville Daily Sun. October 31, 1909. p. 3. Retrieved July 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Sandspur, Vol. 16 No. 01, 1910.
8. "Stetson, 26; Florida, 0". The Deland News. Retrieved July 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Stetson Wins Great Game From University of Florida". Stetson Weekly Collegiate. 22 (5). November 11, 1909.
10. "University of Florida Won Over Rollins". Gainesville Daily Sun. November 16, 1909. p. 2. Retrieved July 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Another Victory For Florida Team". Gainesville Daily Sun. November 21, 1909. p. 2. Retrieved July 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Florida and Stetson Played A Tie Game". Gainesville Daily Sun. November 29, 1909. p. 2. Retrieved July 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Stetson Wins Championship". Stetson Weekly Collegiate. 22 (7). November 25, 1909.
14. see Stetson University Athletics. "ISSUU - 2013 Stetson Football by Stetson University Athletics". Issuu.
15. "Stetson-Florida Game Results In Tie". The DeLand News. November 26, 1909. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.

Bibliography

• Carlson, Norm (2007). University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators. Atlanta, Georgia: Whitman Publishing, LLC. ISBN 0-7948-2298-3.