1903 Alabama Crimson White football team

The 1903 Alabama Crimson White football team[A 1] (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1903 college football season. The team was led by head coach W. A. Blount, in his first season, and played their home games at The Quad in Tuscaloosa and at West End Park in Birmingham, Alabama. In what was the eleventh season of Alabama football, the team finished with a record of three wins and four losses (3–4, 3–4 SIAA). Alabama did not have another losing season until their 1951 season.

1903 Alabama Crimson White football
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record3–4 (3–4 SIAA)
Head coach
CaptainW. S. Wyatt
Home stadiumThe Quad
West End Park
1903 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Clemson + 2 –0 –14 –1 –1
Cumberland (TN) + 4 –1 –16 –1 –1
Sewanee 5 –1 –07 –1 –0
Vanderbilt 5 –1 –16 –1 –1
Mississippi A&M 2 –0 –23 –0 –2
Georgia 3 –2 –03 –4 –0
Ole Miss 1 –1 –12 –1 –1
Texas 0 –0 –15 –1 –2
Kentucky State 0 –0 –07 –1 –0
Alabama 3 –4 –03 –4 –0
Auburn 2 –3 –04 –3 –0
Tennessee 2 –4 –04 –5 –0
Georgia Tech 1 –4 –03 –5 –0
Tulane 0 –1 –12 –2 –1
Mercer 0 –1 –00 –1 –0
Nashville 0 –2 –01 –3 –0
LSU 0 –5 –04 –5 –0
SW Presbyterian   –    –  
  • + – Conference co-champions

Alabama opened the season with a pair of shutout losses on the road. After their loss at Vanderbilt, they were defeated by Mississippi A&M at Columbus in what was their first all-time win against Alabama. They then won their first game against Auburn at Montgomery. Alabama then played back-to-back Monday games and lost to Sewanee at Birmingham and defeated LSU in the first Tuscaloosa game of the season. They then closed the season with a loss to eventual SIAA co-champion Cumberland and their first all-time victory over Tennessee in their final game on Thanksgiving.

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
October 10at Vanderbilt
L 0–301,000[3]
October 16at Mississippi A&M
L 0–115,000[4]
October 23vs. Auburn
W 18–61,200[5]
November 2Sewanee
L 0–232,400[6]
November 9LSU
W 18–0[7]
November 14Cumberland
L 0–44[8]
November 26Tennessee
W 24–0[9]

Game summaries

Vanderbilt
1 2Total
Alabama 0 0 0
• Vanderbilt 18 12 30
  • Date: October 10
  • Location: Dudley Field
    Nashville, Tennessee
  • Game attendance: 1,000
  • Referee: Crawford

Alabama opened the 1903 season with a 30–0 loss against Vanderbilt in the first all-time meeting between the schools at Dudley Field.[11] Vanderbilt took an 18–0 halftime lead after first half touchdowns were scored twice by Ed Hamilton and followed by John J. Tigert.[12] The Commodores then closed the game with two touchdowns in the second half scored by Dan Blake and Bob Blake for the 30–0 victory.[12] Tigert converted all five PAT's in their victory.[13] Frank Kyle starred for the Commodores in the contest with runs of 30, 35, 48 and 50-yards against the Crimson White.[12]

The starting lineup was: R. L. Lodge (left end), Aubrey Boyles (left tackle), W. C. Oates (left guard), James C. Gwin (center), J. C. Fortune (right guard), John Roberts Peavy (right tackle), W. S. Sherrill (right end), W. S. Wyatt (quarterback), Auxford Burks (left halfback), Truman Smith (right halfback), Frank B. Clark (fullback).[10]

Mississippi A&M
1 2Total
Alabama 0 0 0
• Mississippi A&M 0 11 11
  • Date: October 16
  • Location: Columbus Fairgrounds
    Columbus, Mississippi
  • Game attendance: 5,000

A week after their loss to Vanderbilt, Alabama was defeated the Aggies of Mississippi A&M (now known as Mississippi State University) 11–0 at the Columbus Fairgrounds in Columbus, Mississippi.[13] The game was played before 5,000 fans in a light drizzle with the Aggies scoring all of their points in the second half after a scoreless first.[15] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi A&M (Mississippi State) to 3–1.[16]

Auburn
See also: Iron Bowl
1 2Total
• Alabama 6 12 18
Auburn 0 6 6
  • Date: October 23
  • Location: Riverside Park
    Montgomery, Alabama
  • Game attendance: 1,200

After being shut out for their first two games, Alabama upset the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now known as Auburn University) 18–6 before 1,200 fans at Riverside Park in Montgomery.[19][20] J. V. Boyles scored a touchdown for Alabama to cap a 19-play, 79-yard drive on their opening possession and with the extra point took a 6–0 lead.[19]

In the second half, Alabama extended their lead to 12–0 after Truman Smith scored on a 45-yard touchdown run.[19] After Auburn cut the lead to 12–6 with a W. G. Boyd touchdown run, Alabama scored the final points of the game on a 25-yard Smith run for the 18–6 victory.[19] The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against Auburn to 2–6.[21]

The starting lineup was: R. L. Lodge (left end), Aubrey Boyles (left tackle), W. C. Oates (left guard), James C. Gwin (center), J. C. Fortune (right guard), John Roberts Peavy (right tackle), W. S. Sherrill (right end), W. S. Wyatt (quarterback), Auxford Burks (left halfback), Truman Smith (right halfback), Frank B. Clark (fullback).[17][18]

Sewanee
1 2Total
• Sewanee 18 5 23
Alabama 0 0 0
  • Date: November 2
  • Location: West End Park
    Birmingham, Alabama
  • Game attendance: 2,400

Playing Sewanee for the first time since the 1896 season, Alabama was shut out 23–0 at West End Park in Birmingham.[24] John Schaffer starred for the Tigers with three separate runs of 40-yards in the victory.[23] The game was originally scheduled to be played in Tuscaloosa, but was subsequently moved to Birmingham in an effort to increase gate receipts.[13] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Sewanee to 1–3.[24]

The starting lineup was: R. L. Lodge (left end), Aubrey Boyles (left tackle), W. C. Oates (left guard), James C. Gwin (center), Guy Redden (right guard), John C. McCorquodale (right tackle), W. S. Sherrill (right end), W. S. Wyatt (quarterback), Auxford Burks (left halfback), Truman Smith (right halfback), W. McMahon (fullback).[22]

LSU
1 2Total
LSU 0 0 0
• Alabama 12 6 18
  • Date: November 9
  • Location: The Quad
    Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Alabama secured their first all-time victory over LSU with its 18–0 win at Tuscaloosa.[13] Both John Roberts Peavy and W. S. Sherrill scored first half touchdowns, and Truman Smith scored on a fake punt returned 65-yards for the 18–0 victory.[13] The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against LSU to 1–2.[26]

The starting lineup was: R. L. Lodge (left end), Aubrey Boyles (left tackle), W. C. Oates (left guard), James C. Gwin (center), Guy Redden (right guard), John Roberts Peavy (right tackle), W. S. Sherrill (right end), W. S. Wyatt (quarterback), Auxford Burks (left halfback), Truman Smith (right halfback), W. McMahon (fullback).[25][7]

Cumberland

Against Cumberland University of Lebanon, Tennessee, Alabama lost 44–0 on The Quad in Tuscaloosa.[27]

The starting lineup was: W. S. Sherrill (left end), John Roberts Peavy (left tackle), W. C. Oates (left guard), James C. Gwin (center), Guy Redden (right guard), Aubrey Boyles (right tackle), R. L. Lodge (right end), W. S. Wyatt (quarterback), Auxford Burks (left halfback), Truman Smith (right halfback), W. McMahon (fullback).[28]

Tennessee
See also: Third Saturday in October
1 2Total
Tennessee 0 0 0
• Alabama 24 0 24
  • Date: November 26
  • Location: West End Park
    Birmingham, Alabama

A week after their 44–0 loss to Cumberland, Alabama defeated Tennessee 24–0 at Birmingham.[27] Alabama scored touchdowns on runs of three-yards by W. McMahon, one-yard by John Roberts Peavy, one-yard by Auxford Burks and two-yards by Truman Smith.[29] The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 1–0–1.[30]

The starting lineup was: R. L. Lodge (left end), Aubrey Boyles (left tackle), Guy Redden (left guard), James C. Gwin (center), W. C. Oates (right guard), John Roberts Peavy (right tackle), W. S. Sherrill (right end), W. S. Wyatt (quarterback), Auxford Burks (left halfback), Truman Smith (right halfback), W. McMahon (fullback).[29]

Players

Line
Player Position
Aubrey Boylestackle
J. C. Fortuneguard
J. C. Granadetackle
James C. Gwincenter
R. L. Lodgeend
W. C. Oatesguard
John Roberts Peavytackle
Guy Reddenguard
W. S. Sherrillend

Backfield
Player Position
Auxford Burkshalfback
Frank B. Clark
Floy Hall
W. McMahon
Truman Smith
W. S. Wyatt

Source:[13]

Notes
  1. Alabama football teams were not referred to as the "Crimson Tide" until the 1907 season. Prior to 1907, the team was called the "Crimson White" from 1893 to 1906 and the "Cadets" in 1892.[1][2]
  2. For the 1903 season, point values were different from those used in contemporary games. In 1893 a touchdown was worth five points, a field goal was worth five points and a conversion (PAT) was worth one point.

References
  1. "How the Crimson Tide got its name". bryantmuseum.ua.edu. Paul W. Bryant Museum. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  2. Kennedy, Scott (April 8, 1992). "Tide football tradition began with 1892 team". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 2F. Retrieved June 30, 2013 – via Google News Archives.
  3. "Show their mettle, Commodores stack up 30 points to Alabama's 6". The Tennessean. October 11, 1903. Retrieved February 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Mississippi beat Alabama at Columbus yesterday afternoon". The Tuscaloosa News. October 17, 1903. Retrieved February 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Victory perched on Crimson-White; Auburn's Orange-Blue trailed in dust". The Montgomery Advertiser. October 24, 1903. Retrieved February 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Sewanee beats Alabama by the score of 23 to 0". The Birmingham News. November 3, 1903. Retrieved February 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Alabama the winner". The Times-Democrat. November 10, 1903. p. 13. Retrieved February 12, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Cumberland too heavy, Defeats University of Alabama, 44 to 0". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 15, 1903. Retrieved February 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Alabama's 24 to Tennessee's zero". Knoxville Sentinel. November 27, 1903. Retrieved February 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Show their mettle: Commodores stack up 30 points to Alabama's 0". The Tennessean. October 11, 1903. p. 6. Retrieved February 12, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  11. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  12. "U. of A. is outclassed". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 10, 1903. p. 12.
  13. "1903 Season Recap" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  14. "Mississippi A. and M. 11, Alabama 0". The Times-Democrat. October 18, 1903. p. 13. Retrieved February 12, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  15. "Alabama University loses". The Columbus Enquirer-Sun. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 18, 1903. p. 13.
  16. "Alabama vs Mississippi State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  17. "Auburn beaten by Tuscaloosa". The Atlanta Constitution. October 24, 1903. p. 7. Retrieved February 12, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  18. "Alabama defeats Auburn". The Times-Democrat. October 24, 1903. p. 10. Retrieved February 12, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  19. Griffin, John Chandler (2001). "1903: Truman Smith leads Bama to a big win". Alabama vs. Auburn: Gridiron Grudge Since 1893. Athens, Georgia: Hill Street Press. pp. 26–27. ISBN 1-58818-044-1.
  20. "Victory perched on Crimson White". The Montgomery Advertiser. NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers. October 24, 1903. p. 10.
  21. "Alabama vs Auburn". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  22. "Brilliant runs beat Alabama". The Atlanta Constitution. November 3, 1903. p. 9. Retrieved February 12, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  23. "Sewanee wins". The Tennessean. November 3, 1903. p. 7. Retrieved February 12, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  24. "Alabama vs Sewanee". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  25. "Alabama wins from creoles". The Atlanta Constitution. November 10, 1903. p. 9. Retrieved February 12, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  26. "Alabama vs LSU". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on January 8, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  27. "1903 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  28. "Alabama team under daisies". The Atlanta Constitution. November 15, 1903. p. 7. Retrieved February 12, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  29. "Alabama downs Volunteer team". The Atlanta Constitution. November 27, 1903. p. 2. Retrieved February 12, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  30. "Alabama vs Tennessee". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
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