1916 Auburn Tigers football team
The 1916 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1916 college football season. It was the Tigers' 25th overall season and they competed as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA). The team was led by head coach Mike Donahue, in his 12th year, and played their home games at Drake Field in Auburn, Alabama. They finished with a record of six wins and two losses (6–2 overall, 6–2 in the SIAA).
| 1916 Auburn Tigers football | |
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| Conference | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Record | 6–2 (6–2 SIAA) |
| Head coach |
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| Base defense | 7–2–2 |
| Captain | Lucy Hairston |
| Home stadium | Drake Field Rickwood Field |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech + | 5 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee + | 6 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 4 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 3 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 1 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Citadel | 3 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | 2 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 2 | – | 1 | – | 2 | 4 | – | 1 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 2 | – | 2 | – | 2 | 5 | – | 2 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Centre | 1 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 1 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howard (AL) | 1 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgetown (KY) | 1 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi College | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wofford | 1 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisville | 1 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transylvania | 1 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Furman | 1 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chattanooga | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mercer | 0 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 0 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 7 | at Howard (AL) | W 35–0 | [1] | |
| October 14 | Mercer | W 92–0 | [2] | |
| October 20 | Clemson |
| W 28–0 | |
| October 28 | Mississippi A&M |
| W 7–3 | |
| November 4 | vs. Georgia | W 3–0 | ||
| November 11 | vs. Florida | Jacksonville, FL (rivalry) | W 20–0 | |
| November 18 | Vanderbilt |
| L 9–20 | |
| November 30 | at Georgia Tech |
| L 7–33 |
Game summaries
Georgia
In the 1916 game against Georgia,[5] Moon Ducote kicked a 40-yard field goal from placement off of captain Lucy Hairston's football helmet in the fourth quarter and in the mud, which proved the only points in the 3–0 Auburn victory.[5][6] The maneuver prompted a rule that stated the ball must be kicked directly off the ground. Parke H. Davis described it thus:
Ducote falls back to try for a goal from the field. Hairston removes his leather helmet and places it upon the ground. He creases the top of the helmet and sights it for the goal. Spectators curiously watch the proceedings. Suddenly, the ball is passed. Hairston receives it, places it on the helmet, which all suddenly see it is to serve as a mechanical tee. Ducote leaps forward, kicks the ball from the top of the helmet and drives it straight as an arrow for Georgia's crossbar, over which it sails evenly between the posts."[7]
Florida
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The Tigers beat the winless Florida Gators 20–0. Auburn's fullback Scott was the star of the contest. The second touchdown was a 50-yard interception return by Godwin.[8]
The starting lineup was Jones (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Fricke (left guard), Goodwin (center), Campbell (right guard), Steed (right tackle), Burns (right end), Hairston (quarterback), Ducote (left halfback), Pendergast (right halfback), Scott (fullback).[8]
Vanderbilt
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Dan McGugin's Vanderbilt Commodores eliminated Auburn from SIAA title contention by a 20–9 score. Josh Cody carried the ball over for the first touchdown.[9] Rabbit Curry played well at the start, but could not play the entire game due to an ankle injury.[9] Moon Ducote made a 45-yard field goal in the third quarter to put the Tigers up 9–7.[9] With the help of the forward pass, the Commodores scored two further touchdowns in the last quarter.[9]
The starting lineup was C. Jones (left end), Sample (left tackle), Frickie (left guard), Robinson (center), Campbell (right guard), Bonner (right tackle), Steed (right end), Hairston (quarterback), Ducote (left halfback), Prendergast (right halfback), Scott (fullback).[9]
Georgia Tech
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John Heisman's Georgia Tech overwhelmed rival Auburn 33–7 to clinch a share of the SIAA title.[10] Tech end Dunwoody scored a touchdown when he recovered a fumble and raced 20 yards. Center Pup Phillips also had a score, falling on a punt he blocked. Auburn's star was Moon Ducote.[10]
The starting lineup was C. Jones (left end), Sample (left tackle), Frickey (left guard), Robinson (center), Campbell (right guard), Ducote (right tackle), Steed (right end), T. Jones (quarterback), Hairston (left halfback), Prendergast (right halfback), Scott (fullback).[10]
References
- "Auburn easily downs team of Howard College". The Montgomery Advertiser. October 8, 1916. Retrieved May 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Auburn Tigers stack up score". The Birmingham News. October 15, 1916. Retrieved January 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- 2009 Auburn Football Media Guide (PDF). Auburn, Alabama: Auburn Media Relations Office. 2009. p. 185. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- "1916 Auburn University Football Schedule". Auburn University Athletics. Archived from the original on September 1, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- Auburn and Alabama Flirt With Renewed Relationship, The Miami News, December 25, 1928.
- "Prominent Sport Writer Selects Football Heroes". Columbus Daily Enquirer. December 10, 1916.
- "Remarkable Feats Decided Numerous Gridiron Struggles of 1916 Season; On Many Occasions Winning Points Come In Closing Minutes of Play". The Washington Post. December 3, 1916. p. 1. Retrieved May 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Auburn Is Victor Over Florida Team". The Atlanta Constitution. November 12, 1916. p. 3. Retrieved July 10, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Vanderbilt Took Good Game From The Auburn Team". Winston-Salem Journal. November 19, 1916. p. 6. Retrieved May 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Georgia Tech Winner Over Auburn". Washington Post. December 1, 1916. p. 8. Retrieved April 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.