For the 1903 season, point values were different from those used in contemporary games. In 1903 a touchdown was worth five points, a field goal was worth five points and a conversion was worth one point.
Cumberland upset the Vanderbilt Commodores 6-0. Four minutes after the game started, Waterhouse had the decisive touchdown. M. O. Bridges had his right collarbone broken. The starting lineup was Waterhouse, M. L. Bridges, James, Smith, Cragwall, Suddarth, Spencer, Smiser, Head, Newton, M. O. Bridges.
Sewanee
Cumberland suffered the season's only loss to the Sewanee Tigers. Henry D. Phillips plowed through the line for the deciding score. The starting lineup was Waterhouse, M. L. Bridges, James, Smith, Cragwall, Suddarth, Spencer, Smiser, Head, Anderson, Minton.
Tennessee Medical College
Cumberland defeated Tennessee Medical College 86-0.
To close the regular season, Cumberland beat Alabama, LSU, and Tulane all by shutout in five days. Red Smith and Head starred in the 44-0 defeat of Alabama. Cumberland outweighed Alabama by an average of nearly 30 pounds. The starting lineup was Waterhouse, M. L. Bridges, M. O. Bridges, Smith, Cragwall, Suddarth, Spencer, Smiser, Head, Anderson, Minton.
LSU
Just two days later, Cumberland beat W. S. Borland's LSU Tigers 41-0. The starting lineup was Ashley, M. O. Bridges, Lieper, Smith, Cragwall, Suddarth, Sanders, Smiser, Head, Anderson, Minton.
Tulane
Two days later still, Cumberland defeated Tulane 28-0.
Postseason
"SIAA championship game"
Cumberland tied John Heisman's Clemson Tigers in a game billed as the SIAA championship. Cumberland rushed out to an early 11 to 0 lead. Wiley Lee Umphlett in Creating the Big Game: John W. Heisman and the Invention of American Football writes, "During the first half, Clemson was never really in the game due mainly to formidable line play of the Bridges brothers-giants in their day at 6 feet 4 inches-and a big center named "Red" Smith, was all over the fieldbacking up the Cumberland line on defense. Clemson had been outweighed before, but certainly not like this." A contemporary account reads "The Clemson players seemed mere dwarfs as they lined up for the kickoff. To the crowd on the sidelines it didn't seem that Heisman's charges could possibly do more than give a gallant account of themselves in a losing battle." A touchdown was scored by fullback E. L. Minton. Guard M. O. Bridges kicked the extra point. Halfback J. A. Head made another touchdown, but Bridges missed the try. After halftime, Clemson quarterbackJohn Maxwell raced 100 yards for a touchdown. Clemson missed the try. Cumberland fumbled a punt and Clemson recovered. Cumberland expected a trick play when Fritz Furtick simply ran up the middle and scored. One account of the play reads "Heisman saw his chance to exploit a weakness in the Cumberland defense: run the ball where the ubiquitous Red Smith wasn't. So the next time Sitton started out on one of his slashing end runs, at the last second he tossed he ball back to the fullback who charges straight over center and went all the way for he tying touchdown." Jock Hanvey kicked the extra point and the game ended in an 11-11 tie. The winning team was to be awarded the ball. Captain W. W. Suddarth of Cumberland wanted captain Hope Sadler of Clemson to get the ball, and Sadler insisted Suddarth should have it. Some ten minutes of bickering was resolved when the ball was given to patrolman Patrick J. Sweeney, for warning the media and fans to stay down in front and allow spectators to see the game. Heisman pushed for Cumberland to be named SIAA champions at year's end, and the school claims a share of the title. It was Heisman's last game as Clemson head coach. The starting lineup was Waterhouse, M. L. Bridges, M. O. Bridges, Smith, Cragwall, Suddarth, Spencer, Smiser, Head, Anderson, Minton.
Players
Line
Backfield
Awards and honors
Captain: W. W. Suddarth
All-Southern: M. O. Bridges, W. W. Suddarth, Red Smith, J. C. Anderson.
