1914 Florida Gators football team


The 1914 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1914 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. The season was C. J. McCoy's first year of three as the head coach of the Gators team. McCoy's 1914 Florida Gators completed their ninth varsity football season on a four-game winning streak, with an overall record of 5–2 and an SIAA conference record of 3–2.

Before the season

End Joe Swanson was shifted to fullback.

Schedule

Primary source: 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide.

Season summary

Auburn

Coach Mike Donahue's Auburn team was nearly as strong as the season before, and beat Florida 20-0 en route to another SIAA title. In contrast to last year, the Gators held Auburn scoreless in the first half, and the loss was seen as a moral victory and sign of progress. However, the Gators also lost their captain. John Sutton left the game feeling poorly, and further examination revealed a weak heart. Roy "Puss" Hancock took over for Sutton as captain.
Auburn's backfield played well and fullback Bedie Bidez scored two touchdowns. Florida gave way to Auburn's superior weight by the second half.

King College

In the second week of play, Florida enjoyed a first-time victory against the King College Tornados, 36–0.

Sewanee

Florida suffered a shutout loss to the Sewanee Tigers, 26–0. Florida was outplayed in the first half. In the final period, Sewanee quarterback Lee Tolley had an 85-yard touchdown run.
The starting lineup was Henderson, Lotspeich, Goldsby, Farrior, Yon, Hancock, Freeman, Oates, Fuller, Sparkman, Swanson.

Florida Southern

In Tampa, Florida extended the winning streak over Florida Southern 59–0.

Wofford

Florida beat Wofford for the first time 66–0.

The Citadel

In Charleston, the Gators defeated The Citadel 7–0 in a heavy rain and a field saturated with inches of mud. Rammy Ramsdell returned the opening kickoff back 40 yards, and Jim Sparkman eventually carried it over for the decisive touchdown, "before the ball was wet."

Mercer

Florida closed the season with a 14–0 win over the Mercer Baptists on Thanksgiving.

Postseason

Florida ranked in the top half of the SIAA. The yearbook remarked that a Gator squad had never had more "guts".

Personnel

Linemen

Backfield

Coaching staff