1908 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season

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1908 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season
LeagueNCAA
SportCollege football
DurationSeptember 26, 1908
through November 29, 1908
Number of teams13
Regular Season
Season championsLSU
Auburn
Football seasons
← 1907
1909 →
1908 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
LSU + 2 – 0 – 0 10 – 0 – 0
Auburn + 4 – 1 – 0 6 – 1 – 0
Vanderbilt 3 – 0 – 1 7 – 2 – 1
Tennessee 3 – 2 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Georgia Tech 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Georgia 2 – 2 – 1 5 – 2 – 1
Alabama 1 – 1 – 1 6 – 1 – 1
Sewanee 1 – 1 – 1 4 – 1 – 3
Mississippi A&M 1 – 3 – 0 3 – 4 – 0
Ole Miss 0 – 2 – 0 3 – 5 – 0
Mercer 0 – 3 – 0 3 – 4 – 0
Clemson 0 – 4 – 0 1 – 6 – 0
Nashville   –     –  
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1908 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season was the college football games played by the member schools of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association as part of the 1908 college football season. The season began on September 26.

LSU won the SIAA championship, but amidst fears of many players being ineligible under SIAA rules most sportswriters did not include them for consideration.[1][n 1] Its season was clouded by accusations of professionalism from Grantland Rice and rival school Tulane which was also undefeated in southern play. Despite this, the SIAA eventually cleared LSU of any wrongdoing.[2] LSU featured Hall of Fame quarterback Doc Fenton.

Auburn and Vanderbilt were among those listed as alternative SIAA champions. The newspapers unanimously handed the title to Auburn.[3] Auburn featured first-year halfback Lew Hardage. Vanderbilt had a down year with a wealth of sophomores; guided shrewdly by McGugin to its success.[4]

The Tennessee Volunteers compiled four wins in SIAA play, the most in team history. It was widely considered the best Tennessee football season up to that point.[5] Vanderbilt coach Dan McGugin noted "All things considered, Leach was perhaps the best football player of the year in Dixie."[1]

Results and team statistics[edit]

Conf. Rank Team Head coach Overall record Conf. record PPG PAG
1 (tie) LSU Edgar Wingard 10–0 2–0 44.3 1.1
1 (tie) Auburn Mike Donahue 6–1 5–1 22.6 1.4
3 Vanderbilt Dan McGugin 7–2–1 3–0–1 20.7 6.1
4 Tennessee George Levene 7–2 3–2 13.8 3.9
5 Georgia Tech John Heisman 6–3 4–3 16.3 8.2
6 Georgia Branch Bocock 5–3–1 2–2–1 9.0 5.6
7 (tie) Alabama Doc Pollard 6–1–1 1–1–1 13.5 3.9
7 (tie) Sewanee Harry Van Surdam 4–1–3 1–1–1 11.8 2.5
9 Mississippi A&M Fred Furman 3–4 1–3 15.4 16.1
10 Mississippi Frank Kyle 3–5 0–2 12.4 15.6
11 Mercer Frank Blake 3–4 0–3 18.7 8.4
12 Clemson Stein Stone 1–6 0–4 3.7 14.9
13 Nashville

Key

PPG = Average of points scored per game
PAG = Average of points allowed per game[6]

Regular season[edit]

Index to colors and formatting
Non-conference matchup; SIAA member won
Non-conference matchup; SIAA member lost
Non-conference matchup; tie
Conference matchup

SIAA teams in bold.

Week One[edit]

Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance Reference
September 26 Gordon Clemson Bowman Field • Calhoun, SC W 15–0 [7]
September 26 Southwestern Presbyterian Vanderbilt Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 11–5 [8]

Week Two[edit]

Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance Reference
October 3 Memphis University School Ole Miss Oxford, MS W 30–0 [9]
October 3 Mooney Sewanee Hardee Field • Sewanee, TN W 29–0 [10]
October 3 Wetumpka Agricultural School Alabama The Quad • Tuscaloosa, AL W 27–0 [11]
October 3 Howard (AL) Auburn West End Park • Birmingham, AL W 18–0 [12]
October 3 North Georgia Georgia Herty Field • Athens, GA W 16–0 [13]
October 3 Gordon Georgia Tech Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta, GA W 32–0 [14]
October 3 Locust Grove Institute Mercer Central City Park • Macon, GA W 56–0 [15]
October 3 North Carolina Tennessee Waite Field • Knoxville, TN W 12–0 [16]
October 3 New Orleans Gym Club LSU State Field • Baton Rouge, LA W 41–0 [17]
October 3 Maryville (TN) Vanderbilt Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 32–0 [18]

Week Three[edit]

Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance Reference
October 10 Howard (AL) Alabama West End Park • Birmingham, AL W 17–0 [19]
October 10 Gordon Auburn Drill Field • Auburn, AL W 42–0 [20]
October 10 Castle Heights Sewanee Hardee Field • Sewanee, TN W 35–2 [21]
October 10 Florida Mercer Central City Park • Macon, GA W 24–0 [22]
October 10 Louisiana Industrial Mississippi A&M Hardy Field • Starkville, MS W 47–0 [23]
October 10 Ole Miss Arkansas The Hill • Fayetteville, AR L 33–0 [24]
October 10 Mooney Georgia Tech Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta, GA W 30–0 [25]
October 10 Maryville (TN) Tennessee Waite Field • Knoxville, TN W 39–5 [26]
October 10 VPI Clemson Bowman Field • Calhoun, SC L 6–0 [27]
October 10 Rose Polytechnic Vanderbilt Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 32–0 [28]
October 11 Jackson Barracks-New Orleans LSU State Field • Baton Rouge, LA W 81–5 1,000 [29]

Week Four[edit]

Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance Reference
October 17 Auburn Mercer Central City Park • Macon, GA AUB 23–0 [30]
October 17 Cincinnati Alabama State Fairgrounds • Birmingham, AL W 16–0 [31]
October 17 Mississippi A&M Georgia Tech Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta, GA GT 23–0 [32]
October 17 South Carolina Georgia Herty Field • Athens, GA W 29–6 [33]
October 17 Sewanee Virginia Lafayette Field • Norfolk, VA T 0–0 5,000 [34]
October 17 Texas A&M LSU Pelican Park • New Orleans, LA W 26–0 [35]
October 17 Kentucky State College Tennessee Waite Field • Knoxville, TN W 7–0 [36]
October 17 Clemson Vanderbilt Dudley Field • Nashville, TN VAN 41–0 [33]
October 17 Cape Girardeau Normal Ole Miss Edgewood Park • Memphis, TN W 17–0 [37]

Week Five[edit]

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance Reference
October 23 Southwestern Presbyterian Mississippi A&M Columbus Fairgrounds • Columbus, MS W 6–0 4,000 [38]
October 24 12:00 p. m. Sewanee Auburn West End Park • Birmingham, AL AUB 6–0 3,000 [39]
October 24 Georgia Tennessee Waite Field • Knoxville, TN TENN 10–0 [40]
October 24 Alabama Georgia Tech Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta, GA GT 11–6 [40]
October 24 Ole Miss Vanderbilt Dudley Field • Nashville, TN VAN 29–0 [41]
October 26 Southwestern Presbyterian LSU State Field • Baton Rouge, LA W 55–0 [42]

Week Six[edit]

Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance Reference
October 28 Davidson Clemson State Fair Grounds • Columbia, SC L 0–13 [43]
October 29 Mississippi College Ole Miss State Fairgrounds • Jackson, MS W 41–0 [44]
October 31 Chattanooga Alabama The Quad • Tuscaloosa, AL W 23–6 [45]
October 31 Georgis Mercer Central City Park • Macon, GA UGA 11–0 [46]
October 31 LSU Auburn Drill Field • Auburn, AL LSU 10–2 [47]
October 31 Vanderbilt Michigan Ann Arbor, MI L 6–24 [48]
October 31 Kentucky University Mississippi A&M Hardy Field • Starkville, MS W 12–5 [49]
October 31 Sewanee Kentucky State College State Athletic Field • Lexington, KY W 12–0 [47]
October 31 Tennessee Georgia Tech Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta, GA TENN 6–5 [50]
October 31 Ole Miss Tulane Pelican Park • New Orleans, LA L 0–10 [51]

Week Seven[edit]

Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance Reference
November 5 Clemson Georgia Augusta, GA UGA 8–0 [52]
November 7 Auburn Georgia Tech Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta, GA AUB 44–0 [53]
November 7 Mississippi A&M LSU State Field • Baton Rouge, LA LSU 50–0 [53]
November 7 Sewanee Saint Louis Sportsman's Park • St. Louis, MO T 6–6 [54]
November 7 Tennessee Vanderbilt Dudley Field • Nashville, TN VAN 16–9 [53]

Week Eight[edit]

Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance Reference
November 10 Baylor LSU State Field • Baton Rouge, LA W 89–0 [55]
November 10 Southwestern Presbyterian Ole Miss Oxford, MS L 5–9 [56]
November 14 Georgia Alabama State Fairgrounds • Birmingham, AL T 6–6 [53]
November 14 Sewanee Georgia Tech Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta, GA SEW 6–0 [53]
November 14 Mississippi A&M Tulane Pelican Park • New Orleans, LA L 23–0 [57]
November 14 Ohio State Vanderbilt Dudley Field • Nashville, TN L 6–17 [58]
November 14 Clemson Tennessee Waite Field • Knoxville, TN TENN 6–5 [59]
November 16 Haskell LSU Pelican Park • New Orleans, LA W 33–0 [60]

Week Nine[edit]

Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance Reference
November 17 Mercer The Citadel Charleston, SC L5–10 [61]
November 19 Georgia Tech Mercer Central City Park • Macon, GA GT 16–6 [62]
November 20 Haskell Alabama The Quad • Tuscaloosa, AL W 9–8 [63]
November 21 Davidson Georgia Herty Field • Athens, GA W 2–0 [64]
November 21 Chattanooga Tennessee Waite Field • Knoxville, TN W 35–0 [65]
November 21 Vanderbilt Washington University Francis Field • St. Louis, MO W 28–0 6,000 [66][67]
November 23 LSU Louisiana Industrial Ruston, LA W 22–0 [68]

Week Ten[edit]

Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance Reference
November 26 Tennessee Alabama State Fairgrounds • Birmingham, AL ALA 4–0 [3]
November 26 Clemson Georgia Tech Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta, GA GT 30–6 [53]
November 26 Georgia Auburn Montgomery Baseball Park • Montgomery, AL AUB 23–0 [69]
November 26 LSU Arkansas West End Park • Little Rock, AR W 36–4 5,000 [70]
November 26 Howard (AL) Mercer Central City Park • Macon, Georgia W 45–0 [71]
November 26 Ole Miss Mississippi A&M State Fairgrounds • Jackson, MS MSA&M 44–6 [72]
November 26 Sewanee Vanderbilt Dudley Field • Nashville, TN T 6–6 [3]

Awards and honors[edit]

All-Southern team[edit]

Main article: 1908 College Football All-Southern Team

The consensus All-Southern team:

Position Name First-team Selectors Team
QB Ray Morrison NB Vanderbilt
HB Walker Leach H, DM, NB Tennessee
HB Lew Hardage DM Auburn
FB Lawrence Markley H, DM, NB Sewanee
E Vaughn Blake H, DM, NB Vanderbilt
T Frank Faulkinberry H, DM, NB Sewanee
G Louis Hasslock H, DM, NB Vanderbilt
C C. C. Countess Alabama
G James L. Harris Sewanee
T J. R. Davis H, DM Georgia Tech
E Walker Reynolds Auburn

Selectors include John Heisman (H), Dan McGugin (DM), and Nash Buckingham (NB).

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ LSU is recognized as national champions by the National Championship Foundation for this season; however, LSU does not officially recognize this season as a national championship season.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Spalding's Football Guide. Shawnee Mission, Kansas, NCAA Publishing Service. 1909. p. 75.
  2. ^ "From 'The LSU Football Vault': The 1908 Season". Archived from the original on July 14, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Woodruff 1928, p. 223
  4. ^ Edwin Pope (1956). Football's Greatest Coaches. pp. 340, 342.
  5. ^ Fields, Bud; Bertucci, Bob (1982). Big Orange: a pictorial history of University of Tennessee football. p. 34. ISBN 9780880110716.
  6. ^ "1908 Independent Year Summary".
  7. ^ "Clemson is winner from Gordon squad". The Atlanta Journal. September 27, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Close call for the Commodores". The Nashville American. September 27, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "U of M too heavy; Memphis University School eleven beaten 30 to 0 in opening clash". The Commercial Appeal. October 5, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Tigers open season by easily defeating Mooney, score 29 to 0". The Nashville Tennessean. October 4, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Wetumpka is easy, varsity football team plays its first game". The Montgomery Advertiser. October 4, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Auburn 18, Howard 0". The Atlanta Constitution. October 4, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Georgia 16, Dahlonega 0". The Atlanta Constitution. October 11, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Tech defeats Gordon Institute in first game of season". The Atlanta Journal. October 4, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Mercer 56; Locust Grove 0". The Atlanta Constitution. October 4, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Tennessee 12, Carolina 0 - Tar Heels unable to score against their strong opponents at Knoxville". Charlotte Daily Observer. October 4, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "L.S.U. wins easily". The Times-Democrat. October 4, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Walkover for Vandy with Maryville team". The Atlanta Journal. October 4, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Howard is downed". The Montgomery Advertiser. October 11, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Auburn crushes Gordon". The Birmingham Age-Herald. October 11, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Sewanee runs up big score on C.H." Nashville Banner. October 13, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Mercer 24; Florida 0". The Atlanta Constitution. October 11, 1908. p. 4. Retrieved July 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  23. ^ "A&M shows strength; Starkville squad runs through Louisianans 47 to 0 in their first game of season". The Commercial Appeal. October 11, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Mississippi 0, Arkansas 33; State University eleven plays rings around University of Mississippi". The Arkansas Gazette. October 11, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Inman Bell's arm broken in scrimmage". The Atlanta Journal. October 11, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Tennessee's easy victory - had no trouble in running up score on Maryville". The Sunday Times. October 11, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 213
  28. ^ "Vanderbilt is held to 32 to 0 score by Poly". The Indianapolis Star. October 11, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Barracks team loses". The Times-Democrat. October 13, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Auburn 23; Mercer 0". The Atlanta Constitution. October 18, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Blanked in the South, U. of C. eleven failed to score on Alabama". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 18, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 214
  33. ^ a b Woodruff 1928, p. 216
  34. ^ "No score at Norfolk". Evening Star. October 18, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "Yellow and Purple Win; Texas A. & M. Defeated". The Times-Democrat. October 18, 1908. p. 15. Retrieved May 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  36. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 215
  37. ^ "Rah Rah Boys Are In Town". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. October 17, 1908. p. 11. Retrieved October 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  38. ^ "Columbus sees excellent game". The Birmingham Age-Herald. October 24, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "Auburn's Greatest Victory In Many Years". Orange and Blue: 204. November 11, 1908.
  40. ^ a b Woodruff 1928, p. 217
  41. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 218
  42. ^ "Big Score". The Tennessean. October 27, 1908. p. 6. Retrieved May 9, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  43. ^ "Davidson downs Clemson Tigers". Charlotte Daily Observer. October 29, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ "Clinton was very easy; University team won signal victory at Fair Grounds". Jackson Daily News. October 30, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ "Touchdown for locals, University of Chattanooga made good showing". Chattanooga Daily Times. November 1, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ "Much fumbling in Georgia". The Commercial Appeal. November 1, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ a b Woodruff 1928, p. 221
  48. ^ "Michigan crushes the dreaded Vanderbilt team". The Detroit Free Press. November 1, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ "Transylvania loses to Mississippi team". The Lexington Herald. November 1, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 220
  51. ^ "Tulane defeats Mississippi by score of 10 to 0". The Daily Democrat. November 1, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ^ "Clemson Tigers were defeated". The State. November 6, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ a b c d e f Woodruff 1928, p. 222
  54. ^ "St. Louis baffled by Sewanee attack". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. November 8, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. ^ "L.S.U. Football Team Defeats Baylor 89 To 0". The Times-Democrat. November 11, 1908. p. 11. Retrieved May 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  56. ^ "Mississippi beaten 9–5". The Commercial Appeal. November 11, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ "Tulane wins by big score". The Shreveport Times. November 15, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  58. ^ "Ohio State varsity defeats Vanderbilt". The State. November 15, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  59. ^ "Clemson defeated by one point, that's all". The Journal and Tribune. November 15, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  60. ^ "Haskell Lost Second Game of Their Trip". Lawrence Daily World. November 17, 1908. p. 1. Retrieved May 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  61. ^ "New style football won for The Citadel". The State. November 18, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  62. ^ "Tech's line crossed; Fumble gave Mercer touchdown unlooked for in game at Macon". The Commercial Appeal. November 20, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  63. ^ "Crimson-White triumphs over Haskell Indians". Tuscaloosa Times-Gazette. November 21, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  64. ^ "Georgia defeats Davidson". The News and Observer. November 22, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  65. ^ "Tennessee gets fright when Green rushes across goal with pigskin". The Sunday Times. November 22, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  66. ^ "Cayou's Eleven In Shape For Great Battle". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. November 21, 1908. p. 8. Retrieved July 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  67. ^ "Washington U. Beaten by the Forward Pass". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. November 22, 1908. p. 1S. Retrieved July 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  68. ^ "Ruston beaten by Louisiana". Arkansas Democrat. November 24, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  69. ^ "Orange and Blue Waves triumphant over plucky Georgia eleven and Auburn takes the championship". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 27, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  70. ^ "Louisiana downs Arkansas boys". The Commercial Appeal. November 27, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  71. ^ "Mercer 45, Howard 0". The Atlanta Constitution. November 27, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  72. ^ "Cadets march over Varsity". The Commercial Appeal. November 27, 1908. Retrieved May 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  • Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. Vol. 1.
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