1901 Nashville Garnet and Blue football team explained

Year:1901
Team:Nashville Garnet and Blue
Sport:football
Conference:Independent
Record:6–1–1
Head Coach:Charley Moran
Hc Year:2nd
Stadium:Peabody Field

The 1901 Nashville Garnet and Blue football team represented the University of Nashville during the 1901 college football season. The second of first two opponents is unknown. The 1901 team was likely the best football team in Nashville's history. Coached by Charley Moran, though they lost to southern power Vanderbilt, they "mopped up with about everything else."[1]

Season summary

At Mooney School

To open the season, Nashville defeated the Mooney School 11–0.[2]

The starting lineup was Choate (left end), Blackburn (left tackle), Majors (left guard) Hawkins (center), Peake (right guard), Keller (right tackle), Kuykendall (right end), Church (quarterback), Reeves (left halfback), F. White (right halfback), Holland (fullback).[2]

At Texas

Nashville tied the Texas Longhorns 5–5, in front of what was then the largest crowd ever to see a game in Dallas.[3]

The starting lineup was Choate (left end), Blackborn (left tackle), Peake (left guard) Hawkins (center), Majors (right guard), Keller (right tackle), Kuykendall (right end), Pollard (quarterback), Reeves (left halfback), F. White (right halfback), Biddle (fullback).[3]

Auburn

Nashville upset Auburn 23–5.

Tennessee

Nashville surprised again and beat Tennessee 16–5. Tennessee had just come off a tie of Clemson, when Clemson had in turn come off a 122–0 victory on opening day.

Sewanee

Sources:Arguably the year's biggest win, Nashville kept up its win streak and beat Sewanee 39–6, then the worst defeat ever suffered by Sewanee. Nashville simply outweighed the Tigers. Ormond Simkins scored first. Biddle once got a touchdown on a 35-yard run.

The starting lineup was Choate (left end), Blackburn (left tackle), Majors (left guard) Hankins (center), Peake (right guard), Keller (right tackle), Kuykendall (right end), Pollard (quarterback), Reeves (left halfback), F. White (right halfback), Biddle (fullback).[4]

At Kentucky University

Nashville beat state champion Kentucky University in Lexington 5–0.Kentucky governor J. C. W. Beckham made a 15-yard kick to ceremonially start the contest. Fullback Bidwell made the touchdown.[5]

At Vanderbilt

Three Nashville players were ruled ineligible.[6] The Commodores practiced in secret for ten days in preparation. Vanderbilt faced Nashville on Thanksgiving Day and won 10–0 in front of 4 to 5,000 spectators,[7] using "Harvard tactics."[8] After thirty minutes of gameplay, John Edgerton scored a touchdown taking the wind out of the sails of Nashville rooters. A riot broke out downtown the next day. According to the account of the event in the Nashville Banner (repudiated in the Hustler), the trouble started when a number of Vanderbilt students "tried to paint the stone fence of the University of Nashville yellow and black."[9]

The starting lineup was Choate (left end), Blackborn (left tackle), Majors (left guard) Hankins (center), Peake (right guard), Keller (right tackle), Kuykendall (right end), Pollard (quarterback), Reeves (left halfback), F. White (right halfback), Biddle (fullback).[7]

Postseason

Amidst charges of professionalism, Nashville was blacklisted from the SIAA.[10] [11] [12]

Notes and References

  1. News: Brown Calls Vanderbilt '06 Best Eleven South Ever Had. Atlanta Constitution. February 19, 1911. March 8, 2015. 52. Newspapers.com.
  2. News: University of Nashville – Local foot ball eleven wins first game of season. The Nashville American. October 3, 1901. November 4, 2016. Newspapers.com.
  3. News: Texas 5, Nashville 5.. The Houston Post. October 13, 1901. August 31, 2015. Newspapers.com.
  4. News: Sewanee Purple. Varsity Goes Downpage=1. 13. 18. November 5, 1901. 11005/711.
  5. News: Governor Beckham Kicks and Spirited Games Begin. Atlanta Constitution. 8. November 17, 1901. August 31, 2015. Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Three Ineligible Removed.. 8. November 21, 1901. The Courier-Journal. December 22, 2016. Newspapers.com.
  7. News: Dixie Championship Goes To Vanderbilt. Atlanta Constitution. November 29, 1901. 2. July 31, 2015. Newspapers.com.
  8. News: Vanderbilt Used Harvard Tactics. Detroit Free Press. 8. November 29, 1901. May 14, 2016. Newspapers.com.
  9. Web site: Stargazing, Vanderbilt football and 'Bachelor of Ugliness' reigned 100 years ago. Bill Carey. March 8, 2015. November 29, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141129024112/http://news.vanderbilt.edu/archived-news/register/articles/index-id=4649.html. dead.
  10. News: Will Meet At Chapel Hill. Asheville Citizen. December 11, 1901. 4. August 29, 2015. Newspapers.com.
  11. News: Athletic Blacklist Has Widespread Effect. The Charlotte News. 11. December 14, 1901. August 29, 2015. Newspapers.com.
  12. News: Fight Is Against Professionalism. Atlanta Constitution. 11. December 22, 1901. August 29, 2015. Newspapers.com.