1903 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season explained

1903 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season
Sport:	College football
League:	NCAA
Season:	Regular Season
Season Champs:	Clemson Cumberland
No Of Teams:	18
Conf1:	East
Conf1 Champ:	Clemson Tigers
Conf2:	West
Conf2 Champ:	Cumberland Bulldogs
Duration:	September 25, 1903 through November 29, 1903
Seasonslistnames:	Football
Prevseason Year:	1902
Nextseason Year:	1904

The 1903 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 1903 college football season. The season began on September 25.

1903 met difficulty in determining an SIAA champion. Clemson had the best record, but lost to an inferior North Carolina team; and in the game to secure the SIAA title were tied by Cumberland. Clemson's John Heisman pushed strongly for Cumberland to share the SIAA title.^[1] Cumberland's strongest victory was its win over Vanderbilt.

However, Sewanee beat Cumberland, yet suffered its only loss to Vanderbilt. Heisman originally challenged the winner of the Vanderbilt-Sewanee game.^[2] John J. Tigert was a star player for Vanderbilt. Nash Buckingham rated Kentucky University and Vanderbilt as best in the south.^[3]

Season overview

Results and team statistics

Conf. Rank	Team	Head coach	Overall record	Conf. record	PPG	PAG
1 (tie)	Clemson	John Heisman	4–1–1	2–0–1	27.8	3.7
1 (tie)		A. L. Phillips	6–1–1	4–1–1	38.5	2.2
- align="left" bgcolor=""	3	Sewanee	George S. Whitney	7–1	5–1	22.4	1.2
4	Vanderbilt		6–1–1	5–1–1	24.0	2.0
5	Mississippi A&M		3–0–2	2–0–2	14.2	1.2
6	Georgia	Marvin D. Dickinson	3–4	3–2	9.3	14.0
7	Mississippi		2–1–1	1–1–1	8.5	9.8
8	Texas	Ralph Hutchinson	5–1–2	0–0–1	16.4	3.5
9	Kentucky State	Jack Wright	7–1	0–0
10	Alabama	W. A. Blount	3–4	3–4	8.6	16.3
11	Auburn	William Penn Bates	4–3	2–3	17.9	13.1
12 (tie)	Tennessee	H. F. Fisher	4–5	2–4	8.4	12.2
12 (tie)	Georgia Tech		4–5	1–4	8.4	21.1
14 (tie)	Tulane	Charles Eshleman	2–2–1	0–1–1	12.8	11.2
14 (tie)			0–1	0–1	0.0	46.0
16	Nashville	Wreidt/Bradley Walker/Childress	2–2	0–2	10.8	5.3
17	LSU	W. S. Borland	4–5	0–4	7.8	10.3

Key

PPG = Average of points scored per game
PAG = Average of points allowed per game^[4]

Regular season

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 Two

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
October 3	Montgomery Athletic Club	Auburn	Drill Field • Auburn, AL	W 26–0		^[6]
October 3	Cumberland	Vanderbilt	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN	CUM 6–0		^[7] ^[8]
October 3	Mooney	Sewanee	Hardee Field • Sewanee, TN	W 23–0		^[9]
October 3	Texas Deaf School	Texas	Varsity Athletic Field • Austin, TX	W 17–0
October 3		Tennessee	Baldwin Park • Knoxville, TN	W 17–0		^[10]

Week Three

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
October 9	Haskell	Texas	State Fairgrounds • Dallas, TX	L 6–0	3,000	^[11]
October 10	Clemson	Georgia	Herty Field • Athens, GA	CLEM 29–0		^[12]
October 10	Mercer	Georgia Tech	Piedmont Park • Atlanta, GA	GT 46–0		^[13]
October 10		Tennessee	Baldwiin Park • Knoxville, TN	W 38–0		^[14]
October 10	Alabama	Vanderbilt	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN	VAN 30–0	1,000	^[15]
October 10		Kentucky State	State College Park • Lexington, KY	W 17–0		^[16] ^[17]

Week Four

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
October 14		LSU Alumni	LSU	State Field • Baton Rouge, LA	W 16–0		^[18]
October 16		Alabama	Mississippi A&M	Columbus Fairgrounds • Columbus, MS	MSA&M 11–0	5,000	^[19]
October 17		Howard (AL)	Auburn	Drill Field • Auburn, AL	W 58–0		^[20]
October 17		Clemson	Georgia Tech	Piedmont Park • Atlanta, GA	CLEM 73–0		^[21]
October 17		Kentucky Military Institute	Kentucky State	State College Park • Lexington, KY	W 18–0		^[22]
October 17		Oklahoma	Texas	Varsity Athletic Field • Austin, TX	T 6–6		^[23]
October 17		South Carolina	Georgia	Herty Field • Athens, GA	L 27–7		^[24]
October 17		Tennessee	Vanderbilt	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN	VAN 40–0		^[25]
October 17		Nashville	Mooney School	Mooney Field • Murfreesboro, TN	L 5–17		^[26] ^[27]
October 20	3:00 p. m.	Cumberland	Sewanee	Hardee Field • Sewanee, TN	SEW 6–0		^[28] ^[29]

Week Five

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
October 23	Auburn	Alabama	Riverside Park • Montgomery, AL	ALA 18–0	1,200	^[30]
October 24	Georgia	Georgia Tech	Piedmont Park • Atlanta, GA	UGA 38–0		^[31]
October 24	Baylor	Texas	Varsity Athletic Field • Austin, TX	W 48–0		^[32]
October 24	Ole Miss	Vanderbilt	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN	VAN 33–0		^[33]
October 24	Mississippi A&M	Meridian Athletic Club	Meridian, MS	W 43–0
October 24	Eagles-New Orleans	LSU	State Field • Baton Rouge, LA	W 33–0		^[34]
October 24	Miami (OH)	Kentucky State	State College Park • Lexington, KY	W 47–0
October 24	Tennessee Docs	Sewanee	Hardee Field • Sewanee, TN	W 52–0		^[35]

Week Six

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
October 28	North Carolina A&M	Clemson	Columbia, SC	W 24–0		^[36]
October 29	Tennessee	South Carolina	State Fairgrounds • Columbia, SC	L 0–24		^[37]
October 30	LSU	Louisiana Industrial	Ruston, LA	W 16–0		^[38]
October 30	Arkansas	Texas	Varsity Athletic Field • Austin, TX	W 15–0	800	^[39]
October 31	LSU	Shreveport Athletic Association	Ball Park • Shreveport, LA	W 5–0		^[40]
October 31	Georgia Tech	Howard (AL)	West End Park • Birmingham, AL	W 37–0		^[41]
October 31	Sewanee	Auburn	Oak Park • Montgomery, AL	SEW 47–0		^[42]
October 31	Tennessee	Nashville	Peabody Field • Nashville, TN	TENN 10–0		^[43]
October 31	Vanderbilt	Georgia	Brisbine Park • Atlanta, GA	VAN 33–0		^[44]
October 31	Meridian Athletic Club	Tulane	Athletic Park • New Orleans, LA	W 46–0	400	^[45]
November 2	Sewanee	Alabama	West End Park • Birmingham, AL	SEW 23–0	2,400	^[46]
November 2		Kentucky State	State College Park • Lexington, KY	W 51–0		^[47]
November 2	Tennessee Docs	Cumberland	Lebanon, TN	W 86–0		^[48]

Week Seven

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
November 6	Vanderbilt	Texas	Varsity Athletic Field • Austin, TX	T 5–5	1,200	^[49]
November 7	Georgia	Tennessee	Baldwin Park • Knoxville, TN	UGA 5–0		^[50]
November 7	Sewanee	Nashville	Peabody Field • Nashville, TN	SEW 6–0		^[51]
November 7	Florida State College	Georgia Tech	Piedmont Park • Atlanta, GA	W 17–0		^[52]
November 7	Shreveport Athletic Club	Tulane	Athletic Park • New Orleans, LA	L 0–23		^[53]
November 7		Kentucky State	State College Park • Lexington, KY	W 11–0		^[54]
November 7	Ole Miss	Tennessee Docs	Red Elm Park • Memphis, TN	W 17–0		^[55]
November 7	LSU	Mississippi A&M	Starkville Fairgrounds • Starkville, MS	MSA&M 11–0		^[56]
November 7		Cumberland	Lebanon, TN	W 92–0		^[57]
November 9	LSU	Alabama	The Quad • Tuscaloosa, AL	ALA 18–0		^[58]

Week Eight

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
November 11	LSU	Auburn	Drill Field • Auburn, AL	AUB 12–0		^[59]
November 13	Texas	Oklahoma	Colcord Park • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Territory	W 11–5		^[60]
November 13	Tennessee Medicos	Nashville	Peabody Field • Nashville, TN	W 26–0		^[61]
November 14	Auburn	Georgia Tech	Piedmont Park • Atlanta, GA	AUB 10–5		^[62]
November 14	Cumberland	Alabama	The Quad • Tuscaloosa, AL	CUM 44–0		^[63]
November 14	Clemson	North Carolina	Campus Athletic Field • Chapel Hill, NC	L 6–11		^[64]
November 14	Sewanee	Tennessee	Baldwin Park • Knoxville, TN	SEW 17–0		^[65]
November 14	Washington University	Vanderbilt	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN	W 41–0		^[66]
November 14	Georgia	Savannah Athletic Association	Bolton Street Park • Savannah, GA	L 0–6		^[67]
November 14	Mississippi A&M	Ole Miss	University Park • Oxford, MS	T 6–6		^[68]
November 16	Cumberland	LSU	State Field • Baton Rouge, LA	CUM 41–0		^[69]

Week Nine

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
November 18	Cumberland	Tulane	Athletic Park • New Orleans, LA	CUM 28–0		^[70]
November 21	Clemson	Davidson	Latta Park • Charlotte, NC	W 24–0		^[71]
November 21	Georgia Tech	Tennessee	Baldwin Park • Knoxville, TN	TENN 11–0		^[72]
November 21	Ole Miss	LSU	Athletic Park • New Orleans, LA	LSU 11–0		^[73] ^[74]
November 21	Sewanee	Vanderbilt	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN	VAN 10–5	4,000	^[75]

Week Ten

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
November 26	Tennessee	Alabama	West End Park • Birmingham, AL	ALA 24–0		^[76]
November 26	Auburn	Georgia	Brisbine Park • Atlanta, GA	UGA 22–13		^[77]
November 26	South Carolina	Georgia Tech	Piedmont Park • Atlanta, GA	L 0–16		^[78]
November 26	Kentucky University	Kentucky State	South Side Park • Lexington, KY	L 0–17		^[79]
November 26	Richmond	Tulane	Athletic Field • New Orleans, LA	W 18–5		^[80]
November 29	Texas A&M	Texas	Varsity Athletic Field • Austin, TX	W 29–6		^[81]

Week Eleven

Postseason

SIAA Championship Game

All-Southern team

See main article: 1903 College Football All-Southern Team. Walker Reynolds Tichenor's All-Southern team:^[86]

Position	Name	Team
QB	John Maxwell	Clemson
HB	John J. Tigert	Vanderbilt
HB	J. C. Anderson	Cumberland
FB	Jock Hanvey	Clemson
E	Bob Blake	Vanderbilt
T	Joseph Lee Kirby-Smith	Sewanee
G	Henry D. Phillips	Sewanee
C	Red Smith	Cumberland
G	Puss Derrick	Clemson
G/T	Marvin O. Bridges	Cumberland
E	Carl Sitton	Clemson

References

• Book: Woodruff, Fuzzy. A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. 1928. 1.

Notes and References

1. Book: From Maverick to Mainstream: Cumberland School of Law, 1847-1997. Langum, David J. January 2010. 95. 9780820336183.
2. News: Fine Football in Southland. The Courier-Journal. 25. May 16, 2016. October 25, 1903. Newspapers.com.
3. News: The Best in the South. The Cincinnati Enquirer. 3. November 30, 1903. August 10, 2015. Newspapers.com.
4. Web site: 1903 Independent Year Summary College Football . www.sports-reference.com.
5. News: 39 to 0 was football score; State College easily defeated a select team from Cynthiana. The Morning Herald. September 26, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
6. News: Football at Auburn. The Birmingham News. October 6, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
7. News: Cumberland wins. 7. October 4, 1903. The Nashville American . May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
8. News: Vanderbilt beaten; Cumberland University team spring surprise on Nashville collegians. The Commercial Appeal. October 4, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
9. News: Sewanee victorious; Mooney School eleven put forth game fight against collegians. The Commercial Appeal. October 4, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
10. News: Maryville defeated in opening football game of the local season. The Journal and Tribune. October 4, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
11. News: Was a great game if Texas did lose. The Austin Statesman. October 10, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
12. News: Clemson Tigers Win In A Walk. October 11, 1903. 6. The Atlanta Constitution. May 9, 2016. Newspapers.com.
13. News: Skill defeats brawn in Mercer–Tech game. The Atlanta Constitution. October 11, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
14. News: By score of 38 to 0, Tennessee's team smothers Carson and Newman. The Journal and Tribune. October 11, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
15. News: Show their mettle, Commodores stack up 30 points to Alabama's 6. The Nashville American. October 11, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
16. News: Seniors of K.S.C. elect officers. The Morning Herald. October 7, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
17. News: Easy victory for State College in game with Berea eleven. The Morning Herald. October 11, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
18. News: Football at L.S.U.; Alumni team defeated in first game on State University Gridiron. The Times-Democrat. October 15, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
19. News: Mississippi beat Alabama at Columbus yesterday afternoon. The Tuscaloosa News. October 17, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
20. News: Auburn's great showing makes tremendous score. The Montgomery Advertiser. October 18, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
21. News: Tremendous score piled up by Clemson against Techs yesterday. The Savannah Morning News. October 18, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
22. News: K.M.I. eleven beaten. The Courier-Journal. October 18, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
23. News: Varsity is given a fierce tussle. The Austin Statesman. October 18, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
24. News: South Carolina defeats Georgia. The Lynchburg News. October 18, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
25. News: Picking cherries, Vanderbilt defeats University of Tennessee 40 to 0. The Tennessean. October 18, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
26. News: Mooney's boys win, "prep" school eleven triumphs over U. of N.. The Nashville American. October 18, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
27. News: Mooney sprung surprise. The Birmingham News. October 19, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
28. News: The Varsity Triumphs Over Cumberland. Sewanee Purple. October 27, 1903. 20. 8. 11005/766.
29. News: Sewanee wins, but it was the fight of her life. Nashville Banner. October 21, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
30. News: Victory perched on Crimson-White; Auburn's Orange-Blue trailed in dust. The Montgomery Advertiser. October 24, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
31. News: Disastrous defeat overtakes the Tech. The Atlanta Constitution. October 25, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
32. News: Baylor too slow for Varsity boys. The Austin Statesman. October 25, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
33. News: Easy victory for Vanderbilt. The Atlanta Constitution. October 25, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
34. News: Fine football game; L.S.U. defeats the Eagles by a score of 33 to 0. The Times-Democrat. October 25, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
35. News: Sewanee is the winner, University of the South runs up big score on Tennessee Medical. The Courier-Journal. October 25, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
36. News: Eighteen To Naught. News and Observer. 1. October 29, 1903. May 9, 2016. Newspapers.com.
37. News: Carolina defeats Tennessee by score 24 to 0. The Greenville News. October 30, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
38. News: Ruston was beaten, the L.S.U. team achieved an easy victory. The Shreveport Times. October 31, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
39. News: Three goals are missed by Texas. The Austin Statesman. October 30, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
40. News: University colors waved in victory Saturday at Ball Park. The Shreveport Journal. November 1, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
41. News: Howard College downed by Tech. The Atlanta Constitution. November 1, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
42. Book: Oak Park and the Montgomery Zoo. 12. 9780738553115. Trevino. Heather S.. Pastorello. Linda E.. 2007.
43. News: Tennessee wins, but it is not an easy victory. Nashville Banner. November 2, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
44. News: Vanderbilt piles up big score on Georgia. The Atlanta Journal. November 1, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
45. News: Tulane the winner. The Times-Democrat. November 1, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
46. News: Sewanee beats Alabama by the score of 23 to 0. The Birmingham News. November 3, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
47. News: State College defeats Georgetown. The Evening Bulletin. November 3, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
48. News: By large score. The Nashville American. November 3, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
49. News: Varsity in a tie Vanderbilt. The Austin Statesman. November 7, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
50. News: Georgia plucks victory from Tennessee eleven. The Atlanta Constitution. November 8, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
51. News: Close call for Sewanee, University of Nashville held South's eleven 0 to 6. The Journal and Tribune. November 8, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
52. News: Dashing end runs win game for Tech. The Atlanta Journal. November 8, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
53. News: Football. The Times-Democrat. November 7, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
54. News: State defeated Ohio eleven. The Morning Herald. November 8, 1903. May 5, 2024. Newspapers.com.
55. News: Oxford players were victorious, Doctors from University of Tennessee beaten. The Commercial Appeal. November 8, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
56. News: Mississippi A. and M. 11, Louisiana 0. The Commercial Appeal. November 8, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
57. News: Cumberland's Easy Victory. 4. November 8, 1903. The Courier-Journal. December 21, 2016. Newspapers.com.
58. News: Alabama the winner. The Times-Democrat. November 10, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
59. News: Creoles lost to Auburnites. The Atlanta Constitution. November 12, 1903. May 3, 2023. Newspapers.com.
60. News: Texas's victory. The Galveston Daily News. November 14, 1903. May 3, 2023. Newspapers.com.
61. News: Was an easy victory for University of Nashville. Nashville Banner. November 14, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
62. News: Techs by fumbling, lost interesting game to the Auburn eleven. Savannah Morning News. November 15, 1903. May 3, 2023. Newspapers.com.
63. News: Cumberland too heavy, Defeats University of Alabama, 44 to 0. The Montgomery Advertiser. November 15, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
64. News: For Carolina The Tide Has Turned. News and Observer. 1. November 15, 1903. May 5, 2016. Newspapers.com.
65. News: Sewanee wins again. The Chattanooga Daily News. November 15, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
66. News: W.U. outclassed by Vanderbilt. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. November 15, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
67. News: Red and Black banners furled to victorious Blue and White. The Savannah Morning News. November 15, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
68. News: Mississippi teams tie. The Times-Democrat. November 15, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
69. News: Louisiana Is Very Easy. 11. November 17, 1903. The Times-Democrat. January 3, 2017. Newspapers.com.
70. News: Football!. The Times-Democrat. November 18, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
71. News: Clemson Defeats Davidson. The Charlotte Observer. 5. November 22, 1903. May 9, 2016. Newspapers.com.
72. News: Tech drops game to Volunteers. The Atlanta Constitution. November 22, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
73. News: Mississippi and Louisiana will meet at Athletic Park. The Times-Democrat. November 21, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
74. News: Creoles lose to Mississippi. The Atlanta Constitution. November 22, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
75. News: Vanderbilt wins championship. The Courier-Journal. November 27, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
76. News: Alabama's 24 to Tennessee's zero. Knoxville Sentinel. November 27, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
77. News: Auburn overwhelmed by the Georgia eleven. Birmingham Age-Herald. November 27, 1903. May 3, 2023. Newspapers.com.
78. News: Tech loses another. The Montgomery Advertiser. November 27, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
79. News: Kentucky University beats State College. The Courier-Journal. November 27, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
80. News: Tulane Vs. Richmond. The Times-Democrat. November 26, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
81. News: Varsity's game. Houston Post. November 27, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
82. News: Final game football. The Times-Democrat. December 5, 1903. May 3, 2024. Newspapers.com.
83. Web site: Clemson's "First Bowl Game". Sam Blackman. December 15, 2014. July 12, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923222204/http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=209808914. September 23, 2015. dead.
84. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=mhJwBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT136. 24. 1903 Game With Cumberland. Lou Sahadi. 100 Things Clemson Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. October 2014. 9781623689490.
85. Book: Creating the Big Game: John W. Heisman and the Invention of American Football. Wiley Lee Umphlett. 1992. 67. 9780313284045.
86. [Fuzzy Woodruff]