1909 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season explained

1909 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season
Sport:	College football
League:	NCAA
Season:	Regular Season
Season Champs:	Sewanee
No Of Teams:	14
Duration:	September 25, 1909 through January 1, 1910
Seasonslistnames:	Football
Prevseason Year:	1908
Nextseason Year:	1910

The 1909 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 1909 college football season. The season began on September 25.

Under head coach Harris G. Cope, Sewanee won its last conference title in major college football. Sewanee gave Vanderbilt its first loss to a Southern team in six years, and was the first Sewanee squad to win a title since the 1899 Iron Men.

When the Kentucky team was welcomed home after the upset win over Illinois, Philip Carbusier said that they had "fought like wildcats", a nickname that stuck.^[1]

President Taft showed up for the Sewanee-LSU game. LSU was led by Hall of Fame quarterback Doc Fenton.

Results and team statistics

Conf. Rank	Team	Head coach	Overall record	Conf. record	PPG	PAG
1	Sewanee	Harris Cope	6–1	4–0	22.9	6.0
2	Vanderbilt		7–3	4–1	21.0	3.2
3	Alabama	Doc Pollard	5–1–2	4–1–2	8.5	2.1
4	LSU	Joe Pritchard	6–2	3–1	23.5	4.6
5 (tie)	Georgia Tech		7–2	4–2	24.1	5.0
5 (tie)	Auburn	Mike Donahue	5–2	4–2	16.7	5.6
7	Howard		5-2-1	2-2
8	Clemson		6–3	2–2	10.3	4.8
9	Mississippi	Nathan Stauffer	4–3–2	1-2–1	11.0	5.4
10	Georgia	James Coulter/Frank Dobson	1–4–2	1–4-1	2.0	6.9
11	The Citadel	Sam Costen	4–3–2	0–1–1
12	Mississippi A&M		5–4	0–3	17.0	4.9
13	Mercer	Frank Blake	3–5	0–4	8.0	3.9
14	Tennessee	George Levene	1–6–2	0–5	1.2	12.6

Key

PPG = Average of points scored per game
PAG = Average of points allowed per game^[2]

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 One

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
September 25		Mercer	Central City Park • Macon, GA	L 0–10		^[3]
September 25		Vanderbilt	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN	W 52–0		^[4]
September 27	Gordon	Clemson	Bowman Field • Calhoun, SC	W 26–0		^[5]

Week Two

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
October 2		Tennessee	Waite Field • Knoxville, TN	T 0–0		^[6]
October 2	The Citadel		Charleston, SC	W 36–0
October 2		Alabama	The Quad • Tuscaloosa, AL	W 16–0		^[7]
October 2	Howard (AL)	Auburn	Baseball Field • Montgomery, AL	AUB 11–0		^[8]
October 2	Gordon	Georgia Tech	Piedmont Park • Atlanta, GA	W 18–6		^[9]
October 2	Memphis University School	Ole Miss	Oxford, MS	W 18–0		^[10]
October 2	Clemson	VPI	Miles Field • Blacksburg, VA	L 0–6		^[11]
October 2	Jackson Barracks	LSU		W 70–0		^[12]
October 2	Mercer	Vanderbilt	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN	VAN 32–0		^[13]
October 2		Mississippi A&M	Hardy Field • Starkville, MS	W 21–0		^[14]

Week Three

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
October 5	University of Memphis	Ole Miss	Oxford, MS	W 15–0		^[15]
October 9	Howard (AL)	Alabama	The Quad • Tuscaloosa, AL	ALA 14–0		^[16]
October 9	Gordon	Auburn	Drill Field • Auburn, AL	W 46–0		^[17]
October 9	Clemson	Davidson	Latta Park • Charlotte, NC	W 17–5		^[18]
October 9	Georgia	The Citadel	College Park Stadium • Charleston, SC	T 0–0		^[19]
October 9	Mooney	Georgia Tech	Piedmont Park • Atlanta, GA	W 35–6		^[20]
October 9		Mississippi A&M	Hardy Field • Starkville, MS	W 34–6		^[21]
October 9	Ole Miss	LSU	State Field • Baton Rouge, LA	LSU 10–0		^[22]
October 9	Southwestern Presbyterian	Sewanee	Hardee Field • Sewanee, TN	W 64–0		^[23]
October 9	North Carolina	Tennessee	Waite Field • Knoxville, TN	L 0–3		^[24]
October 9	Rose Polytechnic	Vanderbilt	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN	W 28–3		^[25]

Week Four

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
October 15		Howard (AL)	West End Park • Birmingham, AL	W 33–0		^[26]
October 15	Davidson	Georgia	Herty Field • Athens, GA	T 0–0		^[27]
October 16	Auburn	Mercer	Central City Park • Macon, GA	AUB 23–5		^[28]
October 16	Clemson	Alabama	Birmingham Fairgrounds • Birmingham, AL	ALA 3–0		^[29]
October 16	Port Royal Marines	The Citadel	College Park Stadium • Charleston, SC	L 5–17		^[30]
October 16	South Carolina	Georgia Tech	Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta, GA	W 59–0		^[31]
October 16	Sewanee	Princeton	University Field • Princeton, NJ	L 0–20		^[32]
October 16	Mississippi A&M	LSU	State Field • Baton Rouge, LA	LSU 15–0		^[33]
October 16	Tennessee	Kentucky State College	Lexington, KY	L 0–17	2,000	^[34]
October 16	Vanderbilt Alumni	Vanderbilt	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN	L 0–3		^[35]
October 16	Ole Miss	Tulane	Pelican Park • New Orleans, LA	L 0–5		^[36]

Week Five

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
October 22	Southwestern Presbyterian	Mississippi A&M	Columbus Fairgrounds • Columbus, MS	W 31–0		^[37]
October 23	Alabama	Ole Miss	Mississippi State Fairgrounds • Jackson, MS	T 0–0		^[38]
October 23	Port Royal Marines	Clemson	Bowman Field • Calhoun, SC	W 19–0		^[39]
October 23	Georgia	Tennessee	Waite Field • Knoxville, TN	UGA 3–0		^[40]
October 23	Howard (AL)	Mercer	Central City Park • Macon, GA	HOW 6–5		^[41]
October 23	Sewanee	Georgia Tech	Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta, GA	GT 15–0		^[42]
October 23	Auburn	Vanderbilt	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN	VAN 17–0		^[43]

Week Six

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
October 30	Alabama	Georgia	Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta, GA	ALA 14–0		^[44]
October 30	Georgia Tech	Tennessee	Waite Field • Knoxville, TN	GT 29–0		^[45]
October 30	Sewanee	LSU	Pelican Park • New Orleans, LA	SEW 15–6	4,200–7,000	^[46]
October 30	Mississippi A&M	Tulane	Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA	L 0–2		^[47]
October 30	Ole Miss	Vanderbilt	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN	VAN 17–0		^[48]
October 30	Howard (AL)	Chattanooga	Chamberlain Field • Chattanooga, TN	T 0–0		^[49]
October 30	Porter Military Academy	The Citadel	Charleston, SC	W 80–0		^[50]

Week Seven

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
November 2	Union (TN)	Mississippi A&M	Columbus Fairgrounds • Columbus, MS	W 25–0		^[51]
November 3	Davidson	The Citadel	Fairgrounds • Columbia, SC	T 0–0		^[52]
November 4	Clemson	South Carolina	Fairgrounds • Columbia, SC	W 6–0		^[53]
November 4	Louisiana Industrial	LSU	Ball Park • Alexandria, LA	W 23–0	1,200	^[54]
November 6	Chattanooga	Mercer	Central City Park • Macon, GA	W 10–2		^[55]
November 6	Auburn	Georgia Tech	Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta, GA	AUB 9–0		^[56]
November 6	Tennessee	Vanderbilt	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN	VAN 51–0		^[57]
November 8	Mississippi A&M	Howard (AL)	West End Park • Birmingham, AL	HOW 6–0		^[58]
November 8	Castle Heights	Sewanee	Hardee Field • Sewanee, TN	W 38–0		^[59]

Week Eight

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
November 10	Clemson	Georgia	Augusta, GA	CLEM 5–0		^[60]
November 12	Ole Miss		Arkadelphia, AR	T 12–12		^[61]
November 13	Alabama	Tennessee	Waite Field • Knoxville, TN	TENN 10–0		^[62]
November 13	Arkansas	LSU	Red Elm Park • Memphis, TN	L 0–16		^[63]
November 13	Clemson	The Citadel	College Park Stadium • Charleston, SC	CLEM 17–0		^[64]
November 13	Georgia Tech	Mercer	Central City Park • Macon, GA	GT 35–0		^[65]
November 13	Chattanooga	Mississippi A&M	Hardy Field • Starkville, MS	W 37–6		^[66]
November 13	Sewanee	Auburn	West End Park • Birmingham, AL	SEW 12–11		^[67]
November 13	Vanderbilt	Ohio State	University Park • Columbus, OH	L 0–5		^[68]

Week Nine

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
November 17	Union (TN)	Ole Miss	Oxford, MS	W 45–0		^[69]
November 18		LSU	State Field • Baton Rouge, LA	W 52–0		^[70]
November 20	Georgia	Georgia Tech	Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta, GA	GT 12–6		^[71]
November 20	Alabama	Tulane	Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA	T 5–5		^[72]
November 20	The Citadel	College of Charleston	Charleston, SC	W 21–6		^[73]
November 20	South Carolina	Mercer	Central City Park • Macon, GA	W 5–3		^[74]
November 20	Birmingham	Howard (AL)	West End Park • Birmingham, AL	W 26–0		^[75]
November 20	Tennessee	Chattanooga	Chamberlain Field • Chattanooga, TN	T 0–0		^[76]
November 20	Vanderbilt	Washington University	Francis Field • St. Louis, MO	W 12–0	5,000	^[77]

Week Ten

Date	Visiting team	Home team	Site	Result	Attendance	Reference
November 25	LSU	Alabama	Birmingham Fairgrounds • Birmingham, AL	LSU 12–6		^[78]
November 25	Clemson	Georgia Tech	Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta, GA	GT 29–3		^[79]
November 25	Georgia	Auburn	Montgomery, AL	AUB 17–5		^[80]
November 25	Ole Miss	Mississippi A&M	Mississippi State Fairgrounds • Jackson, MS	MISS 9–5		^[81]
November 25	Sewanee	Vanderbilt	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN	SEW 16–5		^[82]
November 25	South Carolina	The Citadel	College Park Stadium • Charleston, SC	L 5–11	1,600	^[83]
November 25	Transylvania	Tennessee	Waite Field • Knoxville, TN	W 11–0		^[84]
November 25		Howard	West End Park • Birmingham, AL	W 11–0		^[85]
November 25	Norman Park	Mercer	Central City Park • Macon, GA	W 26–0		^[86]

Awards and honors

All-Southern team

See main article: 1909 College Football All-Southern Team. John Heisman's All-Southern team included:^[87]

Position	Name	Team
QB	Doc Fenton	LSU
HB	Aubrey Lanier	Sewanee
HB	Ray Morrison	Vanderbilt
FB	Will Metzger	Vanderbilt
E	Silas Williams	Sewanee
T	Harry Esslinger	Auburn
G	Eric Cheape	Sewanee
C	J. E. Lucas	Georgia
G	T. C. Locke	Auburn
T	Malvern Griffin	Vanderbilt
E	Ewing Y. Freeland	Vanderbilt

Notes and References

1. Michael Leo Donovan, Yankees to Fighting Irish : What's Behind Your Favorite Team's Name (Taylor Trade Publications, 2004), p107
2. Web site: 1909 Independent Year Summary.
3. News: Mercer beaten By Gordon team. Nashville Banner. September 27, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
4. News: Vanderbilt wins by score of 52 to 0. The Atlanta Journal. September 26, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
5. News: Clemson walks over Gordon. The Atlanta Constitution. September 28, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
6. News: Both teams unable to score. The Courier-Journal. October 3, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
7. News: Alabama wins only by rally. The Montgomery Advertiser. October 3, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
8. News: Auburn shows little class against Howard. The Montgomery Advertiser. October 3, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
9. News: Jackets win from Gordon. The Atlanta Constitution. October 3, 1909. May 16, 2024. Newspapers.com.
10. News: M.U.S. makes plucky stand; Lost to Ole Miss 18–0. The Commercial Appeal. October 3, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
11. News: Clemson Loses To Virginia Techs. Times Dispatch. October 3, 1909.
12. News: L.S.U. finds Army eleven easy picking. The Shreveport Times. October 3, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
13. News: Vanderbilt takes one from Mercer 28 to 5. Chattanooga Daily Times. October 3, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
14. News: A. & M. trims Birmingham. The Commercial Appeal. October 3, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
15. News: Ole Miss kept busy; Had hard time beating University of Memphis, 15 to 0. The Commercial Appeal. October 7, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
16. News: Alabama puts it over the Collegians. The Tuscaloosa Times-Gazette. October 10, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
17. News: Auburn walks over Gordon. The Atlanta Constitution. October 10, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
18. News: Clemson defeats Davidson in raggeu game of football, score being 17 to 5. Charlotte Daily Observer. October 10, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
19. News: Georgia plays tie with Citadel. The Atlanta Journal. October 10, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
20. News: Tech beats Mooney, but preps score. Nashville Banner. October 11, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
21. News: Cemberland was easy. The Commercial Appeal. October 10, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
22. News: Ole Miss made good showing, held Louisianans 10 to 0. The Commercial Appeal. October 10, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
23. News: Sewanee opens in great glee. The Commercial Appeal. October 10, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
24. News: Carolina gains a close victory. The News and Observer. October 10, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
25. News: Vanderbilt down Rose. The Indianapolis Star. October 11, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
26. News: Howard swamps Jacksonville. The Birmingham News. October 16, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
27. News: Georgia ties in second battle. The Macon News. October 16, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
28. News: Two field goals kicked by Auburn players. The Chattanooga Times. October 17, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
29. News: Varsity is held to very low score. The Montgomery Advertiser. October 17, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
30. News: Marines officers won from Citadel lads. The State. October 17, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
31. News: South Carolina trimmed proper. The Atlanta Constitution. October 17, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
32. News: Sewanee fails to score; Princeton makes 20 points against Southern collegians. The New York Times. October 17, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
33. News: Louisiana won gridiron games. Jackson Daily News. October 17, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
34. News: State team wins from Tennessee by 17–0 score. The Lexington Herald. October 17, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
35. News: Alumni all-stars down Vanderbilt. The Atlanta Journal. October 17, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
36. News: George makes touchdown after 45-yard sprint. The Times-Democrat. October 17, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
37. News: Mississippi A. and M. beats S.P.U. 31 to 0. Nashville Banner. October 23, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
38. News: Mississippi outplayed Alabama. Jackson Daily News. October 24, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
39. News: Clemson wins game. The Atlanta Constitution. October 24, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
40. News: Field goal wins for Georgia team. The Atlanta Constitution. October 24, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
41. News: Howard downs Mercer team. The Atlanta Constitution. October 24, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
42. News: Tigers trim Tech eleven by good score. The Atlanta Constitution. October 24, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
43. News: Vanderbilt still master, Auburn eleven falls before McGugin's machine. The Nashville Tennessean. October 24, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
44. News: Alabama wins over Georgia in hard game. The Atlanta Constitution. October 31, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
45. News: Jackets swamp Tennessee team. The Atlanta Constitution. October 31, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
46. News: Sewanee downs L.S.U. easily, 15 to 6. The Times-Democrat. October 31, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
47. News: Tulane wins pretty contest, 2 to 0. The Times-Democrat. October 31, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
48. News: Vanderbilt victorious over Mississippi team. Chattanooga Daily Times. October 31, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
49. News: Moccasins and Howard play great tie game at Chamberlain. The Chattanooga News. November 1, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
50. News: Citadel Cadets gain victories. The State. October 31, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
51. News: Union snowed under. The Commercial Appeal. November 3, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
52. News: Davidson and The Citadel tie. Charlotte Daily Observer. November 4, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
53. News: Clemson won grand battle at football. The Daily Record. November 4, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
54. News: A great crowd saw the game; Twelve hundred cheering enthusiasts at Ball Park. Alexandria Daily Town Talk. November 5, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
55. News: Curtis . Joe . Moccasins Defeated But Put Up Game Fight Against Heavy Odds . The Chattanooga News. November 5, 1909 . 14 . May 17, 2024 . .
56. News: Yellow Jackets play great ball, but are beaten by Auburn. The Atlanta Constitution. November 7, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
57. News: No match for Commodores, Tennessee was overwhelmed by their brilliant playing. The Nashville American. November 7, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
58. News: Howard 6; Miss. A&M 0. The Vicksburg Herald. November 9, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
59. News: Castle Heights team defeated by Sewanee. The Knoxville Sentinel. November 9, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
60. News: Clemson defeats Georgia 5 to 0. Nashville Banner. November 11, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
61. News: Agee scores 2 touchdowns. The Daily Arkansas Democrat. November 13, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
62. News: Tennessee's defeat was without sting. The Journal and Tribune. November 14, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
63. News: Arkansas squad who proved too much for the Louisiana Tigers. The Commercial Appeal. November 14, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
64. News: Citadel lost to hefty Tigers. The State. November 14, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
65. News: Tech wallops Mercer. The Atlanta Constitution. November 14, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
66. News: Chattanooga is beaten. The Chattanooga Times. November 14, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
67. News: Sewanee wins brilliant game from Auburn squad. Birmingham Age-Herald. November 14, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
68. News: Ohio State wins from Vanderbilt. Detroit Free Press. November 14, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
69. News: Mississippi in walkover; Union smothered 45 to 0. The Commercial Appeal. November 18, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
70. News: Transylvania beaten by Louisiana eleven. The Lexington Herald. November 19, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
71. News: Tech defeats Georgia. The Charlotte Observer. November 21, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
72. News: In brilliant game Tulane ties Alabama. The Times-Democrat. November 21, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
73. News: Carolina Military Academy wins from Citadel. The Atlanta Journal. November 21, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
74. News: Mercer wins hard contest. The Atlanta Constitution. November 21, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
75. News: Howard outclasses Birmingham College. The Montgomery Advertiser. November 21, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
76. News: Moccasins defeat U. T. . Chattanooga Daily Times . November 21, 1909 . 11 . May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
77. News: Vanderbilt's fierce attack a mystery to Cayou's men. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 21, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
78. News: Louisiana 12; Alabama 6. The Birmingham News. November 26, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
79. News: Tech beats Clemson. The Tampa Tribune. November 26, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
80. News: Georgia's game fight prevents big score. The Montgomery Advertiser. November 26, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
81. News: Mississippi wins. Birmingham Age-Herald. November 26, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
82. News: Sewanee Tigers the champions. The Birmingham News. November 26, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
83. News: Carolina wins in second half. The Daily Record. November 26, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
84. News: Transylvania loses to Tennessee by score of 11 to 0. Lexington Leader. November 26, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
85. News: Howard beats fast Colonels. The Montgomery Advertiser. November 26, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
86. News: Mercer piled up very big score. The Macon News. November 26, 1909. May 17, 2024. Newspapers.com.
87. News: Atlanta Constitution. The All-Southern Eleven Picked By Coach Heisman. November 28, 1909. March 4, 2015. Newspapers.com. 3.