| Year: | 1920 |
| Team: | Florida Gators |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Short Conf: | SIAA |
| Record: | 6–3 |
| Conf Record: | 1–2 |
| Head Coach: | William G. Kline |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Captain: | Paul Baker |
| Stadium: | Fleming Field |
The 1920 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1920 college football season. The season was law professor William G. Kline's first of three as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Kline's 1920 Florida Gators compiled a marginally better 6–3 overall record than the 1919 Gators,[1] but a lesser 1–2 conference record against Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) competition.
While the Gators improved their series records against traditional in-state opponents like and, they also suffered a shutout defeat by Tulane and lost their fourth consecutive game to the Georgia Bulldogs.
Kline was a former halfback for the Illinois Fighting Illini, and had previously coached the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
In the season's opening week, the Gators beat, 21 to 0. The substitutes were sent in by the end.
The Gators got revenge on for the previous year's loss with a 13–0 win. C. Anderson scored first, in the third quarter. Tully Hoyt Carlton scored the second after a series of forward passes from C. Anderson to Carlton. After the second score, Carlton failed to make the extra point for the only time all season.
Florida defeated by forfeit, who did not show up for the game.
Florida easily defeated Mercer. "Carlton was the outstanding hero of the game. He ran through the entire Mercer aggregation several times for long gains and scored three of Florida's touchdowns.[2]
Florida's starting lineup against Mercer: Swanson (left end), Baker (left tackle), Norton (left guard), Perry (center), Meisch (right guard), Vandergrift (right tackle) Driggers (right end), B. Anderson (quarterback), C. Anderson (left halfback), Carlton (right halfback), Stanley (fullback).[2]
SourcesThe Gators were beaten 14 to 0 by Tulane after the Gators had outplayed them for two periods.[3] Despite the loss, Tootie Perry played one of the best games seen in Tampa.[4]
The starting lineup was Swanson (left end), Baker (left tackle), Meisch (left guard), Wilsky (center), Perry (right guard), Vandergrif (right tackle), Briggers (right end), B. Anderson (quarterback), C. Anderson (left halfback), C. (right halfback), Merren (fullback).[3]
Florida beat, 26 to 0, in a game played in Palatka, Florida. The first team played lightly through the first quarter, and then substitutes were used. The field was soggy and hard to play on. The only thrill of the game came when Crom Anderson ran 90 yards for a touchdown.[5]
Georgia's Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) champion "ten second backfield" and powerful line rolled up a large, 56–0 score on the Gators. Florida put up a hard fight until Georgia got its first touchdown across, pouring it on from there. Georgia running back Sheldon Fitts was the star of the contest.[6] [7]
Wilsky and Carlton were recovering from injuries suffered in the Tulane game, and during the game Meisch and Vandegrift were carried off. Jim Merrin played best for the Gators.
Florida's starting lineup against Georgia: Swanson (left end), Baker (left tackle), Otto (left guard), Perry (center), Hodges (right guard), Vandergrift (right tackle) Coleman (right end), B. Anderson (quarterback), Pomeroy (left halfback), C. Anderson (right halfback), Merrin (fullback).[6]
Florida defeated the Stetson Hatters by three touchdowns using mostly straight football. "The only spectacular play of the game was when C. Anderson ran 80 yards for a touchdown, but unfortunately Florida was offside."[8]
Florida's starting lineup against Stetson: Coleman (left end), Baker (left tackle), Meisch (left guard), Wilsky (center), Perry (right guard), Dimberline (right tackle) Hughes (right end), B. Anderson (quarterback), C. Anderson (left halfback), Carlton (right halfback), Robinson (fullback).[8]
The Gators made thirteen first downs to Oglethorpe's three, yet lost 21 to 0. Oglethorpe made its first two touchdowns off fumbles.[9]
Florida's starting lineup against Oglethorpe: Swanson (left end), Baker (left tackle), Perry (left guard), Wilsky (center), Norton (right guard), Hodges (right tackle) Hughes (right end), Carlton (quarterback), Pomeroy (left halfback), C. Anderson (right halfback), Robinson (fullback).[9]
| Paul Baker | tackle |
| Roy Driggers | end |
| Herbie Ford | tackle |
| Lanky Hodges | tackle |
| Ed Meisch | guard |
| Snowball Norton | guard |
| Conch Otto | guard |
| Tootie Perry | guard |
| Bob Swanson | end |
| Vandy Vandegrift | tackle |
| Count Wilsky | center |
| B. Anderson | quarterback |
| Crom A. Anderson | halfback |
| Tully Hoyt Carlton | halfback |
| Jim Merrin | fullback |