The 1904 University of Florida White and Blue football team represented the University of Florida in Lake City in the sport of American football during the 1904 college football season. This was not the modern Florida Gators, but a team fielded by one of its four predecessor institutions that was previously known as Florida Agricultural College. The team played an ambitious schedule against several major programs, including Mike Donahue's first year coaching Auburn and John Heisman's first coaching Georgia Tech, but failed to post a win or score a point.
Florida's university system was reorganized the following year, and the school was consolidated with others to form the modern University of Florida in Gainesville, which fielded its first football team in 1906.
Video 1904 University of Florida Blue and White football team
Before the season
For the first time, a college football team from Florida scheduled a season which included contests against several well-established programs from outside the state. To reduce travel costs, the team played four road games in Alabama and Georgia over two and a half weeks in October. Later in the month, they played their lone home game to wrap up their five game slate.
Maps 1904 University of Florida Blue and White football team
Schedule
Season summary
Alabama
The season opened with a 29-0 loss to Alabama. Touchdowns were scored by William LaFayette Ward (2), Chamberlain, Auxford Burks and Frank Clark.
The starting lineup was: Weller (left end), Buck (left tackle), T. Cason (left guard), Keene (center), Bratton (right guard), T. McGuire (right tackle), B. H. Bridges (right end), McDonnell (quarterback), R. Cason (left halfback), B. T. Bridges (right halfback), C. McGuire (fullback).
Auburn
The October 4, 1904 game against the University of Florida was considered a practice game by Auburn and is not included in the official record of 5-0 for the season.
Florida-Georgia dispute
The Florida team next traveled to Macon, Georgia to face the Georgia Bulldogs and lost 52-0. The University of Georgia still counts this game as a win against the Florida Gators even though the modern University of Florida did not yet exist, adding another layer of intrigue to the Florida-Georgia football rivalry. UGA sports historian Dan Magill sums up Georgia's attitude: "That's where Florida was back then. We can't help it if they got run out of Lake City."
Georgia Tech
Only a single first down was scored on Tech, a 77-0 loss.The starting lineup was: Zealius (left end), Bratton (left tackle), T. McGuire (left guard), Keene (center), O'Berry (right guard), Rowlett (right tackle), R. Woller (right end), R. Cason (quarterback), Clarke (left halfback), Bridges (right halfback), C. McGuire (fullback)
Florida State College
Florida State College wore purple and gold and were state champions. The team's coach was Jack Forsythe, who would become the first head coach of the Florida Gators two years later. FSC's assistant was Jock Hanvey. Both coaches played for the Clemson Tigers the year before when it faced Bridges and Cumberland in the SIAA championship game.
A newspaper account reported: "The people of Lake City had expected at least one victory after a long series of defeats encountered by the university and were greatly disappointed. The university should be made stronger before it attempts to play again."
Coach Marvin O. Bridges founded UF's Alpha Eta chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha at Lake City on November 17, 1904.
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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