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1903 Alabama Crimson Tide football
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1903 record3–4 (3–4 SIAA)
Head coachW. B. Blount
CaptainW. S. Wyatt
Home stadiumThe Quad
West End Park
Seasons
← 1902
1904 →

The 1903 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1903 college football season. The team was led by head coach W. B. Blount, in his first season, and played their home games at The Quad in Tuscaloosa and at West End Park in Birmingham, Alabama. In what was the eleventh season of Alabama football, the team finished with a record of three wins and four losses (3–4, 3–4 SIAA). Alabama did not have another losing season until 1951.

Schedule[]

For the 1903 season, point values were different from those used in contemporary games. In 1903 a touchdown was worth five points, a field goal was worth five points and an conversion (PAT) was worth one point.[1]

Date Opponent Site Result
October 10 at Vanderbilt Dudley FieldNashville, TN L 0–30  
October 16 at Mississippi A&M Columbus Fairgrounds • Columbus, MS (Rivalry) L 0–11  
October 23 vs. Auburn Riverside ParkMontgomery, AL (Iron Bowl) W 18–6  
November 2 Sewanee West End ParkBirmingham, AL L 0–23  
November 9 LSU The QuadTuscaloosa, AL (Rivalry) W 18–0  
November 14 Cumberland The Quad • Tuscaloosa, AL L 0–44  
November 26 Tennessee West End Park • Birmingham, AL (Third Saturday in October) W 24–0  
*Non-Conference Game.
  • Source: Rolltide.com: 1903 Alabama football schedule[2]

Game notes[]

Vanderbilt[]

Alabama opened the 1903 season with a 30–0 loss against Vanderbilt University in the first all-time meeting between the schools at Dudley Field.[3] Touchdowns were scored by Vanderbilt on runs by Ed Hamilton twice, Frank Kyle, Daniel Blake and Bob Blake with John J. Tigert converting all five PAT's in their victory.[4]

Mississippi A&M[]

A week after their loss to Vanderbilt, Alabama was defeated the Aggies of Mississippi A&M (now known as Mississippi State University) 11–0 at the Columbus Fairgrounds in Columbus, Mississippi.[4] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi A&M (Mississippi State) to 3–1.[5]

Auburn[]

After being shutout for their first two games, Alabama upset the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now known as Auburn University) 18–6 at Riverside Park in Montgomery.[6] J. V. Boyles scored a touchdown for Alabama to cap a 19 play, 79 yard drive on their opening possession and with the extra point took a 6–0 lead.[6] In the second half, Alabama extended their lead to 12–0 after Truman Smith scored on a 45-yard touchdown run.[6] After Auburn cut the lead to 12–6 with a W. G. Boyd touchdown run, Alabama scored the final points of the game on a 25 yard Smith run for the 18–6 victory.[6] The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against Auburn to 2–6.[7]

Sewanee[]

Playing Sewanee for the first time since the 1896 season, Alabama was shut out 23–0 at West End Park in Birmingham.[8] The game was originally scheduled to be played in Tuscaloosa, but was subsequently moved to Birmingham in an effort to increase gate receipts.[4] The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Sewanee to 1–3.[8]

LSU[]

Alabama secured their first all-time victory over LSU with its 18–0 win at Tuscaloosa.[4] Both John Roberts Peavy and W. S. Sherrill scored first half touchdowns, and Truman Smith scored on a fake punt returned 65-yards for the 18–0 victory.[4] The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against LSU to 1–2.[9]

Cumberland[]

Against Cumberland University of Lebanon, Tennessee, Alabama lost 44–0 on The Quad in Tuscaloosa.[2]

Tennessee[]

A week after their 44–0 loss to Cumberland, Alabama defeated Tennessee 24–0 at Birmingham.[2] Alabama scored touchdowns on runs of three-yards by W. McMahon, one-yard by John Roberts Peavy, one-yard by Auxford Burks and two-yards by Truman Smith.[4] The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 1–0–1.[10]

Players[]

Guards

  • J. C. Fortune
  • W. C. Oates
  • Guy Redden

Tackles

  • Aubrey Boyles
  • J. C. Granade
  • John Roberts Peavy

Center

  • James C. Gwin

Ends

  • R. L. Lodge
  • W. S. Sherrill

Backs

  • Auxford Burks
  • Frank B. Clark
  • Floy Hall
  • W. McMahon
  • Truman Smith
  • W. S. Wyatt

Source:[4]

References[]

  1. "Scoring values". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-results-archive.html. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "1903 Alabama football schedule". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-results-archive.html#1903. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  3. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse. http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/alabama/opponents_records.php?teamid=3363. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 "1903 Season Recap" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/alab/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/1903-season.pdf. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  5. "Alabama vs Mississippi State". College Football Data Warehouse. http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/alabama/opponents_records.php?teamid=2049. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Griffin, John Chandler (2001). "1903: Truman Smith leads Bama to a big win". Alabama vs. Auburn: Gridiron Grudge Since 1893. Athens, Georgia: Hill Street Press. pp. 26–27. ISBN 1-58818-044-1.
  7. "Alabama vs Auburn". College Football Data Warehouse. http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/alabama/opponents_records.php?teamid=220. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Alabama vs Sewanee". College Football Data Warehouse. http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/alabama/opponents_records.php?teamid=2947. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  9. "Alabama vs LSU". College Football Data Warehouse. http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/alabama/opponents_records.php?teamid=1793. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  10. "Alabama vs Tennessee". College Football Data Warehouse. http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/alabama/opponents_records.php?teamid=3180. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
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