The 1921 Florida Gators football team (variously "Florida", "Gators", or "UF") represented the

University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida, traces its origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its ...

in the

1921 college football season The 1921 college football season had no clear-cut champion, with the ''Official NCAA Division I Football Records Book'' listing California Golden Bears, Cornell Big Red, Iowa Hawkeyes, Lafayette Leopards, Washington & Jefferson Presidents, and V ...

. It marked the Florida Gators' 15th overall season, and its 9th and final as a member of the

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) was one of the first collegiate athletic conferences in the United States. Twenty-seven of the current Division I FBS (formerly Division I-A) football programs were members of this conferen ...

(SIAA). The Gators played their home games at Fleming Field in Gainesville, Florida. It was head coach William Kline's second season leading the Gators' football team. They finished the season with a record of 6 wins, 3 losses, and 2 ties (6–3–2 overall, 4–1–2 in the SIAA), finishing sixth in conference play. The Gators improved their record against major collegiate competition with a notable win against the

Alabama Crimson Tide The Alabama Crimson Tide refers to the intercollegiate athletic varsity teams that represent the University of Alabama, located in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I as a mem ...

(9–2) in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Florida's two losses against the

Tennessee Volunteers The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the 20 male and female varsity college athletics, intercollegiate athletics programs that represent the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers compete in NCAA Division I, ...

(0–9) and the

North Carolina Tar Heels The North Carolina Tar Heels are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the ''Tar Heel ...

(10–14) were competitive and close. Coach

Herman Stegeman Herman James Stegeman (January 21, 1891 – October 22, 1939) was a player and coach of American football, basketball, baseball, and track and field athletics, and a college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Beloit C ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

wrote in ''Spalding's Football Guide'' "Florida, for the first time, had a strong team. Aided by Dixon, the South's best punter, they combined a kicking game and a well-diversified offense to good advantage." Captain

Tootie Perry Carl Esmond "Tootie" Perry (February 4, 1896 – August 9, 1946) was an American college football player. He played at the guard position and was the first All-Southern player for the Florida Gators football program of the University of Florid ...

was the school's first-ever All-Southern selection.

Before the season

Professor of military science

James Van Fleet General James Alward Van Fleet (March 19, 1892 – September 23, 1992) was a United States Army officer who saw service during World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Van Fleet was a native of New Jersey, who was raised in Florida and gradu ...

joined Kline's coaching staff. Kline's staff faced heavy pressure from the alumni for a winning football team and so "five players were brought the

University of Oklahoma The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Public university, public research university in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two Territories became the state of Oklahom ...

and the western states" such as Ferdinand H. Duncan and

Ark Newton Robert Dee "Ark" Newton, Jr. (January 31, 1903 – January 1974) was an American college football player for the Florida Gators football team of the University of Florida. Newton was also a member of the Florida Gators baseball, basketball and ...

. Newton allegedly first attended a practice only to watch, but the captain

was so impressed when he saw him that he offered Newton a uniform and coaxed him onto the field. Newton's punts sailed over the head of the return men and brought the attention of the coaches.

Schedule

2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide
'', University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 107–108 (2015). Retrieved August 15, 2015.

Season summary

Week 1: at Camp Benning

A blocked punt proved the difference in the Gators' first win of the season over Camp Benning in

Columbus, Georgia Columbus is a consolidated city-county located on the west-central border of the U.S. state of Georgia. Columbus lies on the Chattahoochee River directly across from Phenix City, Alabama. It is the county seat of Muscogee County, with which it ...

6–0. In the third quarter, Camp Benning's Crist attempted punt was blocked and recovered by Florida at the 20-yard line. Bill Renfro ran through the tackles for seven yards on first down. T. Hoyt Carlton ran the remaining 13 yards to score. Dickson missed goal. The starting lineup was: Swanson (left end), Wuthrich (left tackle), Scott (left guard), Perry (center), Rosenhouse (right guard), Doty (right tackle), Duncan (right end), Renfro (quarterback), Newton (left halfback), Carlton (right halfback), Dickson (fullback).

Week 2: Rollins

Florida rolled up a large, 33–0 score on the

Rollins Tars The Rollins Tars are the athletic teams that represent Rollins College, located in Winter Park, Florida, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Tars—an archaic name for a sailor—compete as members of the Sunshine State Conference ...

. In the fourth quarter, T. Hoyt Carlton faked a kick and ran 40 yards for the touchdown; the first of three scored by the Gators in the final period. The starting lineup was: Swanson (left end), Wuthrich (left tackle), H. Perry (left guard), Wilsky (center), C. Perry (right guard), Doty (right tackle), Duncan (right end), Renfro (quarterback), Beasley (left halfback), Carlton (right halfback), Newton (fullback).

Week 3: Carlstrom Field

The Gators lost to

Carlstrom Field Carlstrom Field is a former military airfield, located southeast of Arcadia, Florida. The airfield was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established in 1917 after the United States entry into World War I. History Carlstrom Field ...

and its "baffling" display of passes and defense 19–0.

Gene Vidal Eugene Luther "Gene" Vidal (; April 13, 1895 – February 20, 1969) was an American commercial aviation pioneer, New Deal official, inventor, and athlete. He was the father of author Gore Vidal. For eight years, from 1929 to 1937, he worked cl ...

's attempted drop kick was blocked, but he caught the ball off the rebound and ran 20 yards before the time spectators realized what happened. The starting lineup was: Swanson (left end), Doty (left tackle), C. Perry (left guard), Wilsky (center), Scott (right guard), Wuthrich (right tackle), Duncan (right end), Renfro (quarterback), Carlton (left halfback), Beasley (right halfback), Newton (fullback).

Week 4: Mercer

The Gators defeated

Josh Cody Joshua Crittenden Cody (June 11, 1892 – June 17, 1961) was an American college athlete, head coach, and athletics director. Cody was a native of Tennessee and an alumnus of Vanderbilt University, where he played several sports. As a versatil ...

's Mercer Baptists 7–0. After a 30–0 loss last year, Mercer took it as a moral victory against a stronger Florida team this season. Carl_Perry

"Capt.

was again the star on defense." He recovered a Mercer fumble on the 15-yard line. On the ensuing fourth down T. Hoyt Carlton ran in a touchdown. Wilsky kicked goal. The starting lineup was: Swanson (left end), Wuthrich (left tackle), H. Perry (left guard), Wilsky (center), C. Perry (right guard), Doty (right tackle), Burnett (right end), Carlton (quarterback), Duncan (left halfback), Renfro (right halfback), Newton (fullback).

Week 5: at Tennessee

The

defeated Florida 9 to 0. Florida was inside Tennessee's 30-yard line just once, failing to convert a field goal. Tennessee's touchdown and safety were thanks to the forward pass. The safety was an interception by Florida tackled in the endzone. The Vols'

Roe Campbell Lacy Roe Campbell (January 4, 1900 – December 27, 1988) was an American athlete and banking executive from Tennessee who achieved honors and awards in multiple sports. He played American football and basketball for the Tennessee Volunteers of ...

averaged 50 yards on 14 punts. The starting lineup was: Swanson (left end), Wuthrich (left tackle), Robinson (left guard), Wilsky (center), C. Perry (right guard), Doty (right tackle), Burnett (right end), Carlton (quarterback), Duncan (left halfback), Renfro (right halfback), Newton (fullback).

Week 6: at Howard

In a "drizzling rain" and "sea of mud" in Montgomery, AL Florida defeated the Howard Bulldogs 34–0 and gave up just one first down.

Week 7: South Carolina

In a game in

Tampa Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the seat of Hillsborough County ...

Plant Field Plant Field was the first major athletic venue in Tampa, Florida. It was built in 1899 by Henry B. Plant on the grounds of his Tampa Bay Hotel to host various events and activities for guests, and it consisted of a large field ringed by an oval r ...

, coach

Sol Metzger Sol or SOL may refer to: Astronomy * The Sun Currency * SOL Project, a currency project in France * French sol, or sou * Argentine sol * Bolivian sol, the currency of Bolivia from 1827 to 1864 * Peruvian sol, introduced in 1991 * Peruvian sol ( ...

South Carolina Gamecocks The South Carolina Gamecocks represent the University of South Carolina in the NCAA Division I. The University of South Carolina uses "Gamecocks" as its official nickname and mascot. While the men's teams were traditionally known as the Fighti ...

fought the Gators to a 7–7 tie. The Gamecocks scored early after a fumble recovery near the goal line. The Gators scored once in the second period, and "threatened to do so again and again from both attempted placement kicks and straight football, only to fall by missing the cross bars by inches and by gameness of the fighting Gamecocks." The Gators starting lineup was: Swanson (left end), Wurthrich (left tackle), Scott (left guard), Wilsky (center), C. Perry (right guard), Doty (right tackle), Burnett (right end), Stanley (quarterback), Duncan (left halfback), Carlton (right halfback), Dickson (fullback).

Week 8: at Alabama

In the Gators first ever win over the

, Ferdinand H. Duncan accounted for all of Florida's points to upset the Tide at homecoming 9–2. After an early exchange of punts, Florida started with the ball on its 45-yard line. Duncan and

, with one run from T. Hoyt Carlton, worked the ball down for the game's lone touchdown. Alabama scored on a safety after blocking a Ray Dickson punt into the endzone. A 20-yard

drop kick A drop kick is a type of kick in various codes of football. It involves a player dropping the ball and then kicking it as it touches the ground. Drop kicks are used as a method of restarting play and scoring points in rugby union and rugby league ...

was the Gators' final score. The starting lineup was: Swanson (left end), Robinson (left tackle), H. Perry (left guard), Wilsky (center), C. Perry (right guard), Scott (right tackle), Burnett (right end), Stanley (quarterback), Duncan (left halfback), Pomeroy (right halfback), Newton (fullback).

Week 9: Mississippi College

Florida battled coach

Stanley L. Robinson Stanley Lewis "Robbie" Robinson (November 17, 1890 – July 2, 1967) was an American college football player and coach. He served as the head football coach the University of Vermont in 1915, Mississippi A&M (now known as Mississippi State Univers ...

Mississippi College Choctaws The Mississippi College Choctaws are the athletic teams of Mississippi College. The Choctaws are full members of the Gulf South Conference. The college sponsors teams in football, basketball (men's and women's), baseball, softball, tennis (men's & ...

to a 7–7 tie. Florida had the greater weight and Mississippi College the greater speed. Led by

Hall of Fame A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or Wiktionary:fame, fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actu ...

quarterback

Goat Hale Edwin Whitfield "Goat" Hale (January 29, 1896 – March 25, 1983) was an American football player for the Mississippi College Collegians who was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. After playing, he served many years as a coach. Early ...

, the Choctaws controlled the first half. In the middle of the fourth quarter, Florida led a comeback, scoring the tying touchdown after a series of forward passes. During the game,

had a 92-yard punt.

Week 10: Oglethorpe

Florida defeated coach

Jogger Elcock Walter Benjamin "Jogger" Elcock (December 6, 1888 – June 10, 1964) was an American football player, coach, and referee. He played college football at Dartmouth College as a tackle from 1909 to 1911. Elcock served as the head football coach a ...

Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels Oglethorpe University is a private college in Brookhaven, Georgia. It was chartered in 1835 and named in honor of General James Edward Oglethorpe, founder of the Colony of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. History Oglethorpe University was cha ...

21–3, keeping the ball in Oglethorpe's territory most of the game. The Gators scored all 21 points in the first half, including two touchdowns in the first five minutes. The first touchdown was scored by a short run behind center from Ferdinand H. Duncan. An Oglethorpe punt was later blocked by

, recovered by Swanson for a touchdown.

made both extra points. Oglethorpe intercepted a Florida pass at the 5-yard line. Perry and Merrin broke through the line, blocking the ensuing punt. Thomas then fell on the ball for Florida's final touchdown and Newton again kicked goal. A 28-yard drop kick from Oglethorpe's Morris got its points.

Postseason

Week 11: North Carolina

Scheduled since November, the Gators met the

in a postseason contest at Jacksonville, Florida on December 3. It was the first ever meeting between the two schools. Despite outweighing the Tar Heels, the Gators lost 14 to 10. Florida's scores came on Dickson's goal from placement and a 20-yard pass from Dickson to Carlton. The starting lineup was: Swanson (left end), Robinson (left tackle), Gunn (left guard), Wilksy (center), C. Perry (guard), Doty (tackle), Duncan (end), Carlton (quarterback), Pomeroy (left halfback), Newton (right halfback), Dickson (fullback).

Awards and honors

was the first Gator ever selected for an All-Southern team following the 1921 season. Among the selectors who honored Perry as such were J. L. Ray of the ''

Nashville Banner The ''Nashville Banner'' is a defunct daily newspaper of Nashville, Tennessee, United States, which published from April 10, 1876 until February 20, 1998. The ''Banner'' was published each Monday through Friday afternoon (as well as Saturdays unti ...

'', George A. Butler of the ''Chattanooga News'', and John Snell of the ''Enquirer-Sun''.

Players

Line

Backfield

The Seminole
/ref>

References

Books

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