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The 1923 Florida Gators football team 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 ...
during the
1923 Southern Conference football season The 1923 Southern Conference football season was the college football games played by the member schools of the Southern Conference as part of the 1923 college football season. The season began on September 29. Conference play began with Auburn ...
. This was Major
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 ...
's first of two seasons as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Van Fleet was a serving officer in the
U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...
and a professor of military tactics in the university's
Reserve Officer Training Corps The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC ( or )) is a group of college- and university-based officer-training programs for training commissioned officers of the United States Armed Forces. Overview While ROTC graduate officers serve in all ...
(ROTC) program, and had been a standout fullback on the undefeated West Point Cadets team of 1914. Van Fleet's 1923 Florida Gators finished 6–1–2 overall,
2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide
'', University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 107–108 (2015). Retrieved August 15, 2015.
and 1–0–2 in the
Southern Conference The Southern Conference (SoCon) is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly ...
, placing third of twenty-one teams in the conference standings.''2009 Southern Conference Football Media Guide''
Year-by-Year Standings
Southern Conference, Spartanburg, South Carolina, p. 74 (2009). Retrieved August 30, 2010.
Notably, Florida alumni and students celebrated their first-ever
homecoming Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni or other former members of an organization to celebrate the organization's existence. It is a tradition in many high schools, colleges, and churches in the United States, Canada and Liberia. ...
with a 19–7 victory over the Mercer Baptists. The Gators tied the defending SoCon champion Georgia Tech Golden Tornado, and the highlight of the 1923 season was a 16–6 upset of coach
Wallace Wade William Wallace Wade (June 15, 1892 – October 7, 1986) was an American football player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at the University of Alabama fro ...
's previously undefeated
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 ...
on a muddy, rain-soaked field in Birmingham, Alabama in the final game of the year.


Before the season

The 1923 team was built on sophomores. The 1922 Florida freshmen won the southern crown for freshmen squads. The team included Cy Williams, Goldy Goldstein, Edgar Jones, and Bill Middlekauff. One preseason account reads: "Big
Cy Williams Frederick "Cy" Williams (December 21, 1887 – April 23, 1974) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder for the Chicago Cubs (1912–17) and Philadelphia Phillies (1918–30). As Major Lea ...
, star Freshman tackle of last year and probably the Varsity tackle of this year, was the immediate cause of the ' dummy's' downfall for when he dove into the lifeless foe, it collapsed and Cy was deluged with
sawdust Sawdust (or wood dust) is a by-product or waste product of woodworking operations such as sawing, sanding, milling, planing, and routing. It is composed of small chippings of wood. These operations can be performed by woodworking machinery, ...
. A new 'dummy' was brought out but it is predicted that it will not last long under the fierce tackling of the Gators gridders."


Schedule


Season summary


Week 1: at Army

In the season's first game, the Gators to the surprise of many held coach
John McEwan John James "Cap" McEwan (February 18, 1893 – August 9, 1970) was an American football player and coach. He played from 1913 to 1916 as a center at the United States Military Academy, where he was a three-time All-American and captain of the ...
's
Army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
team scoreless in the first half, but managed to lose the game 20–0 in the second.
Edgar Garbisch Edgar William Garbisch (April 7, 1899 – December 13, 1979) was an American college football player, military officer, businessman and art collector. He played eight years of college football at Washington & Jefferson College (1917–1920) and the ...
missed two first-half field goals. In the third quarter Army's passing game began to work, leading to a touchdown by
William H. Wood William H. Wood may refer to: * William H. Wood, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, 1889–90 * William H. Wood (American football) (1900–1988), American athlete, and football coach at the United States Military Academy * ...
. A blocked punt led to another Wood score. In the fourth quarter, Tiny Hewitt broke through the line for a 35-yard run, leading to the final score by quarterback George Smythe. The starting lineup was: Lightsey (left end), Williams (left tackle), Goldstein (left guard), Cornwall (center), Norton (right guard), Robinson (right tackle), Merrin (right end), Newton (quarterback), Middlekauff (left halfback), Case (right halfback), Jones (fullback).


Week 2: at Georgia Tech

The Gators contest with coach Bill Alexander's Georgia Tech Golden Tornado brought interest after the prior week's game with Army. In front of 12,000 at
Grant Field Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field is the football stadium located at the corner of North Avenue at Techwood Drive on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. It has been home to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets foo ...
, the Gators were up 7–0 until a rush of substitutes in the fourth quarter got Tech the tying score. The tie "knocked the Golden Tornado...off of its pedestal as the top team in Southern football." The tie excited fans and "provided more positive national for Florida football than it had ever received." Florida scored after a 25-yard
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 ...
interception return. A Newton pass to Edgar C. Jones then got the ball to Tech's 3-yard line. From there, Bill Middlekauff hit the line for a touchdown. The starting lineup was: Lightsey (left end), Williams (left tackle), Norton (left guard), Cornwall (center), Goldstein (right guard), Robinson (right tackle), Merwin (right end), Jones (quarterback), Brown (left halfback), Newton (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).


Week 3: Rollins

Florida scored three touchdowns in the first quarter against 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 ...
and eased up afterwards, winning 28–0. The big score was as expected. The ''Stetson Collegiate'' said the Gators "rank as the best in the South." Rollins did not manage a first down the entire first half. The starting lineup was: Merrin (left end), Williams (left tackle), Smith (left guard), Cornwall (center), Goldstein (right guard), Robinson (right tackle), Lightsey (right end), Jones (quarterback), Brown (left halfback), Pomeroy (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).


Week 4: Wake Forest

Sources: On
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 ...
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 ...
, the Gators defeated the
Wake Forest Demon Deacons The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Wake Forest University, located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a mem ...
16–7. Wake Forest was held scoreless in the first half while Florida scored two touchdowns with one extra point and a field goal. The Demon Deacons scored in the third quarter on a series of runs and forward passes. They again threatened the goal in the fourth quarter, but were stopped at the 2-yard line on downs. The starting lineup was: Lightsey (left end), Williams (left tackle), Smith (left guard), Cornwall (center), Goldstein (right guard), Robinson (right tackle), Merrin (right end), Jones (quarterback), Newton (left halfback), Pomeroy (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).


Week 5: Mercer

In front of the largest crowd yet to see a game in Gainesville (5,000), Florida defeated coach Stanley L. Robinson's Mercer Baptists at its first ever homecoming 19–7. Florida had 18 first downs to Mercer's 2. Mercer's touchdown came in the first quarter on the recovery of an
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 ...
punt blocked by Mercer's
Crook Smith Byron Lambert "Consuello" "Crook" Smith (March 21, 1899 – March 3, 1990) was an American college football, baseball, and basketball player and coach inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1979. He played for Mercer, and, after a shor ...
. Mercer's Kid Cecil also had many spectacular runs. A 28-yard pass from Edgar C. Jones to Spec Lightsey got the Gators' first touchdown. Another touchdown came on a Bill Middlekauff run as the third quarter closed, after a drive utilizing both the run and the pass. The final score came on a run around end by Dick Brown. Middlekauff said after the game, "Mercer's line is the strongest one I have seen this year–and I have plunged the Army's and Tech's."


Week 6: Stetson

In the sixth week of play, the Gators defeated the
Stetson Hatters The Stetson Hatters are composed of 18 teams representing Stetson University in intercollegiate athletics. The Hatters compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the ASUN Conference for most sports, ...
27–0. Florida opened the game expecting to need only substitutes. This was quickly recognized as foolish; and a mix of substitutes and starters scored the first touchdown. Stetson's offense then got going, with a run of 28 yards and 55 yards resulting in a touchdown if not for a holding penalty. Then the Gators sent in the varsity. Still, Stetson outperformed Florida in the second quarter. The lack of reserves wore on Stetson, and Florida opened up the contest in the second half.


Week 7: Florida Southern

In the seventh week of play, Florida rolled up the largest score of the season on in Lakeland, 53–0.


Week 8: Mississippi A&M

The Gators and coach
Earl Abell Earl C. "Tuffy" Abell (May 29, 1892 – May 26, 1956) was an American football player and coach. He played college football as a Tackle (gridiron football position), tackle at Colgate University. He later returned to Colgate as an assistant coac ...
's Mississippi A&M Aggies fought to a 13–13 tie. The Aggies also tied conference champion Vanderbilt. In the first minutes of play, Luckett scored for Mississippi A&M. The Gators answered with a touchdown on a pass from Jones to
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 ...
. In the second quarter, from his own 1-yard line, Newton had a 96-yard punt, topping his previous record of 92. It went 65 yards in the air. The Gators failed to capitalize on the long punt, and fumbled at the 7-yard line on its next possession. After an exchange of punts, Luckett ran for 53 yards on a
double pass A double is a look-alike or doppelgänger; one person or being that resembles another. Double, The Double or Dubble may also refer to: Film and television * Double (filmmaking), someone who substitutes for the credited actor of a character * ...
play, setting up another Aggie touchdown. After another exchange of punts, two passes set up the tying score: Newton to Lightsey and Jones to Newton. Bill Middlekauff then made the tying score from the 5-yard line with four line plunges. Newton missed the extra point. The starting lineup was: Lightsey (left end), Williams (left tackle), Norton (left guard), Cornwall (center), Goldstein (right guard), Robinson (right tackle), Merwin (right end), Jones (quarterback), Newton (left halfback), Pomeroy (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).


Week 9: at Alabama

On a muddy field with pools of water, the Gators upset the previously undefeated
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 ...
with a comeback, 16–6 victory on
Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Philippines. It is also observed in the Netherlander town of Leiden a ...
, putting the Florida program in the national spotlight for the first time. It was the Tide's first year under head coach
Wallace Wade William Wallace Wade (June 15, 1892 – October 7, 1986) was an American football player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at the University of Alabama fro ...
. The upset gave his previous school of Vanderbilt the
SoCon The Southern Conference (SoCon) is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly kn ...
title. In an attempt to drum up publicity, Champ Pickens photographed a stuffed alligator and drew tiny Crimsons swarming around it. Florida back Edgar C. Jones scored all of his team's points. The Gator scores by Jones came on runs of 10 yards around right end, a 12-yard
place kick The place kick is a type of kicking play commonly used in American football, association football (soccer), Canadian football, rugby league, and rugby union. Gridiron football Place kicks are used in American football and Canadian football for ...
, and a 20-yard run around right end. The punting of
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 ...
and the
line Line most often refers to: * Line (geometry), object with zero thickness and curvature that stretches to infinity * Telephone line, a single-user circuit on a telephone communication system Line, lines, The Line, or LINE may also refer to: Arts ...
play of
captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
Robbie Robinson (in his final game) and Goldy Goldstein also helped the Gators get the victory. In the first half, Alabama's Grant Gillis won the punting battle and Florida was on the defensive, turning back multiple scoring threats from inside the 10-yard line.
Pooley Hubert Allison Thomas Stanislaus "Pooley" Hubert (April 6, 1901 – February 26, 1978) was an American football player and coach of football and basketball. Regarded as one of the South's greatest college football stars, he played quarterback for coach ...
scored first. The Gators eschewed their stockings in the second half, due to the rain and mud, and waited until the last minute to come out for the kickoff, while Alabama was already lined up. Because of this maneuver, Wade never spoke to coach Van Fleet again.McEwen, Tom, ''The Gators: A Story of Florida Football'', The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama (1974). . A few minutes into the second half, Newton complete a 12-yard pass to Dick Brown, down at Alabama's 20-yard line. Brown went around left end for 9 yards; then Jones went around right end for 10 yards and the tying touchdown. Newton missed the extra point. Moments later Newton kicked a punt of 60 yards, from his own 20-yard line to the same of Alabama's. Gillis botched the ensuing Alabama punt. Bill Middlekauff ran behind left guard twice, and Newton ran behind right tackle once, netting 8 yards in three plays. From the 12-yard line, Jones converted a placekick. Newton continued to punt well, and attempted a 53-yard field goal which barely missed. He also tried a 60-yard field goal which was blocked, recovered by Florida's Joe Merrin on Alabama's 20-yard line. Runs at the line failed, and Jones went around right end for 20 yards and the final touchdown. After the game, Van Fleet said "Tom Sebring helped in that game with an idea. Ark needed a little more time (to punt) than most. Sebring proposed we worry only about the kick and not the runback, leaving an extra blocker for Ark. It worked." The starting lineup was: Lightsey (left end), Williams (left tackle), Norton (left guard), Cornwall (center), Goldstein (right guard), Robinson (right tackle), Merrin (right end), Jones (quarterback), Newton (left halfback), Brown (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).


Postseason

Robbie Robinson, Goldy Goldstein 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 ...
became the first Gators to make the composite All-Southern team. Edgar C. Jones and Bill Middlekauff made
Billy Evans William George Evans (February 10, 1884 – January 23, 1956), nicknamed "The Boy Umpire", was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1906 to 1927. He became, at age 22, the youngest umpire in majo ...
's "Southern Honor Roll". Robinson and Goldstein made Evans' National Honor Roll.


Personnel


Depth chart

The following chart provides a visual depiction of Florida's lineup during the 1923 season with games started at the position reflected in parenthesis. The chart mimics a
Notre Dame Box The Notre Dame Box is a variation of the single-wing formation used in American football, with great success by Notre Dame in college football and the Green Bay Packers of the 1920s and 1930s in the NFL. Green Bay's coach, Curly Lambeau, learne ...
on offense.


Line


Starters


Subs


Backfield


Starters


Subs


Coaching staff

*Head coach:
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 ...
*Assistants: Tom Sebring, Everett Yon, George Weber,
Rex Farrior Jewel Rex Farrior Sr. (October 5, 1896 – January 17, 1993) was an American college football and baseball player and coach for the Florida Gators of the University of Florida, as well as a lawyer. He became a founding partner in a prominent Tam ...
(freshmen) *Manager: Frank Evans


See also

*
1923 College Football All-Southern Team The 1923 College Football All-Southern Team consists of American football players selected to the College Football All-Southern Teams selected by various organizations for the 1923 Southern Conference football season. Vanderbilt won the SoCon ch ...


References


Bibliography

* * * {{Florida Gators football navbox
Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
Florida Gators football seasons
Florida Gators football The Florida Gators football program represents the University of Florida (UF) in American college football. Florida competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Eastern Division of ...