1903 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

Before the season

After the last game of the 1902 year, Walter H. Watkins announced his resignation of his position as head coach of the Vanderbilt football and baseball teams in order that he devote attention to the study of law exclusively. Vanderbilt made an effort to secure the services of coach Neil Snow, who was the University of Nashville (Peabody) coach.

Schedule

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Game summaries

Cumberland (TN)

Cumberland upset the Commodores 6–0, the first time Cumberland ever scored on Vanderbilt. Four minutes after the game started, Waterhouse had the decisive touchdown. M. O. Bridges had his right collarbone broken.

The starting lineup was B. Blake (left end), Pritchard (left tackle), Brown (left guard), Perry (center), Patterson (right guard), Graham (right tackle), Bryan (right end), Kyle (quarterback), D. Blake (left halfback), Hamilton (right halfback), Tigert (fullback).

Alabama

Vanderbilt, outweighing Alabama 15 pounds to the man, beat Alabama 30–0, in the first all-time meeting between the schools at Dudley Field. Frank Kyle starred with runs of 35, 30, 50, and 48 yards.

Vanderbilt took a 12–0 halftime lead after first half touchdowns were scored first by Ed Hamilton and followed by John J. Tigert. The Commodores then closed the game with three touchdowns in the second half scored by Hamilton, Dan Blake and Bob Blake for the 30–0 victory. Tigert converted all five PAT's in their victory.

The starting lineup was B. Blake (left end), Graham (left tackle), Brown (left guard), Perry (center), Patterson (right guard), Pritchard (right tackle), G. Jones (right end), Howell (quarterback), Kyle (left halfback), Hamilton (right halfback), Tigert (fullback).

Tennessee

Jones and John J. Tigert starred as the Tennessee Volunteers were beaten 40–0.

The starting lineup was B. Blake (left end), Pritchard (left tackle), B. Brown (left guard), Perry (center), Patterson (right guard), Graham (right tackle), D. Blake (right end), Kyle (quarterback), Tigert (left halfback), Jones (right halfback), Hamilton (fullback).

Ole Miss

In Mississippi, the Commodores beat Ole Miss 33–0.

Georgia

The Georgia Bulldogs could not check Vanderbilt's end runs and were easily beaten 33–0.

Texas

Vanderbilt tied the Texas Longhorns 5–5.

Washington University

Vanderbilt defeated Washington University by as core of 41–0.

Sewanee

Nashville, Tennessee Vanderbilt gave rival Sewanee its only loss, 10–5, the first team to even score on the Tigers. Sewanee was crippled in the first half by the loss of Stewart, who fractured his ankle in a scrimmage before the game. He tried to play through it, but had to be helped off the field.

The starting lineup was B. Blake (left end), Pritchard (left tackle), Brown (left guard), Perry (center), Patterson (right guard), Graham (right tackle), D. Blake (right end), Kyle (quarterback), Tigert (left halfback), Bryan (right halfback), and Hamilton (fullback).

Postseason

1903 met difficulty in determining an SIAA champion. Clemson had the best record, but lost to an inferior North Carolina team; and in the game to secure the SIAA title were tied by Cumberland. Clemson's John Heisman pushed strongly for Cumberland to share the SIAA title. Cumberland's strongest victory was its win over Vanderbilt. However, Sewanee beat Cumberland, yet suffered its only loss to Vanderbilt.

Notes

References

Bibliography

References

1. "VU plays twice in three days - Vanderbilt Official Athletic Site".
2. (December 4, 1902). "Neil Snow Has Given Up Coaching". Detroit Free Press.
3. (October 4, 1903). "Vanderbilt beaten; Cumberland University team spring surprise on Nashville collegians". The Commercial Appeal.
4. (October 11, 1903). "Show their mettle, Commodores stack up 30 points to Alabama's 6". The Tennessean.
5. (October 18, 1903). "Picking cherries, Vanderbilt defeats University of Tennessee 40 to 0". The Tennessean.
6. (October 25, 1903). "Easy victory for Vanderbilt". The Atlanta Constitution.
7. (November 1, 1903). "Vanderbilt piles up big score on Georgia". The Atlanta Journal.
8. . (November 7, 1903). ["Varsity In A Tie Vanderbilt"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83865403/austin-american-statesman/). *[[Austin American-Statesman*.
9. (November 15, 1903). "W.U. outclassed by Vanderbilt". St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
10. (November 27, 1903). "Vanderbilt wins championship". The Courier-Journal.
11. "Vanderbilt Official Athletic Site - Football".
12. (October 4, 1903). "Cumberland Wins". The Tennessean.
13. "Alabama vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse.
14. "Archived copy".
15. (October 10, 1903). "U. of A. is outclassed". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
16. (October 18, 1903). "Picking Cherries". The Tennessean.
17. (November 1, 1903). "Vanderbilt Easily Beats Georgia". The Courier-Journal.
18. (November 27, 1903). "Commodores Win From Old Rivals". Atlanta Constitution.
19. Langum, David J. (January 2010). "From Maverick to Mainstream: Cumberland School of Law, 1847-1997". University of Georgia Press.