1908 Auburn Tigers football team

Before the season

Mike Donahue returned as head coach. Pat Dwyer assisted Donahue.

Newcomers included running back Lewie Hardage.

Schedule

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Game summaries

Howard (AL)

Source: In a game of a 20- and 15-minute halves, Auburn scored three touchdowns in the first half to put away Howard at West End Park in Birmingham, Alabama. Despite being outweighed by Howard, Auburn had success running against the Bulldogs' tackles in the first half. The second half saw no score on either side with Auburn held in check by the punting of Bennie, Howard's left tackle. Both teams were reported to show a lack of preparation, with Auburn's talent making the difference in the game.

Gordon College

Source: In a game where the Tigers were not forced to punt, Auburn easily defeated the high school team from Gordon College in quick game at the Auburn athletic field. Auburn took the opening kickoff and drove for its first touchdown in the first two minutes, followed by four more touchdowns before the end of the half through the rushing of Lew Hardage and D. Herron. Auburn's scrubs scored two more touchdowns in the second half to finish out the game.

Mercer

Source: Auburn was held to a single score in the first half, but wore down Mercer's line in the second half, scoring three touchdowns behind the running of Lew Hardage. Mercer's Poole returned an Auburn interception 70 yards before being dragged down short of the goal line by Auburn halfback W. W. Wynne, which was the only threat to score the Baptists had all game.

Sewanee

Source: Sewanee held the ball for most of the first half, exploiting Auburn's tackles—brought in against the inside run—with runs around end. Sewanee was unable to score, however, with Auburn's George Sparkman recovering a Sewanee fumble on the Auburn two yard line. Auburn began to move the ball consistently on the visitors late in the first half, ending the period in Sewanee territory.

In the second half, changes in Auburn's defense stymied Sewanee's end runs and field position gradually shifted in Auburn's favor. With seven minutes left in the game, Auburn's Lew Hardage returned a Sewanee punt 45 yards for the game's only touchdown. The starting lineup was Sparkman (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Locke (left guard), Davis (center), Allen (right guard), Esslinger (right tackle), Reynolds (right end), McLure (quarterback), Wynne (left halfback), Hardage (right halfback), Penton (fullback).

Louisiana State

Source:

Undefeated LSU met undefeated Auburn for the top spot in the SIAA at the Auburn athletic field.

The first touchdown came from John Seip. Later in the half, Auburn's T. C. Locke blocked an LSU punt which was recovered by LSU's Fenton behind his own goal for a safety. LSU made the second score using conventional football.

“We won every game that fall except LSU,” Auburn star Walker Reynolds told Clyde Bolton in 1973. “But LSU had a pro team.”

The starting lineup was Sparkman (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Locke (left guard), Davis (center), Allen (right guard), Esslinger (right tackle), Reynolds (right end), McLure (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Wynne (right halfback), Penton (fullback).

Georgia Tech

Source:

Auburn ran up a 44–0 score on coach John Heisman's Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in their annual rivalry contest. Lew Hardage and George Penton made two touchdowns each, including a 108-yard kick return by Hardage. Walker Reynolds and George Sparkman had one each. Reynolds' was a 35-yard run and Sparkman's a 65-yard run. Reynolds contributed six extra points. The starting lineup was Hill (left end), J. G. Davis (left tackle), Motley (left guard), Beaver (center), Allen (right guard), Locke (right tackle), Reynolds (right end), McLure (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Wynne (right halfback), Penton (fullback).

Georgia

Source:

As expected – "there is nothing to this game but Auburn," Auburn handled the Georgia Bulldogs easily in their annual rivalry game. After seven minutes had elapsed, end Walker Reynolds ran for an 80-yard touchdown using the stiff arm The starting lineup was Hill (left end), J. G. Davis (left tackle), Motley (left guard), Beaver (center), Allen (right guard), Bonner (right tackle), Reynolds (right end), McLure (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Locke (right halfback), Penton (fullback).

Postseason

Southern champions

Amidst fears of many players being ineligible under SIAA rules most sportswriters did not include LSU for consideration as conference champions. Auburn and Vanderbilt were among those listed as alternative Southern champions. Most chose Auburn.

Awards and honors

Captain and quarterback and Tom McLure was selected All-Southern by Vanderbilt coach Dan McGugin and Georgia Tech coach John Heisman. McGugin describes his play: "McClure was not particularly fast, but a spirited leader, an excellent general and a sure tackler." Lew Hardage was selected All-Southern by McGugin; and J. G. Davis was selected All-Southern by Heisman.

Players

Starters

Line

Backfield

Subs

Line

Backfield

Unlisted

Coaching staff

• Head coach: Mike Donahue
• Assistant coaches: James Dwyer, Dan Wilkinson
• Manager: Thomas Bragg

References

Additional sources

References

1. (October 4, 1908). "Auburn 18, Howard 0". The Atlanta Constitution.
2. (October 11, 1908). "Auburn crushes Gordon". The Birmingham Age-Herald.
3. (October 18, 1908). "Auburn 23; Mercer 0". The Atlanta Constitution.
4. (October 25, 1908). "Auburn downs mountain men". The Montgomery Advertiser.
5. (November 1, 1908). "Auburn lost to Louisiana State". The Atlanta Journal.
6. (November 8, 1908). "Auburn downs Georgia Tech". The Montgomery Advertiser.
7. (November 27, 1908). "Orange and Blue Waves triumphant over plucky Georgia eleven and Auburn takes the championship". The Montgomery Advertiser.
8. "Auburn Wins Game", ''Montgomery Advertiser'', October 4, 1908.
9. [http://content.lib.auburn.edu/cdm/ref/collection/gloms1897/id/26064 Glomerata] (1909), 276–282.
10. "Runs Over Gordon", ''Montgomery Advertiser'', October 11, 1908.
11. "Auburn Downs Mountain Men", ''Montgomery Advertiser'', October 25, 1908.
12. (November 11, 1908). "Auburn's Greatest Victory In Many Years". Orange and Blue.
13. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
14. (November 1, 1908). "Auburn Loses To L. S. U. Team". The Atlanta Constitution.
15. "Auburn's 1908 team went undefeated despite losing to professional LSU team".
16. (November 8, 1908). "Auburn Beats Yellow Jackets". Atlanta Constitution.
17. (November 23, 1908). "Auburn v. Georgia". Atlanta Constitution.
18. (1909). "Spalding's Football Guide". Shawnee Mission, Kansas, NCAA Publishing Service.
19. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
20. (1907). "Contributions". The Kappa Alpha Journal.
21. Percy Whiting. (November 24, 1909). "Not News, But Views".