1925 Florida Gators football team

Before the season

Practice began on September 14. Coaches Tom Sebring, A. C. Tipton, Everett Yon, and Herb Bunker were in charge of the first workout. Though he graduated, Clyde Norton was eligible to return. Despite losing eight players, prospects were bright. 1925 saw the south's widespread use of the forward pass. As coach Sebring recalled, quarterback Edgar C. Jones "held back from calling plays for himself the year before. I told him not to hold back."

Schedule

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Game summaries

Week 1: Mercer

Gainesville, FL In the opening contest at Fleming Field in Gainesville on October 3 against coach Stanley L. Robinson's Mercer Bears, Florida won 24–0.

Horse Bishop scored in the first five minutes. Dick Brown added the extra point. In the third quarter, Brown added a field goal, and Cy Williams recovered a Mercer fumble in the endzone. Brown again converted the extra point. Cecil Beck ran across the final touchdown; Edgar C. Jones added the extra point.

Week 2: Southern College and Hampden-Sydney

Week 2a: Southern College

Gainesville, FL In the first game of a doubleheader in Gainesville on October 10, the Gators defeated Southern College 9–0, using mostly reserves.

Tom Fuller made a field goal, the lone score of the first half. In the third period, Glen Whitaker intercepted a Southern pass and raced 20 yards for a touchdown.

Week 2b: Hampden–Sydney

Gainesville, FL Florida defeated Hampden–Sydney College 22–6 in the second game of the doubleheader.

Edgar C. Jones scored first with a field goal. Lamar Sarra once scored after blocking a punt, gathering the ball, and running 10 yards to the endzone. Burnett added the extra point. Tiny Chaplin made the next touchdown; and the final touchdown was a 22-yard run by Jones.

Hampden–Sydney's score came when Atkins picked up a Florida fumble and raced 40 yards for a touchdown.

Week 3: at Georgia Tech

Atlanta, GA

Florida lost big to Bill Alexander's Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 23–7. The Gators made just five first downs to Tech's 15. "After 5,000 fans had journeyed to Atlanta certain that captain Edgar Jones...would lead the Saurians to a glorious victory."

Tech's Doug Wycoff scored two touchdowns. Wycoff scored first, and Ike Williams added the extra point. In the second period, Williams made a 12-yard field goal. Wycoff and Sam Murray scored in the third period, with one extra point converted by Williams.

The lone Gator touchdown came after a series of forward passes put them within Tech territory, including one of nearly 20 yards from Edgar C. Jones to Livingston. A 26-yard end run from Jones brought Florida to Tech's 4-yard line. Jones then scored through the line and kicked goal.

The starting lineup was: Anderson (left end), Williams (left tackle), Stewart (left guard), Sarra (center), Norton (right guard), Goldstein (right tackle), Todd (right end), Stanley (quarterback), Ihrig (left halfback), Bishop (right halfback), Chaplin (fullback).

Week 4: Wake Forest

Gainesville, FL

The Gators practiced at night with whitewashed footballs in preparation for the homecoming contest with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. On the back of Edgar C. Jones, who accounted for every point for his squad, Florida won 24–3.

A field goal by Wake's Rackley gave the Demon Deacons a 3–0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Jones then scored a touchdown, extra point, and converted a field goal by half's end. A pass from Burnett to Jones made Florida's next touchdown. Jones went through tackle for the final score.

Week 5: Rollins

Florida rolled up a 61–0 score on the Rollins Tars, scoring 26 in the first quarter.

Week 6: at Clemson

Clemson, SC In the most impressive win of the season, the Gators beat the Clemson Tigers 42–0 on the road.

Edgar C. Jones had a 28-yard run lead to a touchdown and another 30-yard touchdown run. Fullback Horse Bishop accounted for three touchdowns: one a run of 20 yards from scrimmage and two 30-yard interception returns. Capt. Jones was declared the best back to run on a South Carolina gridiron in a number of years.

The starting lineup was: Green (left end), Williams (left tackle), Norton (left guard), Sarra (center), Davis (right guard), Petronis (right tackle), Whitaker (right end), Stanley (quarterback), Brown (left halfback), Jones (right halfback), Bishop (fullback).

Week 7: at Alabama

Montgomery, AL A large crowd was expected in Montgomery for the game against coach Wallace Wade's Alabama Crimson Tide. The return to the lineup of Tide center Gordon Holmes, injured against Georgia Tech, and the battle between backs Mack Brown and Edgar C. Jones brought intrigue.

Mack Brown made two touchdowns; Red Barnes two, and Pooley Hubert one on an interception. Brown's first score came when he caught the ball on a pass from Hubert at the 15-yard line, dodged Jones and scored. A pass from Hubert to Brown in the end zone netted the second score. Florida's Scott returned the kickoff to Alabama's 20-yard line, nearly breaking the tackle there. Two Barnes interceptions set up his touchdowns, one a 16-yard run after catch and another an end run. Jones attempted a drop kick, which was short and returned by Brown for 35 yards. A drive and a pass to Barnes got Alabama to Florida's 3-yard line, and Hubert scored over center.

Goldy Goldstein was the undisputed star for the Gators.

The starting lineup was: Green (left end), Williams (left tackle), Norton (left guard), Sarra (center), Stewart (right guard), Goldstein (right tackle), E. Jones (right end), W. Jones (quarterback), Brown (left halfback), Burnett (right halfback), Bishop (fullback).

Week 8: Mississippi A&M

Tampa, FL For the ninth week of play, the Gators met coach Bernie Bierman's Mississippi Aggies in Tampa on Plant Field and won 12–0.

Edgar C. Jones, Lamar Sarra, and Greek Petronis were nursing injuries from the Alabama loss, and the Mississippi Aggies had lost to Alabama by just a touchdown. Despite this, Jones kicked two field goals and scored the only touchdown in a 12–0 victory.

After a bitterly fought first quarter, Jones netted 27-yard and 40-yard field goals for a 6–0 lead at the half. Jones ran off tackle for the game's only touchdown. Some 20,000 were in attendance.

Week 9: Washington & Lee

Jacksonville, FL

The annual Thanksgiving game in Jacksonville with coach James DeHart's Washington & Lee Generals was marked by both teams' use of the forward pass and brought the highlight of the season. Once behind by a 14–3 deficit, Florida came back and won 17–14.

The yearbook remarked: "Not since the 1923 Alabama game has Florida participated in a more brilliant, thrilling, and colorful football game." Edgar C. Jones made a 29-yard field goal in the first quarter, but the Generals responded with a touchdown from Palmer in the second. A 25-yard finger-tip touchdown catch by Spotts put the Gators behind 14–3. Jones ran in a touchdown; 14–10. Then in the fourth quarter Cy Williams blocked a Generals' punt. On fourth down, Jones caught the winning touchdown from Horse Bishop.

Postseason

For the third year in a row, Goldy Goldstein made composite All-Southern. Captain Edgar C. Jones played in a charity game.

Players

Depth chart

The following chart provides a visual depiction of Florida's lineup during the 1925 season with games started at the position reflected in parentheses. The chart mimics a Notre Dame Box on offense.

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Line

Backfield

References

Bibliography

References

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2. ''2009 Southern Conference Football Media Guide'', [http://www.soconsports.com/fls/4000/socon/files/09fbguide/74-77standings.pdf?SPSID=35576&SPID=1781&DB_OEM_ID=4000 Year-by-Year Standings], Southern Conference, Spartanburg, South Carolina, p. 74 (2009). Retrieved August 30, 2010.
3. (September 1, 1925). "'Gator Fans Look For A Real Football Season At Gainesville This Year". The Evening Independent.
4. D. L. Graham, Jr.. (September 9, 1925). "Gator Outfit Will Be A Real Fighting Aggregation". The Evening Independent.
5. (September 5, 1925). "Star To Take Extra Course During Season". The Miami News.
6. (August 31, 1925). "Florida Loses Many Grid Stars But Followers In Hopes For Real Contest". The Evening Independent.
7. D. L. Graham, Jr.. (September 14, 1925). "Rat Team Of 1924 Expected To Help 'Gators This Year". The Evening Independent.
8. (18 June 2007). "Shaping College Football". Syracuse University Press.
9. {{Harvnb. Carlson. 2007
10. (October 4, 1925). "Florida atones for 1924 defeat by trimming Mercer 24 to 0 in initial game". The Miami News.
11. (October 11, 1925). "Reserves beat Southern team by 6–0 margin". Tampa Sunday Tribune.
12. (October 11, 1925). "Virginians lose, 22 to 6; Fumble costs Florida record first blemish". Tampa Sunday Tribune.
13. (October 18, 1925). "Georgia Tech decisively defeats Florida Alligators to wipe away deadlock of two years standing". The Palm Beach Post.
14. (October 25, 1925). "Florida defeats Baptist Demons". The News and Observer.
15. (November 1, 1925). "Florida Gators romp over Rollins Tars by 61–0 count". The Orlando Morning Sentinel.
16. (November 8, 1925). "Florida runs wild on Clemson field". The Virginian-Pilot.
17. (November 15, 1925). "Gators lose to Crimson Tide 34 to 0". Tampa Sunday Tribune.
18. (November 22, 1925). "Mississippi Aggies lose to Florida, 12–0". The Commercial Appeal.
19. (November 27, 1925). "Florida Alligators defeat Washington and Lee 17–14". Orlando Morning Sentinel.
20. {{Harvnb. University of Florida. 1926
21. (October 18, 1925). "Florida 'Gators Lose Hard Battle". The Index-Journal.
22. "St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive Search".
23. Universal Service. (October 18, 1925). "Florida Beaten In Great Battle By Gold Tornado". St. Petersburg Times.
24. (October 18, 1925). "Two Year Deadlock With Florida 'Gators Broken By Georgia Tech, 23 to 7". The Anniston Star.
25. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
26. (October 22, 1925). "[No title]". Anniston Star.
27. (October 25, 1925). "Jones Plays Whole Game". Florence Morning News.
28. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
29. (October 25, 1925). "Florida Gators Sweep To Victory Over Deacon Clan". Anniston Star.
30. {{Harvnb. University of Florida. 1926
31. (November 8, 1925). "Clemson Loses To 'Gator Team". Florence Morning News.
32. (November 10, 1925). "Gators Return After Victory". St. Petersburg Times.
33. (November 14, 1925). "Crimson Tide Rushing Upon Gator Eleven". Anniston Star.
34. "1925 Season".
35. (November 15, 1925). "Crimson Tide Overcomes Gators; Goldstein Stars For Losing Aggregation". The Anniston Star.
36. (November 15, 1925). "Alabama Machine Crushes Florida". The Index-Journal.
37. (November 18, 1925). "'Gator Squad Meets Aggies In Poor Trim". Anniston Star.
38. (November 19, 1925). "Aggies To Give Florida 'Gators Hard Run, Claim". Anniston Star.
39. (November 22, 1925). "Florida's Gators Whip Miss. Aggies". Asheville Citizen Times.
40. (November 27, 1925). "Thanksgiving Games in Old Dominion Reviewed". The Bee.
41. (December 22, 1925). "Gator Captain To Play Game In California". New Smyrna Daily News.
42. (December 5, 1925). "Gators Awarded Varsity Letters Include Manager".