1927 Florida Gators football team

Before the season

The 1926 season was the worst since the war. "The wolves began to clamor for Sebring's scalp as the 1926 season ended" wrote Pete Norton. With several newcomers, Sebring organized an Orange and Blue game.

Schedule

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Game summaries

Week 1: Southern College

The first game of the season occurred on September 24 at Fleming Field in Gainesville. The Gators defeated Southern College 26–7.

Week 2: Davidson

The second week brought the low point of the season–an upset by the Davidson Wildcats. Favored to win by two touchdowns and of superior weight, the Gators lost 12–0. They came within scoring just once, held at the 1-yard line.

On October 4, captain Frank Oosterhoudt was declared ineligible; his replacement by unanimous vote was Bill Middlekauff.

Week 3: at Auburn

Spurred on by a new captain, the Gators traveled to Auburn and beat the rival Auburn Tigers for the first time 33–6. Bill Middlekauff and Clyde Crabtree were both cited as players of the game. Everett Strupper was referee. Crabtree scored two touchdowns and Middlekauff one Goof Bowyer made the first touchdown, a 44-yard run. Tommy Owens also had a touchdown. Auburn coach Dave Morey resigned.

The Gators' freshmen team also beat Auburn's freshmen team that week.

The starting lineup was: Hodges (left end), Bryan (left tackle), Allen (left guard), Kirschner (center), Reeves (right guard), Clemons (right tackle), Stanley (right end), Brumbaugh (quarterback), Bowyer (left halfback), Bishop (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).

Week 4: Kentucky

Jacksonville, FL The Gators avenged last year's loss to the Kentucky Wildcats with a 27–6 victory in Jacksonville, outplaying the Wildcats in all but the second quarter. Carl Brumbaugh was sidelined with an injury.

Florida's first touchdown came after some six minutes of play when Bill Middlekauff went over. Florida's final touchdown was on a triple-pass play of Middlekauff to Clyde Crabtree to Dale Van Sickel. In the last half, the Gators made 17 first downs to Kentucky's 11.

The starting lineup was: DeHoff (left end), Bryan (left tackle), Reeves (left guard), Kirschner (center), Allen (right guard), Clemons (right tackle), Stanley (right end), Bowyer (quarterback), Beck (left halfback), Bishop (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).

Week 5: North Carolina State

Tampa, FL In the fifth week of play, the Gators faced coach Gus Tebell's North Carolina State Wolfpack on Plant Field in Tampa, losing 12–6. Neither team scored until the final period.

A drive brought the Wolfpack to the 3-yard line, the feature play of which was a 30-yard pass from their Hall of Fame captain, Gainesville native Jack McDowall to Childress. A pass from McDowall to Frank Goodwin got the score. The Gators then began passing desperately in an attempt to win. A pass bounced off the hands of a Florida back and into McDowall's, who returned the ball 75 yards for the deciding score. On the ensuing kickoff, Gator back Tommy Owens ran it back for an 88-yard touchdown.

Since McDowall had been turned down by his native University of Florida, legend has it just afterwards he mailed Sebring the game ball.

The starting lineup was: Van Sickel (left end), Bryan (left tackle), Allen (left guard), Kirschner (center), Reeves (right guard), Clemons (right tackle), Stanley (right end), Bowyer (quarterback), Beck (left halfback), Yancey (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).

Week 6: Mercer

For homecoming, some 9,000 watched Florida beat the Mercer Bears 32–6. Rainey Cawthon once completed a 53-yard pass during the game. Florida's five touchdowns were scored by: Bill Middlekauff, Willie DeHoff, Cecil Beck, Spic Stanley, and Goof Bowyer. Mercer's Phoney Smith had a 65-yard touchdown run. Middlekauff made the first score of the contest.

Week 7: Georgia

Jacksonville, FL The "Dream and wonder team" beat the Gators 28–0 after leading just 7 to 0 at the half. "It was made by Georgia's famous touchdown pass that later wrecked Alabama and had wrecked Yale. This pass started out like a cross buck but finished with Johnson having tossed the ball to McCrary over the goal line."

Quarterback Goof Bowyer broke his leg in the game. Middlekauff entered the game with an injury, and aggravated it further.

The starting lineup was: Dehoff (left end), Bryan (left tackle), Allen (left guard), Kirchner (center), Reeves (right guard), Clemons (right tackle), Stanley (right end), Bowyer (quarterback), Brumbaugh (left halfback), Bishop (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).

Week 8: at Alabama

Montgomery, AL The Gators upset coach Wallace Wade's Alabama Crimson Tide 13–6 in Montgomery. Florida's yearbook remarked: "The South rocked under the great Orange and Blue victory." Clyde Crabtree returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter. Alabama's Molton Smith intercepted Crabtree's pass in the fourth quarter and ran for a 45-yard touchdown. After an Alabama penalty, Carl Brumbaugh ran across for the second and decisive touchdown. Crabtree also had two 55-yard kickoff returns, and gained more from scrimmage that afternoon than did the Tide. Crabtree accounted for 271 yards.

The starting lineup was: Stanley (left end), Bryan (left tackle), Allen (left guard), Kirschner (center), Reeves (right guard), Clemons (right tackle), Dehoff (right end), Van Sickle (quarterback), Crabtree (left halfback), Brumbaugh (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).

Week 9: Washington & Lee

Before a crowd of some 12,000 in Jacksonville, Florida beat coach Pat Herron's Washington & Lee Generals 20–7. Dale Van Sickel scored Florida's three touchdowns. The Gators 75-piece band made the trip.

The starting lineup was: VanSickel (left end), Dehoff (left tackle), Allen (left guard), Kirschner (center), Reeves (right guard), Clemons (right tackle), Stanley (right end), Crabtree (quarterback), Owens (left halfback), Brumbaugh (right halfback), Cawthon (fullback).

Week 10: Maryland

Jacksonville, FL In a cold and driving rain, a placekick for extra point by Dutch Stanley proved the difference in a 7–6 win over coach Curley Byrd's Maryland Terrapins. Six Gators played their final game.

"Playing on a sodden field, unfamiliar to both teams," Florida scored after Clyde Crabtree returned a punt to Maryland's 38-yard line. He and Carl Brumbaugh worked the ball further towards the goal, and Bill Middlekauff carried it over the goal line in the captain's final game. Roberts of Maryland had a 38-yard touchdown run through tackle. The pass for extra point failed, however.

The starting lineup was: Stanley (left end), Clemons (left tackle), Allen (left guard), Kirschner (center), Reeves (right guard), Bryan (right tackle), Van Sickel (right end), Crabtree (quarterback), Brumbaugh (left halfback), Bishop (right halfback), Middlekauff (fullback).

Postseason

Goof Bowyer was elected captain for next year. He graduated from the university's College of Law in 1928, and later became a circuit court judge and chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court. Many sports commentators believe that the team that Sebring recruited for 1928 would become the greatest Gators football squad until at least the 1960s.

Players

Depth chart

The following chart provides a visual depiction of Florida's lineup during the 1927 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

Coaching staff

• Head coach: Tom Sebring
• Assistants: Joe Bedenk (assistant), Brady Cowell (freshmen), Nash Higgins (chief scout), Alvin Pierson, George Weber

References

Additional sources

References

1. ''[http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2015/media_guide.pdf 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide] {{webarchive. link. (2015-12-08 '', University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 107–108 (2015). Retrieved August 15, 2015.)
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. (November 11, 1927). "Crimson Tide Big Favorite Over Florida". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
4. (November 20, 1927). "Grid Star Gets Good Study Mars". The Ogden Standard-Examiner.
5. Pete Norton. (December 23, 1934). "Sport Outlook". St. Petersburg Times.
6. (March 19, 1927). "U. of Florida Gators Finish Early Training". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
7. (September 25, 1927). "Gators defeat Southern team by 26–7 count". St. Petersburg Times.
8. (October 2, 1927). "Davidson Wildcats turn back Florida eleven, 12 to 0". St. Petersburg Times.
9. (October 9, 1927). "Gators upset Auburn homecoming by 33 to 6". The Palm Beach Post.
10. (October 16, 1927). "Gators score 27–6 triumph on Kentucky". The Knoxville Journal.
11. (October 23, 1927). "McDowell, former Floridian, leads North Carolina State to victory over Gator, 12–6". Tampa Sunday Tribune.
12. (October 30, 1927). "Nine thousand fans see Florida beat Smith and Mercer". The Pensacola Journal.
13. (November 6, 1927). "Georgia swamps Florida". The Pensacola Journal.
14. (November 13, 1927). "Florida Gators make Crimson Tide recede". The Birmingham News.
15. (November 25, 1927). "Washington and Lee bows to Florida in final game by 20–7 count". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
16. (December 4, 1927). "Gators beat Maryland by 1 point". The Knoxville News-Sentinel.
17. (October 2, 1927). "Davidson Surpasses Florida In Battle". The Index-Journal.
18. (1927). "Tau Banquets Sixteen Pledges". The Rattle of Theta Chi.
19. (October 8, 1927). "[No title]". The Anniston Star.
20. (October 7, 1927). "Gators Select New Grid Pilot". St. Petersburg Times.
21. (October 7, 1927). "Gator Mentor Grooms Kirchner For Center-Goodbread at Half". The Evening Independent.
22. Everett Clay. (November 21, 1935). "Gator Hoodoo Hovers Over Auburn-Works Seven Times In Eight". The Evening Independent.
23. (October 8, 1927). "Gators Romp Over Auburn In 33-6 Time". The Anniston Star.
24. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
25. (October 12, 1927). "Gator Varsity and Freshmen Practice After Double Wins". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
26. (October 16, 1927). "Florida 'Gators Defeat Kentucky With Ease, 27 to 6". The Anniston Star.
27. (October 14, 1927). "Brumbaugh Out of Grid Battle". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
28. Norm Carlson. (September 21, 2006). "Rivalries and Series: Florida-Kentucky".
29. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
30. (October 22, 1927). "Game Stands Out As Both Elevens Remain Unbeaten". St. Petersburg Times.
31. T. A. Vernon. (October 28, 1927). "State Wolves Invade Florida And Win 12-6". The Technician.
32. Fuzzy Woodruff. (1928). "A History of Southern Football, 1890-1928".
33. (October 23, 1927). "Statistics Indicate Any Conference Team Able To Beat Leaders". The Bee.
34. Frank Wright. "Gator Grunts". St. Petersburg Times.
35. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ki2f9GJ298 2014 NC State Athletic Hall of Fame: Jack McDowall]
36. (October 30, 1927). "Grads On Deck As Gators Cop Mercer battle". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
37. (November 3, 1927). "Middlekauff Scores First Florida Touchdown". St. Petersburg Times.
38. Frank S. Wright. (December 8, 1927). "Ernest Bowyer Given Highest Florida Honor". St. Petersburg Times.
39. (November 30, 1927). "6 Gators Will Close Careers At University". St. Petersburg Times.
40. "Alabama vs.Florida".
41. (November 11, 1927). "Crimson Tide Big Favorite Over Florida". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
42. "1927 recap".
43. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
44. (November 14, 1927). "Refreshed 'Gator Fighters Return To Plan Offensive For Classic With Generals". St. Petersburg Times.
45. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
46. (November 30, 1927). "6 Gators Will Close Careers At University". St. Petersburg Times.
47. (December 1, 1927). "Florida Plans For Maryland". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
48. (December 3, 1927). "Florida Wins Contest With One Lone Kick". The Index-Journal.
49. In no two seasons had Florida won as many conference contests as in 1927. Sebring resigned to get married and practice law.{{Harvnb. Carlson. 2007