1929 Florida Gators football team

1929 Florida Gators football
Conference	Southern Conference
1929 record	8–2 (6–1 4th SoCon)
Head coach	Charlie Bachman
Assistant coach	James Van Fleet
Assistant coach	Nash Higgins
Assistant coach	Joe Holsinger
Offensive scheme	Notre Dame Box
Captain	Rainey Cawthon
Home stadium	Fleming Field
Uniform

1929 Southern Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Tulane $	6	–	0	–	0			9	–	0	–	0
Tennessee	6	–	0	–	1			9	–	0	–	1
North Carolina	7	–	1	–	0			9	–	1	–	0
Florida	6	–	1	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Vanderbilt	5	–	1	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Kentucky	3	–	1	–	1			6	–	1	–	1
Georgia	4	–	2	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
VMI	4	–	2	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Duke	2	–	1	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
LSU	3	–	2	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Alabama	4	–	3	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Clemson	3	–	3	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
VPI	2	–	3	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Georgia Tech	3	–	5	–	0			3	–	6	–	0
South Carolina	2	–	5	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Virginia	1	–	3	–	2			4	–	3	–	2
Maryland	1	–	3	–	1			4	–	4	–	2
Washington and Lee	1	–	4	–	1			3	–	5	–	1
Ole Miss	0	–	4	–	2			1	–	6	–	2
Mississippi A&M	0	–	3	–	1			1	–	5	–	2
Sewanee	0	–	4	–	1			2	–	5	–	2
NC State	0	–	5	–	0			1	–	8	–	0
Auburn	0	–	7	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
$ – Conference champion

The 1929 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1929 college football season. The season was Charlie Bachman's second as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Bachman's 1929 Florida Gators finished with an overall record of 8–2,^[1] and a conference record of 6–1, placing fourth of twenty-three conference teams.^[2]

The highlights of the year included Southern Conference victories over the Virginia Military Institute Keydets, Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, Clemson Tigers, South Carolina Gamecocks and Washington & Lee Generals, and a 20–6 intersectional upset over coach John McEwan's Oregon Webfoots in a neutral site game played at the old Madison Square Garden stadium in Miami, Florida.

Before the season

Former player Edgar Jones became athletic director and Joe Bedenk left. James Van Fleet returned to help assist Bachman.^[3]

Coach Bachman began the season's intensive practices on the beach at Anastasia Island, some ten miles from Saint Augustine.^[4] A fierce battle amongst the eleven running backs featured.^[5] A good backfield was expected.^[6]

Bachman later said the 1929 team "was as good as the 1928 team and would have been better had we not lost Carl Brumbaugh from the year before. He was our passer, and he was our thinker. He could get the ball to Van Sickel. In those days the halfbacks passed more than the quarterback. And boy did we pass. In the flats a lot, like they do now."^[3]

Schedule and results

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
September 28	Florida Southern*	Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida	W 54–0
October 5	Virginia Military Institute	Plant Field • Tampa, Florida	W 18–7	10,000
October 11	at Auburn	Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, Alabama	W 19–0
October 19	at Georgia Tech	Grant Field • Atlanta, Georgia	L 6–19
October 26	Georgia	Fairfield Stadium • Jacksonville, Florida	W 18–6	20,000
November 2	at Harvard*	Harvard Stadium • Allston, Massachusetts	L 0–14	35,000
November 16	Clemson	Fleming Field • Gainesville, Florida (HC)	W 13–7
November 23	at South Carolina	Columbia, South Carolina	W 20–7
November 28	Washington & Lee	Fairfield Stadium • Jacksonville, Florida	W 25–7	12,000
December 7	Oregon*	Madison Square Garden Stadium • Miami, Florida	W 20–6	25,000
*Non-conference game.

Primary source: 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide.^[1]

Season summary

Week 1: Florida Southern

The Gators opened the season with a 54–0 romp of Florida Southern. The Gators made 19 first downs and 8 touchdowns; Florida Southern made no first downs.^[7]

Week 2: VMI

Week 2: VMI at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total VMI 0 0 7 0 7 • Florida 0 6 6 0 12 Date: October 5 Location: Plant Field Tampa, FL Game attendance: 10,000

Prior to the game, Royce Goodbread and Ed Sauls stood out in preparations.^[8] Florida won a close game in Tampa over the V. M. I. Keydets 12 to 7.^[9] VMI frequently used the forward pass; and the Gators used a new huddle system.

The first score came from Royce Goodbread after many exchanges of punts. Rainey Cawthon made a 25-yard pass into another touchdown. The Keydets touchdown was scored on a 2-yard run by Dunn.^[9]

Captain Cawthon on the beach.

Week 3: at Auburn

Week 3: Florida at Auburn

1 2 3 4 Total • Florida 7 6 6 0 19 Auburn 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 11 Location: Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL

In Florida's first night game, the Gators defeated the Auburn Tigers 19 to 0.

Florida's first touchdown came on a 30-yard run from Clyde Crabtree through tackle. A 10-yard pass from Red Bethea to Dale Van Sickel brought the second touchdown. The last score was a 15-yard pass from Red McEwen to Jimmy Nolan.^[10] After the game, acting under orders of Governor Graves, law enforcement officers seized and destroyed some 75 pints of liquor which had been brought to the contest.^[11]

The starting lineup for the Gators against Harvard: Green (left end), Waters (left tackle), McRae (left guard), Haines (center), Houser (right guard), Dedge (right tackle), Hall (right end), Crabtree (quarterback), Bethea (left halfback), Goodbread (right halfback), Cawthon (fullback).

Week 4: at Georgia Tech

Week 4: Florida at Georgia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total Florida 0 0 6 0 6 • Ga. Tech 7 6 6 0 19 Date: October 19 Location: Grant Field Atlanta, GA

Florida lost to coach Bill Alexander's Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Grant Field 19–6. Fumbles cost Florida dearly. Georgia Tech's ability to stop the Gator backfield was surprising.^[12]

A 30-yard pass, Earl Dunlap to Warner Mizell, and 7 yards after the catch from Mizell, got the first touchdown for the Yellow Jackets. A 25-yard pass from Dunlap to Vance Maree got the second. The final score for Tech came on a pass from Mizell to Stumpy Thomason. A pitch to Rainey Cawthon got the lone Gator score.

Week 5: Georgia

Week 5: Georgia at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total Georgia 0 0 0 6 6 • Florida 0 6 6 6 18 Date: October 26 Location: Fairfield Stadium Jacksonville, FL Game attendance: 20,000

The Gators upset the Georgia Bulldogs for the second year in a row, by a score of 18 to 6,^[13] just two days after the Stock Market Crash.^[14] Georgia had already defeated Yale.

A long pass from Red Bethea to Green started things going in the second quarter, down to Georgia's 14-yard line. After driving down to the 3, Bethea scored on a wide end run. Dale Van Sickel recovered a blocked punt in the third quarter inside the 30-yard line. Rainey Cawthon and company drove the ball inside the 10-yard line. A pass from Clyde Crabtree to Van Sickel got a touchdown. Crabtree later returned an interception for a touchdown. In the final minutes, Ed Sauls ran 60 yards through the Georgia defense, the highlight of the contest.^[13]

Georgia quarterback Austin Downes broke his arm during the game. Florida running back Royce Goodbread also suffered an injury.^[15]

Week 6: at Harvard

Week 6: Florida at Harvard

1 2 3 4 Total Florida 0 0 0 0 0 • Harvard 0 7 0 7 14 Date: November 2 Location: Harvard Stadium Allston, MA Game attendance: 35,000 Referee: Dr. Eddie O' Brien (Tufts)

Coach Arnold Horween's Harvard Crimson defeated the Florida Gators 14 to 0 in front of a crowd of 35,000.^[16][17][18] Michigan coach Fielding Yost watched the game from the stands.^[19]

The starting lineup for the Gators against Harvard: Nolan (left end), Proctor (left tackle), Reeves (left guard), Clemons (center), Steele (right guard), Waters (right tackle), Van Sickel (right end), Crabtree (quarterback), Bethea (left halfback), Dorsett (right halfback), Cawthon (fullback).^[16]

Week 7: Clemson

Week 7: Clemson at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total Clemson 0 0 7 0 7 • Florida 0 6 0 7 13 Date: November 16 Location: Fleming Field Gainesville, FL

The Gators beat Josh Cody's Clemson Tigers 13–7 at homecoming. The first Florida score came on a 9-yard pass from Red Bethea to Dale Van Sickel. The second came on a short run by Rainey Cawthon after a 28-yard run by Bethea.

Week 8: at South Carolina

Week 8: Florida at South Carolina

1 2 3 4 Total • Florida 7 0 7 6 20 S. Carolina 0 7 0 0 7 Date: November 23 Location: Columbia, SC Referee: Powell (Wisconsin)

The Gators defeated coach Billy Laval's South Carolina Gamecocks 20 to 7. Florida substitutes started the game, coming in some 5 minutes in after a blocked punt on the 18-yard line. Six runs at the line later, Rainey Cawthon scored.^[20] A pass from Clyde Crabtree to Dale Van Sickel got the extra point. Early in the secind quarter, South Carolina blocked another punt. This time they capitalized with a 15-yard touchdown pass, Rhame to Stoddard. Boineau added the extra point from placement.^[21][21]

The same Boineau later fumbled a punt, recovered by Florida. A pass from Crabtree to Red Bethea gained 12 and a run around right end from Bethea got a touchdown. Crabtree passed to Van Sickel for the conversion. A Van Sickel interception ended South Carolina's fiercest threat, which eventually turned into another Cawthon touchdown. The final touchdown drive caused injuries to both Van Sickel and Bethea.^[21] The try was missed.

The starting lineup for the Gators against South Carolina: L. Greene (left end), Phiel (left tackle), McRae (left guard), Clark (center), James (right guard), Dedge (right tackle), Vickery (right end), McEwen (quarterback), Dorsett (left halfback), Goodbread (right halfback), Silsby (fullback).^[21]

Week 9: Washington & Lee

Week 9: Washington & Lee at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total W&L 0 0 0 7 7 • Florida 7 6 12 0 25 Date: November 28 Location: Jacksonville, FL Game attendance: 12,000

The Gators defeated coach Gene Oberst's Washington & Lee Generals 25–7 in their annual Thanksgiving matchup. Sophomore halfback Monk Dorsett was the star of the game, scoring two touchdowns.

Week 10: Oregon

Week 10: Oregon at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total Oregon 0 0 0 6 6 • Florida 0 14 6 0 20 Date: December 7 Location: Madison Square Garden Stadium Miami, FL Game attendance: 25,000+ Referee: Birch (Earlham)

At the old Madison Square Garden Stadium in Miami on December 7, in front of more than 25,000,^[22] the Gators had a major inter-sectional victory over coach John McEwan's Oregon Webfoots 20 to 6. The Gators had a light drill on Fleming Field on the afternoon of the 5th. At 9:30 they embarked on a special train, which transferred to the train bearing the Oregon players at Palatka.^[23]

The heat forced many Oregon players to take off their jerseys. Clyde Crabtree, in his final game, had a touchdown on a punt return of 80 yards,^[24] Ed Sauls had one on a run through the line of 38 yards.^[25] The other score came on 10-yard run by Red McEwen.

The starting lineup for the Gators against Oregon: Parnell (left end), Waters (left tackle), Steele (left guard), Clemons (center), Reeves (right guard), Proctor (right tackle), Nolan (right end), Crabtree (quarterback), Dorsett (left halfback), Goodbread (right halfback), Cawthon (fullback).^[25]

Postseason

Red Bethea was elected captain of next year's team.^[26]

Personnel

Depth chart

The following chart provides a visual depiction of Florida's lineup during the 1929 season with games started at the position reflected in parenthesis. The chart mimics a Notre Dame Box on offense.

LE Harry Green (2) Jimmy Nolan (1) Ed Parnell (1)   LT LG C RG RT Muddy Waters (2) Bill McRae (2) Ben Clemons (2) Mike Houser (1) Al Dedge (2) Scabby Phiel (1) Rip Reeves (1) Frank Clark (1) Wilbur James (1) Carlos Proctor (1) Carlos Proctor (1) Jimmy Steele (1) Weber Haines (1) Rip Reeves (1) Muddy Waters (1) Jimmy Steele (1) RE Joe Hall (1) Jimmy Nolan (1) Dale Van Sickel (1) Charlie Vickery (1) QB Clyde Crabtree (3) Red McEwen (1) RHB Royce Goodbread (3) Monk Dorsett (1) Homer Seay (0) LHB Red Bethea (2) Monk Dorsett (2) Loyd Baldwin (0) FB Rainey Cawthon (3) Link Silsby (1) Ed Sauls (0)

Line

Starters

Player	Position	Games started	Hometown	Prep school	Height	Weight	Age
Frank Clark	center
Ben Clemons	center
Harry Green	end
Bill McRae	guard
Jimmy Nolan	end
Scabby Phiel	tackle
Carlos Proctor	tackle
Alex "Rip" Reeves	tackle
Jimmy Steele	guard
Dale Van Sickel	end
Dale Waters	tackle

Subs

Player	Position	Hometown	Prep school	Height	Weight	Age
Al Dedge	tackle
Weber Haines	center
Joe Hall	end
Mike Houser	guard
Wilbur James	guard
Charlie Vickery	end

Backfield

Starters

Player	Position	Games started	Hometown	Prep school	Height	Weight	Age
Red Bethea	halfback
Clyde Crabtree	quarterback
Rainey Cawthon	fullback
Monk Dorsett	halfback
Royce Goodbread	halfback
Ed Sauls	fullback

Subs

Player	Position	Hometown	Prep school	Height	Weight	Age
Lloyd Baldwin	back
J. Milton "Red" McEwen	quarterback
Homer Seay	halfback
Lincoln "Link" Silsby	fullback

^[27]

Coaching staff

• Head coach: Charlie Bachman
• Assistants: James Van Fleet, Nash Higgins (line), Joe Holsinger (backfield), Brady Cowell (freshmen), George Weber, A. P. Pierson.

See also

• 1929 College Football All-Southern Team
• 1929 Southern Conference football season

References

1. 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 108 & 115 (2015). Retrieved August 15, 2015.
2. 2009 Southern Conference Football Media Guide, Year-by-Year Standings, Southern Conference, Spartanburg, South Carolina, p. 74 (2009). Retrieved August 30, 2010.
3. Tom McEwen, The Gators: A Story of Florida Football, The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama, p. 102 (1974).
4. "Florida 'Gators Train On Beach". Anniston Star. September 23, 1929. p. 8. Retrieved September 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
5. Joe Holsinger (September 4, 1929). "Eleven Halves Seeking Berths On Gator Team". The Evening Independent.
6. "Wealth of Backfield Talent Awaits Gator Grid Coach This Fall". The Evening Independent. August 20, 1929.
7. "'Gators Down Southern". The Bee. September 30, 1929. p. 5. Retrieved September 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Bachman Looks For Hard Title Against Cadets". St. Petersburg Times. October 4, 1929.
9. "'Gators Barely Win Over V. M. I., 12 To 7". Anniston Star. October 6, 1929. p. 12. Retrieved September 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "'Gators Defeat Auburn 19 to 0 In Night Game". Anniston Star. October 12, 1929. p. 6. Retrieved September 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Dry Search At Football Game Reveals 75 Pints". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. October 14, 1929. p. 6. Retrieved September 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
12. Jeff Moshier (October 21, 1929). "Playing Square". Evening Independent.
13. "Gators Upset Dope And Win From Bulldogs". Anniston Star. October 27, 1929. p. 10. Retrieved September 3, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
14. Carlson, p. 38
15. Frank S. Wright (November 8, 1929). "Link Silsby Is Good Fullback". St. Petersburg Times.
16. "Southern Foe Falls Before Harbard, 14-0". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. November 3, 1929. p. 41. Retrieved August 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Harvard Beats Florida, 14-0 In Close Fight". The Anniston Star. November 3, 1929. p. 10. Retrieved August 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
18. "Florida Gators Will Snap At Harvard Line". Altoona Tribune. November 2, 1929. p. 12. Retrieved September 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
19. William R. King (November 3, 1929). "Yost Watching As Harvard Smashes Through Florida". The Escanaba Daily Press. p. 15. Retrieved August 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
20. "Gamecocks Fail To Show Power". The Index-Journal. November 24, 1929. p. 6. Retrieved September 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
21. "Gators Battle Way To Victory Over Carolina". Anniston Star. November 24, 1929. p. 12. Retrieved September 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
22. "Oregon Plays Florida Gators In Hot Sun Today". The Brainerd Daily Dispatch. December 7, 1929. p. 5. Retrieved September 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
23. "Gators End Training". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. December 6, 1929.
24. "Florida Wins Over Oregon". The Pittsburgh Press. December 8, 1929.
25. Rex Saffer (December 8, 1929). "Webfoots Are Defeated 20-6". Oregon Statesman. p. 18. Retrieved August 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
26. "Halfback Elected Captain". The Evening Independent. December 17, 1929.
27. Frank Wright (December 6, 1929). "Here's Intro To the Gator First String and Subs". Miami Daily News and Metropolis. p. 15.

• Carlson, Norm (2007). University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators. Atlanta, Georgia: Whitman Publishing, LLC. ISBN 0-7948-2298-3.