1902 Georgia Bulldogs football team

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1902 Georgia Bulldogs football
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1902 record4–2–1 (3–2–1 SIAA)
Head coach
  • William A. Reynolds (2nd season)
CaptainFrank M. Ridley
Home stadiumHerty Field
Seasons
← 1901
1903 →
1902 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
  • v
  • t
 Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Clemson $ 5 – 0 – 0 6 – 1 – 0
Vanderbilt 5 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 0
LSU + 5 – 1 – 0 6 – 1 – 0
Texas 4 – 1 – 0 6 – 3 – 1
Tennessee 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
Sewanee 4 – 2 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Georgia 3 – 2 – 1 4 – 2 – 1
Ole Miss 3 – 3 – 0 4 – 3 – 0
Nashville 2 – 2 – 0 2 – 4 – 0
Auburn 2 – 4 – 1 2 – 4 – 1
Alabama 2 – 4 – 0 4 – 4 – 0
Cumberland (TN) 1 – 4 – 0 3 – 5 – 0
Furman 0 – 2 – 1 4 – 3 – 4
Kentucky State 0 – 2 – 0 4 – 6 – 1
Tulane 0 – 3 – 2 1 – 4 – 2
Mississippi A&M 0 – 4 – 1 1 – 4 – 1
Georgia Tech 0 – 4 – 2 0 – 6 – 2
  • $ – Conference champion
  • + LSU claims a co-championship[1]

The 1902 Georgia Bulldogs football team represented the Georgia Bulldogs of the University of Georgia during the 1902 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. The Bulldogs compiled a 4–2–1 record, including victories over Auburn and Alabama and a 0–0 tie with Georgia Tech. The losses included Georgia's fourth consecutive loss to Sewanee. This was the team's second and final season under the guidance of head coach William A. Reynolds.[2]

Before the season[]

Frank M. Ridley was captain-elect, Georgia's first two-time captain. He was moved to end from the backfield.[3] One account of Ridley reads "Ridley's first year on the team he played this position so well that Coach Heisman named his as the All-Southern end. He is quick and active and never hesitates to tackle a man, seldom being blocked."[4]

Schedule[]

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
October 18Furman
W 11–0
October 25at Georgia Tech
T 0–0
November 1at Alabama
W 5–0[5]
November 7Davidson
  • Herty Field
  • Athens
W 20–0
November 8at Clemson
L 0–36
November 11vs. SewaneeAtlanta, GAL 0–11
November 27vs. Auburn
W 12–5

Game summaries[]

Furman[]

To open the season, Georgia beat Furman 11–0. The game's highlight was an end run for touchdown from Harman.[6]

Georgia Tech[]

Georgia came in as 6–1 favorites to in-state rival Georgia Tech, and were held to a 0–0 tie. "It's the worst game we have ever played." said captain Ridley. The starting lineup was Bower (left end), Willingham (left tackle), Beaver (left guard), Ketron (center), Nix (right guard), Smith (right tackle), Baxter (right end), Harman (quarterback), Dickinson (left halfback), Ridley (right halfback), Turner (fullback).[7]

Alabama[]

Alabama was shutout 5–0 at Birmingham. Marvin D. Dickinson scored the only touchdown of the game for Georgia in the second half.[8] Alabama was trying to tie up the game late, but time expired as the Tide reached the Georgia twelve-yard line.[8]

The starting lineup was Bower (left end), McIntosh (left tackle), Beaver (left guard), Ketron (center), Willingham (right guard), Smith (right tackle), Baxter (right end), Harman (quarterback), Dickinson (left halfback), Ridley (right halfback), Turner (fullback).[8]

Davidson[]

Davidson was defeated 20–0.

Clemson[]

Georgia vs. Clemson
1 2Total
Georgia 0 0 0
• Clemson 12 24 36

Sources:[9]

On November 8, Georgia lost to SIAA champion Clemson by a score of 36–0. Despite the score, one writer called it "the hardest fought football game ever seen here."[9] Frank McIntyre, Harman, and Smith all had to be carried off the field.[10]

The starting lineup was Baxter (left end), McIntosh (left tackle), Beaver (left guard), Ketron (center), Willingham (right guard), Smith (right tackle), Ridley (right end), Harman (quarterback), Allen (left halfback), Dickinson (right halfback), Turner (fullback).[9]

Sewanee[]

Sewanee defeated Georgia 11–0.

Auburn[]

Georgia upset Auburn 12–5. The same night, Rufus Nalley, great former Georgia star, died. Having learned of Georgia's victory; "He died with a smile on his lips", reported his brother.[11]

Postseason[]

Ridley was selected an All-Southern along with teammates Harold Ketron and Sandy Beaver,[12]

References[]

  1. ^ "2017 LSU Tigers Media Guide" (PDF). Louisiana State Athletics. p. 107. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  2. ^ "1902 Georgia Bulldogs Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  3. ^ Kyle King. Fighting Like Cats and Dogs (PDF). p. 31.
  4. ^ "Georgia Will Send Great Team To Oppose Clemson". Atlanta Constitution. November 6, 1902. p. 11. Retrieved March 10, 2015. open access
  5. ^ "Georgia won by hard struggle". The Atlanta Constitution. November 2, 1901. Retrieved February 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 129
  7. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 131
  8. ^ a b c "1902 Season Recap" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-02. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  9. ^ a b c "Crackers Make A Brave Fight But Are Fairly Bested". Atlanta Constitution. November 9, 1902. p. 5. Retrieved July 26, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  10. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 136
  11. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 140
  12. ^ e. g. "From Southeastern College Teams The Constitution Selects An Eleven". Atlanta Constitution. December 1, 1902.

Additional sources[]

  • Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928.
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