1915 Florida Gators football team

Before the season

Last year, first-year head coach Charles J. McCoy had churned out a Florida team in the top half of the SIAA. McCoy this year was also the school's first basketball coach.

The team's captain was tackle A. A. "Daddy" Lotspeich. At the guards were Ham Dowling, future Georgia Tech transfer, and Everett Yon, future Gator athletic director. Leading the backfield was Rammy Ramsdell, "the Gators' first quarterback of note,"

Assisting the team was Z. J. Stanley, the head coach of the Maryville Scots the previous year.

Schedule

|{{CFB schedule entry | w/l = l |{{CFB schedule entry | w/l = l |{{CFB schedule entry | w/l = w |{{CFB schedule entry | w/l = l |{{CFB schedule entry | w/l = w |{{CFB schedule entry | w/l = w |{{CFB schedule entry | w/l = w

Game summaries

Auburn

Auburn, AL

• Sources: The season opened with a 7–0 loss to Auburn. Florida played hard for three quarters, until Wren scored the winning touchdown in the final period.

The starting lineup was Henderson (left end), Lotspiech (left tackle), Callen (left guard), Farrin (center), Yon (right guard), Goldsby (right tackle), Roble (right end), Ramsdell (quarterback), Thompson (left halfback), Fuller (right halfback), Sparkman (fullback).

Sewanee

Jacksonville, FL

• Sources: Florida lost to coach Harris Cope's Sewanee Tigers 7–0, continuing the losing streak against the Tigers. The Sewanee game was then the largest crowd to see a game in Jacksonville.

"After scoring one touchdown Sewanee was content to allow Florida to exhaust herself in vain attempts to find the weak spot in the Purple defense." Sewanee's Ellerbe scored the game's only touchdown.

The starting lineup was Henderson (left end), Lotspeich (left tackle), Dowling (left guard), Farrior (center), Yon (right guard), Goldsby (right tackle), Robles (right end), Ramsdell (quarterback), Sparkman (left halfback), Thompson (right halfback), Fuller (fullback).

Southern College

The Gators lengthened their winning streak against with an easy 45–0 victory.

Georgia

Jacksonville, FL

• Sources: The Gators lost their first-ever game against coach Alex Cunningham's Georgia Bulldogs 0–37 in Jacksonville, at a larger crowder than at the Sewanee game. Georgia put across two touchdowns in the second quarter, and had a strong second half.

The starting lineup was Henderson (left end), Lotspeich (left tackle), Dowling (left guard), Farrior (center), Robles (right guard), Goldsby (right tackle), Lovell (right end), Ramsdell (quarterback), Sparkman (left halfback), Thompson (right halfback), Fuller (fullback).

The Citadel

• Sources: Florida beat The Citadel 6–0 in a game "marked by frequent fumbling."

Tulane

In a torrential rain, Florida met Tulane for the first time and upset the Olive and Blue 14–7, the highlight of the season. Rammy Ramsdell scored the game-winning touchdown, "crashing through center" and zig-zagging 60 yards to the endzone.

The starting lineup was Henderson (left end), Lotspeich (left tackle), Yon (left guard), Farrior (center), Robles (right guard), Goldsby (right tackle), Wilkinson (right end), Ramsdell (quarterback), Sparkman (left halfback), Thompson (right halfback), Fuller (fullback).

Mercer

• Sources: The Gators defeated the Mercer Baptists 34–7. Rammy Ramsdell had a then-school record of four touchdowns.

According to one account, Ramsdell in fact scored three touchdowns but set up all five. The first was a Sparkman touchdown set up by a 25-yard end run from Ramsdell, the second was a 5-yard run by Fuller set up by a 40-yard pass from Ramsdell to Henderson.

The starting lineup was Henderson (left end), Lotspeich (left tackle), Robles (left guard), Farrior (center), Yon (right guard), Goldsby (right tackle), Wilkinson (right end), Ramsdell (quarterback), Thomson (left halfback), Sparkman (right halfback), Fuller (fullback).

Personnel

Line

Backfield

Subs

Coaching staff

• Head coach: Charles J. McCoy
• Assistant coach: Z. J. Stanley
• Manager: T. J. Swanson

References

Bibliography

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, p. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015.)
2. Roger Saylor, "[http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv06/CFHSNv06n2g.pdf Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association] {{webarchive. link. (2011-05-23 ," College Football Historical Society, The LA84 Foundation (1993). Retrieved September 11, 2010.)
3. {{Harvnb. University of Florida. 1916
4. link. (2012-03-07 ," ''The Tampa Tribune'' (September 22, 1999). Retrieved October 2, 2011.)
5. (October 10, 1915). "Auburn changes tactics; Defense plan fails and Donahue resorts to drive to beat Florida". The Commercial Appeal.
6. (October 17, 1915). "U. of Florida beaten 7 to 0 by Sewanee". The Morning Sentinel.
7. (October 31, 1915). "Florida's easy victory". The Chattanooga Daily Times.
8. (November 7, 1915). "Georgia hands 'Gators beating". The Atlanta Journal.
9. (November 14, 1915). "Gators' fumbles save Citadel severest drubbing of season". The Tampa Tribune.
10. (November 19, 1915). "Florida beats Tulane". Knoxville Sentinel.
11. (November 26, 1915). "Swann's 80-yard zigzag run, features for Mercer in game won by Florida". The Macon Telegraph.
12. (October 10, 1915). "Auburn Makes Single Touchdown On Fla". The Tennessean.
13. (November 2, 1997). "The Game owes it all to Sewanee".
14. (October 21, 1915). "Sewanee Defeats Florida". Sewanee Purple.
15. {{Harvnb. University of Florida. 1916
16. (November 7, 1915). "Georgia Easily Beat Florida". Greensboro Daily News.
17. (November 19, 1915). "Georgia Victorious Over Aligators---Score: 37-0". The Red and Black.
18. (November 14, 1915). "Florida 6, Citadel 0". The Atlanta Constitution.
19. {{Harvnb. University of Florida. 1916
20. {{Harvnb. McEwen. 1974
21. (November 19, 1915). "Florida Wallops Tulane Warriors". The Tampa Tribune.
22. Rachel George. (September 26, 2010). "Where Florida freshman Trey Burton's six-touchdown game ranks".
23. Mark Stewart. (30 July 2010). "The Florida Gators".
24. (November 11, 2007). "Tebow Leads Football to Victory at South Carolina, 51-31".
25. "Making His Mark".
26. "Sports: Spurrier ire directed at fourth-down conversions".
27. (November 26, 1915). "Former Terriers Show The Way To Comrades". The Tampa Tribune.
28. {{Harvnb. University of Florida. 1916