1908 Auburn Tigers football team

Mike Donahue returned as head coach. Pat Dwyer assisted Donahue.

Newcomers included running back Lewie Hardage.

{{CFB schedule

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 3

| time =

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Howard (AL)

| site_stadium = West End Park

| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL

| score = 18–0

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1763031/football-howard-defeated-by-auburn-nei/|work=The Atlanta Constitution|title=Auburn 18, Howard 0|date=October 4, 1908|accessdate=May 15, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 10

| time =

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1908|team=Gordon Bulldogs|school=Gordon College (Georgia)|title=Gordon}}

| site_stadium = Drill Field

| site_cityst = Auburn, AL

| score = 42–0

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-auburn-crushes-go/146978605/|work=The Birmingham Age-Herald|title=Auburn crushes Gordon|date=October 11, 1908|accessdate=May 10, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 17

| time =

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Mercer

| site_stadium = Cenetral City Park

| site_cityst = Macon, GA

| score = 23–0

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121079668/auburn-23-mercer-0/|title=Auburn 23; Mercer 0|work=The Atlanta Constitution|date=October 18, 1908|accessdate=March 17, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 24

| time = 12:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| opponent = Sewanee

| site_stadium = West End Park

| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL

| score = 6–0

| attend = 3,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-auburn-downs-m/136976406/|work=The Montgomery Advertiser|title=Auburn downs mountain men|date=October 25, 1908|accessdate=December 17, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 31

| time = 3:45 p.m.

| w/l = l

| opponent = LSU

| site_stadium = Drill Field

| site_cityst = Auburn, AL

| score = 2–10

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-auburn-lost-to-louis/146977967/|work=The Atlanta Journal|title=Auburn lost to Louisiana State|date=November 1, 1908|accessdate=May 10, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 7

| time =

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Georgia Tech

| site_stadium = Ponce de Leon Park

| site_cityst = Atlanta, GA

| score = 44–0

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-auburn-downs-g/146978689/|work=The Montgomery Advertiser|title=Auburn downs Georgia Tech|date=November 8, 1908|accessdate=May 10, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 26

| time =

| w/l = w

| opponent = Georgia

| site_stadium = Montgomery Baseball Park

| site_cityst = Montgomery, AL

| score = 23–0

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-orange-and-blu/146978948/|work=The Montgomery Advertiser|title=Orange and Blue Waves triumphant over plucky Georgia eleven and Auburn takes the championship|date=November 27, 1908|accessdate=May 10, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor= Auburn

|V1= 18

|V2= 0

|V3=

|V4=

|Host= Howard

|H1= 0

|H2= 0

|H3=

|H4=

|Location= Birmingham, Alabama

|StartTime= afternoon

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=

|Weather= 70°, Clear

|Referee= Frank Jones

|TVAnnouncers=

|TVStation=

}}

Source:"Auburn Wins Game", Montgomery Advertiser, October 4, 1908.

{{AFB game box end}}

In a game of a 20- and 15-minute halves, Auburn scored three touchdowns in the first half to put away Howard at West End Park in Birmingham, Alabama. Despite being outweighed by Howard, Auburn had success running against the Bulldogs' tackles in the first half. The second half saw no score on either side with Auburn held in check by the punting of Bennie, Howard's left tackle. Both teams were reported to show a lack of preparation, with Auburn's talent making the difference in the game.[http://content.lib.auburn.edu/cdm/ref/collection/gloms1897/id/26064 Glomerata] (1909), 276–282.

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor= Gordon

|V1= 0

|V2= 0

|V3=

|V4=

|Host= Auburn

|H1= 30

|H2= 12

|H3=

|H4=

|Location= Auburn, Alabama

|StartTime= afternoon

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=

|Weather= 63°, Cloudy

|Referee=

|TVAnnouncers=

|TVStation=

}}

Source:"Runs Over Gordon", Montgomery Advertiser, October 11, 1908.

{{AFB game box end}}

In a game where the Tigers were not forced to punt, Auburn easily defeated the high school team from Gordon College in quick game at the Auburn athletic field. Auburn took the opening kickoff and drove for its first touchdown in the first two minutes, followed by four more touchdowns before the end of the half through the rushing of Lew Hardage and D. Herron. Auburn's scrubs scored two more touchdowns in the second half to finish out the game.

File:Lewie_Hardage_(c._1908).png

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor= Auburn

|V1= 6

|V2= 17

|V3=

|V4=

|Host= Mercer

|H1= 0

|H2= 0

|H3=

|H4=

|Location= Macon, Georgia

|StartTime=

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=

|Weather= 80°, Partly cloudy

|Referee=

|TVAnnouncers=

|TVStation=

}}

Source:

{{AFB game box end}}

Auburn was held to a single score in the first half, but wore down Mercer's line in the second half, scoring three touchdowns behind the running of Lew Hardage. Mercer's Poole returned an Auburn interception 70 yards before being dragged down short of the goal line by Auburn halfback W. W. Wynne, which was the only threat to score the Baptists had all game.

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor= Sewanee

|V1= 0

|V2= 0

|V3=

|V4=

|Host= Auburn

|H1= 0

|H2= 6

|H3=

|H4=

|Location= Birmingham, Alabama

|StartTime=12:00 pm

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance= 3,000

|Weather= 65°, Cloudy

|Referee= Bradley Walker

|TVAnnouncers=

|TVStation=

}}

Source:

{{AFB game box end}}

Sewanee held the ball for most of the first half, exploiting Auburn's tackles—brought in against the inside run—with runs around end. Sewanee was unable to score, however, with Auburn's George Sparkman recovering a Sewanee fumble on the Auburn two yard line. Auburn began to move the ball consistently on the visitors late in the first half, ending the period in Sewanee territory."Auburn Downs Mountain Men", Montgomery Advertiser, October 25, 1908.

In the second half, changes in Auburn's defense stymied Sewanee's end runs and field position gradually shifted in Auburn's favor. With seven minutes left in the game, Auburn's Lew Hardage returned a Sewanee punt 45 yards for the game's only touchdown. It was dubbed by one source "Auburn's Greatest Victory In Many Years"{{cite journal|url=https://archive.org/details/19081111|page=204|title=Auburn's Greatest Victory In Many Years|date=November 11, 1908|journal=Orange and Blue}} The starting lineup was Sparkman (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Locke (left guard), Davis (center), Allen (right guard), Esslinger (right tackle), Reynolds (right end), McLure (quarterback), Wynne (left halfback), Hardage (right halfback), Penton (fullback).{{Harvnb|Woodruff|1928|pages=217–218}}

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor= LSU

|V1= 5

|V2= 5

|V3=

|V4=

|Host= Auburn

|H1= 2

|H2= 0

|H3=

|H4=

|Location= Auburn, Alabama

|StartTime=3:45 pm

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=

|Weather= 70°, Fair

|Referee= James Halligan

|TVAnnouncers=

|TVStation=

}}

Source:

{{AFB game box end}}

Undefeated LSU met undefeated Auburn for the top spot in the SIAA at the Auburn athletic field.

File:TC Locke (c. 1908).png

The first touchdown came from John Seip. Later in the half, Auburn's T. C. Locke blocked an LSU punt which was recovered by LSU's Fenton behind his own goal for a safety. LSU made the second score using conventional football.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5205416/the_atlanta_constitution/|work=The Atlanta Constitution|title=Auburn Loses To L. S. U. Team|date=November 1, 1908|page=3|access-date=May 9, 2016|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

“We won every game that fall except LSU,” Auburn star Walker Reynolds told Clyde Bolton in 1973. “But LSU had a pro team.”{{cite web|url=http://www.thewareaglereader.com/2013/09/auburns-1908-team-goes-undefeated-despite-losing-to-professional-lsu-team/|title=Auburn's 1908 team went undefeated despite losing to professional LSU team}}

The starting lineup was Sparkman (left end), Bonner (left tackle), Locke (left guard), Davis (center), Allen (right guard), Esslinger (right tackle), Reynolds (right end), McLure (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Wynne (right halfback), Penton (fullback).

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor= Auburn

|V1= 23

|V2= 21

|V3=

|V4=

|Host= Ga. Tech

|H1= 0

|H2= 0

|H3=

|H4=

|Location= Atlanta, Georgia

|StartTime=

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=

|Weather=

|Referee=Butler (North Carolina)

|TVAnnouncers=

|TVStation=

}}

Source:

{{AFB game box end}}

Auburn ran up a 44–0 score on coach John Heisman's Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in their annual rivalry contest. Lew Hardage and George Penton made two touchdowns each, including a 108-yard kick return by Hardage. Walker Reynolds and George Sparkman had one each. Reynolds' was a 35-yard run and Sparkman's a 65-yard run. Reynolds contributed six extra points.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3194636/the_atlanta_constitution/|work=Atlanta Constitution|title=Auburn Beats Yellow Jackets|page=4|date=November 8, 1908|access-date=September 10, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} The starting lineup was Hill (left end), J. G. Davis (left tackle), Motley (left guard), Beaver (center), Allen (right guard), Locke (right tackle), Reynolds (right end), McLure (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Wynne (right halfback), Penton (fullback).

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor= Georgia

|V1= 0

|V2= 0

|V3=

|V4=

|Host= Auburn

|H1= 6

|H2= 17

|H3=

|H4=

|Location= Montgomery, Alabama

|StartTime=

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=

|Weather=Very hot

|Referee=Butler (North Carolina)

|TVAnnouncers=

|TVStation=

}}

Source:

{{AFB game box end}}

As expected – "there is nothing to this game but Auburn,"{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3194720/the_atlanta_constitution/|work=Atlanta Constitution|page=7|title=Auburn v. Georgia|date=November 23, 1908|access-date=September 10, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} Auburn handled the Georgia Bulldogs easily in their annual rivalry game. After seven minutes had elapsed, end Walker Reynolds ran for an 80-yard touchdown using the stiff arm "amidst the wildest enthusiasm." The Bulldogs held the Tigers the rest of the first half.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3194729/the_atlanta_constitution/|work=Atlanta Constitution|page=4|date=November 27, 1908|title=Auburn Trims Georgia Team|access-date=September 10, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} The starting lineup was Hill (left end), J. G. Davis (left tackle), Motley (left guard), Beaver (center), Allen (right guard), Bonner (right tackle), Reynolds (right end), McLure (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Locke (right halfback), Penton (fullback).

Amidst fears of many players being ineligible under SIAA rules most sportswriters did not include LSU for consideration as conference champions.{{cite book|title=Spalding's Football Guide|date=1909|page=75|publisher=Shawnee Mission, Kansas, NCAA Publishing Service |url=https://archive.org/stream/officialfootball1909nati#page/75}} Auburn and Vanderbilt were among those listed as alternative Southern champions. Most chose Auburn.{{Harvnb|Woodruff|1928|page=223}}

Captain and quarterback and Tom McLure was selected All-Southern by Vanderbilt coach Dan McGugin and Georgia Tech coach John Heisman. McGugin describes his play: "McClure was not particularly fast, but a spirited leader, an excellent general and a sure tackler."{{cite journal|page=293|journal=The Kappa Alpha Journal|volume=24|issue=3|title=Contributions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8ZdOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA293|last1=Order|first1=Kappa Alpha|year=1907}} Lew Hardage was selected All-Southern by McGugin; and J. G. Davis was selected All-Southern by Heisman.{{cite news|url=http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/atlnewspapers/id:aga1909-4572|page=12|access-date=March 5, 2015|via=Digital Library of Georgia|title=Not News, But Views|author=Percy Whiting|date=November 24, 1909}} {{Open access}}

• Head coach: Mike Donahue
• Assistant coaches: James Dwyer, Dan Wilkinson
• Manager: Thomas Bragg

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|title=A History of Southern Football 1890–1928|last=Woodruff|first=Fuzzy|volume=1|year=1928}}

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