1916 Florida Gators football team

Florida had posted a 9–5 record over the previous two seasons under Coach McCoy. Believing that he had the makings of a great squad, he arranged the most ambitious and difficult football schedule to date.{{Harvnb|McEwen|1974|page=59}} McCoy's plans were thwarted, however, by a series of injuries and academic ineligibility problems, beginning when the Gators' starting quarterback, Rammy Ramsdell, broke his leg playing on Florida's baseball team and missed the entire football season.Joey Johnston, "[http://tampabayonline.net/reports/top100/no98.htm Tampa Bay's All-Century Team: No. 98 Rammy Ramsdell] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307083655/http://tampabayonline.net/reports/top100/no98.htm |date=2012-03-07 }}," The Tampa Tribune (September 22, 1999). Retrieved August 25, 2010.

The team suffered the transfer of guard Ham Dowling, and tackle Everett Yon was called by the National Guard to defend the Mexican border.{{Harvnb|McEwen|1974|page=60}} Due to a shortage of men, captain Rex Farrior, previously a center, moved to fullback.{{refn|group=note|Rex Farrior became a name partner in a prominent Tampa law firm with 1910 quarterback Bob Shackleford, and remained one of the biggest boosters of the Gators sports program until his death.{{cite web|url=https://footballfoundation.org/roster.aspx?rp_id=156|publisher=National Football Foundation|title=Rex Farrior}}}}

Mercer scheduled a game with Florida, but several Mercer linemen were behind in their studies, and the game was canceled.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5974325/the_atlanta_constitution/|title=Game With Florida Cancelled By Mercer|work=The Atlanta Constitution|page=6|date=October 30, 1916|access-date=July 23, 2016|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

{{CFB schedule

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 14

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Georgia

| site_stadium = Sanford Field

| site_cityst = Athens, GA

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 0–21

| attend =

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-georgia-beat-florida/148509131/|work=The Atlanta Journal|title=Georgia beat Florida, 21–0|date=October 15, 1916|accessdate=June 1, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 21

| w/l = l

| neutral = y

| opponent = Alabama

| site_stadium = Barrs Field

| site_cityst = Jacksonville, FL

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 0–16

| attend =

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71294829/alabama-too-strong-for-gator-eleven/|work=The Tampa Tribune|title=Alabama too strong for Gator eleven|date=October 22, 1916|accessdate=June 1, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 28

| w/l = l

| neutral = y

| opponent = Tennessee

| site_stadium = Plant Field

| site_cityst = Tampa, FL

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 0–24

| attend =

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-tennessee-elev/140870066/|work=The Montgomery Advertiser|title=Tennessee eleven clearly outclasses that of Florida|date=October 29, 1916|accessdate=June 1, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 11

| w/l = l

| neutral = y

| opponent = Auburn

| site_stadium =

| site_cityst = Jacksonville, FL

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 0–20

| attend =

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-auburn-crushes-flo/148509395/|work=The Commercial Appeal|title=Auburn crushes Florida|date=November 12, 1916|accessdate=June 1, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 18

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = Jordan Field

| site_cityst = Bloomington, IN

| score = 3–14

| attend = 5,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fort-wayne-journal-gazette-indiana-i/148509524/|work=The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette|title=Indiana is winner over Florida, 14 to 3|date=November 19, 1916|accessdate=June 1, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}

{{AFB game box start

| Title = Florida at Georgia

| Visitor = Florida

| Host =Georgia

| V1 = 0| V2 =0| V3 =0| V4 =0

| H1 = 0| H2 =0| H3 =7| H4 =14

| Date = October 14

| Location = Sanford Field
Athens, GA

| StartTime =

| ElapsedTime =

| Attendance =

| Weather =

| Referee =Streit

}}

• Sources:

{{AFB game box end}}

The season opened with a 21–0 loss to Georgia in Athens. The contest was scoreless in the first half. Georgia had to send in two stars who were resting with dislocated shoulders.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5851743/the_atlanta_constitution/|page=3|date=October 15, 1916|access-date=July 10, 2016|via=Newspapers.com|work=The Atlanta Constitution|title=Florida Eleven Worried Georgia}} {{Open access}} Walter Neville scored the game's first touchdown.

The starting lineup was F. Henderson (left end), Baker (left tackle), Duvan (left guard), Robles (center), Golsby (right guard), Perry (right tackle), Wilkinson (right end), Fuller (quarterback), Wilson (left halfback), Hatcher (right halfback), Farrier (fullback).

Led by Cecil Creen, the Crimson Tide beat the Gators 16–0 in the two's first ever meeting.{{Cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/16-m-footbl-recaps.pdf |title=1916 Recap |access-date=2016-07-08 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070136/http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/16-m-footbl-recaps.pdf |url-status=dead }} Creen twice tackled Florida's Ward from behind with a clear field ahead. It was the Gators' first loss at University Field.{{Harvnb|McEwen|1974|page=62}}

{{AFB game box start

| Title = Tennessee at Florida

| Visitor = Tennessee

| Host =Florida

| V1 = 7| V2 =7| V3 =0| V4 =10

| H1 = 0| H2 =0| H3 =0| H4 =0

| Date = October 28

| Location = Plant Field
Tampa, FL

| StartTime =

| ElapsedTime =

| Attendance =

| Weather =

| Referee =Stricker Coles

}}

• Sources:

{{AFB game box end}}

The SIAA champion Tennessee Volunteers blanked the Gators in Tampa 24 to 0 in the two rivals first-ever meeting. Buck Hatcher's punts were the feature of the contest.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5184289/the_atlanta_constitution/|page=5|work=Atlanta Constitution|title=Tennessee 24, Florida 0|date=October 29, 1916|access-date=May 7, 2016|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

The starting lineup was F. Henderson (left end), Baker (left tackle), Perry (left guard), Robles (center), O. DeVane (right guard), Goldsby (right tackle), Wood (right end), Fuller (quarterback), Sparkman (left halfback), Wilson (right halfback), Farrier (fullback).

{{AFB game box start

| Title = Auburn at Florida

| Visitor = Auburn

| Host =Florida

| V1 = 6| V2 =7| V3 =0| V4 =7

| H1 = 0| H2 =0| H3 =0| H4 =0

| Date = November 11

| Location = Jacksonville, FL

| StartTime =

| ElapsedTime =

| Attendance =

| Weather =

| Referee =John Counselman

}}

• Sources:

{{AFB game box end}}

The Auburn Plainsmen beat the Gators 20–0. Auburn's fullback Scott was the star of the contest. The second touchdown was a 50-yard interception return by Godwin.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5851684/the_atlanta_constitution/|page=3|date=November 12, 1916|access-date=July 10, 2016|via=Newspapers.com|work=The Atlanta Constitution|title=Auburn Is Victor Over Florida Team}} {{Open access}}

The starting lineup was F. Henderson (left end), Bankston (left tackle), Rosenthal (left guard), Robles (center), Stockton (right guard), Goldsby (right tackle), Wood (right end), Fuller (quarterback), Sparkman (left halfback), Hatcher (right halfback), Farrier (fullback).

{{AFB game box start

| Title = Florida at Indiana

| Visitor = Florida

| Host =Indiana

| V1 = 0| V2 =3| V3 =0| V4 =0

| H1 = 0| H2 =0| H3 =7| H4 =7

| Date =November 18

| Location = Jordan Field
Bloomington, IN

| StartTime =

| ElapsedTime =

| Attendance =5,000

| Weather =

| Referee =Hamm (Kenyon)

}}

• Sources:

{{AFB game box end}}

Captain Rex Farrior broke his leg in the final two minutes of the final game, a 14–3 loss at Indiana, the only game in which the Gators scored when Paul Baker made a field goal.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3076120/the_indianapolis_star/|author=D. C. Miller|work=The Indianapolis Star|page=33|date=November 19, 1916|access-date=August 23, 2015|title=Florida Put Out 14-3, by Stiehm Men|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} Up at the half 3–0, Florida lineman Orryl Robles was ejected, and Florida never recovered.

The starting lineup was F. Henderson (left end), Baker (left tackle), Rosenthal (left guard), Robles (center), Stockton (right guard), Goldsby (right tackle), Wood (right end), Fuller (quarterback), Sparkman (left halfback), Hatcher (right halfback), Farrier (fullback).

C. J. McCoy finished his three-year tenure as the Gators' coach with an overall record of 9–10.

• Head coach: Charles J. McCoy
• Manager: W. D. Payne{{Harvnb|University of Florida|1917|pages=94–101}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book|last=McEwen|first=Tom|title=The Gators: A Story of Florida Football|publisher=The Strode Publishers|location=Huntsville, Alabama|year=1974|isbn=0-87397-025-X}}
• {{cite book|url=http://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00022765/00008/104j|title=The Seminole|volume=8|date=1917|author=University of Florida}}

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