Wikipedia

1902 Georgia Bulldogs football team

The 1902 Georgia Bulldogs football team represented 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]

1902 Georgia Bulldogs football
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record4–2–1 (3–2–1 SIAA)
Head coach
CaptainFrank M. Ridley
Home stadiumHerty Field
Seasons
← 1901
1903 →
1902 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Clemson $ 5 – 0 – 0 6 – 1 – 0
Vanderbilt 6 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 0
LSU 5 – 1 – 0 6 – 1 – 0
Texas 4 – 1 – 0 6 – 3 – 1
Sewanee 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
Tennessee 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 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
Tulane 0 – 3 – 2 1 – 4 – 2
Furman 0 – 2 – 1 4 – 3 – 4
Georgia Tech 0 – 4 – 2 0 – 6 – 2
Mississippi A&M 0 – 4 – 1 1 – 4 – 1
Kentucky State 0 – 2 – 0 4 – 6 – 1
  • $ – Conference champion
  • LSU claims a co-championship[1]

Before the season

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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

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DateOpponentSiteResultSource
October 18Furman
W 11–0[5]
October 25at Georgia Tech
T 0–0[6]
November 1at Alabama
W 5–0[7]
November 8at Clemson
L 0–36[8]
November 14Davidson
  • Herty Field
  • Athens, GA
W 20–0[9]
November 18vs. Sewanee
  • Brisbine Park
  • Atlanta, GA
L 0–11[10]
November 27vs. Auburn
W 12–5[11]

Game summaries

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Furman

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To open the season, Georgia beat Furman 11–0. The game's highlight was an end run for touchdown from Harman.[12]

Georgia Tech

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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).[13]

Alabama

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Alabama was shutout 5–0 at Birmingham. Marvin M. Dickinson scored the only touchdown of the game for Georgia in the second half.[14] Alabama was trying to tie up the game late, but time expired as the Tide reached the Georgia twelve-yard line.[14]

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).[14]

Davidson

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Davidson was defeated 20–0.

Clemson

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

Sources:[15]

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."[15] Frank McIntyre, Harman, and Smith all had to be carried off the field.[16]

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).[15]

Sewanee

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Sewanee defeated Georgia 11–0.

Auburn

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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.[17]

Postseason

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Ridley was selected an All-Southern along with teammates Harold Ketron and Sandy Beaver,[18]

References

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  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.  
  5. ^ "Georgia wins from Furman". The Atlanta Constitution. October 19, 1902. Retrieved March 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "U. of G. 0, Georgia Tecks 0". The Commercial Appeal. October 26, 1902. Retrieved May 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Georgia won by hard struggle". The Atlanta Constitution. November 2, 1901. Retrieved February 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Georgia badly beaten by Clemson's team". The Atlanta Journal. November 9, 1902. Retrieved May 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Davidson gets hard drubbing". The Atlanta Constitution. November 15, 1902. Retrieved August 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Sewanee defeated Georgia". The Knoxville Sentinel. November 19, 1902. Retrieved May 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Downed by Georgia". Savannah Morning News. November 28, 1902. Retrieved March 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 129
  13. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 131
  14. ^ a b c "1902 Season Recap" (PDF). RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 2, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  15. ^ 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.  
  16. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 136
  17. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 140
  18. ^ e. g. "From Southeastern College Teams The Constitution Selects An Eleven". Atlanta Constitution. December 1, 1902.

Additional sources

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