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History learnin', Vol. III

As I said in my first post in this series, 2011 is already getting to be just too depressing.  I had even almost allowed myself to begin to have hope for this season, and then our customary "mast snapping in half" happened almost right on cue.  Rather than continue to ruminate on the possibility of firing our coach and counting the losses this season will bring, however, I'd like to go in the other direction.

Let's delve into the annals of Georgia football history, recalling brighter, fairer days when the Georgia football program was in the ascendancy,

 

Sadly, we once again have reason to clear our minds of the recent unpleasantness.  With one of our annual cream puffs being served up next in Athens this Saturday, I thought it appropriate that this "History learnin'" trip take us back in time to the biggest cream puff that was ever served in northeast Georgia.  Picture it:  Sicily Athens, Georgia, 1913.  As classes get underway, excitement starts to build over the campus and town in anticipation of the upcoming football season. 

The Athens Daily Banner provides the pregame report from Saturday morning, October 4, 1913.

(As usual, my additions and comments are in italics.)

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THE PREDS

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A L A B A M A  PRESBYTERIANS

BRINGING OVER A VERY

STRONG TEAM

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GAME A GOOD ONE

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INTEREST CENTERS IN SEEING RED AND BLACK IN ACTION FOR FIRST TIME

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NO LINE-UP FOR A. P. C.

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But the Visitors From Across the Chattahoochee are Coming to Fight Hard.

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Everything is in readiness for the opening of the Georgia football season on Sanford Field this afternoon at 3:15. The initial line-up has been picked and the reports that come from A. P. C. are indicatory of a lively scrap and Georgia is not to have a walk-a-way as it might seem.  Its (sic) bound to be a good game, no matter what the score.  Georgia has two teams that are almost equal in strength and whenever a substitution is made a man practically as good will do the relieving.

The management has announced some rules that the public will kindly observe.  Those holding passes will enter by the side gate at the grandstand.  Those holding straight tickets will be admitted entry at the stile.  No need trying any other gate.  Automobiles will enter by the new entrance near the branch bridge.  Reservations may be had this morning, but tickets must be purchased at the box office unless secured uptown and they will be placed on sale at Costa's this morning.  The general admission is 50 cents.

The visitors will arrive in the city this morning over the Seaboard.  No line-up has been furnished the local management, but a strong team will be put in the field.

Much interest there is in this game because it will serve to show up the Red and Black players and will give an estimate on the class of ball Georgia may be expected to put up this fall.  The weather is going to be a little warm, but we remember a few seasons ago when the thermometer registered something like 100, the score against a certain prep team in the State was 101 or thereabouts, so you can't sometimes always tell.  (Everybody got that?  Good.)

The team will line-up as follows: Left end, Conklin; right end, Hitchcock; right tackle, Malone; left tackle, Henderson; guards, Conyers and Brown; center, Delaperriere; left half, Carey; right half, McWhorter; full, Powell; quarter, Paddock.

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The "McWhorter" referenced at the end of this article, by the way, is Bob McWhorter... Georgia's first All-American, and later in life a judge, mayor of Athens, and UGA law professor. 

Also, from this, we see that the more things change, the more they stay the same.  Crowds were already becoming an issue in Athens, and since there was no "GamedayGameplan.com" at that time, the newspapers were disseminating information about the different entries and ticket levels that were in place.  (Also, I find it interesting to note that the paper is talking about 100+ degree temperatures all the way into October. It's almost as if [POLITICALLY INFLAMMATORY STATEMENT REDACTED].)

Believe it or not, I actually had I very difficult time finding a postgame report for this game.  I checked multiple newspapers, and was astonished to find that the primary reaction to the final score of the game was one of almost embarrassment that the score had gotten as out of hand as it had. In fact, the pre-game article for Georgia's next game in the 1913 season (against North Georgia College... just called "Dahlonega" at that time) practiced a little revisionist history and referred to this game as a "preseason exhibition," saying the "season got started in earnest" that week.

With the exception of one paper, this was the extent of the coverage I found:  (This is from the Athens Daily Banner on October 5, 1913... the day after the game.)

The results of the many games played over the country yesterday in football circles were as follows:

Georgia headed the list in number of points scored with 108 to 0 against the Alabama Preds.
Tech 47;      Citadel 0.
Auburn 53;   Mercer 0.
Alabama 81; Birmingham College 0.
Clemson 6; Davidson 3.  (Kindly glance at this and then don't count Clemson out.)
Vanderbilt 59;  Maryville 0.
Tennessee 89; Athens College 0.
Virginia 56;  South Carolina 0.
...

I like the editorial comment about Clemson, whom Georgia would later beat 18-15 that season.  Overall, it seems that major schools started with cream puffs even back then.  (See what I did there, Gamecock fans?)

Fortunately, The Red and Black was, at that time, operated by the Georgia Athletic Department, and they had no such qualms about reporting the complete demolition of an inferior foe.  To wit, here is the following article from October 7, 1913.:

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Georgia Scores 108 Points On the A. P. C. Team

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Day Was Hot and Many Subs Were

Used by Red and Black.  Georgia

Breaks Record in Points

Scored.

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Georgia opened her football season Saturday afternoon when she played the Alabama Presbyterian College on the home mede.  The game began with the varsity line-up, but later on was substituted for other men, giving each sub a taste of the game.

The Red and Black had but little opposition during the whole game.  By long end runs made by McWhorter and line bucks by Powell four touchdowns were made during the first quarter.  The second down was made in 35 seconds after starting.  McWhorter made three touchdowns and Powell one.  Henderson kicked three goals.  Score at end of first quarter --Georgia 27; A. P. C., 0.

At beginning of second quarter some of the new men were sent into the game.  The interesting plays were the return of a punt by Dorsey, end runs by Crump and forward passes to Hitchcock and by Sidberry to Owens, both making long gains. Crump, Hitchcock and Thompson scored a touchdown.  The first half ended with Georgia 47 ,A. P. C. 0  (Sic on punctuation.)

The third quarter began with some of the varsity men back in line. With little trouble three more touchdowns were made.  Crump, McWhorter and Powell each scoring a down.  Powell made a long dash around end, while Crump went through the line, and McWhorter nabbed a forward pass.  Henderson kicked two goals and the score stood 67 for Georgia, A. P. C. 0.

During the last quarter practically every man was given an opportunity.  The new men piled up more scores than had been made during any quarter.  There were five more touchdowns added to the already overwhelming score.  Flournoy made a beautiful run of eighty yards for touchdown.  Forward passes to Paddock and McWhorter, Flournoy's long run, Sidberry bucking the line, Dorsey's long end run and Thompson's return and his kicking goal ended the game.  During the last quarter Flournoy made two touchdowns, McWhorter two, and Dorsey one.  The final score ended, Georgia 108; A. P. C. 0.

The line-up was as follows:

GEORGIA                                                             A. P. C.
DeLaperriere, McKinnon, c.                              Archibald, c.
Conyers, Thrash, l.g.                                          Booza, y.g. (sic)
Brown, Purcell, r.g.                                             Parker, r.g.
Malone, Turner, r.t.                                             Crosby, r.t.
Henderson, McConnell, l.t.                                Dial, l.t.
Smith, Owens, l.c.                                               Brown, l.c.
Hitchcock, Selig, r.e.                                           Stephenson, r.e.
McWhorter, Thompson, r.h.b.                           Leach, r.h.b.
Paddock, Flournoy, Dorsey, q.b.                      Greeno, q.b.
Crump, Flournoy, l.h.b.                                       Hall, l.h.b.
Powell, Sidberry, f.b.                                           Flowers, f.b.

Referee, Creekmore; umpire, Cumming.

The A.P.C. boys were outclassed by the Georgia bunch in weight and experience, nevertheless seeing that all odds were against them they remained loyal to the end and gave out all they had.

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So, to sum up, Georgia scored the first touchdown 35 seconds into the game, started subbing out starters en masse at the beginning of the second quarter, and still scored 108 points.   I have nothing more to add to this discussion.  Other than, of course:

Go Dawgs!

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