The 1903 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama

University of Alabama

The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....

 in the 1903 college football season

1903 college football season

The 1903 college football season had no clear-cut champion, with the Official NCAA Division I Football Records Book listing Michigan and Princeton as national champions....

. The team was led by head coach W. B. Blount

W. B. Blount

-External links:...

, in his first season, and played their home games at The Quad in Tuscaloosa

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...

 and at West End Park in Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...

, Alabama

Alabama

Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...

. In what was the eleventh season of Alabama football, the team finished with a record of three wins and four losses (3–4, 3–4 SIAA).

Schedule

For the 1903 season, point values were different from those used in contemporary games. In 1903 a touchdown

Touchdown

A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...

 was worth five points, a field goal was worth five points and an extra point

Convert

The convert or try, in American football known as "point after", and Canadian football "Point after touchdown", is a one-scrimmage down played immediately after a touchdown during which the scoring team is allowed to attempt to score an extra one point by kicking the ball through the uprights , or...

 (PAT) was worth one point.

• Source: Rolltide.com: 1903 Alabama football schedule

Vanderbilt

Alabama opened the 1903 season with a 30–0 loss against Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...

 in the first all-time meeting between the schools at Dudley Field. Touchdowns were scored by Vanderbilt on runs by Ed Hamilton twice, Frank Kyle, Daniel Blake and Bob Blake with John J. Tigert

John J. Tigert

John James Tigert, IV was an American university president, university professor and administrator, college sports coach and the U.S. Commissioner of Education. Tigert was a native of Tennessee and the son and grandson of Methodist bishops...

 converting all five PAT's in their victory.

Mississippi A&M

A week after their loss to Vanderbilt, Alabama was defeated the Aggies of Mississippi A&M (now known as Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University

The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...

) 11–0 at the Columbus Fairgrounds in Columbus, Mississippi

Columbus, Mississippi

Columbus is a city in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States that lies above the Tombigbee River. It is approximately northeast of Jackson, north of Meridian, south of Tupelo, northwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and west of Birmingham, Alabama. The population was 25,944 at the 2000 census...

. The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Mississippi A&M (Mississippi State) to 3–1.

Auburn

After being shutout for their first two games, Alabama upset

Upset

An upset occurs in a competition, frequently in electoral politics or sports, when the party popularly expected to win , is defeated by an underdog whom the majority expects to lose, defying the conventional wisdom...

 the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now known as Auburn University

Auburn University

Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...

) 18–6 at Riverside Park in Montgomery. J. V. Boyles scored a touchdown for Alabama to cap a 19 play, 79 yard drive on their opening possession and with the extra point took a 6–0 lead. In the second half, Alabama extended their lead to 12–0 after Truman Smith scored on a 45-yard touchdown run. After Auburn cut the lead to 12–6 with a W. G. Boyd touchdown run, Alabama scored the final points of the game on a 25 yard Smith run for the 18–6 victory. The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against Auburn to 2–6.

Sewanee

Playing Sewanee for the first time since the 1896 season, Alabama was shutout 23–0 at West End Park in Birmingham. The game was originally scheduled to be played in Tuscaloosa, but was subsequently moved to Birmingham in an effort to increase gate receipts. The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against Sewanee to 1–3.

LSU

Alabama secured their first all-time victory over LSU with its 18–0 win at Tuscaloosa. Both John Roberts Peavy and W. S. Sherrill scored first half touchdowns, and Truman Smith scored on a fake punt

Trick play

A trick play, also known as a gadget play or a gimmick play, is a play in American football that uses deception and unorthodox strategies to fool the opposing team. A trick play is often risky, offering the potential for a large gain or a touchdown if it is successful, but with the chance of a...

 returned 65-yards for the 18–0 victory. The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against LSU to 1–2.

Cumberland

Against Cumberland University

Cumberland University

Cumberland University is a private university in Lebanon, Tennessee, United States. It was founded in 1842, though the current campus buildings were constructed between 1892 and 1896.-History:...

 of Lebanon, Tennessee

Lebanon, Tennessee

Lebanon is a city in Wilson County, Tennessee, in the United States. The population was 20,235 at the 2000 census. It serves as the county seat of Wilson County. Lebanon is located in middle Tennessee, approximately 25 miles east of downtown Nashville. Local residents have also called it...

, Alabama lost 44–0 on The Quad in Tuscaloosa.

Tennessee

A week after their 44–0 loss to Cumberland, Alabama defeated Tennessee 24–0 at Birmingham. Alabama scored touchdowns on runs of three-yards by W. McMahon, one-yard by John Roberts Peavy, one-yard by Auxford Burks and two-yards by Truman Smith. The victory brought Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 1–0–1.

Players

Guards

• J. C. Fortune
• W. C. Oates
• Guy Redden

Tackles

• Aubrey Boyles
• J. C. Granade
• John Roberts Peavy

Center

• James C. Gwin

Ends

• R. L. Lodge
• W. S. Sherrill

Backs

• Auxford Burks
• Frank B. Clark
• Floy Hall
• W. McMahon
• Truman Smith
• W. S. Wyatt

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