The 1909 LSU Tigers football team represented the LSU Tigers of Louisiana State University during the 1909 college football season. The LSU team posted a 6–2 record, losing to Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) champion Sewanee and to an undefeated Arkansas. Notable victories include those over Mississippi and Alabama.
John W. Mayhew, a former halfback at Brown, took over as coach for former Vanderbilt lineman Joe Pritchard midway through the season. College Football Hall of Fame inductee Doc Fenton started at quarterback.
Schedule
Game summaries Jackson Barracks The season opened with a 70–0 win over Jackson Barracks of New Orleans.
Ole Miss In a hard-fought game, the Tigers beat the Ole Miss team, 10–0.
The starting lineup was Hall (left end), Hillman (left tackle), Ryan (left guard), Stovall (center), Thomas (right guard), Pollock (right tackle), Seip (right end), Allbright (quarterback), R. F. Stovall (left halfback), McCullam (right halfback), Gill (fullback).
Mississippi A&M In the third week of play, LSU swamped Mississippi A&M 15–0.
The starting lineup was Hall (left end), Hillman (left tackle), Falcon (left guard), Stovall (center), Thomas (right guard), Pollock (right tackle), Seip (right end), Fenton (quarterback), R. F. Stovall (left halfback), McCullam (right halfback), Gill (fullback).
Sewanee
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LSU lost to SIAA champion Sewanee in New Orleans 15–6. According to Vanderbilt coach Dan McGugin, Sewanee won due to better punting.
Sewanee scored with an Aubrey Lanier touchdown and Moise drop kick in the first half. LSU scored when, after blocking a punt, Robert L. Stovall recovered the ball for a touchdown. Soon after, President William Howard Taft showed up to the game for about ten minutes. Sewanee added another touchdown.
The starting lineup was Williams (left end), Faulkenberry (left tackle), Cheape (left guard), Juhan (center), Cox (right guard), Moise (right tackle), Gillem (right end), Brown (quarterback), Myers (left halfback), Lanier (right halfback), Hawkins (fullback).
Louisiana Industrial On a Thursday, LSU beat Louisiana Industrial, 23–0, giving the team its only loss on the season.
Arkansas
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The Tigers were powerless to stop the favored Arkansas Razorbacks in a 16–0 loss. The game was characterized by several offsides penalties on both sides.
The starting lineup was Hall (left end), Hillman (left tackle), Drew (left guard), R. F. Stovall (center), Thomas (right guard), Seip (right tackle), R. L. Stovall (right end), Fenton (quarterback), Gill (left halfback), McCullum (right halfback), Tilley (fullback).
Transylvania LSU defeated Transylvania 32–0, scoring at will in the second half.
Alabama John Seip starred in the 12–6 victory over Alabama. "The consensus of opinion was that Alabama would have won but for Pratt's absence."
The starting lineup was Hall (left end), Seip (left tackle), Thomas (left guard), Stovall (center), Drew (right guard), Hillman (tackle), R. Stovall (right end), Gill (quarterback), Howell (left halfback), McCollum (right halfback), Ryan (fullback).
Postseason Fenton was selected All-Southern by John Heisman. End John Seip was selected such by Grantland Rice.
Roster No. Player Position Height Weight Hometown High School - John Albright quarterback - 135 - - - S. W. Brannon halfback - 160 - - - Harmon Drew guard - 175 Minden, Louisiana - - Doc Fenton quarterback 5'9" 165 Scranton, Pennsylvania Scranton - Reuben Gill fullback - 165 - - - J. O. Hall end - 165 - - - Willie Hillman center - 175 Minden, Louisiana Minden - Levi Himes - - - - - - Roland Howell halfback - 160 - - - Andrew McCollam halfback - 160 - - - Phillips end - 155 - - - William Pollack guard - 180 - - - Warren Ryan halfback - 180 - - - John Seip end 6'1" 185 Allentown, Pennsylvania - - Robert L. Stovall center - 135 Dodson, Louisiana - - Rowson Stovall end - 140 - - - Arthur Thomas tackle - 175 - - - L. R. Tilly fullback - 165 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Roster from LSU: The Louisiana TigersHardesty, Dan. "LSU: The Louisiana Tigers". The Strode Publishers. Huntsville, Alabama. 1975. P. 334-345.
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