The 1897 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season was the college football games played by the members schools of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association as part of the 1897 college football season
The season began on October 2. Conference play began on October 9 with Georgia shutting out Clemson 24–0 in Athens.
After the Sewanee game, Coach R. G. Acton's Vanderbilt Commodores claimed the program's first ever conference title. This was followed by a challenge met by the other southern team to claim a championship, South Atlantic school Virginia; which claims seven prior championships of the South. The game ended a 0–0 tie. Said Coach Acton, "It was the best game ever played in the South." Vanderbilt held all opponents scoreless.
The Texas Longhorns averaged the most points per game in the conference.
The 1897 season was one in which a member school, Tulane University, was barred from intercollegiate football participation by SIAA President, Dr. Dudley. This was part of a sanction handed down in response to the LSU game the previous season in which Tulane was forced to forfeit for having fielded an ineligible player.Hardesty, Dan. "LSU:The Louisiana Tigers". The Strode Publishers.Huntsville, Alabama. 1975. pg 24-25."Baton Rouge Wins Without Winning". The Daily Picayune. October 25, 1896. pg. 8.
The season was also notable for the game Virginia played against Georgia, featuring the death of Richard Von Albade Gammon.
Season overview Results and team statistics Conf. RankTeamHead coachOverall recordConf. recordPPGPAG1VanderbiltR. G. Acton6–0–13–019.9 0.02GeorgiaCharles McCarthy2–12–018.7 5.73AuburnJohn Heisman2–0–12–0–113.3 1.34Tennessee4–11–012.8 3.25 (tie)Central H. McC. Anderson 1–1 1–1 5 (tie)Nashville 1–1 1–1 5 (tie)AlabamaAllen McCants1–00–06.0 0.05 (tie)TexasWalter F. Kelly6–20–020.5 4.55 (tie)LSUAllen Jeardeau1–10–0 14.016.010SewaneeJ. G. Jayne1–3–11–2–1 3.05.611 (tie)Clemson William M. Williams2–20–1 7.014.511 (tie)Cumberland 0–1 0–111 (tie) Georgia TechJ. B. Wood 0–10–1 0.028.011 (tie)Mercer Gordon Saussy 0–1–10–1 0.013.015Kentucky StateLyman B. Eaton 2–40–24.7 19.7?Southwestern Presbyterian Key
PPG = Average of points scored per game PAG = Average of points allowed per game
Regular season Index to colors and formattingNon-conference matchup; SIAA member wonNon-conference matchup; SIAA member lostNon-conference matchup; tieConference matchup SIAA teams in bold.
Week One Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceOctober 2Kentucky StateLexington, KY W 8–6
Week Two Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceOctober 9Kentucky UniversityVanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TNW 22–0 October 9ClemsonGeorgiaHerty Field • Athens, GAUGA 24–0 October 11Kentucky StateWinchester, KYL 0–4 October 15TennesseeBaldwin Park • Knoxville, TNW 28–0
Week Three Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceOctober 16MercerGordon InstituteBarnesville, GAT 0–0 October 16SewaneeNashvilleNashville, TNNASH 6–5 October 18Central (KY)SewaneeHardee Field • Sewanee, TNSEW 4–0
Week Four Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceOctober 23San AntonioTexasVarsity Athletic Field • Austin, TXW 10–0 October 23Georgia TechGeorgiaHerty Field • Athens, GAW 24–0600October 23AuburnMercerCentral City Park • Macon, GAAUB 26–0 October 23Williamsburg (KY)TennesseeBaldwin Park • Knoxville, TNW 6–0 October 23Kentucky StateLexington, KYW 20–4 October 23ClemsonCharlotte YMCALatta Park • Charlotte, NCW 10–0 October 23VMIVanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TNW 12–0 October 25ClemsonNorth CarolinaChapel Hill, NCL 28–0 October 29AuburnNashvilleNashville, TNAUB 14–4
Week Five Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceOctober 30AuburnSewaneeHardee Field • Sewanee, TNT 0–0 October 30Washington and LeeCentralLexington, KYL 0–22 October 30VirginiaGeorgiaBrisbine Park • Atlanta, GAL 4–175,000October 30Kentucky StateVanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TNVAN 50–0400October 30TexasDallasCycle Park • Dallas, TXL 4–18 November 1TexasFort WorthFort Worth, TXL 0–6 November 3TexasAdd-Ran ChristianWaco, TXW 18–10
Week Six Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceNovember 5North CarolinaSewaneeHardee Field • Sewanee, TNL 6–12 November 6North CarolinaVanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TNW 31–0 November 6CentralKentucky StateLexington, KYCENT 18–0 November 8North CarolinaTennesseeBaldwin Park • Knoxville, TNL 0–16 November 10ClemsonSouth CarolinaColumbia, SCW 18–6
Week Seven Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceNovember 13Tuscaloosa Athletic ClubAlabamaThe Quad • Tuscaloosa, ALW 6–0 November 13Houston Town TeamTexasVarsity Athletic Field • Austin, TXW 42–6
Week Eight Date Time Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceNovember 20 TexasSan AntonioSan Antonio, TXW 12–0 November 25 Fort WorthTexasVarsity Athletic Field • Austin, TXW 38–0 November 25 Kentucky StateLexington, KYL 0–36 November 25 SewaneeVanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TNVAN 10–0 November 25 TennesseeVPIRoanoke, VAW 18–0
Week Nine Date Time Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceNovember 26 TennesseeBristol Athletic ClubBristol, TNW 12–0
Week Ten Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceDecember 7VirginiaVanderbiltDudley Field • Nashville, TNT 0–02,400
Week Eleven Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceDecember 11DallasTexasVarsity Athletic Field • Austin, TXW 20–16
Week Twelve
Week Thirteen Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceDecember 20Montgomery Athletic ClubLSUState Field • Baton Rouge, LAW 28–6
Week Fourteen
Week Fifteen
Week Sixteen Date Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance ReferenceJanuary 8CincinnatiLSUState Field • Baton Rouge, LAL 0–28
References