1903 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

1903 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Western Conference co-champion
ConferenceWestern Conference
Record14–0–1 (3–0–1 Western)
Head coach
CaptainEddie Rogers
Home stadiumNorthrop Field
Seasons
← 1902
1904 →
1903 Western Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Minnesota + 3 – 0 – 1 14 – 0 – 1
Michigan + 3 – 0 – 1 11 – 0 – 1
Northwestern + 1 – 0 – 2 10 – 1 – 3
Chicago 4 – 1 – 1 12 – 2 – 1
Iowa 1 – 1 – 0 9 – 2 – 0
Indiana 1 – 2 – 0 4 – 4 – 0
Illinois 1 – 5 – 0 8 – 6 – 0
Wisconsin 0 – 3 – 1 6 – 3 – 1
Purdue 0 – 2 – 0 4 – 2 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1903 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1903 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach Henry L. Williams, the Golden Gophers compiled a 14–0–1 record (3–0–1 against Western Conference opponents), shut out 13 of their 15 opponents, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 656 to 12.[1] The team finished the season in a tie with Michigan for the Western Conference co-championship. When Minnesota and Michigan met, the teams played to a tie in a game that gave rise the Little Brown Jug trophy.[2][3]

Four Minnesota players were recognized on the 1903 College Football All-America Team. Quarterback Sigmund Harris received first-team honors from Fielding H. Yost and third-team honors from Walter Camp. Tackle Fred Schacht received first-team honors from Caspar Whitney and second-team honors from Camp and Yost. Center Moses Strathern received second-team honors from Camp. And, end Eddie Rogers received third-team honors from Camp.[4][5][6]

In addition, nine Gophers were honored on the 1903 All-Western college football team: quarterback Sigmund Harris (BM-1, CIO-2, CRH, FL-1, MJ-2, WC); halfbacks James B. Irsfield (BMA, CIO-2, CT, FL-1, MJ-2, WC) and Otto Nelson Davies (BM-2); fullback Earl Current (BM-2); end Edward L. Rogers (BMA, BM-1, CIO-2, FL-1, MJ-1, WC); tackle Fred Schacht (BMA, BM-1, CIO-1, CRH, CT, FL-1, MJ-1, WC); guards Walton Willard Thorp (BM-1, CIO-2, CT, MJ-1) and John B. Warren (BM-2, MJ-2); and center Moses Strathern (BMA, BM-1, CIO-1, CRH, FL-1, MJ-1, WC).[7][8][9][10][11][12]

  1. ^ "1903 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  2. ^ "The Little Brown Jug - Minnesota vs. Michigan". University of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2007.
  3. ^ Papas Jr., Al (1990). Gopher Sketchbook. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Nodin Press. p. 16.
  4. ^ "Walter Camp Names All American Team". The Trenton Times. December 10, 1903.
  5. ^ Caspar Whitney (January 1904). "The Sportsman's View Point" (PDF). Outing. p. 477. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 22, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  6. ^ "Picked Football Teams". Grand Traverse Herald. December 3, 1903. (Yost)
  7. ^ Billy Mac (December 1, 1903). "All-Western Team Picked By Critics". The St. Paul Globe. p. 5. (BMA)
  8. ^ Billy Mac (November 29, 1903). "Five Gophers On All-Western Team". The St. Paul Globe. p. 15. (BM)
  9. ^ "Schacht Picked By All Chicago Papers". The Saint Paul Globe. November 30, 1903. p. 5. (CIO, CRH, CT)
  10. ^ "Lowenthal Picks An All-Western Eleven". The St. Paul Globe. November 29, 1903. p. 14. (FL)
  11. ^ "All-Western Team". The Minneapolis Journal. November 28, 1903. p. 8. (MJ)
  12. ^ "Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide 1904". American Sports Publishing Company. 1904. p. 33. (WC)