Georgia Baptist's 1917 Backfield

1917 COLLEGE FOOTBALL YEAR-IN-REVIEW

The United States entered the First World War in April of 1917 and by the time the fall college football season rolled around in September, the nation was on a wartime footing and sports, from FABL down to the collegiate ranks, was feeling the impact. The war impacted college football greatly as many players enlisted in the Armed Forces and several big programs - including Noble Jones College - didn't field a squad at all. 

Still, many did, and in a trend that would continue the next year, many of the schools played various service teams. The four top programs in the nation in the crazy year of '17, all of whom went unbeaten and untied, were Georgia Baptist (9-0 and retroactively named the National Champions), Oklahoma City State (11-0), Garden State (a surprise 9-0) and St. Matthew's (8-0). Mile High State also posted a 9-0 mark, but many discounted the Falcons as they played an easier schedule than the others with the only tough competition being Boulder State (a 14-10 victory for the Falcons) and some patsies that included an Army team and their own Alumni.

By comparison, the Georgia Baptist Gators' 9-0 mark included wins over quality opponents such as Bluegrass State (who they pasted 61-21), Centerville (52-28) and Opelika State (43-10). If you're sensing a trend, it this: the Gators' offense was as high-powered as they come as they racked up 416 points. Oklahoma City State scored 494 themselves over their 11 game slate, but they also played what most considered a "softer" schedule that included wins over two service teams by scores of 51-0 and 62-0, accounting for a significant portion of their point total. Garden State posted the best season in school history, and did so with wins over opponents both quality (St. Pancras, Huntington State) and patsy (three service teams they defeated by a combined 118-15). St. Matthew's probably had the second-best claim to the title, as they played a reasonably quality schedule with only one service team (a 32-0 win over the Army Ambulance Corps) and one patsy (Lebanon College, a 38-12 win) on the schedule.

The All-American squad for 1917 was headed up by a sophomore QB named Gus Goldman who played for the academically-oriented Buchanan College. Goldman was a highly-talented player who celebrated his All-American award by leaving school and joining the Army (he'd go back to school in 1919 after the war ended, would again be an All-American and eventually play professionally as well).  Rome State's Paul Yates repeated as an All-American, this time as a halfback after shifting from fullback. Charlie Horton was the lone Georgia Baptist player on the list, while Garden State had one (end Earnest Hart). Two schools put a pair of players on the list: Pittsburgh State had two linemen (Leo Bright and Lee McCoy) and Central Ohio saw their fullback Roger Marshall earn his second straight honor and End Oliver Pool also be honored.

Mott's All-American Team for 1917:

QB Gus Goldman (SO) Buchanan
HB Paul Yates (SR) Rome State
HB Charlie Horton (SR) Georgia Baptist
FB Eddie Grimes (SO) Central Ohio
E Oliver Poole (SR) Central Ohio
T Leo Bright (SR) Pittsburgh State
G Lee McCoy (SR) Pittsburgh State
C Walter Sloan (SR) St. Blane
G Wilbur Porter (SR) Grafton
T Marion Meier (SR) St. Pancras
E Earnest Hart (JR) Garden State