GATORS AT 100

1940s: Memorable Moments And Players

By JOEY JOHNSTON

Published: Jul 13, 2006

TIMELINE

Oct. 18, 1930 HB Red Bethea rushes for 218 yards against Chicago. The school single-game rushing record would stand until 1987, when freshman Emmitt Smith rushed for 224 yards against Alabama.

Nov. 8, 1930 - Florida faces Alabama in the first game at newly constructed Florida Field. UF student Walter "Red" Barber calls the play-by-play.

Dec. 1932 - Though he nearly led Florida to a national title in 1928, Coach Charles Bachman is not offered a new contract after the Gators go 3-6 in the 1932 season.

Dec. 8, 1932 - Spurred by Florida president John Tigert, the 13 Southern Conference schools located west and south of the Appalachian mountains break away and form the Southeastern Conference.

Oct. 13, 1934 - Florida Field is dedicated to the memory of the servicemen who died in World War I. The Gators lose, 28-12, to Tulane.

Nov. 6, 1937 - The Gators beat Georgia, 6-0, in Jacksonville. The win is Florida's first against the Bulldogs since 1929.

PROMINENT PLAYERS

T Clark Goff (1937-39) - Third-team All-SEC in 1939. Played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1940.
QB Walter "Tiger" Mayberry, above (1935-37) - Florida's first first-team All-SEC selection (1937) went on to serve in the Marine Air Corps in World War II. He was shot down and captured by the Japanese on Sept. 6, 1943. He died in the Rabaul POW camp, located on the island of New Britain in New Guinea.
C Welcome Shearer (1932-34) - One of Florida's first All-SEC selections (third team, 1933). One of only three men to captain Florida's football and basketball teams.
T Hal Starbuck (1932-34) - Also one of the Gators' first All-SEC selections (second team, 1933).

THROUGH THE YEARS

Year Rd. Coach

1930 6-3-1 Charles Bachman
1931 2-6-2 Charles Bachman
1932 3-6 Charles Bachman
1933 5-3-1 D.K. Stanley
1934 6-3-1 D.K. Stanley
1935 3-7 D.K. Stanley
1936 4-6 Josh Cody
1937 4-7 Josh Cody
1938 4-6-1 Josh Cody
1939 5-5-1 Josh Cody

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Information from the following sources were used in this series: University Athletic Association; Independent Florida Alligator; UF library; Samuel Proctor Oral History Program; UF athletic department historian Norm Carlson; "Go Gators: An Oral History of Florida's Pursuit of Gridiron Glory," by Peter Golenbock; "The Gators," by Tom McEwen; "Go Gators," by Arthur Cobb; "100 Years of Gator Football, 1906-2006," edited by Norm Carlson and Timothy O.Davis; "Stadium Stories: Florida Gators" by Peter Kerasotis.