1896 LSU Tigers football team

1896 LSU Tigers football
SIAA co-champion
Conference	Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1896 record	6–0 (4–0 SIAA)
Head coach	Allen Jeardeau (1st year)
Captain	Edwin A. Scott
Home stadium	State Field

The 1896 LSU Tigers football team represented the LSU Tigers of Louisiana State University during the 1896 college football season. This was LSU's first season playing as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA).^[1] The Tigers, led by coach Allen Jeardeau, went undefeated and were the SIAA co-champions. It was LSU's second undefeated season in football. The 1896 team was also the first LSU team to use the nickname "Tigers".

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
October 10	4:00 p. m.	Centenary*	State Field • Baton Rouge, LA	W 46–0	-
October 24		at Tulane	New Orleans, LA (Battle for the Rag)	W 6–0	-
November 13	3:25 p. m.	vs. Mississippi	Vicksburg, MS	W 12–4	-
November 16	3:30 p. m.	Texas	State Field • Baton Rouge, LA	W 14–0	-
November 20		Mississippi A&M (Mississippi State)	State Field • Baton Rouge, LA	W 52–0	-
November 28	3:00 p. m.	at Southern Athletic Club*	New Orleans, LA	W 6–0	500
*Non-conference game. Homecoming.

Roster

† -Team Captain
Roster from Fanbase.com^[2] and LSU: The Louisiana Tigers^[3]

Game Notes

Centenary

LSU beat Centenary 46–0. The starting lineup was Westbrook (left end), Nicholson (left tackle), Huyck (left guard), Atkinson (center), Scott (right guard), Robertson (right tackle), Slaughter (right end), Gourrier (quarterback), J. Daspit (left halfback), A. Daspit (right halfback), Lambert (fullback).^[4]

Tulane

The Tulane game of this year was forfeited during the game due to Tulane having fielded an ineligible player. At the time that the game was declared forfeit, Tulane was leading with a score of 2 to nothing. About 10 minutes into the second half, LSU was moving the ball toward the goal line when a Tulane player named Depleche was injured. The injured player was replaced by George H. Brooke. LSU ran another play and gained 5 yards before realizing the identity of this substitute Tulane player. LSU's team captain, Edwin A. Scott protested to the game's referee, Lieutenant Wall. Scott cited the rules of the SIAA and the mutual pre-game agreement between the schools as reasons that Brooke should be declared ineligible to play. Tulane's team captain, Louis J. Genella, refused to take Brooke out of the game and stated that Tulane refused to play without him. After a lengthy debate, the referee ruled that Brooke could not play, and that Tulane forfeited the game by refusing to play without him. During the debate, Tulane argued that Brooke, who was previously a two time All-American at Pennsylvania, planned to enroll as a graduate student at Tulane. Brooke refused to sign an affidavit of his intention to enroll at Tulane. Due to the forfeiture, the official score was set at LSU 6, Tulane 0 by the game's referee. Dr. William Dudley, of the SIAA, later ruled that the game referee was right to declare the game forfeited and that men planning to enter a school were not eligible to play. Dudley ruled that prospective players should be enrolled for two weeks before being allowed to play in a game.^[5][6]

Ole Miss

LSU defeated Mississippi 12–6. The starting lineup was A. Daspit (left end), Arrighi (left tackle), Huyck (left guard), Chavanne (center), Schneider (right guard), Scott (right tackle), Slaughter (right end), J. Daspit (quarterback), Schoenberger (left halfback), Gourrier (right halfback), Nicholson (fullback).^[7]

Texas

The Cadets defeated the Texas team 14–0. Sam Gourrier made the first touchdown around Texas' left end.^[8]

Mississippi A&M

The Cadets slaughtered the Mississippi Aggies 52–0.^[9]

Southern A. C.

On a cold, dreary day, LSU defeated the Southern Athletic Club 6–0. LSU's Robertson got the deciding touchdown.^[10] Rain started to pour as soon as the game ended.^[10]

References