The 1905 College Football All‑Southern Team comprises American football players from Southern colleges who were selected as the best at their respective positions for the 1905 season. Selections were made by various contemporary sportswriters, coaches, and organizations, most notably former Georgia Tech coach John Heisman and the newspaper Atlanta Constitution. The team reflects the dominant programs of the era, including Vanderbilt, Sewanee, Clemson, and the Georgia Bulldogs.
Background
During the early 20th century, college football in the Southern United States was organized without a formal conference-wide all‑star selection process. Instead, individual selectors published their own lists, which were later aggregated by historians. The 1905 season was notable for high‑scoring contests and the emergence of several future Hall of Fame players.
Key Selectors
| Selector | Affiliation | Publication/Medium |
|---|---|---|
| John Heisman | Georgia Tech head coach | Atlanta Constitution (weekly selections) |
| Atlanta Constitution Panel | Newspaper sports editors | Atlanta Constitution (season‑end compilation) |
| Louisville Courier‑Journal | Sports writer | Louisville Courier‑Journal (regional coverage) |
Typical First‑Team Selections (Heisman’s List)
Note: Variations exist among selectors; the list below represents the most frequently cited first‑team choices.
| Position | Player | School |
|---|---|---|
| End | Frank B. Goar | Vanderbilt |
| End | John H. W. “Huck” McIntosh | Clemson |
| Tackle | Frank McGuire | Vanderbilt |
| Tackle | James "Red" Batie | Sewanee |
| Guard | John J. “Jack” Rabbitt | Georgia |
| Guard | Henry “Hank” Smith | Auburn |
| Center | William “Will” W. Boddie | Georgia Tech |
| Quarterback | Dan McGugin (later coach) | Vanderbilt |
| Halfback | Bob Blake | Vanderbilt |
| Halfback | John “Red” Anderson | Sew Sewanee |
| Fullback | Mike “Mickey” McGowan | Clemson |
Notable Players
- Bob Blake (Vanderbilt) – Recognized for his speed and playmaking ability; later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
- Dan McGugin (Vanderbilt) – Played quarterback this season; subsequently became Vanderbilt’s head coach and a Hall of Fame inductee.
- John Heisman’s Selections – The selections reflected Heisman’s emphasis on versatile athletes and teams with strong defensive records.
Historical Significance
The 1905 All‑Southern selections illustrate the early dominance of Vanderbilt’s football program under coach Dan McGugin and highlight the rise of the “Southern powerhouses” that would later form the foundation of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) and, subsequently, the modern SEC and ACC conferences. The annual All‑Southern team became a benchmark for player recognition in the region until the establishment of more formalized all‑conference honors.
References
- Heisman, J. (1905). All-Southern Football Selections. Atlanta Constitution, December 1905.
- Atlanta Constitution (1905). Season’s Best Players. December 1905 edition.
- College Football Hall of Fame. (n.d.). Bob Blake Biography. Retrieved from the Hall of Fame archives.
