1. Kirk Newell Team captain, left halfback, accounted for 1707 all-purpose yards in just 8 games, including 121 yards in 21-7 win against Georgia in Atlanta that clinched SIAA championship and 8-0 season. Newell was the QB as a freshman on Auburn’s 6-1 national championship team in 1910. Coach Donahue later called Newell, “the best player I ever coached.” He later selflessly threw himself on a hand grenade during WWI, suffering disabling injuries, but saving the lives of others.
1913 Auburn Tigers football team (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
3. “Bull” Kearley He played halfback some as well, but Kearley starred as a tough intimidating defensive end. Coach Donahue’s defensive strategy in the “7 Box” (7-2-2) was to have his ends crash down and try to disrupt the play from the start. Kearley’s speed and great toughness helped key a defense that gave up only two touchdowns in 8 games.
4/5. Frank Lockwood/Jim Thigpen These two All-Southern lineman led the way for the rushing offense and composed a formidable tandem on the defensive line. Cuts, bruises, broken noses or even a knocked out tooth didn’t slow these guys down.
6. “Boozer” Pitts The son of a preacher, this teetotaler played well at center, a position even tougher in that era than today. His blocking was key for the fullback dive, Donahue’s staple play. Pitts would go on to be voted to the All-Southern team in 1914, and then a decade later as a math professor be named Auburn’s head coach when Donahue left the program.
7/8. Bill Christopher/Frank Hart These two played backup fullback and halfback and were often put in the game as fresh runners near the end zone. They had a nose for scoring touchdowns, including Hart’s 85 yard scamper for a TD against Georgia Tech in 20-0 victory. They were also mainstays on the defense where their hard-noses play won acclaim.
9. Ted Arnold When Arnold showed he could handle QB duties, Coach Donahue could move Kirk Newell from QB to halfback, his more natural position. While teams did not pass much in this era, Arnold had an accurate arm and that allowed Coach Donahue to use a few pass plays to loosen the defense against the run. Arnold was also the placekicker for extra points and seldom missed.
10. F.H. Pendergrast He had the speed of a halfback (where he’d play in 1914), but also had the physical play needed to play several positions on the defensive line and starred in whatever position he was asked to play.
