Taking part in the very first intercollegiate football game in South Carolina in December 1889, Wofford’s team has had many memorable moments. The late 1940s and early 1950s, under legendary head coach Phil Dickens, have a good number of those highlights. Coming off an 11-0 regular season in 1949, ending with a New Year’s Day loss in the Cigar Bowl in Tampa to Florida State, the 1950 Terriers were hopeful of another good season.
Members of the Eleven Club — the precursor to the Terrier Club — were perhaps a little less than enthusiastic when the 1950 schedule appeared. The first game was against Auburn University, a perennial power. On Sept. 22 the Terriers traveled to Montgomery, Ala., for the game against the Tigers.
The game turned out to be a lot closer than anyone expected. Auburn jumped out to an early lead, scoring the first touchdown. Then Wofford scored twice, taking the lead at 13-7. Auburn scored again, taking a 14-13 lead, but Wofford got the final score and escaped Montgomery with a 19-14 victory. They were aided by three Auburn fumbles, and a good passing attack.
Auburn went on to a dismal season, losing all 10 games. Not surprisingly, their coach, Earl Brown, in his third season, was shown the door at the end of the season. Wofford lost to Stetson University the next week, which was its first regular season loss since 1947.
by Phillip Stone ’94