# 1937 Southeastern Conference football season

The 1937 Southeastern Conference football season was the fifth season of college football played by the member schools of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and was a part of the 1937 college football season. Alabama compiled a 9–1 overall record, with a conference record of 6–0, and were SEC champion.

## Results and team statistics

| Conf. rank | Team | Head coach | Overall record | Conf. record | AP final | PPG | PAG |
| 1 | Alabama | Frank Thomas | 9–1–0 (.900) | 6–0–0 (1.000) | No. 4 | 22.5 | 3.3 |
| 2 | LSU | Bernie Moore | 9–2–0 (.818) | 5–1–0 (.833) | No. 8 | 21.3 | 3.0 |
| 3 | Auburn | Jack Meagher | 6–2–3 (.682) | 4–1–2 (.714) | | 3.3 |
| 4 | Vanderbilt | Ray Morrison | 7–2–0 (.778) | 4–2–0 (.667) | | 13.4 | 4.7 |
| 5 | Mississippi State | Ralph Sasse | 5–4–1 (.550) | 3–2–0 (.600) | | 11.9 | 11.7 |
| 6 | Georgia Tech | William Alexander | 6–3–1 (.650) | 3–2–1 (.583) | | 17.7 | 5.4 |
| 7 | Tennessee | Robert Neyland | 6–3–1 (.650) | 4–3–0 (.571) | | 18.9 | 4.7 |
| 8 | Florida | Josh Cody | 4–7–0 (.364) | 3–4–0 (.429) | | 7.8 | 8.1 |
| 9 | Tulane | Red Dawson | 5–4–1 (.550) | 2–3–1 (.417) | | 16.4 | 6.9 |
| 10 | Georgia | Harry Mehre | 6–3–2 (.636) | 1–2–2 (.400) | | 13.7 | 5.8 |
| 11 | Ole Miss | Ed Walker | 4–5–1 (.450) | 0–4–0 (.000) | | 12.7 | 10.6 |
| 12 | Kentucky | Chet A. Wynne | 4–6–0 (.400) | 0–5–0 (.000) | | 9.3 | 13.0 |
| 13 | Sewanee | Harry E. Clark | 2–7–0 (.222) | 0–6–0 (.000) | | 8.7 | 23.7 |
Key AP final = Rankings from AP sports writers. See 1937 college football rankings PPG = Average of points scored per game PAG = Average of points allowed per game

## Schedule

* Index to colors and formatting
* SEC member won
* SEC member lost
* SEC member tie
* SEC teams in bold

### Week One

| Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 24 | Birmingham–Southern | Auburn | Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, AL | W 19–0 | 15,000 |
| September 24 | Presbyterian | Georgia Tech | Grant Field • Atlanta, GA | W 59–0 | 12,000 |
| September 25 | Howard (AL) | Alabama | Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL | W 41–0 | 7,500 |
| September 25 | Delta State | Mississippi State | Scott Field • Starkville, MS | W 39–0 | |
| September 25 | Wake Forest | Tennessee | Shields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TN | W 32–0 | 7,500 |
| September 25 | Clemson | Tulane | Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA | W 7–0 | 15,000 |
| September 25 | Oglethorpe | Georgia | Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA | W 60–0 | 5,000 |
| September 25 | Louisiana Tech | Ole Miss | Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS | W 13–0 | |
| September 25 | Hiwassee | Sewanee | Hardee Field • Sewanee, TN | W 40–0 | |
| September 25 | Florida | LSU | Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry) | LSU 19–0 | 15,000 |
| September 25 | Kentucky | Vanderbilt | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN (rivalry) | VAN 12–0 | 5,000 |

### Week Two

| Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance |
| October 1 | Ole Miss | Temple | Beury Stadium • Philadelphia, PA | T 0–0 | 15,000 |
| October 2 | Texas | LSU | Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA | W 9–0 | 10,000 |
| October 2 | Chicago | Vanderbilt | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN | W 18–0 | 5,000 |
| October 2 | Howard (AL) | Mississippi State | Scott Field • Starkville, MS | W 38–0 | 4,000 |
| October 2 | Mercer | Georgia Tech | Grant Field • Atlanta, GA | W 28–0 | |
| October 2 | VPI | Tennessee | Shields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TN | W 27–0 | 10,000 |
| October 2 | Stetson | Florida | Florida Field • Gainesville, FL | W 18–0 | 4,000 |
| October 2 | South Carolina | Georgia | Columbia Municipal Stadium • Columbia, SC (rivalry) | W 13–7 | 15,000 |
| October 2 | Kentucky | Xavier | Xavier Stadium • Cincinnati, OH | W 6–0 | |
| October 2 | Sewanee | Alabama | Legion Field • Birmingham, AL | ALA 65–0 | 7,000 |
| October 4 | Auburn | Tulane | Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA (rivalry) | 0–0 | |

### Week Three

| Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance |
| October 8 | Tennessee Wesleyan | Sewanee | Hardee Field • Sewanee, TN | W 25–0 | |
| October 9 | South Carolina | Alabama | Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL | W 20–0 | 9,000 |
| October 9 | LSU | Rice | Rice Field • Houston, TX | W 13–0 | |
| October 9 | Vanderbilt | Southwestern (TN) | Crump Stadium • Memphis, TN | W 17–6 | 10,000 |
| October 9 | Mississippi College | Tulane | Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA | W 84–0 | 12,000 |
| October 9 | Clemson | Georgia | Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA (rivalry) | W 14–0 | 8,000 |
| October 9 | Saint Louis | Ole Miss | Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS | W 21–0 | 4,500 |
| October 9 | Auburn | Villanova | Shibe Park • Philadelphia, PA | T 0–0 | 15,000 |
| October 9 | Tennessee | Duke | Duke Stadium • Durham, NC | T 0–0 | 39,000 |
| October 9 | Florida | Temple | Beury Stadium • Philadelphia, PA | L 6–7 | 10,000 |
| October 9 | Mississippi State | Texas A&M | Lion Stadium • Tyler, TX | L 0–14 | 16,000 |
| October 9 | Georgia Tech | Kentucky | McLean Stadium • Lexington, KY | GT 32–0 | 7,500 |

### Week Four

| Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance |
| October 16 | Vanderbilt | SMU | Cotton Bowl • Dallas, TX | W 6–0 | 7,000 |
| October 16 | Tulane | Colgate | Roesch Memorial Stadium • Buffalo, NY | W 7–6 | 32,524 |
| October 16 | Washington & Lee | Kentucky | McLean Stadium • Lexington, KY | W 41–6 | |
| October 16 | Georgia | Holy Cross | Fenway Park • Boston, MA | L 6–7 | |
| October 16 | Duke | Georgia Tech | Grant Field • Atlanta, GA | L 19–20 | 26,000 |
| October 16 | Alabama | Tennessee | Shields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TN (rivalry) | ALA 14–7 | 25,000 |
| October 16 | Ole Miss | LSU | Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry) | LSU 13–0 | 25,000 |
| October 16 | Mississippi State | Auburn | Legion Field • Birmingham, AL | AUB 33–7 | 15,000 |
| October 16 | Sewanee | Florida | Florida Field • Gainesville, FL | FLA 21–0 | 5,000 |

### Week Five

| Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance |
| October 23 | No. 2 Alabama | George Washington | Griffith Stadium • Washington, DC | W 19–0 | 24,666 |
| October 23 | Mercer | Georgia | Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA | W 19–0 | 5,000 |
| October 23 | Ouachita Baptist | Ole Miss | Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS | W 46–0 | 2,500 |
| October 23 | Manhattan | Kentucky | McLean Stadium • Lexington, KY | W 19–0 | 8,000 |
| October 23 | Tulane | North Carolina | Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC | L 0–13 | |
| October 23 | No. 6 LSU | No. 20 Vanderbilt | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN | VAN 7–6 | 15,000 |
| October 23 | No. 20 Auburn | Georgia Tech | Grant Field • Atlanta, GA | AUB 21–0 | 19,000 |
| October 23 | Florida | Mississippi State | Scott Field • Starkville, MS | MSS 14–13 | 7,500 |
| October 23 | Sewanee | Tennessee | Shields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TN | TEN 32–0 | 4,000 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |||||||

### Week Six

| Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance |
| October 30 | Loyola (LA) | No. 17 LSU | Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA | W 52–6 | |
| October 30 | Mississippi State | Centenary | State Fair Stadium • Shreveport, LA | T 0–0 | 10,000 |
| October 30 | No. 12 Auburn | Rice | Rice Field • Houston, TX | L 7–13 | |
| October 30 | Florida | Maryland | Byrd Stadium • College Park, MD | L 7–13 | 10,000 |
| October 30 | Tennessee Tech | Sewanee | Hardee Field • Sewanee, TN | L 6–9 | |
| October 30 | Kentucky | No. 3 Alabama | Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL | ALA 41–0 | 13,000 |
| October 30 | No. 7 Vanderbilt | Georgia Tech | Grant Field • Atlanta, GA | GT 14–0 | 20,000 |
| October 30 | Georgia | Tennessee | Shields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TN (rivalry) | TEN 32–0 | 17,000 |
| October 30 | Ole Miss | Tulane | Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA (rivalry) | TUL 14–7 | 19,000 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |||||||

### Week Seven

| Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance |
| November 5 | Ole Miss | George Washington | Griffith Stadium • Washington, DC | W 27–6 | 11,800 |
| November 6 | Clemson | Georgia Tech | Grant Field • Atlanta, GA (rivalry) | W 7–0 | 12,000 |
| November 6 | South Carolina | Kentucky | McLean Stadium • Lexington, KY | W 27–7 | |
| November 6 | No. 2 Alabama | No. 19 Tulane | Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA | ALA 9–6 | 30,000 |
| November 6 | Mississippi State | No. 18 LSU | Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry) | LSU 41–0 | 20,000 |
| November 6 | No. 15 Tennessee | Auburn | Legion Field • Birmingham, AL (rivalry) | AUB 20–7 | 18,000 |
| November 6 | Sewanee | Vanderbilt | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN (rivalry) | VAN 41–0 | 6,500 |
| November 6 | Georgia | Florida | Fairfield Stadium • Jacksonville, FL (rivalry) | FLA 6–0 | 20,000 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |||||||

### Week Eight

| Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance |
| November 13 | Clemson | Florida | Florida Field • Gainesville, FL | L 9–10 | 6,000 |
| November 13 | Arkansas | Ole Miss | Crump Stadium • Memphis, TN (rivalry) | L 6–32 | 15,000 |
| November 13 | Kentucky | Boston College | Fenway Park • Boston, MA | L 0–13 | 3,500 |
| November 13 | Georgia Tech | No. 3 Alabama | Legion Field • Birmingham, AL (rivalry) | ALA 7–0 | 26,000 |
| November 13 | No. 14 Auburn | No. 15 LSU | Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry) | LSU 9–7 | 30,000 |
| November 13 | Tennessee | Vanderbilt | Shields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TN (rivalry) | VAN 13–7 | 23,000 |
| November 13 | Sewanee | Mississippi State | Scott Field • Starkville, MS | MSS 12–0 | 6,000 |
| November 13 | Tulane | Georgia | Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA | UGA 7–6 | 12,000 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |||||||

### Week Nine

| Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance |
| November 20 | Louisiana Normal | No. 8 LSU | Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA | W 52–0 | 5,000 |
| November 20 | Auburn | Georgia | Memorial Stadium • Columbus, GA (rivalry) | 0–0 | 16,000 |
| November 20 | Georgia Tech | Florida | Florida Field • Gainesville, FL | GT 12–0 | 16,000 |
| November 20 | Sewanee | Tulane | Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA | TUL 33–7 | 10,000 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |||||||

### Week Ten

| Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance |
| November 25 | No. 4 Alabama | No. 12 Vanderbilt | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN | ALA 9–7 | 22,000 |
| November 25 | Mississippi State | Ole Miss | Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS (rivalry) | MSS 9–7 | 14,000 |
| November 25 | Tennessee | Kentucky | McLean Stadium • Lexington, KY (rivalry) | TEN 13–0 | 15,000 |
| November 27 | No. 10 LSU | Tulane | Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA (rivalry) | LSU 20–7 | |
| November 27 | Auburn | Florida | Fairfield Stadium • Jacksonville, FL (rivalry) | AUB 14–0 | |
| November 27 | Georgia Tech | Georgia | Grant Field • Atlanta, GA (rivalry) | 6–6 | 28,000 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |||||||

### Week Eleven

| Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance |
| December 4 | Duquesne | Mississippi State | Scott Field • Starkville, MS | L 0–9 | 6,000 |
| December 4 | Tennessee | Ole Miss | Crump Stadium • Memphis, TN | TEN 32–0 | 10,000 |
| December 4 | Kentucky | Florida | Florida Field • Gainesville, FL | FLA 6–0 | |
| December 10 | Georgia | Miami (FL) | Burdine Stadium • Miami, FL | W 26–0 | 20,000 |

### Postseason

| Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance |
| January 1, 1938 | No. 4 Alabama | No. 3 California | Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl) | L 0–13 | 89,650 |
| January 1, 1938 | No. 8 LSU | No. 9 Santa Clara | Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl) | L 0–6 | 40,000 |
| January 1, 1938 | Michigan State | Auburn | Burdine Stadium • Miami, FL (Orange Bowl) | W 6–0 | 18,970 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |||||||

## All-conference players

The following players were recognized as consensus first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP) and United Press (UP) on the 1937 All-SEC football team:
* Bill Jordan, End, Georgia Tech (AP-1, UP-1)
* Frank Kinard, Tackle, Ole Miss (AP-1, UP-1)
* Leroy Monsky, Guard, Alabama (AP-1, UP-1)
* Ralph Sivell, Guuard, Auburn (AP-1, UP-1)
* Carl Hinkle, Tackle, Vanderbilt (AP-1, UP-1)
* Fletcher Sims, Quarterback, Georgia Tech (AP-1, UP-1)
* Joe Kilgrow, Halfback, Alabama (AP-1, UP-1)
* Walter Mayberry, Halfback, Florida (AP-1, UP-1)

## All-Americans

One SEC player was a consensus first-team pick on the 1937 College Football All-America Team:
* Leroy Monsky, Guard, Alabama (AAB, AP, COL, LIB, SN)
Other SEC players receiving All-American honors from at least one selector were:
* Bill Jordan, End, Georgia Tech (AP-2; INS-2; NEA-3)
* Bruiser Kinard, Tackle, Ole Miss (AP-3; UP-1; INS-1; NEA-1; CE-1; SN)
* Jim Ryba, Tackle, Alabama (INS-3; CP-1)
* Eddie Gatto, Tackle, LSU (AP-3)
* Jim Tipton, Tackle, Alabama (UP-3)
* Jim Sivell, Guard, Auburn (AP-3; CP-2)
* Norman Buckner, Guard, Tulane (UP-3)
* Joe Kilgrow, Fullback, Alabama (UP-2 [hb]; INS-1; CP-2 [hb]; SN; NW; NEA-2 [hb])
* George "Pinky" Rohm, Fullback, LSU (INS-3)

## Head coaches

Records through the completion of the 1937 season
| Team | Head coach | Years at school | Overall record | Record at school | SEC record |
| Alabama | Frank Thomas | 7 | 83–16–4 (.825) | 57–7–3 (.873) | 27–2–2 (.903) |
| Auburn | Jack Meagher | 4 | 49–40–5 (.548) | 23–14–5 (.607) | 14–10–3 (.574) |
| Florida | Josh Cody | 2 | 47–43–1 (.522) | 8–13–0 (.381) | 4–9–0 (.308) |
| Georgia | Harry Mehre | 10 | 59–34–6 (.626) | 59–34–6 (.626) | 12–12–2 (.500) |
| Georgia Tech | William Alexander | 18 | 92–68–12 (.570) | 92–68–12 (.570) | 11–20–2 (.364) |
| Kentucky | Chet A. Wynne | 4 | 81–60–9 (.570) | 20–19–0 (.513) | 5–14–0 (.263) |
| LSU | Bernie Moore | 3 | 39–17–4 (.683) | 27–5–1 (.833) | 16–1–0 (.941) |
| Mississippi State | Ralph Sasse | 3 | 45–15–4 (.734) | 20–10–2 (.656) | 8–7–0 (.533) |
| Ole Miss | Ed Walker | 8 | 38–38–8 (.500) | 38–38–8 (.500) | 7–13–3 (.370) |
| Sewanee | Harry E. Clark | 7 | 17–43–3 (.294) | 17–43–3 (.294) | 0–27–0 (.000) |
| Tennessee | Robert Neyland | 11 | 88–14–8 (.836) | 88–14–8 (.836) | 17–7–2 (.692) |
| Tulane | Red Dawson | 2 | 11–7–2 (.600) | 11–7–2 (.600) | 4–6–2 (.417) |
| Vanderbilt | Ray Morrison | 4 | 105–56–23 (.633) | 21–12–1 (.632) | 10–6–1 (.618) |

## 1938 NFL draft

The following SEC players were selected in the 1938 NFL draft:
| Round | Overall Pick | Player name | School | Position | NFL team |
| 2 | 13 | Joe Kilgrow | Alabama | Back | Brooklyn Dodgers |
| 3 | 18 | Frank Kinard | Ole Miss | Tackle | Brooklyn Dodgers |
| 5 | 33 | Ed Merlin | Vanderbilt | Offensive Guard | Brooklyn Dodgers |
| 5 | 38 | Marion Konemann | Georgia Tech | Back | New York Giants |
| 5 | 39 | Dave Price | Mississippi State | Center | Washington Redskins |
| 7 | 53 | Leroy Monsky | Alabama | Offensive Guard | Brooklyn Dodgers |
| 8 | 61 | Walter Mayberry | Florida | Back | Cleveland Rams |
| 8 | 69 | Bill Hartman | Georgia | Fullback | Washington Redskins |
| 8 | 70 | Fletcher Sims | Georgia Tech | Back | Chicago Bears |
| 10 | 83 | Jim Sivell | Auburn | Offensive Guard | Brooklyn Dodgers |
| 11 | 92 | Carl Hinkle | Vanderbilt | Center | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 11 | 97 | Pete Tinsley | Georgia | Back | Green Bay Packers |