What Is 1917 Texas Longhorns football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1917 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas during the 1917 college football season, finishing with a 5–4 record under head coach W.E. Metzenthin. They competed as members of the Southwest Conference and played their home games at Clark Field in Austin.

Key Facts

The 1917 Texas Longhorns finished the season with a 5–4 overall record
Head coach W.E. Metzenthin led the team during his fourth season at Texas
They played home games at Clark Field, located on the university's Austin campus
The team competed in the Southwest Conference (SWC), winning 2 of 4 conference games
Their season included a 41–0 victory over Baylor, one of their largest wins

Overview

The 1917 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas during the 1917 college football season, marking the 21st year of the program's intercollegiate competition. Competing in the Southwest Conference (SWC), the Longhorns were led by head coach W.E. Metzenthin, who was in his fourth season at the helm.

Despite the challenges posed by World War I and related campus mobilization, the team managed a competitive schedule. The Longhorns finished with a 5–4 overall record and a 2–2 mark in conference play, demonstrating resilience amid national upheaval and shifting student priorities.

Record: The team posted a 5–4 overall record, their first losing season since 1912, reflecting increased competition and wartime disruptions.
Coach: W.E. Metzenthin served as head coach for the fourth consecutive year, compiling a 5–4 record in the 1917 season.
Home field: The Longhorns played their home games at Clark Field, a wooden stadium located on the University of Texas campus in Austin.
Conference: As members of the Southwest Conference, they secured victories over Oklahoma and Baylor but lost to Texas A&M and Arkansas.
Notable game: The team defeated Baylor 41–0 in Waco, one of the most dominant performances of the season and a key highlight.

How It Works

The 1917 season operated under early 20th-century college football rules and structures, which differed significantly from modern gameplay and organization. Teams played shorter schedules, and player eligibility was less regulated than today.

Gameplay format:Games consisted of four 15-minute quarters, with limited substitutions allowed, meaning most players played both offense and defense throughout the contest.
Scoring system:Touchdowns were worth five points in 1917, a rule that changed to six points the following year, affecting strategic decisions on the field.
Eligibility rules:Student-athletes could compete without strict academic requirements, and many players were also enrolled in military training programs due to wartime conditions.
Recruiting:There was no formal national recruiting infrastructure; most players came from Texas high schools or junior colleges, with limited travel for scouting.
Season structure:The season ran from October to November, with no postseason bowl games affiliated with the Southwest Conference at the time.
Team funding:Football programs relied on gate receipts and student fees, with minimal institutional support compared to modern athletic departments.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 1917 Texas Longhorns to other seasons highlights the team's place in the program’s early development and the broader context of college football history.

Season	Overall Record	SWC Record	Head Coach	Notable Result
1915	7–2	3–1	W.E. Metzenthin	Defeated Texas A&M 3–0
1916	7–2–1	3–1–1	W.E. Metzenthin	Tied Arkansas 7–7
1917	5–4	2–2	W.E. Metzenthin	Beat Baylor 41–0
1918	6–3	3–2	W.E. Metzenthin	Season shortened due to flu pandemic
1920	6–3–1	2–2–1	Berry Whitaker	First season after Metzenthin’s departure

While the 1917 season was modest in win-loss terms, it occurred during a period of national crisis, with many students enlisting in military service. This context helps explain the fluctuating performance compared to the stronger 1915 and 1916 campaigns, and foreshadowed further disruptions in 1918 due to the Spanish flu.

Why It Matters

The 1917 Texas Longhorns football team is a significant chapter in the evolution of college athletics at the University of Texas, illustrating how sports intersected with broader historical events like World War I.

Institutional continuity:The team maintained competition despite wartime enlistments, showing the growing cultural importance of college football even during national emergencies.
Coaching legacy:W.E. Metzenthin’s tenure shaped early program standards, influencing future coaching hires and team expectations.
Regional rivalry:Victories over Baylor and Texas A&M helped solidify in-state rivalries that remain central to the Longhorns’ identity today.
Historical context:The season reflects how global events impacted college sports, with reduced rosters and travel limitations affecting performance.
Stadium development:Clark Field hosted growing fan interest, laying the foundation for future stadium expansions like Memorial Stadium.
Rule changes:The 5-point touchdown in 1917 was the last season before the shift to 6 points, marking a transitional moment in football history.

Though not a championship season, the 1917 campaign exemplifies the resilience and evolving nature of college football during a transformative era, helping cement the Longhorns as a regional athletic force.