1912 Vanderbilt Commodores football team
| 1912 Dudley Field | |
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| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt $ | 3 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas A&M | 2 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky State | 1 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 5 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 2 | – | 1 | – | 2 | 5 | – | 1 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 3 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 2 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mercer | 2 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi College | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 0 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Centre
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0 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Citadel | 0 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howard (AL) | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1912 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented
Vanderbilt outscored its opponents 391–19. The team scored 100 points in each of the first two contests; the 105–0 victory over
Several players received postseason honors. Halfback and team captain Lewie Hardage was selected a third-team All-American by Walter Camp, the fourth player from the South ever to receive such recognition, and was a unanimous first-team All-Southern selection. Center Hugh Morgan, end Enoch Brown, tackle Tom Brown, fullback Ammie Sikes, and guard Herman Daves also received All-Southern recognition.
Before the season
Vanderbilt faced its hardest schedule to date.[2] The team lost several varsity letter winners to graduation, including
The 1912 season saw the
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 28 | 3:30 p.m. | Dudley Field | W 105–0 | ||
| October 5 | Maryville (TN)* |
| W 100–3 | ||
| October 12 | Rose Poly * |
| W 54–0 | ||
| October 19 | at Georgia | W 46–0 | 4,500 | ||
| October 26 | Ole Miss |
| W 24–0 | ||
| November 2 | Virginia* |
| W 13–0 | 4,000 | |
| November 9 | at Harvard* | L 3–9 | |||
| November 16 | Central University * |
| W 23–0 | ||
| November 23 | at Auburn | T 7–7 | |||
| November 28 | Sewanee |
| W 16–0 | 10,000 | |
| |||||
Game summaries
Bethel (KY)
The season started with the largest win in school history, a 105–0 victory over
The game began at 3:30 p.m. in pouring rain.
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Turner (left end), Covington (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Morgan (center), Huffman (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Curlin (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), and Sikes (fullback).[1]
Maryville (TN)
|
The Commodores then won by a 100–3 score against the Maryville Scots. Despite the first two games being like practice games, the large scores were a surprise, for in both the substitutes replaced the regulars by the second quarter.[13] Maryville's Badgett scored on a 31-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.[14] One of Vanderbilt's scores was a 40-yard forward pass from Hardage to Brown.[12]
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Turner (left end), Covington (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Morgan (center), Huffman (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Curlin (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), and Sikes (fullback).[14]
Rose Polytechnic
|
The game with Rose Polytechnic was seen as the first real test of the season. The Commodores still managed a 54–0 victory, with substitutes replacing the regulars by the end of the first half.[13] The first score came on a 35-yard interception return by Lew Hardage.[15]
During the game's opening
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Turner (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Morgan (center), Swofford (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Robins (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), and Chester (fullback).[15]
Georgia
The Commodores easily defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 46–0 in the rain. Coaching the Bulldogs was McGugin product Alex Cunningham. The game was played on the infield and part of the right outfield of Ponce de Leon Park.[16] According to Vanderbilt University Quarterly, the score would have been higher but for the water and mud.[13] Georgia star Bob McWhorter was held in check; his best run went for 12 yards.[13]
The first score of the game came when Wilson Collins got away for a 20-yard run, but fumbled. The ball was picked up by Zach Curlin and run in for a touchdown. When the game ended, Georgia men tried to steal the ball, and a fight broke out, broken up by coach McGugin and umpire Ted Coy.[16]
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Turner (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Morgan (center), Huffman (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Robins (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Shea (right halfback), and Chester (fullback).[16]
Mississippi
Vanderbilt beat
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Milholland (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Daves (left guard), T. Brown (center), Swafford (right guard), Covington (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Robins (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Shea (right halfback), and Turner (fullback).[17]
Virginia
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Vanderbilt met Virginia for the first time since 1898.[20] It also won for the first time, 13–0.[19] Ammie Sikes scored first, after runs of 35 and 28 yards by Lew Hardage paved the way.[19] A 30-yard forward pass from Hardage to Enoch Brown got the second touchdown.[19] In the last period, Sikes broke loose, down to the 5-yard line when he was caught from behind by Buck Mayer.[19]
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Turner (left end), Daves (left tackle), Huffman (left guard), Morgan (center), Covington (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), Milholland (right end), Curlin (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), and Sikes (fullback).[19]
Harvard
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Vanderbilt suffered its only loss of the season on the road to coach Percy Haughton's national champion Harvard Crimson 9–3. Only Dartmouth played the Crimson closer. "As usual Harvard tried out the strength of its defense in the first period, kicking usually on the second down."[21] Harvard used mostly substitutes and scored a touchdown five minutes after the second period began.[21] Lew Hardage was injured and taken off the field.[21]
Vanderbilt's lone score was a 28-yard field goal from Zach Curlin early in the third quarter, after Harvard muffed a punt.[21] The Crimson added another field goal in the final period.[21]
In the last ten minutes, the Commodores tried their full repertoire of tricks, including a delayed forward pass in which the ball was handled by four men and netted a 22-yard gain from Rabbi Robins.[22] The International News Service reported: "Although defeated, Vanderbilt was not outplayed; for never was a gamer team seen in the Stadium."[23]
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Turner (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Swafford (left guard), Morgan (center), Daves (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Curlin (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), and Sikes (fullback).[22]
Central University
Vanderbilt playing with just four regulars and a new backfield beat
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Chester (left end), Daves (left tackle), Reyer (left guard), Huffman (center), Swafford (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), Reams (right end), Robins (quarterback), Luck (left halfback), Shea (right halfback), and Milholland (fullback).[24]
Auburn
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The Auburn Tigers upset expectations and tied the Commodores 7–7. Ammie Sikes scored first for Vanderbilt.[25] Auburn scored after a Sikes fumble. The ball was kicked some fifteen yards down field clear of the melee, picked up by Kirk Newell, and run 55 yards to the end zone.[25]
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Reams (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Moody (center), Covington (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Curlin (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), and Turner (fullback).[25]
Sewanee
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Vanderbilt defeated rival Sewanee 16–0. In the first period, Sewanee had to punt from its own end zone. The pass to Jenks Gillem went wide, and before he could recover it he was downed by Enoch Brown for a safety.[26] Gillem had one punt of 58 yards that day.[n 1] Vanderbilt's game seemed to stagnate until Wilson Collins was hurt and replaced by Tom Shea in the third quarter.[28] Then two touchdowns came in the fourth period, one by Robins and another Turner.[26] In his last game, Lew Hardage played well despite his hurt left ankle.[29][30]
Vanderbilt had clamored for a rematch to decide a champion after its tie with Auburn, but Auburn was
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Reams (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Morgan (center), Swofford (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Robins (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), and Sikes (fullback).[29]
Postseason
Awards and honors
Lew Hardage was selected third-team
Championships
Vanderbilt won the SIAA title in football, baseball, and track.[35] According to Nathan Stauffer, Texas A&M was Vanderbilt's nearest challenger for best football team in the South.[36]
Personnel
Depth chart
The following chart provides a visual depiction of Vanderbilt's lineup during the 1912 season with games started at the position reflected in parentheses.[4] The chart mimics a short punt formation while on offense, with the quarterback under center.
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Varsity letter winners
The lettermen were dubbed "Wearers of the V."[37] Team manager Frank Gilliland was also a letterman.[37]
| Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tom Brown
|
tackle | 10 | Gallatin, Tennessee | Unknown | 6'2" | 180 | 22 |
| Joe Covington | guard | 5 | Unknown | Unknown | Unk. | Unk. | Unk. |
| Zeke Martin | end | 0 | Mobile, Alabama | University Military School | Unk. | Unk. | Unk. |
| Hugh Morgan | center | 8 | Nashville, Tennessee | Unknown | Unk. | 216 | 19 |
| Kent Morrison | end | 0 | Unknown | McTyeire School | Unk. | Unk. | Unk. |
| Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson Collins | halfback | 7 | Pulaski, Tennessee | Massey School | 5'9" | 165 | 23 |
| Zach Curlin | halfback | 5 | Luxora, Arkansas | Webb School |
Unk. | Unk. | 22 |
Lew Hardage
|
halfback | 9 | Decatur, Alabama | Unknown | Unk. | 165 | 21 |
| Rabbi Robins | halfback | 5 | Tupelo, Mississippi | McTyeire School | Unk. | Unk. | 21 |
| Player | Touchdowns | Extra points | Field goals | Safeties | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lew Hardage
|
11 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 96 |
| Wilson Collins | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 66 |
| Rabbi Robins | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 |
| Enoch Brown | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 |
| Zach Curlin | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 25 |
| Kent Morrison | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Yunk Chester | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Glen Reams | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Tom Shea | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Ammie Sikes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Tom Brown | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Malcolm Luck | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Whitey Milholland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Pud Reyer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Peck Turner | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| N/A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Total | 56 | 36 | 5 | 2 | 391 |
See also
- 1912 College Football All-Southern Team
- 1912 College Football All-America Team
- 1912 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season
Notes
References
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Percy H. Whiting (September 9, 1912). "Vanderbilt Loses Stars; New Rules Hurt Chances McGugin To Have Real Team, However, As Usual". Atlanta Georgian. p. 10.
- ^ a b Vanderbilt University, p. 259
- ISBN 9781933599700.
- ^ Vanderbilt University, p. 260
- ^ "1912 Vanderbilt Commodores Schedule and Results". sports-reference.com. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
- ^ Walsh 2006, p. 121
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Traughber 2011, p. 57
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Vanderbilt University, p. 261
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Vanderbilt University, p. 262
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Vanderbilt University, p. 29
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Vanderbilt University, p. 263
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ "All-Time Football Team Lists Greats Of Past, Present". Gadsden Times. July 27, 1969.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 275
- ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 274
- ^ a b Order, Kappa Alpha (1913). "On the Gridiron and Diamond". The Kappa Alpha Journal. 30 (2): 211.
- ^ Joe Williams, "Joe Williams Says", El Paso Herald-Post, p. 10 (November 12, 1935). Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Vanderbilt University, p. 210
- ^ Nathan Stauffer. "All-Southern Football Team of 1912". Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide: 65.
- ^ a b Vanderbilt University, p. 213
Bibliography
- Traughber, Bill (2011). Vanderbilt Football: Tales of Commodore Gridiron History. The History Press. ISBN 978-1-60949-423-0.
- Vanderbilt University (1912). Vanderbilt University Quarterly. Vol. 12.
- Walsh, Christopher J. (2006). Where Football Is King: A History of the SEC. ISBN 9781461734772.
- Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. Vol. 1.