1927 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team
1927 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football | |
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SoCon co-champion | |
Conference | Southern Conference |
Record | 8–1–1 (7–0–1 SoCon) |
Head coach |
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Offensive scheme | Jump shift |
Captain | Ed Crowley |
Home stadium | Grant Field |
Uniform | |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Georgia Tech + | 7 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tennessee + | 5 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NC State + | 4 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vanderbilt | 5 | – | 0 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 1 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 8 Georgia | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ole Miss | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Virginia | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Clemson | 2 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alabama | 3 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LSU | 2 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mississippi A&M | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Washington and Lee | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
VPI | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maryland | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South Carolina | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
VMI | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tulane | 2 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Carolina | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sewanee | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kentucky | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Auburn | 0 | – | 6 | – | 1 | 0 | – | 7 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1927 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team
In what was considered the best Georgia Tech season since 1918,[3] the Tornado shared the SoCon title with the Tennessee Volunteers and NC State Wolfpack. Tech clinched the SoCon in the season's final game: upsetting rival Georgia's previously undefeated "dream and wonder team" which was nonetheless picked as a national champion by some selectors.[4] Coach Alexander notably instituted "The Plan" to beat the rival Bulldogs; for weeks saving his regulars for practice.[5]
The Tornado also upset the Alabama Crimson Tide, handing the Tide their first loss in over two seasons. One researcher ranks Tech as the year's best Southern defense.[6] Tech suffered its only loss to Notre Dame, and held Vanderbilt to a scoreless tie.
Before the season
Tech was coming off the weakest season in coach
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
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October 1 | VMI | W 7–0 | 17,000 | [7] | ||
October 8 | Tulane |
| W 13–6 | 12,000 | [8] | |
October 15 | Alabama |
| W 13–0 | 25,000 | [9] | |
October 22 | North Carolina |
| W 13–0 | 13,000 | [10] | |
October 29 | 2:00 p. m. | at Notre Dame* | L 26–7 | 20,000 | [11] | |
November 5 | at Vanderbilt | T 0–0 | 17,000 | [12] | ||
November 12 | LSU |
| W 23–0 | [13] | ||
November 19 | Oglethorpe* |
| W 19–7 | [14] | ||
November 24 | 2:00 p.m. | Auburn |
| W 18–0 | 15,000 | [15] |
December 3 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 1 Georgia |
| W 12–0 | 38,000 | [16] |
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Game summaries
Week 1: VMI
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To open the season, Tech defeated VMI 7–0.[19] The Cadets played strongly for two quarters, but were near collapse by game's end.[20] Al Barnes starred for VMI and Stumpy Thomason starred for Tech. "The V. M. I. team tried every brand of football they knew. But it was useless against the Tech defense and offense."[18] The lone score came from Warner Mizell.[18]
The starting lineup was: Crowley (left end), Thrash (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Smith (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Horn (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).[18]
Week 2: Tulane
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On a sloppy, wet field, the Tornado beat Tulane 13–6 despite many publications calling the game a "toss-up".[23] Tech's first score came after a fumble recovery when Stumpy Thomason scored. In the second quarter, Bill Banker "zigzagged through the entire Tech defense" for an 80-yard touchdown. Rain fell at halftime and for the entire third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Thomason had another, 10-yard touchdown.[21]
On the 11th, 15,000 gathered at Grant Field to pay tribute to Charles Lindbergh.[24]
The starting lineup was: Crowley (left end), Watkins (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Rusk (center), Drennon (right guard), Speer (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).[25]
Week 3: Alabama
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In the biggest upset of the young Southern Conference season,[26] Georgia Tech defeated Wallace Wade's defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide 13–0. The loss snapped Alabama's 24-game unbeaten streak. Alabama's line was exceptionally heavy, averaging some 200 pounds.[26]
Alabama had the upper hand in the first quarter, advancing the ball steadily to Tech's 14-yard line before being stopped on downs.[26] The Jackets tipped the scale with a drive in the second quarter, highlighted by a 30-yard touchdown run by Stumpy Thomason.[26] After a scoreless, see-sawing second half, the last touchdown was scored by Warner Mizell in the final minute.[26]
The starting lineup was: Crowley (left end), Thrash (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).[26]
Week 4: North Carolina
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In the fourth week of play, Tech defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 13–0. Tech's defensive line had a stellar game, several times thwarting the Tar Heel as it approached the goal.[27] The first touchdown came in the second quarter, after a drive using fullback Randolph on several line plunges. A lateral pass sent captain Ed Crowley over for the score. In the fourth quarter, Stumpy Thomason had a 75-yard touchdown.[27]
The starting lineup was: Bullard (left end), Watkins (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Ruck (center), Martin (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Schulman (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Fitzgerald (right halfback), Devaughn (fullback).[27]
Week 5: at Notre Dame
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At Carter Field, Knute Rockne's Notre Dame Fighting Irish easily defeated Georgia Tech 26–7[29] in one of the season's most important clashes.[30] "Had Rockne willed it the score might have doubled;"[31] and "only the able punting of Mizell...prevented a greater victory for the Irish."[28]
Rockne started the game with substitutes, and sent in his regulars to start the second quarter.[32] A 12-yard off-tackle run, a 25-yard pass, and an 11-yard gain on a double pass preceded a touchdown.[28] The Irish led just 6–0 at the half. In the second half the Irish poured it on; the lone score from Tech was by Stumpy Thomason after a blocked Irish punt.[28]
The starting lineup was: Crowley (left end), Hood (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Watkins (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Thomason (left halfback), Mizell (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).[32]
Week 6: at Vanderbilt
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A wet field and a strong defense, ranked by one researcher as best in the South,[6] helped Tech reassert itself and held the Vanderbilt Commodores to a scoreless tie, despite the Commodores having the upper hand in play.[33]
With the recent loss to Notre Dame, Tech had been overshadowed before the game by rival Georgia and its national championship bid. A strong game had been predicted, showcasing each team's backfield stars in Stumpy Thomason of Tech and Bill Spears of Vanderbilt.[3] The high-flying attack of quarterback Spears led one writer to say Vandy produced "almost certainly the legit top Heisman candidate in Spears, if there had been a Heisman Trophy to award in 1927."[6]
The starting lineup was: Crowley (left end), Thrash (left tackle), Drennon (left guard), Pund (center), Martin (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).[34]
Week 7: LSU
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Starting the game with second-string men only to send them in later and add 20 points, Tech crushed coach Mike Donahue's LSU Tigers 23–0. "The game was devoid of thrills".[35] The first touchdown came late in the third quarter, when Randolph scored behind right tackle.[35]
The starting lineup was: Bullard (left end), Thrash (left tackle), Lillard (left guard), Rusk (center), Westbrook (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Holland (right end), Smith (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Horn (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).[36]
Week 8: Oglethorpe
The Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels led the Tornado through three quarters 7–6, threatening to upset Tech just as it had last year. Oglethorpe scored on a Stumpy Thomason fumble.[37] Tech managed to survive the scare by pulling ahead 19–7 in the final quarter. Warner Mizell saved the day with two touchdowns.[38]
Week 9: Auburn
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Tech easily beat the Auburn Tigers 18–0. Auburn did not win a game all year. Stumpy Thomason went over the line for the first score In the second half, Tech played its first string minus Thomason, and Tech scored two more touchdowns. Warner Mizell ran off tackle for 50 yards for the first, and had a 1-yard run for the second.[39]
The starting lineup was: Bullard (left end), Hood (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Rusk (center), Lillard (right guard), Thrash (right tackle), Holland (right end), Smith (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), Oltz (fullback).[39]
Week 10: Georgia
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Georgia Tech faced the undefeated and top-ranked in-state rival Georgia Bulldogs for the conference crown. The Bulldogs were known as the "Dream and Wonder team" and gave Yale its only loss. In the rain, Tech won 12–0. For the first time this year, neither of Georgia's ends Tom Nash nor Shiver played particularly well.[42]
Prior to the game, Coach Alexander instituted "The Plan," splitting his team into two squads and playing mostly reserves for four weeks. The regulars practiced for the upcoming Georgia contest.
Tech's first touchdown came on a pass from Warner Mizell to quarterback Bob Durant. The second one came shortly after Stumpy Thomason returned an interception 57 yards to Georgia's 22-yard line.[40][41] Thomason scored on a 13-yard end run.[41]
The starting lineup was: Crowley (left end), Watkins (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Speer (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Read (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).[41]
Post season
The defeat of Georgia netted Tech the Southern title.
Personnel
Depth chart
The following chart depicts Tech's lineup during the 1927 season with games started at the position shown in parentheses. The chart mimics the offense after the jump shift has taken place.
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Roster
Line
Number
|
Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 | Bullard | End | 3 | |||||
42 | Ed Crowley | End | 6 | Watkinsville, Georgia | 6'1" | 180 | 21 | |
51 | Raleigh Drennon | Guard | 6 | Atlanta, Georgia |
5'10" | 187 | 20 | |
9 | Glenn Holland | End | 2 | Atlanta, Georgia | 5'11" | 170 | 19 | |
2 | Papa Hood | Tackle | 7 | 220 | ||||
49 | Slick Keener | End | 0 | Gadsden, Alabama | 5'10" | 181 | 20 | |
63 | Joe Kent | Guard | 0 | Moultrie, Georgia | 5'10" | 181 | 20 | |
36 | Lillard | Guard | 2 | |||||
66 | Firpo Martin | Guard | 2 | |||||
50 | Geo Muse | Center | 0 | Covington, Kentucky | 5'10" | 178 | 18 | |
71 | Peter Pund | Center | 5 | Augusta, Georgia | Richmond Academy | 6'0" | 182 | 20 |
37 | Seedy Rusk | Center | 4 | Atlanta, Georgia | 6'0" | 179 | 20 | |
17 | Frank Speer | Tackle | 2 | Atlanta, Georgia | 6'0" | 204 | 19 | |
41 | Ken Thrash | Tackle | 5 | Orlando, Florida | 5'10" | 190 | 21 | |
33 | Phil Von Weller | End | 0 | Albany, Georgia | 6'0" | 178 | 19 | |
52 | Frank Waddey | End | 7 | Memphis, Tennessee | 5'10" | 184 | 22 | |
65 | Coot Watkins | Tackle | 1 | Atlanta, Georgia | 6'0" | 199 | 19 | |
61 | Joe Westbrook | Guard | 5 | Moultrie, Georgia | 5'11" | 180 | 22 |
Backfield
Number | Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
40 | DeVaughn | Fullback | 1 | |||||
29 | Bob Durant | Quarterback | 5 | Bluefield, West Virginia | 5'9" | 161 | 19 | |
28 | Sleepy Faisst | Halfback | 0 | Little Rock, Arkansas | 5'10" | 160 | 19 | |
25 | Fite Fitzgerald | Halfback | 1 | Jackson, Tennessee | 5'10" | 164 | 19 | |
13 | Jimmie Frink | Halfback | 0 | Miami, Florida |
5'10" | 162 | 18 | |
38 | Bob Horn | Halfback | 2 | Norfolk, Virginia | 5'10" | 178 | 20 | |
72 | Warner Mizell | Halfback | 5 | Atlanta, Georgia | Miami Senior High | 5'10" | 170 | 19 |
44 | Oltz | Fullback | 1 | |||||
60 | Bob Parham | Halfback | 4 | Atlanta, Georgia | 6'1" | 176 | 20 | |
30 | Bob Randolph | Fullback | 7 | Atlanta, Georgia | 5'10" | 176 | 20 | |
11 | Read | Halfback | 1 | |||||
10 | Russ Russell | Halfback | 0 | New York, New York |
5'10" | 160 | 18 | |
64 | Izzy Shulman | Quarterback | 1 | Jackson, Tennessee | 5'8" | 155 | 19 | |
26 | Shorty Smith | Halfback | 3 | Cartersville, Georgia | 5'7" | 153 | 20 | |
35 | Stumpy Thomason | Halfback | 5 | Atlanta, Georgia | 5'8" | 174 | 19 |
Unlisted
Number | Player |
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1 | Heeke |
4 | Largen |
7 | Queen |
8 | Diekman |
12 | Sprick |
15 | Jetton |
22 | Alexander |
27 | Lewis |
45 | Gaston |
46 | Bunch |
53 | Schwartz |
55 | Sloan |
See also
- 1927 Southern Conference football season
- 1927 College Football All-Southern Team
- 1927 College Football All-America Team
Notes
- ^ Although Georgia Tech's teams are officially known as the "Yellow Jackets", northern writers called the team the "Golden Tornado" in 1917; the name was commonly used until 1928 and for many years afterwards as an alternate nickname.[1] It may have been coined by Morgan Blake.[2]
Endnotes
- ^ Van Brimmer & Rice 2011, p. 147
- ^ "Golden Tornadoes". Retrieved January 28, 2015.
- ^
- ^ e. g. Clyde Berryman. "QPRS American College Football National Champions (1920-2013)" (PDF).
- ^ a b Van Brimmer 2006, p. 26
- ^ a b c Mark Purcell (November 1988). "Spears and Vandy excitement in 1927" (PDF). College Football Historical Society. 2 (1). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1927 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ a b c d H. D. Anastasas (October 7, 1927). "V. M. I. Cadets No Match For Alexander's Fighting Jackets" (PDF). The Technique. p. 4.
- ^ "Ga. Tech Triumphs Over V.M.I." The Cadet. Vol. 21, no. 2. October 3, 1927.
- ^
- ^ a b "Georgia Tech Football Program; Tulane vs. Georgia Tech". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ "Reference at smartech.gatech.edu" (PDF).
- ^ "Yellow Jackets Defeat Green Wave 13-6" (PDF). The Technique. October 14, 1927. p. 4.
- ^
- ^
- ^
- ISBN 9781582612911.
- ^
- ^ "Jackets and Vandy Fight To Tie, 0-0" (PDF). The Technique. November 11, 1927. p. 4.
- ^
- ^ "Second Varsity Displays Wares in 23-0 Victory" (PDF). The Technique. November 18, 1927. p. 4.
- ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 267
- ^ a b c "Mizell Speeds Sixty Yards To Touchdown" (PDF). The Technique. Vol. 17, no. 9. November 25, 1927.
- ^ ISBN 9780810860407.
- ^
- ^ Alan J. Gould (December 4, 1927). "Tornado Rises To Conference Honors By Win". Sarasota Herald Tribune.
- ^ "Spears Given Highest Vote in Selection". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. November 27, 1927.
References
- Van Brimmer, Adam (2006). Stadium Stories: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Guilford, CT: Insiders' Guide. ISBN 978-0-7627-4020-8.
- Van Brimmer, Adam; Rice, Homer (2011). 100 Things Yellow Jackets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die. Chicago: Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-61749-703-2.
- Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. Vol. 3.