1918 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
1918 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
18gatech.jpg
SIAA champion
Conference Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1918 record 6–1 (3–0 SIAA)
Head coach John Heisman (15th year)
Assistant coach Fay Wood
Offensive scheme Jump shift
Captain Bill Fincher
Home stadium Grant Field
Seasons
« 1917 1919 »
1918 SIAA football standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
Georgia Tech $ 3 0 0     6 1 0
Vanderbilt 2 0 0     4 2 0
Mississippi A&M 2 0 0     3 2 0
Clemson 3 1 0     5 2 0
South Carolina 1 1 1     2 1 1
Centre 0 0 0     4 0 0
Furman 1 3 0     3 5 1
The Citadel 0 1 1     0 2 1
Sewanee 0 1 0     3 2 0
Wofford 0 1 0     0 3 0
Auburn 0 2 0     2 5 0
Ole Miss 0 2 0     1 3 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • There were several SIAA schools that did not field a team due to World War I.

The 1918 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team[note 1] represented the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado of the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1918 college football season. The Tornado was coached by John Heisman in his 15th year as head coach, compiling a record of 6–1 (2–0 SIAA) and outscoring opponents 466 to 32. Georgia Tech played its home games at Grant Field.

Tech eclipsed 100 points three different times. Its only road game was its only loss, to national champion Pittsburgh at Forbes Field. Pittsburgh was the only team to score on Tech this year. The defeat ended Georgia Tech's 33-game streak without a loss.

Center Bum Day was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American. He was a first-team selection by Walter Camp.[3][4] Day's selection by Walter Camp as a first-team All-American was a historic first; he was the first Southerner to be chosen for Camp's annual All-America first team. Bill Fincher and Joe Guyon also made consensus All-America. Fincher and Buck Flowers made Camp's seccond-team.

Before the season

Because of the American entry into World War I in April 1917 and the ongoing war effort, several SIAA schools did not field football teams in 1918. Coming off the South's first national championship in 1917, Tech lost several players to the war effort and was heavily reliant on freshmen.[5]

Bill Fincher

Coach John Heisman used the pre-snap movement of his "jump shift" offense. In the backfield was Buck Flowers in his first year on the team, since transferring from Davidson a year before, where he starred in a game against Tech. With elected captain Everett Strupper lost to the war, tackle and placekicker Bill Fincher was left as captain.[6] Fincher had a glass eye which he would covertly pull out after feigning an injury, turn to his opponents and say: "So that's how you want to play!"[7]

Schedule

Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance
October 5 Clemson Grant FieldAtlanta, GA (Rivalry) W 28–0    
October 12 Furman Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 118–0    
October 19 11th Cavalry* Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 123–0    
October 26 Camp Gordon* Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 28–0   12,000
November 10 North Carolina State* Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 128–0    
November 23 at Pittsburgh* Forbes FieldPittsburgh, PA L 0–32   30,000
November 28 Auburn Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 41–0    
*Non-conference game.

Season summary

Clemson

Clemson at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
Clemson 0 0 0 0 0
Ga. Tech 0 14 7 7 28

The season opened with a 28–0 defeat of Clemson. The last score came on a 55-yard interception return by Joe Guyon.[8] Red Barron once hurdled tacklers for a 40-yard gain.[9] Other scores came from Pug Allen and Wally Smith.[6] Everett Strupper cheered from the sidelines.[6]

The starting lineup was Fincher (left end), Doyal (left tackle), Nesbit (left guard), Davis (center), Dowling (right guard), Vandegrift (right tackle), Staton (right end), Barron (quarterback), Ferst (left halfback), Guyon (right halfback), Allen (fullback).[6]

Furman

Furman at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
Furman 0 0 0 0 0
Ga. Tech 14 35 28 41 118

Buck Flowers starred in the 118–0 victory over Furman. Joe Guyon played in the line and did well. Tech made 34 first downs.[10] For one score, in the fourth quarter, Flowers hit Red Barron on a 72-yard touchdown pass that went 42 yards in the air.[9]

The scoring breakdown: Barron got 4 touchdowns, Allen 3, Adams 2, Ferst 2, Guyon, Fincher, Flowers, Smith, Cobb, and Doyal one each. Fincher made 14 straight extra points.[9] Flowers made the other two.[10]

The starting lineup was Fincher (left end), Doyal (left tackle), Rogers (left guard), Davis (center), Huffines (right guard), Guyon (right tackle), Staton (right end), Barron (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Ferst (right halfback), Allen (fullback).[10]

11th Cavalry

Tech beat the 11th Cavalry 123–0. The game was called after the start of the third quarter.[11] The scoring breakdown: Flowers got 5 touchdowns, Barron 4, Ferst, Allen, and Staton 2 each, Smith, Fincher, and Cobb one each.[9]

Camp Gordon

Georgia Tech beat Camp Gordon 28–0. Frank Ferst and Red Barron each scored two touchdowns. "Barron had the game of his life" said the yearbook.[9]

The game was nip and tuck until Everett Strupper, former Tech star playing for Gordon, fumbled, and Ferst recovered, racing 30 yards for a touchdown. In the third quarter, Red Barron had a 28-yard touchdown[12]

North Carolina A&M

North Carolina State at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
NCST 0 0 0 0 0
Ga. Tech 33 42 32 21 128

Two days before the Armistice, Tech beat NC State 128–0. State's only highlight came in the third quarter, when John Ripple recovered a teammate's fumble and returned the ball 75 yards for a touchdown. However, it was called back due to an offsides penalty. Walter Camp attended the game. Ripple was the first football player from North Carolina ever to make an All-America team when he was selected second-team All-American by Camp.[14][15] Five minutes into the fourth quarter, the game was called.[13] The scoring breakdown: Barron and Ferst got 4 touchdowns each, Smith 3, Allen 3, Staton 2, Cobb 2, and Adams 1.[9][13]

The starting lineup was Fincher (left end), Doyal (left tackle), Nesbit (left guard), Day (center), Rogers (right guard), Webb (right tackle), Staton (right end), Barron (quarterback), Ferst (left halfback), Adams (right halfback), Allen (fullback).[13]

Pittsburgh

Georgia Tech at Pittsburgh
1 2 3 4 Total
Ga. Tech 0 0 0 0 0
Pitt 7 7 12 6 32

After declining the challenge last year, Heisman got his wish and a game with Pop Warner's Pittsburgh team. In a high profile game played as a War Charities benefit Pitt dismantled Georgia Tech 32–0, ending Tech's 33-game streak without a loss.[17][18] Pittsburgh was the 1918 national champion.

Pitt's Tom Davies runs against Tech.

Warner historian Francis Powers wrote:

At Forbes Field, the dressing rooms of the two teams were separated only by a thin wall. As the Panthers were sitting around, awaiting Warner's pre-game talk, Heisman began to orate in the adjoining room. In his charge to the Tech squad, Heisman became flowery and fiery. He brought the heroes of ancient Greece and the soldier dead in his armor among the ruins of Pompeii. It was terrific and the Panthers sat, spellbound. When Heisman had finished, Warner chortled and quietly said to his players: 'Okay, boys. There's the speech. Now go out and knock them off.'[19]

Joe Guyon

Pitt's first score came on a pass from Tom Davies to Katy Easterday.[16] The next score came soon after the start of the second quarter, when Davies retutrned a punt back 50 yards for a touchdown. A double pass got the next score. The fourth touchdown was a 6-yard toucchdown by George McLaren. "Guyon and Flowers were very clever at intercepting forward passes, which in a measure made up for the fumbling in a early part of the game."[16] A 55-yard touchdown run by Davies was the final score.[16] Guyon also starred on defense.[9]

Tech managed a modicum of revenge. Pitt lost its only game to the Cleveland Naval Reserves. On the Naval team was Tech star Judy Harlan. Harlan stated: "I intercepted a pass and returned it to midfield in the fourth quarter. I felt I at least had evened up some of the losses we had at Tech."[20]

The starting lineup was Fincher (left end), Doyal (left tackle), Mathes (left guard), Day (center), Huffines (right guard), Webb (right tackle), Staton (right end), Barron (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Guyon (right halfback), Allen (fullback).[16]

Auburn

Auburn at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
Auburn 0 0 0 0 0
Ga. Tech 14 14 6 7 41

Tech beat Auburn 41–0 on a muddy field.[21] Substitute quarterback B. Adams returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. The other five touchdowns were achieved by plodding through the mud.[21] The first was on a pass from Buck Flowers to Joe Guyon.[9] Flowers ran in the second, and Guyon ran in the third. Wally Smith made one, and Red Barron the last.[9]

The starting lineup was Fincher (left end), Doyal (left tackle), Webb (left guard), Day (center), Mathes (right guard), Huffines (right tackle), Staton (right end), Barron (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Ferst (right halfback), Guyon (fullback).[21]

Postseason

Awards and honors

Bum Day

Center Bum Day was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American. He was a first-team selection by Walter Camp.[3][4] Day's selection by Walter Camp as a first-team All-American was a historic first; he was the first Southerner to be chosen for Camp's annual All-America first team, which had been historically loaded with college players from Harvard, Yale, Princeton and other Northeastern colleges.[22] Captain Bill Fincher was also a consensus All-American, as well as Joe Guyon. Fincher and Halfback Buck Flowers made Camp's second-team All-American.

Championships

Tech won its fourth straight SIAA title.

Personnel

Depth chart

Offense (after shift)
LE
Bill Fincher
 
 
LT LG C RG RT
Shorty Doyal J. C. Rogers Bum Day R. D. Huffines B. P. Webb
M. M. Nesbit Oscar Davis W. T. Mathis Joe Guyon
Ham Dowling Vandegrift
RE
Albert Staton
 
 
QB
Red Barron
B. Adams
RHB
Frank Ferst
F. R. Cobb
FB
Joe Guyon
Pug Allen
LHB
Buck Flowers
Wally Smith

Varsity letterwinners

Line

Player Position Games
started
Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
Oscar Davis Center, guard Atlanta, Georgia 6'1" 173 18
Bum Day Center Barnesville, Georgia Porter Military Academy 5'11" 191 20
Shorty Doyal Tackle Atlanta, Georgia Tech High School 6'3" 183 20
Bill Fincher End, tackle Atlanta, Georgia Tech High School 6'1" 182 21
R. D. Huffines Tackle Texas 5'8" 184 20
W. T. Mathis Guard Jonesboro, Georgia
M. M. Nesbit Guard Atlanta, Georgia 5'9" 186 21
J. C. Rogers Guard
Albert Staton End Atlanta, Georgia Boys High School 6'2" 174 18
B. P. Webb Guard

Backfield

Number Player Position Games
started
Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
Brainard Adams Quarterback, halfback Atlanta, Georgia Boys High School 5'10" 151 20
H. T. "Pug" Allen Fullback Charleston, South Carolina 6'1" 176 19
Red Barron Quarterback Monroe, Georgia 5'11" 166 18
F. R. Cobb Halfback Texas 6'0" 155 19
Verne Davis Halfback Commerce, Georgia Commerce High School 5'7" 146 20
Frank Ferst Halfback Savannah, Georgia 5'9" 159 19
Buck Flowers Halfback Sumter, South Carolina Sumter High School 5'7" 155 19
27 Joe Guyon Fullback Magdalena, New Mexico Carlisle Indian Industrial School 5'11" 184 24
Dewey Scarboro Halfback Moultrie, Georgia Moultrie High School 5'6" 145 19
Wally Smith Halfback Atlanta, Georgia 5'6" 154 21

Unlisted

  • L. M. Lamar

[5][9][23]

Scoring leaders

Player Touchdowns Extra points Points
Red Barron 15 90
Bill Fincher 2 56 68
Pug Allen 10 60
Frank Ferst 10 60
Buck Flowers 7 2 44
Wally Smith 7 42
B. Adams 4 24
F. R. Cobb 4 24
Joe Guyon 4 24
Albert Staton 4 24
Shorty Doyal 1 6
Total 68 58 466

Notes

  1. 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

  1. Van Brimmer & Rice 2011, p. 147
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. 3.0 3.1 2013 Georgia Tech Football Information Guide, Georgia Tech Athletic Association, Atlanta, Georgia, pp. 170, 178, 180 (2013). Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  4. 4.0 4.1 2014 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, pp. 2, 4, 14 (2014). Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 9.9 BluePrint, 1919
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  11. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  12. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  14. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  17. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. https://books.google.com/books?id=4LD1S47AQbcC&pg=PA3&source=bl&ots=zV3JBIPKJL&sig=BuvechMi6zMeE0YCocftaL_SRpk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjcpamD-8TMAhXLSSYKHTMiBJIQ6AEIODAE#v=onepage&q&f=false
  19. Powers, p. 42
  20. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  22. Joe Williams, "Joe Williams Says," El Paso Herald-Post, p. 10 (November 12, 1935). Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  23. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/geot/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/lettermen01.pdf

References

  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.