1912 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

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1912 Vanderbilt Commodores football
300px
SIAA champion
Conference Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1912 record 8–1–1 (4–0–1 SIAA)
Head coach Dan McGugin (9th year)
Assistant coach Owsley Manier
Offensive scheme Short-punt
Captain Lewie Hardage
Home stadium Dudley Field
Seasons
« 1911 1913 »
1912 SIAA football standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
Vanderbilt $ 4 – 0 – 1     8 – 1 – 1
Texas A&M 2 – 0 – 0     8 – 1 – 0
Kentucky State 1 – 0 – 0     7 – 2 – 0
Auburn 5 – 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
Tulane 3 – 2 – 0     5 – 3 – 0
Mississippi A&M 3 – 3 – 0     4 – 3 – 0
Alabama 3 – 3 – 1     5 – 3 – 1
Ole Miss 2 – 2 – 0     5 – 3 – 0
Mercer 2 – 3 – 1     5 – 3 – 1
LSU 2 – 3 – 0     4 – 3 – 0
Clemson 2 – 4 – 0     4 – 4 – 0
Tennessee 1 – 4 – 0     4 – 4 – 0
Mississippi College 1 – 4 – 0     3 – 4 – 0
Florida 0 – 2 – 1     5 – 2 – 1
Central 0 – 2 – 0     4 – 5 – 0
The Citadel 0 – 3 – 0     2 – 4 – 0
Howard 0 – 4 – 0     1 – 6 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1912 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the 1912 college football season. The 1912 season was Dan McGugin's 9th year as head coach. Members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA), the Commodores won their third straight conference title this year, posting a 8–1–1 record (4–0–1 SIAA). Vanderbilt outscored its opponents 393 to 19. The 105–0 victory over Bethel was the largest in school history.[1] The team's only loss was to national champion Harvard. They also suffered a tie to Auburn.

Several players received postseason honors. Lew Hardage was selected a third-team All-American by Walter Camp.

Before the season

Vanderbilt lost varsity letter winners in quarterback Ray Morrison, tackle Ewing Y. Freeland and guard Will Metzger. Freeland in Texas and Metzger in business.[2] Aside from Morrison, Vanderbilt retained the rest of its great backfield of last year with halfbacks Lew Hardage, the team's captain, and Wilson Collins, and fullback Ammie Sikes. Replacing Morrison at quarterback was renowned drop kicker Zach Curlin.[3]

Schedule

Date Opponent Site Result Attendance
September 28 Bethel (TN)* Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 105–0  
October 5 Maryville (TN)* Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 100–3  
October 12 Rose Polytechnic* Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 54–0  
October 19 at Georgia Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta, GA (Rivalry) W 46–0   4,500
October 26 Ole Miss Dudley Field • Nashville, TN (Rivalry) W 24–0  
November 2 Virginia Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 13–0   4,000
November 9 at Harvard* Harvard Stadium • Allston, MA L 3–9  
November 16 Centre* Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 23–0  
November 23 at Auburn Rickwood Field • Birmingham, AL T 7–7  
November 28 Sewanee Dudley Field • Nashville, TN (Rivalry) W 16–0   10,000
*Non-conference game.

[4]

Season summary

File:Wilson Collins.jpg
Wilson Collins playing baseball

Bethel

The season started with a bang, the largest win in school history, a 105–0 win over Bethel College. Future Vanderbilt star Josh Cody played for Bethel.[5]

Wilson Collins started the scoring barrage when he took a punt 45 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown.[6] The game was played in the mud, in which substitute quarterback Rabbi Robins was better suited than starter Zach Curlin.[6] Robins once returned a kick 70 yards for a touchdown.[6] Collins had five touchdowns, Enoch Brown three, Hardage and Robins and Morrison two each, and Reyer and Chester one each.[6]

Maryville

The Commodores then rolled up a 100–3 score on the Maryville Scots. Despite the first two games being like practice games, the large scores were quite the surprise.[7]

Rose Polytechnic

Rose Polytechnic at Vanderbilt
1 2 3 4 Total
Rose Poly 0 0 0 0 0
• Vanderbilt 20 20 7 7 54

The game with Rose Polytechnic was seen as the first real test of the season. Still, the Commodores romped 54–0, subs replacing the regulars by the end of the first half.[7] The first score came on a 35-yard interception return by Lew Hardage. Rose Poly once tried a trick play with a player in civilian clothes receiving the ball.[8]

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), Chester (fullback).[8]

at 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.[9] The score would have been larger but for the water and mud.[7] Georgia star Bob McWhorter was held in check, with his longest gain being 12 yards.[7]

Center Hugh Morgan

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.[9]

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), Chester (fullback).[9]

Mississippi

Vanderbilt beat Mississippi 24–0, the visitors showing a strong defense.[10] Morgan, Collins, and Sikes were on the sidelines all game. Multiple times, the Commodores fumbled near the goal line.[11]

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), Turner (fullback).[10]

Virginia

Virginia at Vanderbilt
1 2 3 4 Total
Virginia 0 0 0 0 0
• Vanderbilt 6 7 0 0 13
  • Date: November 2
  • Location: Dudley Field • Nashville, TN
  • Referee: Selden (Sewanee)

Vanderbilt met Virginia for the first time since 1898,[13] and won for the first time 13–0.[12] Ammie Sikes scored first, after a drive highlight by 35 and 28-yard runs by Lew Hardage paved the way.[12] A 30-yard forward pass from Hardage to Enoch Brown got the second touchdown.[12] In the last period, Sikes broke loose, down to the 5-yard line when he was caught from behind by Buck Mayer.[12]

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), Sikes (fullback).[12]

File:Zach Curlin.png
Zach Curlin drop kicked a field goal against Harvard.

at Harvard

Vanderbilt at Harvard
1 2 3 4 Total
Vanderbilt 0 0 3 0 3
• Harvard 0 6 0 3 9

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."[14] Harvard used mostly substitutes and scored a touchdown five minutes after the second period began.[14] Lew Hardage was injured and taken off the field.[14] Vanderbilt's lone score was a 28-yard field goal from Zach Curlin early in the third quarter, after Harvard muffed a punt.[14] The Crimson added another field goal in the final period.[14]

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.[15] The International News Service reported: "Although defeated, Vanderbilt was not outplayed; for never was a gamer team seen in the Stadium."[16]

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), Sikes (fullback).[15]

Centre

Vanderbilt playing with just four regulars and a new backfield beat the Centre Colonels 23–0.[17]

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), Milholland (fullback).[17]

Ammie Sikes

at Auburn

Vanderbilt at Auburn
1 2 3 4 Total
Vanderbilt 0 7 0 0 7
Auburn 0 0 7 0 7

The Auburn Tigers upset expectations and tied the Commodores 7–7. Ammie Sikes scored first for Vanderbilt.[18] Auburn's 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 endzone.[18]

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), Turner (fullback).[18]

Sewanee

Sewanee at Vanderbilt
1 2 3 4 Total
Sewanee 0 0 0 0 0
• Vanderbilt 2 0 0 14 16

Vanderbilt defeated rival Sewanee 16–0. In the first period, Sewanee had to punt from its own endzone. The pass to Jenks Gillem went wide, and before he could recover it he was downed by Enoch Brown for a safety.[19] Gillem had one punt of 58 yards that day.[n 1] Vanderbilt's game seemed to stagnate until Wilson Collins was hurt and replaced with Shea in the third quarter.[21] Then two touchdowns came in the fourth period, one by Robins and another Turner.[19] In his last game, Lew Hardage played well despite his hurt left ankle.[22]

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), Sikes (fullback).[22]

Postseason

Lew Hardage

Awards and honors

Lew Hardage was selected third-team All-American by Walter Camp, the fourth ever Southern player to get such a recognition.[23] He was a unanimous All-Southern selection. Innis Brown wrote "Hardage has been rated as probably the most successful man in the south at making forward passes."[24] Ammie Sikes, Hugh Morgan, Tom Brown, and Enoch Brown all made composite All-Southern.

Championships

Vanderbilt won the SIAA title in football, baseball, and track.[25]

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 parenthesis.[2] The chart mimics a short punt formation while on offense, with the quarterback under center.

LE
Peck Turner (4)
Yunk Chester (1)
Whitey Milholland (1)
 
LT LG C RG RT
Cleveland Shipp (6) Herman Daves (6) Hugh Morgan (6) Swofford (4) Tom Brown (4)
Herman Daves (2) Chester Huffman (1) Tom Brown (1) Joe Covington (3) Joe Covington (1)
Joe Covington (0) Swofford (1) Chester Huffman (1) Chester Huffman (1) R. E. Lowe (0)
Reyer (1) Darwin (0)
RE
Enoch Brown (6)
Glen Reams (1)
Whitey Milholland (1)
 
QB
Zach Curlin (3)
Rabbi Robins (5)
LHB RHB
Lew Hardage (7) Wilson Collins (6)
Malcolm Luck (1) Tom P. Shea (3)
FB
Ammie Sikes (3)
Yunk Chester (2)
Whitey Milholland (1)

-

Varsity letter winners

"Wearers of the V."[26]

Line

File:Tombrown.png
Tom Brown

Backfield

Staff

  • Frank Gilliland, manager

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Gillem was later selected as the punter for the Associated Press All-Time Southeast 1869-1919 era team.[20]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Vanderbilt University, p. 259
  3. ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 260
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Traughber, p. 57
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Vanderbilt University, p. 261
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 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 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  11. ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 262
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  13. ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 29
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  16. ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 263
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  25. ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 210
  26. ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 213

Bibliography

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