1927 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team

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1927 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
27tech.jpg
SoCon co-champion
Conference Southern Conference
1927 record 8–1–1 (7–0–1 SoCon)
Head coach William Alexander (8th year)
Assistant coach Don Miller
Assistant coach Bill Fincher
Offensive scheme Jump shift
Captain Ed Crowley
Home stadium Grant Field
Seasons
« 1926 1928 »
1927 Southern Conference football standings
Conf     Overall
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
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
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1927 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team[note 1] represented the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado of the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1927 college football season. A member of the Southern Conference (SoCon), Georgia Tech was coached by William Alexander in his 8th year as head coach, compiling a record of 8–1–1 (7–0–1 SoCon) and outscoring opponents 125 to 39. Georgia Tech played its home games at Grant Field.

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 William Alexander's tenure.

Schedule

Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance
October 1 VMI Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 7–0   17,000
October 8 Tulane Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 13–6    
October 15 Alabama Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 13–0   25,000
October 22 North Carolina Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 13–0    
October 29 2:00 p. m. at Notre Dame* Carter Field • South Bend, IN L 7–26   17,000
November 6 at Vanderbilt Dudley Field • Nashville, TN T 0–0    
November 12 LSU Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 23–0    
November 19 Oglethorpe* Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 19–7    
November 24 2:00 p. m. Auburn Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 18–0    
December 3 2:00 p. m. #1 Georgia Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 12–0   38,000
*Non-conference game.

[7]

Season summary

Week 1: V. M. I.

Week 1: V. M. I. at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
V. M. I. 0 0 0 0 0
• Ga. Tech 0 0 7 0 7

To open the season, Tech defeated VMI 7–0. The Cadets played strongly for two quarters, but were near collapse by game's end.[9] 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."[8] The lone score came from Warner Mizell.[8]

The starting lineup for Tech against V. M. I.: 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).[8]

Week 2: Tulane

Week 2: Tulane at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
Tulane 0 6 0 0 6
• Ga. Tech 7 0 0 6 13
  • Date: October 8
  • Location: Grant Field
    Atlanta, GA
  • Game attendance: 12,000
  • Game weather: Rain
  • Referee: Arthur Hutchens (Purdue)

On a sloppy, wet field, the Tornado beat Tulane 13–6 despite many publications calling the game a "toss-up".[12] 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.[10]

The starting lineup for Tech against Georgia: 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).[13]

Week 3: Alabama

Week 3: Alabama at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
Alabama 0 0 0 0 0
• Ga. Tech 0 7 0 6 13

In the biggest upset of the young Southern Conference season,[14] 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.[14]

Alabama had the upperhand in the first quarter, advancing the ball steadily to Tech's 14-yard line before being stopped on downs.[14] The Jackets tipped the scale with a drive in the second quarter, highlighted by a 30-yard touchdown run by Stumpy Thomason.[14] After a scoreless, see-sawing second half, the last touchdown was scored by Warner Mizell in the final minute.[14]

The starting lineup for Tech against Alabama: 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).[14]

Week 4: North Carolina

Week 4: North Carolina at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
UNC 0 0 0 0 0
• Ga. Tech 0 7 0 6 13

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.[15] 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.[15]

The starting lineup for Tech against North Carolina: 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).[15]

Week 5: at Notre Dame

Week 5: Georgia Tech at Notre Dame
1 2 3 4 Total
Ga. Tech 0 0 0 7 7
• Notre Dame 0 6 13 7 26
  • Date: October 29
  • Location: Carter Field
    South Bend, IN
  • Game attendance: 17,000

At Carter Field, Knute Rockne's Notre Dame Fighting Irish easily defeated Georgia Tech 26–7[17] in one of the season's most important clashes.[18] "Had Rockne willed it the score might have doubled;"[19] and "only the able punting of Mizell...prevented a greater victory for the Irish."[16]

Rockne started the game with substitutes, and sent in his regulars to start the second quarter.[20] A 12-yard off-tackle run, a 25-yard pass, and an 11-yard gain on a double pass preceded a touchdown.[16] 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.[16]

The starting lineup for Tech against Notre Dame: 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).[20]

Week 6: at Vanderbilt

Week 6: Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt
1 2 3 4 Total
Ga. Tech 0 0 0 0 0
Vanderbilt 0 0 0 0 0

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 upperhand in play.[21]

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 for Tech against Vanderbilt: 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).[22]

Week 7: LSU

Week 7: LSU at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
LSU 0 0 0 0 0
• Ga. Tech 0 3 7 13 23

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".[23] The first touchdown came late in the third quarter, when Randolph scored behind right tackle.[23]

The starting lineup for Tech against LSU: 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).[24]

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, but Tech managed to survive the scare by pulling ahead 19–7 in the final quarter. Warner Mizell saved the day with two touchdowns.[25]

Week 9: Auburn

Week 9: Auburn at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
Auburn 0 0 0 0 0
• Ga. Tech 6 0 12 0 18

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.[26]

The starting lineup for Tech against Auburn: 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).[26]

Week 10: Georgia

Week 10: Georgia at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
Georgia 0 0 0 0 0
• Ga. Tech 0 6 6 0 12

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.[29]

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.[5] Grant Field was expected to be filled to capacity, the largest crowd ever in the south.[30] One account read "And never in the history of athletics in the Southland has there been an occasion so momentous as this. The football championship of the South and as some may justifiably figure, the nation, will be decided on Saturday in the capital city and native sons will decide it."[31]

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.[27][28] Thomason scored on a 13-yard end run.[28]

The starting lineup for Tech against Georgia: 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).[28]

Post season

The defeat of Georgia netted Tech the Southern title.[32][33] Several Tech players received postseason honors. Tackle Frank Speer, Center Peter Pund, and Halfbacks Warner Mizell and Stumpy Thomason were all selected All-Southern.

Personnel

Depth chart

Offense (after shift)
LE
Ed Crowley
Bullard
Glenn Holland
LT LG C RG RT
Coot Watkins Joe Westbrook Peter Pund Raleigh Drennon Hood
Ken Thrash Martin Seedy Rusk Joe Kent Coot Watkins
Frank Speer Geo. Muse
RE
Frank Waddey
P. Von Weller
Slick Keener
QB
Bob Durant
Izzy Schulman
RHB
Stumpy Thomason
Fite Fitzgerald
Read
Shorty Smith
Russ Russell
FB
Bob Randolph
Devaughn
LHB
Warner Mizell
Parham
Jimmie Frink
Sleepy Faisst
Bob Horn

Roster

1927 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado roster

Quarterbacks

  • 29 Bob Durant
  • 64 Izzy Shulman

Halfbacks

  • 35 Stumpy Thomason
  • 72 Warner Mizell
  • 60 Parham
  • 11 Read
  • 26 Shorty Smith
  • 13 Jimmie Frink
  • 25 Fite Fitzgerald
  • 28 Sleepy Faisst
  • 10 Russ Russell
  • 38 Bob Horn
  

Fullbacks

  • 30 Bob Randolph
  • 40 DeVaughn

Ends

  

Tackles

Guards

  

Centers

Unlisted

  • 1 Heeke
  • 4 Largen
  • 7 Queen
  • 8 Diekman
  • 12 Sprick
  • 15 Jetton
  • 22 Alexander
  • 27 Lewis
  • 36 Lillard
  • 44 Oltz
  • 45 Gaston
  • 46 Bunch
  • 53 Schwartz
  • 55 Sloan
  

[11]

See also

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 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  4. ↑ e. g. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Van Brimmer 2006, p. 26
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 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. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 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. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. open access publication - free to read
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

References

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