1921 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

1921 Vanderbilt Commodores football
National champion (QPRS)
SIAA co-champion
Conference Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1921 record 7–0–1 (4–0–1 SIAA)
Head coach Dan McGugin (17th year)
Assistant coach Wallace Wade
Offensive scheme Short-punt
Captain Pink Wade
Home stadium Dudley Field
Uniform
1921 SIAA football standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
Centre + 5 – 0 – 0     10 – 1 – 0
Georgia Tech + 4 – 0 – 0     8 – 1 – 0
Georgia + 6 – 0 – 1     7 – 2 – 1
Vanderbilt + 5 – 0 – 1     7 – 0 – 1
Tennessee 4 – 1 – 1     6 – 2 – 1
Florida 4 – 1 – 2     6 – 3 – 2
Mississippi College 3 – 1 – 1     7 – 2 – 1
Sewanee 4 – 2 – 0     6 – 2 – 0
Furman 4 – 2 – 1     7 – 2 – 1
LSU 2 – 1 – 1     6 – 1 – 1
South Carolina 2 – 1 – 1     5 – 1 – 2
Transylvania 2 – 1 – 0     4 – 4 – 0
Auburn 3 – 2 – 0     5 – 3 – 0
The Citadel 2 – 2 – 1     3 – 3 – 2
Mississippi A&M 2 – 3 – 1     4 – 4 – 1
Tulane 3 – 4 – 0     4 – 6 – 0
Alabama 2 – 4 – 2     5 – 4 – 2
Oglethorpe 2 – 4 – 0     5 – 4 – 0
Mercer 2 – 5 – 0     3 – 6 – 0
Chattanooga 1 – 3 – 0     4 – 6 – 0
Louisville 0 – 1 – 0     2 – 2 – 1
Kentucky 0 – 2 – 1     4 – 3 – 1
Clemson 0 – 4 – 2     1 – 6 – 2
Millsaps 0 – 3 – 1     0 – 3 – 1
Ole Miss 0 – 3 – 0     3 – 6 – 0
Georgetown (KY) 0 – 3 – 0     2 – 6 – 0
Wofford 0 – 3 – 0     2 – 7 – 0
Howard 0 – 5 – 0     3 – 6 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1921 Vanderbilt Commodores football team was an American football team representing Vanderbilt University during the 1921 college football season. It was Dan McGugin's 17th season as head coach, and Wallace Wade's first season as assistant coach. Vanderbilt outscored its opponents 161–21 for a record of 7–0–1 (4–0–1 in conference games) and a share of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) championship. The team's leading scorer was halfback Rupert Smith and its captain was "Pink" Wade, father of future Vanderbilt star Bill Wade. The Commodores played their home games at Dudley Field.

The season included the first of a seven-game series with the Texas Longhorns at the Texas State Fair. It also featured the first time the Kentucky Wildcats were able to score on the Commodores, and the "muddiest game" in Vanderbilt history against rival Sewanee.[1] Vanderbilt tied the Georgia Bulldogs on an onside kick to win a share of the conference title.[n 1] Vanderbilt was the only undefeated contender, and selector Clyde Berryman retroactively awarded the Commodores a national championship.[3]

Pre-season

1921 was Wallace Wade's first year as a full-time assistant coach for the Commodores, and the intensity of their practices had increased since his arrival[1] (the first workout on September 12).[4][5] Wade had played guard on a Brown Bruins football team which represented the East in the 1916 Rose Bowl. Before coming to Vanderbilt Wade coached at the Fitzgerald & Clarke School in Tullahoma, Tennessee, where he won a state prep-school championship in 1920 with a 16–3 record.[6] Also moving from Fitzgerald & Clarke were Lynn Bomar, Hek Wakefield, Pos Elam, and Red Williams. Other Commodore players debuting on the team included Putty Overall and Rupe Smith, who played for the Middle Tennessee State Normal School in the years surrounding the First World War.[n 2]

Returning veterans included Neely, Frank Godchaux, Doc Kuhn, Tot McCullough, Pink Wade, Alvin Bell, Alf Sharpe, and Percy Conyers.[n 3] Godchaux was the first player to follow in his father's footsteps as a Vanderbilt football player.[n 4] Captain Pink Wade, father of future Vanderbilt quarterback Bill Wade,[11][12] moved from fullback to guard.[13] Tackle Tex Bradford had played for Texas Christian University for two years; after sitting out a year at Vanderbilt, he was eligible to play for the Commodores.[14]

According to sportswriter Ferguson "Fuzzy" Woodruff, "While prospects seem fair to middling in most of the big southern colleges, there are two notable exceptions. Dan McGugin expects nothing of Vanderbilt this year. Dan has lost Berryhill, his only reliable backfield man, through the matrimonial route."[15][n 5] Coach Dan McGugin was elected to the Tennessee state senate,[18] beginning his term in 1921.[19][20] According to a story on file in the Vanderbilt University Library quoted by Chuck Offenburger, "McGugin didn’t want to get involved in politics, but he 'was drafted into service by a citizens committee'".[21]

Schedule

Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance
October 1 Middle Tennessee State Normal* Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 34–0    
October 8 4:30 p.m. Mercer* Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 42–0    
October 15 2:30 p.m. at Kentucky Stoll Field • Lexington, KY (Rivalry) W 21–14   5,000
October 21 2:30 p.m. at Texas* Fair Park Stadium • Dallas, Texas W 20–0   15,000
October 29 Tennessee Dudley Field • Nashville, TN (Rivalry) W 14–0    
November 5 at Alabama Rickwood Field • Birmingham, AL W 14–0    
November 13 Georgia Dudley Field • Nashville, TN (Rivalry) T 7–7    
November 24 2:00 p.m. Sewanee Dudley Field • Nashville, TN (Rivalry) W 9–0    
*Non-conference game. All times are in Central Time.

Season summary

Week 1: Middle Tennessee State Normal

Middle Tennessee Normal at Vanderbilt
1 234Total
Normal 0 000 0
• Vanderbilt 6 14014 34

Vanderbilt opened the season at Old Dudley Field against the Middle Tennessee State Normal School of Murfreesboro, winning 34–0. The field was at the northeastern corner of the campus, where Wilson Hall, Kissam Quandrangle, and a portion of the Vanderbilt University Law School now stand, adjacent to today's Twenty-First Avenue South.[23] Normal was coached by Alfred B. Miles. Commodore touchdowns were scored by Tot McCullough, Thomas Ryan, Rupert Smith, Percy Conyers, and Alvin Bell. Two extra points were scored by Smith, and one by Bell.[22] During the game, Vanderbilt began using substitutes. The Commodore, Vanderbilt's yearbook, reported on the passing game: "Practically the only thing of note was the aerial efficiency—Kuhn to Ryan and Kuhn to McCullough".[24] Tex Bradford reportedly had to wear street shoes during the game, because Vanderbilt had not yet received cleats large enough to fit him.[14][25]

Week 2: Mercer

Mercer at Vanderbilt
1 234Total
Mercer 0 000 0
• Vanderbilt 0 2877 42
  • Date: October 8
  • Location: Curry Field
    Nashville, TN
  • Game start: 4:30 p.m.

In the second week of play Vanderbilt defeated the Mercer Baptists 42–0, Mercer's worst loss of the year. After no first downs in the first quarter Vanderbilt scored four touchdowns in the second quarter on 173 total yards, 91 on two passes.[27] The Baptists were led by second-year head coach Josh Cody. Before the game, Wade told his players "in no uncertain terms that the coaches were disgusted that such ragged material should display no symptoms of fight".[28]

Player standing in uniform
Wallace Wade

The Baptists had sustained injuries in its opening game against the Georgia Bulldogs,[n 6] and their practice schedule was hampered by rain.[31] Near the end of the first quarter, Godchaux finally got off a good punt to Mercer's 10-yard line and Tom Ryan made the tackle.[26] Godchaux returned Mercer's punt ten yards, beginning a drive gaining six yards off-tackle. On the next play Doc Kuhn passed to Tot McCullough for twelve yards and first down on the nine-yard line. Rupert Smith ran to the five-yard line, and then to the two. Red Williams fumbled on the next play, but it was recovered by Alf Sharpe in the end zone.[29]

Player in uniform, hands on knees
Jess Neely

After a Mercer punt and a return of fifteen yards by Ryan, Vanderbilt began a scoring drive highlighted by Godchaux' 48-yard run around the left end for a touchdown.[26] A Baptist fumble, recovered by Tex Bradford, led to the next touchdown. After Vanderbilt was caught offside, Smith sprinted 11 yards off-tackle and the ball was at Mercer's 16-yard line. Red Williams ran for 12 yards on a split buck play,[26] and Rupe Smith scored a touchdown on the next play. Mercer then ran a fake punt which netted four yards around the left end. The Baptists punted, giving Vanderbilt the ball at their own 39-yard line. After two short gains, Kuhn ran 10 yards from a punt formation and Meiers ran six more off-tackle. The next play was a 55-yard pass from Jess Neely to Tot McCullough for a touchdown,[26] and the half ended with Mercer's 25-yard kick return.

Mercer was again forced to punt in the second half from its 15-yard line, and Neely had a 25-yard return to begin the next scoring drive. Williams reached the five-yard line when he was injured in a tackle, and Lynn Bomar went in as a substitute. On the next series of downs, Meiers scored a touchdown. A long pass was intercepted by Rupe Smith, who returned the ball to his own 35-yard line. Smith ran seven yards, and Bomar crossed the 50-yard line for nine yards and first down. Bomar ran three more yards before Smith ran down to Mercer's 10-yard line. Smith gained a few more on an end run before passing to Ryan for another touchdown. When Mercer again punted, Mixon eluded four tacklers and returned the punt 42 yards before running out of bounds at the Mercer five-yard line. The Commodores failed to score, and the game ended with an exchange of punts.[26] Vanderbilt's starting lineup was McCullough (left end), Bradford (left tackle), Wade (left guard), Sharpe (center), Wilson (right guard), Elam (right tackle), Ryan (right end), Kuhn (quarterback), Godchaux (right halfback), Smith (left halfback), and Williams (fullback).[26]

Week 3: at Kentucky

Vanderbilt at Kentucky
1 234Total
• Vanderbilt 14 700 21
Kentucky 0 1400 14

In the third game of the season, the Commodores traveled to Lexington and defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 21–14. The Wildcats, coached by second-year head coach William "Indian Bill" Juneau, practiced their signals under cover of night behind closed gates.[33] The Commodores were considered the toughest team on Kentucky's schedule, and it was the most exciting home game for Kentucky fans in some time;[34] a sportswriter called it "the hardest-fought battle that has been staged on the Kentucky gridiron in many a day".[35] According to Bruce Dudley, the Commodores were outplayed by the Wildcats for three quarters.[36] Their opponents completed 10 out of 20 passes, including passes between quarterback Bobby Lavin and Fuller.[1] Before this game, Kentucky had never scored against Vanderbilt;[2] the Commodores were heavy favorites, with a distinct weight advantage.[33][37] The Lexington Herald reported, "That Nashville is intensely interested in the outcome of the game is evidenced by the fact that a special wire, giving the game play by play, will be installed at the field and connected with the Nashville papers".[34]

Vanderbilt's first two touchdowns came early. After the kickoff went to Kentucky and the Wildcats' Saunders returned the ball to the 30-yard line, a punt was kicked to the Commodores; after a good return but little gain, the ball was punted back to Kentucky. Lavin fumbled on the return, and the ball was recovered by Neely on the 10-yard line.[1] On third down, Frank Godchaux ran around the end for a touchdown; Rupert Smith scored the second and third touchdowns for the Commodores.[32] After an exchange of punts, Vanderbilt began a drive on Kentucky's 32-yard line. Neely passed 22 yards to Pink Wade, with short runs by Smith and Bomar followed by Smith running around right end for a touchdown; Kentucky's Server kicked the ball into the end zone for a touchback. Alf Sharpe was ejected from the game for fighting, and the Commodores were penalized half the distance to the goal.[32] Neely punted the ball to Lavin, who returned the ball five yards. On the next play, Lavin ran around the edge for 19 yards; three plays later, fullback Birkett Pribble carried the ball in for the score.[32][38]

After a punt by Neely the Wildcats were penalized 10 yards for holding, followed by an unfavorable punt which put the ball at Kentucky's 30-yard line.[35] Punts back and forth sent Vanderbilt closer to midfield. Godchaux made a 20-yard run around the right end, and Tot McCullough caught a 24-yard pass; Smith then skirted around end for the Commodores' final score. The Wildcats' "Slug" Fleahman blocked Neely's punt, giving Kentucky the ball at the 12-yard line, and Lavin wove through the Commodore defense for Kentucky's final touchdown.[35] Late in the game Kentucky threatened to tie the score, but turned the ball over on downs at the two-yard line; Neely sealed the win by running the ball 34 yards to the 36-yard line.[35] Vanderbilt's starting lineup was McCullough (left end), Bradford (left tackle), Lawrence (left guard), Sharpe (center), Wade (right guard), Elam (right tackle), Ryan (right end), Godchaux (quarterback), Smith (left halfback), Neely (right halfback), and Williams (fullback).[32][35]

Week 4: at Texas

Vanderbilt at Texas
1 234Total
• Vanderbilt 0 7013 20
Texas 0 000 0

The season's fourth game saw the Commodores, favored to lose by two touchdowns against the Texas Longhorns, pull off a 20–0 upset.[40] The game was the first of a seven-year series, from 1921 to 1928 (except 1924), between Vanderbilt and Texas at the Texas State Fair in Dallas.[41][n 7]

Player in dark jersey, hands on hips
Irby Curry

Texas won the Southwest Conference with an undefeated record in 1920. The 1921 team was arguably the best in Longhorns history,[42] and Vanderbilt football seemed to be in decline when Georgia Tech defeated the Commodores 44–0 the year before. The Longhorns were coached by Berry Whitaker in his third year as head coach.[n 8] The crowd at Fair Park Stadium was expected to be the largest to watch a game in Dallas.[44] According to Edwin Pope's Football's Greatest Coaches, "The Texas game, sparked by McGugin's unforgettable oratory, was the big one; and Vandy got out of the year without a loss".[45] Charles Cason wrote, "Instead of hammering detailed strategy into them,"[46] coach Dan McGugin had brought his team to the nearby grave of former Vanderbilt quarterback and third-team All-American Irby "Rabbit" Curry in Marlin.[1][45] On third down near the middle of the second quarter, Texas' Ivan Robertson (with the Commodores' Tom Ryan and Tex Bradford running after him) was intercepted by Vanderbilt captain Pink Wade. Wade returned the interception for 65 yards and the game's first touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Bomar returned an interception for a 40-yeard touchdown. The last Vanderbilt scoring drive came later. After a Vanderbilt interception, Texas drew a 30-yard (half the distance to the goal) penalty for slugging. Doc Kuhn completed a pass to Tot McCullough on the eight-yard line. The Longhorn defense held, but was offside on fourth down. This gave the Commodores a first down on the one-yard line, leading to a line plunge for a touchdown by Frank Godchaux.[39]

See caption
The Longhorns' marching band during halftime

Some Texas supporters blamed its lack of depth on the line for the loss. The Longhorns' passing game was considered satisfactory, going 10 of 31 for 125 yards with five interceptions (two for touchdowns), and some felt that any failure of the passing game could be blamed on the line play.[39] According to Dallas sportswriter Joe Utay, Texas lost because of overconfidence.[36] Blinkey Horn, sportswriter for The Tennessean, wrote: "Vandy outcharged, outfought, and outgamed the boastful Texans. Their courage was finer. Their stamina was greater. Thrust into the throes of a Turkish bath day which blistered tongues and made legs weary the McGuginites shook off the galling heat and won a hellish battle on a hellish afternoon."[11]

From a newspaper, Kuhn in uniform, throwing a football
Quarterback Kuhn

Texas punted 10 times to Vanderbilt's 14, and the Commodores completed two out of five passes for 57 yards. Texas intercepted the ball twice, and Vanderbilt five times. The Commodores had six first downs to the Longhorns' eight.[47] Each school netted about $7,500 from the game.[48] Texas's only loss this year was to Vanderbilt.[n 9] The Commodores' starting lineup was Ryan (left end), Elam (left tackle), Wade (left guard), Sharpe (center), Bailey (right guard), Bradford (right tackle), Conyers (right end), Godchaux (quarterback), Neely (left halfback), Smith (right halfback), and Bomar (fullback).[39]

Week 5: Tennessee

Tennessee at Vanderbilt
1 234Total
Tennessee 0 000 0
• Vanderbilt 7 700 14

For the fifth game of the season, Vanderbilt played the Tennessee Volunteers at waterlogged Old Dudley Field. Vanderbilt won 14–0, with Fatty Lawrence and team captain Pink Wade (who had lumbago) sitting out the game.[50] Acting as captain in Wade's absence, Doc Kuhn scored all of Vanderbilt's touchdowns; he "made possible the touchdown by miraculous sidestepping", evading two tacklers.[51] According to Blinkey Horn, the Tennessee coaches "never saw, in all the spying trips, such interference as the Commodores made yesterday for Doc Kuhn".[52] In the first quarter, Kuhn's 19-yard end run made the score 7–0; in the second, he had a 30-yard touchdown run with Lynn Bomar as lead blocker.[49]

During the second half Freddie (Froggie) Meiers carried an onside kick over for a touchdown, but it was called back.[49] The Tennessee backs were repeatedly thrown for no gains or losses all game, and steady improvement by the Commodores was noticed.[53][54] Vanderbilt's starting lineup was McCullough (left end), Bradford (left tackle), Bailey (left guard), Sharpe (center), Overall (right guard), Elam (right tackle), Ryan (right end), Kuhn (quarterback), Smith (left halfback), Neely (right halfback), and Bomar (fullback).[49]

Week 6: Alabama

Vanderbilt at Alabama
1 234Total
• Vanderbilt 7 007 14
Alabama 0 000 0

In the sixth week of play, Vanderbilt beat the Alabama Crimson Tide 14–0 in Birmingham. The score reflected predictions, since the Commodores were favored by two touchdowns.[56] Jess Neely played a role in each scoring drive. Early in the first quarter, Vanderbilt had the ball in the middle of the field after an Alabama punt.[57] Two line bucks preceded Neely, who connected with Tot McCullough for a 30-yard pass play. Neely ran for an additional 17 yards through left tackle,[58] putting the ball on the nine-yard line.[59] After a run by Godchaux, Lynn Bomar bucked over the line for the touchdown.[57]

Touchdown, photographed from the sidelines
Lynn Bomar's touchdown against the Thin Red Line

Quarterback Doc Kuhn started the second half after sitting out the first because of injuries, invigorating the Commodores.[55] The second scoring drive started when Paul Stumb intercepted a pass. Neely ran for 21 yards around the right end before Kuhn connected with Tot McCullough for a 25-yard pass.[55] Rupe Smith (or Kuhn) then ran the remaining few yards for the touchdown. Alabama had a chance to score, making it to Vanderbilt's 18-yard line. The Commodore defense prevailed, Alabama's forward passes failed, and the ball went over on downs. Other chances included Alabama halfback Rosenfeld intercepting a pass with a clear field ahead of him, returning it 32 yards before Vanderbilt's Red Rountree tackled him from behind. Alabama back Charles Bartlett also returned a punt 25 yards before he was tackled by the last Commodore who could have done so.[59] The Crimson Tide was captained by sophomore end Al Clemens, later captain of the first Alabama team coached by Wallace Wade.[60]

On November 9, between the Alabama and Georgia games, the project for a new stadium at Vanderbilt began with the aid of civic clubs.[61] The Commodores' starting lineup was McCullough (left end), Elam (left tackle), Bailey (left guard), Sharpe (center), Overall (right guard), Bradford (right tackle), Ryan (right end), Godchaux (quarterback), Smith (left halfback), Neely (right halfback), and Bomar (fullback).[55][62]

Week 7: Georgia

Georgia at Vanderbilt
1 234Total
Georgia 0 700 7
Vanderbilt 0 007 7

In the seventh week of play, Vanderbilt faced the defending SIAA champion Georgia Bulldogs at Curry Field. The game was the highlight of Vanderbilt's schedule this year, deciding the conference champion, and was described by the New York Times as an "important clash";[65] another source called it a "tooth and toe nail event."[56] Georgia had the best line in the South,[1] featuring four All-Southern players.[n 10] No team scored through the Bulldogs' line all year.[36] Georgia was in its second year under coach Herman Stegeman.[68] Birmingham News sports editor "Zipp" Newman wrote weeks before the game, "Stegeman has a powerful team and with all the regulars in the game, the team has a chance of going through the season undefeated unless it be Vanderbilt that stops her".[69]

Dan McGugin, holding a football
Coach Dan McGugin

Vanderbilt's record against Georgia was 6–1; its only loss was 4–0, in 1898, and the all-time score was 184–4 in favor of the Commodores.[70] The Bulldogs were favored to win their first meeting since 1912.[n 11] In the first quarter, both teams were evenly matched. The Commodores had their best chance to score when Thomas Ryan beat the defense, but he dropped Neely's pass.[64] Vanderbilt also had a chance to score when a Georgia field goal was blocked by Lynn Bomar and picked up by Tot McCullough, who was caught from behind before he could score.[64]

Vanderbilt tying the score

In the second quarter, Georgia outplayed Vanderbilt. The Commodores had two first downs in the first half, both because of Bulldog penalties.[63] A Commodore punt was returned 15 yards by Georgia to the Vanderbilt 30-yard line,[72] and the Bulldogs completed an 18-yard pass from Dick Hartley to halfback Jim Tom Reynolds[64][73] on Vanderbilt's 12-yard line. After three short gains, Hartley advanced five yards and Vanderbilt was penalized for being offside. Jim Reynolds, gaining a yard or so, went over for the touchdown with a counter on the following series; the close call was disputed.[72] At the end of the half, Georgia had gained 113 yards to Vanderbilt's nine.[1]

The teams were as evenly matched in the third quarter as they had been in the first, with Vanderbilt gaining only two first downs.[74] Soon after the start of the fourth quarter[75] Neely intercepted a pass, weaving for a 25-yeard return to Georgia's 40-yard line.[76] Two long pass attempts failed, and Thomas Ryan lined up to punt. Rupert Smith sneaked in behind Ryan, rushing to recover the 25-yard onside kick from scrimmage. Smith jumped up to get the ball from a horde of Bulldogs after they let it bounce, and raced for a 15-yard touchdown.[74][77] After he added an extra point, the game ended in a 7–7 tie.[n 12]

Lynn Bomar's play as a linebacker was noted. According to Nashville Tennessean sportswriter Blinkey Horn, "Georgia would have trampled Vanderbilt to atoms but for Lynn Bomar ... [who] was the stellar performer of the game. In the first-half he made two-thirds of the tackles";[77] Bomar stopped five Georgia touchdowns that day.[11] Tom Ryan's punting was also key to keeping the game close, despite the Bulldogs' 18 first downs.[74] Georgia defeated Alabama and Clemson in the following weeks, giving Vanderbilt and Georgia equal right to the 1921 SIAA title.[64] The Commodores' starting lineup was McCullough (left end), Elam (left tackle), Bailey (left guard), Sharpe (center), Wade (right guard), Bradford (right tackle), Ryan (right end), Godchaux (quarterback), Smith (left halfback), Neely (right halfback), and Bomar (fullback).[63][79]

Week 8: Sewanee

Sewanee at Vanderbilt
1 234Total
Sewanee 0 000 0
• Vanderbilt 0 009 9

Vanderbilt ended the season with a 9–0 win over Sewanee in the "muddiest game" in its history.[1] The Commodores, playing in knee-deep mud and water,[81] were unrecognizable.[82] The teams were considered a fairly-even match before the game; although Sewanee felt confident that its line gave it a chance to win, it was apprehensive about Vanderbilt's passing game.[83] Lynn Bomar was injured in the game, which was for bragging rights and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association title.[84]

An empty Curry Field
Curry Field during (or after) the Sewanee game

The game was scoreless until the fourth quarter, when Sewanee fumbled the snap on a punt and the punter was smothered by Jess Neely, Frank Godchaux, and Pink Wade for a safety. Later in the quarter, Henry (Hek) Wakefield punted the ball 54 yards from his own 38-yard line and Pos Elam recovered a fumble by Sewanee's Powers. Wakefield ran in the game's only touchdown, off-tackle from about five yards out. Sewanee had more first downs than Vanderbilt—six to Vanderbilt's two—but also had four successive fumbles.[36][80] The Commodores' starting lineup was McCullough (left end), Elam (left tackle), Bailey (left guard), Sharpe (center), Wade (right guard), Bradford (right tackle), Ryan (right end), Kuhn (quarterback), Smith (left halfback), Neely (right halfback), and Williams (fullback)[85]

Post-season

On November 30, Vanderbilt accepted an offer to play the University of Florida in a post-season game on New Year's Day in Jacksonville.[86] The regular season ended with four undefeated teams in the South; Centre, Georgia Tech, the Georgia Bulldogs, and Vanderbilt.[87] Centre (which upset Harvard) lost to Texas A&M in the 1922 Dixie Classic, leaving Vanderbilt as the only undefeated team in all its games.

Georgia coach Herman Stegeman, in the section on Southern football in Spalding's football guide, wrote that Vanderbilt had a good year but was unable to play up to its full capabilities and the Commodores should prepare for a fine season the next year. For Stegeman, the contest for the theoretical title of greatest Southern team in 1921 was between Centre, Georgia Tech, and Georgia.[36] Clyde Berryman retroactively listed Vanderbilt as national champion.[3] Lynn Bomar at fullback, Pos Elam at tackle, and Thomas Ryan at end were listed on Walter Camp's list of notable players.[36] Bomar, Elam, Ryan, Tot McCullough, Alf Sharpe, and Pink Wade all made an All-Southern team although, according to the yearbook, Tom Ryan was the only player in the group to appear on an All-Southern team.[2]

Personnel

Depth chart

The following chart provides a visual depiction of Vanderbilt's lineup during the 1921 season with games started at the position reflected in parenthesis. The chart mimics a short punt formation while on offense, with the quarterback under center.

LE
Tot McCullough (7)
Tom Ryan (1)
James Hardwick (0)
 
LT LG C RG RT
Pos Elam (4) Fats Bailey (4) Alf Sharpe (8) Pink Wade (3) Tex Bradford (4)
Tex Bradford (4) Pink Wade (2)William E. Porter (0) Putty Overall (2) Pos Elam (3)
Frank Katzenstine (0) Fatty Lawrence (1) Paul Stumb (0) Fats Bailey (1)Ducky Holmes (0)
Bob Rives (0) Mizell Wilson (1)
RE
Tom Ryan (7)
Percy Conyers (1)
 
 
QB
Doc Kuhn (3)
Frank Godchaux (4)
Pep Bell (0)
LHBRHB
Rupert Smith (6)Jess Neely (5)
Jess Neely (1)Rupe Smith (1)
Froggie Meiers (0) Frank Godchaux (1)
Hugh Mixon (0)Red Rountree (0)
James Sargent (0)S. T. Porter (0)
George Waller (0)
FB
Lynn Bomar (4)
Red Williams (3)
Hek Wakefield (0)

Varsity letter winners

Pink Wade, posing in a crouch
Pink Wade
Frank Godchaux, kicking
Frank Godchaux

Line

Number Player Position Games
started 		Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
18Fats BaileyGuard6 Cleveland, OhioSt. John's Military Academy (WI) 175
19Tex BradfordTackle8Mansfield, Texas TCU 6'0"195 22
25Percy ConyersEnd3 Halls, Tennessee Union Academy 151
21Pos ElamTackle8 Smyrna, TennesseeMiddle Tennessee State Normal 178
22Ducky HolmesTackle Whitehaven, Tennessee McTyeire School 200
15Fatty LawrenceGuard3 Nashville, Tennessee Hume-Fogg H.S. 5'7"194 18
24Tot McCulloughEnd8 Lewisburg, Tennessee 6'4"180 26
20Putty OverallGuard4Murfreesboro, Tennessee Middle Tennessee State Normal 196
23Tom RyanEnd8 Houston, Texas Central H.S.6'1" 171
14Alf SharpeCenter8Nashville, Tennessee Montgomery Bell Academy6'4" 189 19
Paul StumbCenter Nashville, TennesseeMontgomery Bell Academy 172
1Pink WadeGuard6 Nashville, Tennessee Hume-Fogg H.S 5'11"188 22
16Mizell WilsonGuard2 Nashville, Tennessee Montgomery Bell Academy 160 24

Backfield

Number Player Position Games
started 		Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
7Alvin BellQuarterback2 Little Rock, Arkansas Little Rock H.S 14720
9Lynn BomarFullback6 Gallatin, Tennessee Fitzgerald and Clarke 6'1"183 20
Frank GodchauxQuarterback6 New Orleans, Louisiana Woodberry Forest School (VA) 153 19
2Doc KuhnQuarterback6 Nashville, TennesseeMontgomery Bell Academy5'8" 150 23
10Freddie MeiersHalfback3 Nashville, Tennessee Georgia Military Academy (GA) 150
Hugh MixonHalfback2 Marianna, ArkansasPolytechnic H.S. (Calif.) 160
4 Jess NeelyHalfback8 Smyrna, Tennessee Branham and Hughes Military Academy 15723
8Red RountreeHalfback3 Hartselle, Alabama Morgan County H.S. 142 18
3Rupert SmithHalfback8 Murfreesboro, Tennessee Middle Tennessee State Normal 158 24
Hek WakefieldFullback1 Petersburg, Tennessee Fitzgerald and Clarke5'10" 155 22
5Red WilliamsFullback4 Hernando, Mississippi Millsaps College 180

Reserves

Number Player Position Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
Norton Campbell
John Chester Nashville, TennesseeWallace University School
John Drennon Woodbury, Tennessee
M. G. Eckhardt Yorktown, Texas Austin H. S.
Glenn Gentry Nashville, Tennessee Hume-Fogg H.S.
Dewitt Gordon Nashville, Tennessee
Yoehlee Graves Scottsville, KentuckyWestern Kentucky State Normal
James HardwickEnd Blacksburg, Virginia Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Frank KatzenstineTackleBirmingham, Alabama Birmingham-Southern College
Sydney Keeble Nashville, Tennessee Montgomery Bell Academy
Richard D. Kuhn Nashville, Tennessee Montgomery Bell Academy 21
Nat Langford Springfield, Tennessee
Paul LindsayGuard Jacksonville, Florida Duval H.S.
Aubrey Maxwell
J. S. McDonnell Okolona, Mississippi
Dana Nance Soochow, China
Walter Newman
Jakey Peck Springfield, Tennessee
C. A. Perry Lebanon, Tennessee Castle Heights Military Academy
S. T. Porter HalfbackSpringfield, Tennessee
William E. Porter CenterNashville, Tennessee
Bob RivesTackle Hopkinsville, Kentucky Hopkinsville H.S. 18
James SargentHalfback Tulsa, Oklahoma Greenbriar Military School
Lawrence Spore Nashville, Tennessee
Red Timberlake
B. A. Van Hook
George Waller HalfbackBessemer, Alabama
John WhorleyHalfbackNashville, Tennessee
Roddy Wilson
Miles Woods Nashville, Tennessee Fitzgerald and Clarke School

[1][88][89]

Scoring leaders

Rupert Smith in uniform, posing with a football
Rupert Smith
Player Touchdowns Extra points Field goals Safeties Points
Rupert Smith5160046
Frank Godchaux400024
Lynn Bomar200012
Doc Kuhn200012
Tot McCullough200012
Thomas Ryan200012
Freddie Meiers12008
Alvin Bell11007
Pink Wade11007
Hek Wakefield11007
Percy Conyers10006
Alf Sharpe10006
Jess Neely01001
N/A00012
Total232101161

Coaching staff

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Other title claimants included Georgia Tech and Centre,[2] which upset Harvard in a season highlight.
  2. ↑ Overall captained the 1917 Middle Tennessee team and Smith the 1919 squad.[7][8]
  3. ↑ Godchaux, Kuhn, McCullough, and Neely were also on the baseball team – it too won an SIAA championship.[9]
  4. ↑ Frank Sr. was a quarterback on the 1899 team.[10]
  5. ↑ Berryhill scored six touchdowns in a 76–0 victory over Tennessee in 1918.[11] Although Berryhill was elected captain of the 1921 team at the end of the previous season,[16] he did not return.[17]
  6. ↑ Included among the injured was Mercer lineman and letterman Ike Cowart, who played well in the Georgia game.[29] He was to sit out with a leg infection.[30]
  7. ↑ In a prior week at the 1921 fair, Boston College had beaten Baylor 23–7 at the first game ever played between teams from the southwest and northeast. The Red River Shootout was played at the fair starting in 1929.[41]
  8. ↑ Montgomery Bell Academy used Vanderbilt's stadium to play Baylor, and details of the Texas game would be sent over the "wire" to the fans in attendance.[43]
  9. ↑ The Longhorns also tied Southwest Conference champion Texas A&M 0–0 in its final game. The Aggies then upset Centre, which upset Harvard on October 29, for its final game in the Dixie Classic.
  10. ↑ Guard Puss Whelchel, center Bum Day, tackle Artie Pew, and end Owen Reynolds.[66][67]
  11. ↑ In part because they had outplayed Harvard and defeated Auburn earlier in the season.[71]
  12. ↑ One source credits Vanderbilt with the first successful onside kick in the history of football,[78] despite the fact the onside kick was legalized in 1906.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Russell, Fred, and Maxwell Edward Benson. Fifty Years of Vanderbilt Football. "1921-Wallace Wade Hired As Assistant". Nashville, TN, 1938, p. 39
  2. 1 2 3 Vanderbilt University 1922, p. 117
  3. 1 2 Official 2013 Football Bowl Subdivision Records Book (PDF). The National Collegiate Athletic Association. pp. 76–77.
  4. ↑ "Vanderbilt Commodores Sweat Blood In Drive For Condition". The Macon Daily Telegraph. September 25, 1921.
  5. ↑ "Dudley Field Shaping Up for Vandy Gridders". The Macon Daily Telegraph. September 4, 1921.
  6. ↑ Lewis Bowling. Alabama Football Tales: More Than A Century of Crimson Tide Glory. p. 28.
  7. ↑ 2012 Football Fact Book. Middle Tennessee State Athletics. p. 124.
  8. ↑ Pittard, Homer. The First Fifty Years: Middle Tennessee State College 1911-1961. p. 101.
  9. ↑ Vanderbilt University 1922, pp. 135-140
  10. ↑ Couch, Ernie (2001). SEC Football Trivia. Thomas Nelson Inc.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Traughber, William L. Vanderbilt Football: Tales of Commodore Gridiron History. Charleston, SC: History, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Glory Comes In Double Takes For Vanderbilt's Bill Wade". Wilmington Morning Star. January 18, 1952. p. 12.
  13. ↑ Vanderbilt University 1922, pp. 117; 120
  14. 1 2 "Texans Bolster Vandy Eleven". Dallas Morning News. October 2, 1921.
  15. ↑ "Southern Football Squads Held Back by Broiling Heat". Montgomery Advertiser. September 18, 1921.
  16. ↑ "Berryhill Named Captain Of Vandy". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 30, 1920.
  17. ↑ Blinkey Horn (September 4, 1921). "Vandy Needs Fullback And New Captain, Too". The Tennessean. p. 11. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ Vanderbilt University Quarterly, Volume 10. p. 315.
  19. ↑ The Michigan Chimes Volumes 3-4. p. 23.
  20. ↑ Moshier, Jeff (January 20, 1936). "Playing Square". The Evening Independent.
  21. ↑ Chuck Offenburger (December 26, 2013). "A BLAST FROM THE PAST: Vanderbilt U's football debt to Tingley, Iowa, the tiny town that produced legendary Commodore coach Dan McGugin".
  22. 1 2 "Vanderbilt Downs Middle Tennessee". Montgomery Advertiser. October 2, 1921.
  23. ↑ William L. Traughber (August 25, 2005). "William Dudley: a Father of Vanderbilt Athletics". vucommodores.com. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  24. ↑ Vanderbilt University 1922, p. 120
  25. ↑ Blinkey Horn. "No Shoes Big Enough To Fit Bradford Hoofs". Nashville Banner.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Vandy's Eleven Tears Loose In Second Quarter". The Macon Daily Telegraph. October 9, 1921.
  27. ↑ "Vanderbilt Eleven Defeats Mercer". Augusta Chronicle. October 9, 1921.
  28. ↑ Blinky Horn (October 8, 1921). "Vandy's Line Given Lecture". The Macon Daily Telegraph.
  29. 1 2 "Vanderbilt Wins; Play 'Gators' Next". The Mercer Cluster. October 14, 1921. Archived from the original on June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Mercer Gridmen Leave For Game". Macon Telegraph. October 7, 1921.
  31. ↑ "Mercer Practice Stopped by Rain". Macon Telegraph. October 4, 1921.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 "Cats Lose Stubborn Scrap To Vanderbilt". Kentucky Kernel. October 21, 1921. Archived from the original on May 2, 2016.
  33. 1 2 "Wildcats Run Signals In Dark". The Lexington Herald. October 12, 1921.
  34. 1 2 "Great Crowd to See Vandy Play". October 14, 1921.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 Joe T. Lovett (October 16, 1921). "Pribble, Lavin First To Cross On Commodores". Lexington Herald.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Camp, Walter, ed. National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Rules: Official Intercollegiate Football Guide. 45 Rose St, New York: American Sports, 1922. Print. Spalding's Athletic Library.
  37. ↑ "Vandy Outweighs Kentucky And Wins". Montgomery Advertiser. October 16, 1921.
  38. ↑ "Tying up some loose ends from the ol' mail bag" (PDF). The Cats' Pause: 5. March 4, 1989.
  39. 1 2 3 4 "Commodores Defeat Texas Longhorns before Crowded Stadium, 20 to 0". Dallas Morning News. October 23, 1921.
  40. ↑ "Vanderbilt Victory Removed Last Chance of Perfect Year Slate". Dallas Morning News. October 25, 1921.
  41. 1 2 2012 Vanderbilt Commodores Football Fact Book. p. 121.
  42. ↑ "Southwestern Champions Bring Wonder Team Here to Battle Vandy Eleven". Dallas Morning News. October 16, 1921.
  43. ↑ "A Brief History of MBA Football 1899-1997". Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  44. ↑ "Texas-Vanderbilt Game Today's Big Feature at Fair". Dallas Morning News. October 22, 1921.
  45. 1 2 Edwin Pope. Football's Greatest Coaches. pp. 335–347.
  46. ↑ Charles Cason (December 22, 1964). "Public Forum". Delta Democrat-Times.
  47. ↑ "Statistics of Game". Dallas Morning News. October 23, 1921.
  48. ↑ "Texas Nets $7,500 In Vanderbilt Game". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 28, 1921.
  49. 1 2 3 4 "Vanderbilt Wins from Tennessee". Columbus Daily Enquirer. October 30, 1921.
  50. ↑ "Hope and Fear In Crimson Hearts". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 4, 1921.
  51. ↑ "Native Son Lopes Off With Grid Glory". The Tennessean. October 30, 1921. p. 12. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ↑ Blinkey Horn (October 30, 1921). "Vandy Displays Strong Drive And Trims Tennessee". p. 1. Archived from the original on May 2, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Blinkey Horn. "Vandy Drive Triumphs Over Ancient Rivals". The Tennessean. p. 12. Archived from the original on May 2, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ↑ "Aerial Attack Grows in Favor.". The Macon Daily Telegraph. October 31, 1921.
  54. ↑ "Vanderbilt Wins Over Tennessee". The Times Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana). October 30, 1921.
  55. 1 2 3 4 "Vanderbilt Winner Over Alabama Team". Montgomery Advertiser. November 6, 1921.
  56. 1 2 C.E. Baker (November 1, 1921). "Vanderbilt To Play Bama Eleven Saturday". Macon Telegraph.
  57. 1 2 "Vanderbilt Wins Over Alabama U". Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana). November 6, 1921.
  58. ↑ "Vanderbilt Wins From Alabama". Augusta Chronicle. November 6, 1921.
  59. 1 2 "1921 Football Recap" (PDF). University of Alabama. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  60. ↑ "1921 Season". bryantmuseum.com. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  61. ↑ "Vanderbilt Plans Erecting Stadium". Montgomery Advertiser. November 10, 1921.
  62. ↑ "Vandy Trims U of Alabama". Atlanta Constitution. November 6, 1921. p. 2. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  63. 1 2 3 "Commodores Tied In Last". The Columbus Ledger. November 13, 1921.
  64. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bulldog Eleven Is Held To Tie By The Commodores". The Macon Daily Telegraph. November 13, 1921.
  65. ↑ "Many Good Games On Schedule Today". New York Times. November 12, 1921.
  66. ↑ "1920s Georgia Football". georgiadogs.com. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  67. ↑ "All-Southern Football Team". Charlotte Observer. December 4, 1921.
  68. ↑ "Bulldogs Prepare For Vandy". The Red And Black. November 11, 1921. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  69. ↑ Zipp Newman (October 31, 1921). "Georgia Heeds Opportunity's Knock While Auburn Turns Deaf Ear Says Zipp Newman". The Columbus Enquirer Sun.
  70. ↑ "Georgia Beat Vandy in '98". Columbus Ledger. November 10, 1921.
  71. ↑ "Gridiron Gossip". Montgomery Advertiser. November 11, 1921.
  72. 1 2 "Vanderbilt Holds Georgia To A Tie". Dallas Morning News. November 13, 1921.
  73. ↑ Vanderbilt Holds Georgia To 7-7 Tie Fort Worth Star Telegram November 13, 1921
  74. 1 2 3 "Game With Vandy Is Tied As Novel Play Is Pulled Successful". The Red And Black. November 18, 1921. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  75. ↑ "Vanderbilt Ties With Bulldogs". The State (Columbia, SC). November 13, 1921.
  76. ↑ "Commodores Tie In Last Period". The Palm Beach Post. November 13, 1921.
  77. 1 2 "Georgia and Vandy Battle to a Draw". The Columbus Enquirer. November 13, 1921.
  78. ↑ Bratton, Michael Wayne (January 12, 2016). "The history and evolution of the onside kick". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  79. ↑ Fuzzy Woodruff (November 13, 1921). "Onside Kick In Final Quarter Ties Struggle For Commodores". Atlanta Constitution. p. 3. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  80. 1 2 "Final Period Rally Wins for Old Vandy". Charlotte Observer. November 25, 1921.
  81. ↑ "Vanderbilt Wins From Sewanee In Final Quarter, 9-0". Augusta Chronicle. November 25, 1921.
  82. ↑ "Vanderbilt 9, Sewanee 0.". Morning Oregonian. November 25, 1921.
  83. ↑ "Gridiron Gossip". Montgomery Advertiser. November 10, 1921.
  84. ↑ "Vanderbilt-Sewanee Clash is Big Even". Montgomery Advertiser. November 24, 1921.
  85. ↑ "Vandy Clashes With Sewanee". The Columbus Ledger. November 24, 1921.
  86. ↑ "Vanderbilt in Post-Season Game". New York Times. December 1, 1921.
  87. ↑ "Four Southern Elevens Claim Dixie's Title". The Meriden Daily Journal. November 26, 1921.
  88. ↑ Vanderbilt University 1922, p. 119
  89. ↑ "No Thirteen on Vanderbilt Team". Dallas Morning News. October 18, 1921.

Bibliography

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