1926 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team

The 1926 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team[note 1] represented the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado of the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1926 Southern Conference football season. The Tornado was coached by William Alexander in his seventh year as head coach, compiling a record of 4–5.

1926 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Record4–5 (4–3 SoCon)
Head coach
Offensive schemeJump shift
CaptainOwen Poole
Home stadiumGrant Field
Uniform
Seasons
← 1925
1927 →
1926 Southern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 7 Alabama $800901
Tennessee510810
Vanderbilt410810
South Carolina420640
Georgia420540
Virginia421622
VPI321531
Washington and Lee321432
Georgia Tech430450
North Carolina330450
Auburn330540
LSU330630
Ole Miss220540
Mississippi A&M230540
VMI240550
Tulane240351
Maryland131541
Clemson130270
Florida141262
Kentucky141261
NC State040460
Sewanee050260
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from Dickinson System

Before the season edit

Doug Wycoff had graduated.

Schedule edit

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 25Oglethorpe*L 7–610,000[3]
October 2VMI
  • Grant Field
  • Atlanta, GA
W 13–0[4]
October 9Tulane
  • Grant Field
  • Atlanta, GA
W 9–6[5]
October 16Alabama
L 21–020,000[6]
October 23Washington & Lee
  • Grant Field
  • Atlanta, GA
W 19–7[7]
October 30at Notre Dame*L 12–011,000[8]
November 6Vanderbilt
L 13–7[9]
November 13Georgia
L 14–13[10]
November 25Auburn
W 20–7[11]
  • *Non-conference game

[12]

Game summaries edit

Oglethorpe edit

Oglethorpe at Georgia Tech
1234Total
Oglethorpe00707
Ga. Tech00066

Sources:

The season opened with a great upset and perhaps the greatest victory in the history of the Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels when they downed Tech 7–6. Halfback "Cy" Bell ran for a 42-yard touchdown run, and "Nutty" Campbell got the game-winning extra point.[13] After the game, Oglethorpe fans reacted to the victory by staging a spontaneous parade through downtown Atlanta.[14]

The starting lineup was Irwin (left end), Gaston (left tackle), Lillard (left guard), Poole (center), Drennon (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Hearn (right end), McRae (quarterback), Brewer (left halfback), Parham (right halfback), Holland (fullback)[15]

VMI edit

In the second week of play, Tech shutout VMI 13–0. The starting lineup was Marshall (left end), Tharpe (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Poole (center), Angley (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Crowley (right end), McRae (quarterback), Smith (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Murray (fullback)[16]

Tulane edit

Tech edged Tulane 9–6. The starting lineup was Crowley (left end), Tharpe (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Poole (center), Angley (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Marshall (right end), Brewer (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Murray (fullback).[17]

Alabama edit

Wallace Wade's national champion Alabama Crimson Tide surprised and held Georgia Tech to two first downs in a 21–0 victory. Hoyt Winslett passed for all three touchdowns.

The starting lineup was Crowley (left end), Tharpe (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Pund (center), Angley (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Marshall (right end), McRae (quarterback), Smith (left halfback), Reed (right halfback), Murray (fullback).[18]

Washington and Lee edit

Tech beat the Washington & Lee Generals 19–7.

Notre Dame edit

Knute Rockne's undefeated Notre Dame beat Tech 12–0. Red Barron stood out in the cold weather.[19]

Vanderbilt edit

Vanderbilt at Georgia Tech
1234Total
Vanderbilt007613
Ga. Tech70007

Sources:

Vanderbilt beat Georgia Tech 13–7. Tech scored on an off-tackle play when Carter Barron got loose for a 50-yard run. Bill Spears faked a pass and ran for 24 yards to spark a drive to tie the game at 7, and added two field goals to beat the Tornado.[20]

The starting lineup was Crowley (left end), Tharpe (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Poole (center), Lillard (right guard), Thrash (right tackle), Marshall (right end), Randolph (quarterback), Horn (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Murray (fullback).[21]

Georgia edit

Down 13 to 0 at the half, rival Georgia came back to beat Tech.[22] Herdis McCrary and captain George Morton made the touchdowns.

The starting lineup was Crowley (left end), Hood (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Poole (center), Angley (right guard), Tharpe (right tackle), Marshall (right end), Brewer (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Horn (right halfback), Murray (fullback).[23]

Auburn edit

In the annual rivalry matchup, Tech beat Auburn 20–7. The starting lineup was Erwin (left end), Tharpe (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Poole (center), Drennon (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Marshall (right end), Brewer (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Murray (fullback).[24]

Players edit

Depth chart edit

The following chart provides a visual depiction of Tech's lineup during the 1924 season with games started at the position reflected in parentheses. The chart mimics the offense after the jump shift has taken place.

LE
Ed Crowley (4)
Bull Irwin (2)
Johnny Marshall (1)
LTLGCRGRT
Mack Tharpe (5)Firpo Martin (5)Owen Poole (6)Tom Angley (4)Papa Hood (5)
Gaston (1)Peter Pund (1)Raleigh Drennon (2)Mack Tharpe (1)
Papa Hood (1)John Lillard (1)
RE
Johnny Marshall (5)
Ed Crowley (1)
Tiny Hearn (1)
QB
Finley McRae (4)
John Brewer (3)
Bob Randolph (1)
RHB
Carter Barron (4)
Bob Horn (1)
Bob Parham (1)
Reed (1)
FB
Sam Murray (6)
Ralph Holland (1)
LHB
Bob Parham (3)
Shorty Smith (2)
John Brewer (1)
Bob Horn (1)

Notes edit

  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 edit

References edit