1927 Georgia Bulldogs football team
| 1927 Georgia Bulldogs football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Southern Conference |
| 1927 record | 9–1 (6–1 SoCon) |
| Head coach | George Cecil Woodruff (5th season) |
| Offensive scheme | Notre Dame Box |
| Captain | Ivey Shiver |
| Home stadium | Sanford Field |
Uniform | |
 | |
| 1927 Southern Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 | 2 | – | 3 | – | 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1927 Georgia Bulldogs football team represented the Georgia Bulldogs of the University of Georgia in the sport of American football during the 1927 Southern Conference football season. This was the last season George Cecil Woodruff served as the head coach of the football team and the team's 34th season of college football. The Bulldogs posted a 9–1 record,[1] and were retroactively selected as the 1927 national champion under the Boand, Poling, and Berryman QPRS systems.[2]
Called the "dream and wonder team", the Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 in the nation with one regular season game remaining, but were upset in the mud by in-state rival Georgia Tech (the next season's national champion).[3] Georgia did not win the Southern Conference (SoCon) championship in 1927 as a result of its loss to Georgia Tech at season's end. Georgia Tech (7–0–1 SoCon), Tennessee (5–0–1 SoCon), and NC State (4–0–0 SoCon) all finished undefeated in conference play.[4]
The season featured Georgia's first-ever win against Yale as well as six shutouts. The win over Yale propelled Georgia to the national spotlight.[5] The team was anchored by two All-American ends, captain Chick Shiver and consensus All-American Tom Nash.
Preseason
At the end of last season, one source described Georgia as "probably the hardest hit team in the Southern Conference, losing 14 letter men with the Thanksgiving game."[6]
Woodruff resignation
Coach Woodruff said he would quit after this season.[7] Former Notre Dame back Jim Crowley and Notre Dame lineman Harry Mehre assisted Woodruff with his Notre Dame Box scheme.
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 1 | Virginia |
Sanford Field • Athens, Georgia | W 32–0 | ||||||
| October 8 | at Yale* | Yale Bowl • New Haven, Connecticut | W 14–10 | 18,000 | |||||
| October 15 | Furman* | Sanford Field • Athens, Georgia | W 32–0 | ||||||
| October 22 | vs. Auburn | A. J. McClung Memorial Stadium • Columbus, Georgia (Deep South's Oldest Rivalry) | W 33–0 | ||||||
| October 29 | at Tulane | Tulane Stadium • New Orleans | W 31–0 | 10,000 | |||||
| November 5 | at Florida | Barrs Field • Jacksonville, Florida (Rivalry) | W 28–0 | 16,000 | |||||
| November 12 | Clemson | Sanford Field • Athens, Georgia (Rivalry) | W 32–0 | ||||||
| November 19 | Mercer* | Sanford Field • Athens, Georgia | W 26–7 | ||||||
| November 24 | at Alabama | Legion Field • Birmingham, Alabama | W 20–7 | 25,000 | |||||
| December 3 | at Georgia Tech | Grant Field • Atlanta (Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate) | L 0–12 | 38,000 | |||||
| *Non-conference game. | |||||||||
Season summary
Week 1: Virginia
To open the season, Herdis McCrary averaged a touchdown a quarter and the Bulldogs romped over the Virginia Cavaliers 32–0.[8]
The starting lineup was: Nash (left end), Morris (left tackle), Jacobson (left guard), Boland (center), Smith (right guard), Stelling (right tackle), Shiver (right end), Broadnax (quarterback), Estes (left halfback), McTigue (right halfback), McCrary (fullback)[9]
Week 2: at Yale
|
In the second week of play, Georgia defeated Yale by the score of 14–10, the school's first win over an Eastern power.[10] Georgia was propelled into the national spotlight.[5] Bobby Hooks threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Frank Dudley.[11]
The starting lineup was: Nash (left end), Stelling (left tackle), Smith (left guard), Boland (center), Jacobson (right guard), Morris (right tackle), Shiver (right end), Broadnax (quarterback), Estes (left halfback), McTigue (right halfback), McCrary (fullback)
Week 3: Furman
|
Georgia defeated the Furman Purple Hurricane 32–0, giving the Purple Hurricane its only loss this season. Furman twice was within Georgia's 5-yard line.[12]
However, Georgia's backs also ran well.[12] Frank Dudley had a 55-yard run for a score shortly after the start of the second quarter, and Roy Estes placed the ball in scoring position in the third with a 52-yard run.[12]
The starting lineup was: Nash (left end), Morris (left tackle), Haley (left guard), Boland (center), Jacobson (right guard), Paitz (right tackle), Shiver (right end), Broadnax (quarterback), Estes (left halfback), McTigue (right halfback), McCrary (fullback).[12]
Week 4: Auburn
|
In the fourth week of play, Georgia beat Auburn 33–0. Four touchdowns were scored in the second period, when coach Woodruff sent in his first-string backfield.[13] A long pass from Hooks to McCrary got one touchdown.[13]
The starting lineup was: Nash (left end), Morris (left tackle), Haley (left guard), Boland (center), Jacobson (right guard), Lautzenheizer (right tackle), Shiver (right end), Broadnax (quarterback), Estes (left halfback), Hooks (right halfback), McCrary (fullback).[13]
Week 5: at Tulane
The Bulldogs traveled to New Orleans and beat Tulane 31–0. McCrary was kept on the bench as the halfbacks provided most of the scoring.[14]
Week 6: at Florida
|
Georgia beat the Florida Gators 28–0 after leading just 7–0 at the half. Florida quarterback Goof Bowyer broke his leg.[15] The starting lineup was: Nash (left end), Morris (left tackle), Jacobson (left guard), Boland (center), Smith (right guard), Lautzenheizer (right tackle), Shiver (right end), Broadnax (quarterback), Estes (left halfback), McTigue (right halfback), Rothstein (fullback).[16]
Week 7: Clemson
|
McCrary scored three of the five touchdowns in the 32–0 victory over Clemson.[17]
McTigue ran in the first score. Roy Estes threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to H. F. Johnston. McCrary replaced Rothstein and added two touchdowns.[17] The second team went in the second half, in which McCrary added another touchdown.[17]
The starting lineup was: Nash (left end), Morris (left tackle), Jacobson (left guard), Boland (center), Haley (right guard), Lautenheizer (right tackle), Shiver (right end), Broadnax (quarterback), Estes (left halfback), McTigue (right halfback), Rothstein (fullback).[18]
Week 8: Mercer
|
Georgia started the Mercer game with its second string and won 26–7.[19] One report before the game reads: "Mercer's football team has about as much chance of beating Georgia as The Cluster has of having compulsory chapel abolished."[20]
Mercer's Phoney Smith was the first southern player to cross the goal line against Georgia, on an 80-yard punt return.[21][19]
Week 9: at Alabama
|
The game on November 24 against the Alabama Crimson Tide was the first game played in the newly completed Legion Field. The 20–7 Bulldog victory snapped a five-game losing streak against Alabama.[n 1]
Estes passed to Nash for the first score, and Estes ran the second score in himself. Another pass to Nash got a touchdown in the third quarter. In the final period, Alabama's Brasfield went back to pass, but saw no one open, and took off running. In the game's most sensational play, he dodged three tacklers behind the line, and evaded three more on his way to the endzone.[22]
The starting lineup was: Nash (left end), Morris (left tackle), C. Smith (left guard), Boland (center), Jacobson (right guard), Lautenheizer (right tackle), Shiver (right end), Johnson (quarterback), McTigue (left halfback), Estes (right halfback), Hill (fullback).[23]
Week 10: at Georgia Tech
|
Georgia was ranked number 1 by the Dickinson system. Grant Field was expected to be filled to capacity, the largest crowd ever in the south.[26] 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."[27]
In the rain, the Bulldogs were defeated by rival Georgia Tech for the SoCon championship 12–0. For the first time this year, neither Nash nor Shiver played particularly well.[28]
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.[24][25] Thomason scored on a 13-yard end run.[25]
The starting lineup was: Nash (left end), Morris (left tackle), Jacobson (left guard), Boland (center), Smith (right guard), Lautenheizer (right tackle), Shiver (right end), Johnson (quarterback), Estes (left halfback), Dudley (right halfback), McCrary (fullback).[25]
Postseason
Legacy
By season's end, both Georgia and Yale were national champions according to various selectors. Despite the loss to Tech, the Bulldogs were retroactively selected as the 1927 national champion under the Boand, Poling, and Berryman QPRS systems.[2] Walter Eckersall noted the progress of southern football as he reflected on Georgia's victory over Yale; "Old Eli, with its running attack, could do nothing against Georgia, which is represented by two of the finest ends in the country. Nash and Shiver would be valuable assets on any football team."[29]
Players
Depth chart
The following chart provides a visual depiction of Georgia's lineup during the 1927 season with games started at the position reflected in parenthesis. The chart mimics a Notre Dame Box on offense.
|
Line
| Number | Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Ike Boland | Center | 8 | 175 | ||||
| 33 | Theodore Frisbie | Tackle | ||||||
| 32 | Eugene S. Haley | Guard | ||||||
| 17 | J. Hill | Guard | ||||||
| 16 | Roy H. Jacobson | Guard | 8 | |||||
| 1 | Glenn Lautzenhiser | Tackle | 5 | Tech High | ||||
| 25 | J. Robert Morris | Tackle | 8 | |||||
| 19 | Tom Nash | End | 8 | Washington, Georgia | 6'3" | 205 | ||
| 27 | Henry G. Palmer | End | ||||||
| 26 | Chick Shiver | End | 8 | Sylvester, Georgia | 6'1" | 190 | ||
| 10 | Gene Smith | Guard | 5 | Montgomery, Alabama | 5'9" | 190 | ||
| 23 | H. Cree Stelling | Tackle | ||||||
Backfield
| Number | Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Johnny Broadnax | Quarterback | University School for Boys | |||||
| 7 | Cook | Halfback | ||||||
| 9 | Frank Dudley | Halfback | ||||||
| 3 | Roy Estes | Halfback | ||||||
| 28 | Harvey Hill | Fullback | ||||||
| 29 | Bobby Hooks | Halfback | ||||||
| 30 | H. F. Johnson | Quarterback | ||||||
| 12 | Herdis McCrary | Fullback | Bicknell, Indiana | 6'0" | 200 | |||
| 4 | Robert McTigue | Halfback | ||||||
| 24 | Tommy Paris | Quarterback | ||||||
| 6 | Bennie Rothstein | Fullback | ||||||
Unlisted
| Number | Player |
|---|---|
| 2 | Davidson |
| 5 | Cox |
| 11 | Buchanan |
| 13 | Bradley |
| 14 | Martin |
| 15 | Nixon |
| 20 | Collins |
| 21 | Sanford |
| 22 | Stewart |
| 31 | Greenfield |
| 34 | Reigle |
| 38 | Eubanks |
Staff
- Head coach: Kid Woodruff
- Manager: Keith Lewis, James M. Roberts
See also
Notes
- ↑ Alabama's loss to Georgia Tech prior in the season snapped their own 24-game unbeaten streak.
References
- ↑ "1927 Georgia Bulldogs Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
- 1 2 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) (2015). "National Poll Rankings" (PDF). NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA. p. 109. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
- ↑ "Football National Championships". UGA Sports Communications. 2006-08-02. Retrieved 2007-01-12.
- ↑ "Conference Championships – Southern Conference". College Football Data Warehouse. 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
- 1 2 Jon Nelson (August 1, 2010). 100 Things Bulldogs Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. Triumph Books. p. 25. Retrieved March 25, 2015 – via Google books.
- ↑ "Many Faces Pass From Grid After Thanksgiving Fights". Hattiesburg American. November 23, 1926. p. 3.
- ↑ "Georgia Coach to Quit Post". Kingsport Times. October 2, 1927. p. 8. Retrieved April 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Georgia Bulldogs Score Brilliant 32 to 0 Victory Over Virginia U". Kingsport Times. p. 2. Retrieved April 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Woodruff 1928, p. 206
- ↑ "Georgia Whips Yale Bulldogs". The Lincoln Star. October 9, 1927. p. 14. Retrieved March 25, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Garbin, Patrick (1 August 2007). ""Then Vince Said to Herschel... ": The Best Georgia Football Stories Ever Told". Triumph Books – via Google Books.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Georgia Backs Go Around Hurricane Ends To Win 32 to 0". The Index-Journal. October 16, 1927. p. 7. Retrieved August 6, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 "Bulldogs Add Another Scalp To Collection". The Anniston Star. October 23, 1927. p. 8. Retrieved January 3, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Bulldogs Run Over Tulane Winning 31-0". The Anniston Star. October 30, 1927. p. 8. Retrieved April 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Frank S. Wright (December 8, 1927). "Ernest Bowyer Given Highest Florida Honor". St. Petersburg Times. p. 3.
- ↑ Woodruff 1928, p. 250
- 1 2 3 "Georgia Rides To 32-0 Victory Over Clemson". Anniston Star. November 13, 1927. p. 10. Retrieved February 29, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Woodruff 1928, p. 258
- 1 2 "Mercer Falls Before Georgia Bulldogs 26-8". The Anniston Star. November 20, 1927. p. 10. Retrieved January 5, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "The Georgia Game". Mercer Cluster. November 18, 1927.
- ↑ Garbin, Patrick (2008). About them Dawgs!: Georgia football's memorable teams and players. United States: Scarecrow Press. pp. 43, 48. ISBN 978-0-8108-6040-7.
- ↑ http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/27-m-footbl-recaps.pdf
- ↑ Woodruff 1928, p. 273
- 1 2 Patrick Garbin. About Them Dawgs!: Georgia Football's Memorable Teams and Players. p. 44.
- 1 2 3 4 "Biggest Upset of Southern Conference Spoils 'U' Mark". Oakland Tribune. December 4, 1927. p. 33. Retrieved July 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Georgia 11 Meets Ancient Tech Foes". Ironwood Daily Globe. December 3, 1927. p. 5. Retrieved August 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Lawrence Perry (December 2, 1927). "Georgia and Georgia Tech Clash in Annual Grid Classic". Oakland Tribune. p. 43. Retrieved July 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "All-American Debate Boils Over Nation". The Bismarck Tribune. December 7, 1927. p. 8. Retrieved July 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Patrick Garbin. About Them Dawgs!: Georgia Football's Memorable Teams and Players. p. 46 – via Google books.
- ↑ http://cdm16313.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16313coll13/id/168
- Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. 3.