1919 Centre Praying Colonels football team
The 1919 Centre Praying Colonels football team represented Centre College in the 1919 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season.[1] The Praying Colonels scored 485 points, leading the nation, while allowing 23 points and finishing their season with a perfect record of 9–0.[2][3] The team was retroactively selected by Jeff Sagarin as national champion for the 1919 season.[4]
| 1919 Centre Praying Colonels football | |
|---|---|
 Centre players after the defeat of West Virginia | |
National champion (Sagarin) | |
| Conference | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| 1919 record | 9–0 (1–0 SIAA) |
| Head coach | Charley Moran |
| Offensive scheme | Single wing |
| Captain | Bo McMillin |
| Home stadium | Cheek Field |
Uniform | |
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| 1919 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn $ | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Centre | 1 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 3 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech | 3 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | 3 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 3 | – | 1 | – | 2 | 5 | – | 1 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Furman | 2 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 4 | – | 2 | – | 2 | 4 | – | 2 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 3 | – | 2 | – | 2 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 2 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wofford | 1 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transylvania | 1 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Citadel | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgetown | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 0 | – | 3 | – | 2 | 3 | – | 3 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | 0 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mercer | 0 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi College | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howard | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Quarterback Bo McMillin and center James "Red" Weaver were named to Walter Camp's first-team 1919 College Football All-America Team. Just the year before Bum Day was the first Southern player ever selected to Camp's first team – and Centre became the first school with two. Fullback and end James "Red" Roberts was named to Camp's third team.
The highlight of the season was the win over West Virginia. McMillin had the team pray before it, forever giving the Centre College Colonels its alternate moniker of "Praying Colonels."[5]
Before the season
Five Centre regulars were natives of Fort Worth, Texas, namely quarterback Bo McMillin, Bill James, Sully Montgomery, Matty Bell, and Red Weaver.[6] They were accused of being professionals, but the charges were rebuked by season's end.[7] "Without Bo it would not be a Centre team."[8]
Former Centre player and North Side High School head coach Robert L. Myers was to bring McMillin, Weaver, and the above teammates to Centre. However, McMillin and Weaver did not have sufficient credits to enter college, and thus entered Somerset High School for the 1916-17 year, playing with Red Roberts.[9]
Centre's linemen were known as the "Seven Mustangs".[10]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 27 | Hanover* |
| W 95–0 |
| October 4 | at Indiana* |
| W 12–3 |
| October 18 | Xavier* |
| W 57–0 |
| October 25 | at Transylvania | Lexington, KY | W 69–0 |
| November 1 | at Virginia | W 49–7 | |
| November 8 | at West Virginia | Charleston, WV | W 14–6 |
| November 15 | Kentucky |
| W 56–0 |
| November 22 | vs. DePauw | Louisville, KY | W 56–0 |
| November 27 | at Georgetown (KY) | Georgetown, KY | W 77–7 |
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A game with Maryville College was scheduled but never played due to Maryville injuries.
Season summary
Week 1: Hanover
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On opening day, Centre swamped Hanover 95–0. Eight different players scored. Roberts was shifted from fullback to tackle, and played well.[13]
The starting lineup was King (left end), Roberts (left tackle), Montgomery (left guard), Bell (center), Van Antwerp (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), Whitnell (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Murphy (left halfback), Davis (right halfback), Diddle (fullback).[13]
Week 2: at Indiana
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Centre beat Indiana 12–3. Indiana was up 3–0 with 2:20 left in the game, when Centre started its comeback victory.[12] McMillin and Roberts worked it towards the goal, Roberts going over. Indiana was then desperate to even the score, and McMillin intercepted a pass, and returned it for a touchdown, dodging and straight arming the entire Indiana eleven.[12] Indiana's three points came early in the first period, when its quarterback, Mathys, made a 35-yard drop kick.[12]
The starting lineup was Whitnell (left end), Montgomery (left tackle), Van Antwerp (left guard), Garrett (center), Coleman (right guard), James (right tackle), McCullom (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Bittle (left halfback), Davis (right halfback), Roberts (fullback).[12]
Week 3: St. Xavier
The Colonels beat St. Xavier 57–0.
Week 4: Transylvania
In the fourth week of play, the Colonels beat the Transylvania Pioneers 69–0. Transylvania's Milton broken several bones in his foot the week previous.[14]
Week 5: at Virginia
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Centre's backfield starred and smashed the Virginia Cavaliers 49–7 in the mud. Joe Murphy had a 75-yard touchdown run.[15] Soon after, McMillin went 70 yards for a touchdown.[15] Kuyk scored Virginia's points.[15]
The starting lineup was Bell (left end), Montgomery (left tackle), Van Antwerp (left guard), Weaver (center), Cregor (right guard), James (right tackle), Snoddy (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Armstrong (left halfback), Davis (right halfback), Roberts (fullback).[15]
Week 6: at West Virginia
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The sixth week of play brought the highlight of the season — a 14–6 comeback win over West Virginia and the nation's leading scorer Ira Rodgers. McMillin had the team pray before the game, forever giving the Centre College Colonels its alternate moniker of "Praying Colonels."[5][17][18]
Rodgers came out passing and West Virginia scores first early when he bucked it over. Later, a 25-yard pass from McMillin to Terry Snoddy brought the ball near the goal. Roberts eventually scored. Centre had another touchdown drive in the last quarter, ending in McMillin sidestepping for a touchdown.[16] Murphy was in a flimsy track suit and track shoes.[19]
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The starting lineup was Bell (left end), Montgomery (left tackle), Van Antwerp (left guard), Weaver (center), Cregor (right guard), Jones (right tackle), Snoddy (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Armstrong (right halfback), Roberts (fullback).[16]
Week 7: Kentucky State
With a large crowd at home on Cheek Field, the Colonels beat rival Kentucky State 56–0, giving the Wildcats their worst loss on the season. Roberts had three touchdowns.[20]
The starting lineup was Bell (left end), Montgomery (left tackle), Van Antwerp (left guard), Weaver (center), Cregor (right guard), James (right tackle), Snoddy (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Armstrong (right halfback), Roberts (fullback).[20]
Week 8: vs. DePauw
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The Colonels defeated the DePauw Tigers in Louisville 56–0. McMillin's passes "aroused the wonderment of the crowd."[21] The first touchdown came on an 18-yard pass to Army Armstrong.[21]
The starting lineup was Bell (left end), Montgomery (left tackle), Van Antwerp (left guard), Weaver (center), Cregor (right guard), James (right tackle), Snoddy (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Armstrong (left halfback), Davis (right halfback), Roberts (fullback).[21]
Week 9: at Georgetown
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Centre rolled up a 77–7 score on the Georgetown Tigers. Georgetown's one score came off a 65-yard fumble return.[22] Weaver made 11 straight extra points.
The starting lineup was Bell (left end), Montgomery (left tackle), Van Antwerp (left guard), Weaver (center), Cregor (right guard), James (right tackle), Snoddy (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Armstrong (right halfback), Roberts (fullback).[22]
Postseason
Legacy
Red Weaver made 47 out of 48 extra points with 46 in a row,[23] and held the NCAA record with 99 consecutive points after touchdowns in the 1919 and 1920 seasons.[24][25] Weaver was put at the placekicker position on an Associated Press Southeast Area All-Time football team 1869-1919 era.[26]
The season brought national attention to the small town of Danville.[27]
Awards and honors
Due to the dispute over professionalism, most writers picked Auburn as SIAA champion. The team was retroactively selected by Jeff Sagarin as the national champion for the 1919 season.[4]
McMillin and Weaver were named to Walter Camp's first-team 1919 College Football All-America Team. Just the year before Bum Day was the first Southern player ever selected to Camp's first team – and Centre became the first school with two. Fullback and end Red Roberts was named to Camp's third team.
Players
Depth chart
The following chart provides a visual depiction of Centre's lineup during the 1919 season with games started at the position reflected in parenthesis. The chart mimics a single wing on offense.
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Starters
Line
| Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matty Bell | End | Fort Worth, TX | North Side H. S. | 163 | 20 | ||
| Ben Cregor | Guard | Springfield, KY | 5'11" | 175 | 20 | ||
| Bill James | Tackle | Fort Worth, TX | North Side H. S. | 169 | 21 | ||
| Sully Montgomery | Tackle | Fort Worth, TX | North Side H. S. | 6'3" | 210 | 18 | |
| Terry Snoddy | End | Owensboro, KY | Owensboro H. S. | 5'10" | 173 | 19 | |
| Howard Van Antwerp | Guard | Mt. Sterling, KY | Mt. Sterling H. S. | 173 | 20 | ||
| Red Weaver | Center | Fort Worth, TX | North Side H. S. | 5'10" | 158 | 21 | |
Backfield
| Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norris Armstrong | Halfback | Fort Smith, AR | Fort Smith H. S. | 5'10" | 154 | 21 | |
| Allen Davis | Halfback | Danville, KY | 148 | 20 | |||
| Bo McMillin | Quarterback | Fort Worth, TX | North Side H. S. | 5'9" | 175 | 21 | |
| Red Roberts | Fullback | Somerset, KY | Somerset H. S. | 6'2" | 193 | 19 | |
Subs
Line
| Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton Ford | Guard | Danville, KY | 190 | 20 | |||
| William Garrett | Center | Columbus, OH | West H. S. | 155 | 21 | ||
| Gus King | End | Oak Cliff, TX | 155 | 20 | |||
| Edwin Whitnell | End | Fulton, KY | Fulton H. S. | 160 | 19 | ||
Backfield
| Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgar Diddle | Halfback | Castle Heights | 166 | 21 | |||
| Joe Murphy | Halfback | Columbus, OH | East H. S. | 130 | 20 | ||
Scoring leaders
The following is an incomplete list of statistics and scores, largely dependent on newspaper summaries.
| Player | Touchdowns | Extra points | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bo McMillin | 10 | 11 | 71 | |
| Red Roberts | 9 | 54 | ||
| Red Weaver | ? | 46 | 46 | |
| Terry Snoddy | 5 | 30 | ||
| Joe Murphy | 5 | 30 | ||
| Norris Armstrong | 4 | 24 | ||
| Edwin Whitnel | 3 | 18 | ||
| Allen Davis | 2 | 12 | ||
| Hump Tanner | 2 | 12 | ||
| Edgar Diddle | 1 | 6 | ||
| N/A v. Xavier/Transy/Georgetown | 30 | 2 | 182 | |
| Total | 71 | 59 | 485 | |
References
- https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-daily-globe-dec-20-1919-p-21/
- 1919 Centre football scores Archived 2000-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
- John Y. Brown, The Legend of the Praying Colonels, J. Marvin Gray & Associates, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky
- National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) (2015). "National Poll Rankings" (PDF). NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA. p. 108. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
- Fuller, Henry Starkey (1919). "Centre College of Kentucky". School. 31: 428.
- Fred Turbyville (November 21, 1919). "Centre College Prays and Crys, Then Goes Out And Wins". New Castle Herald. p. 14. Retrieved May 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Charges Against Centre Men Are Considered Ridiculous". The Courier-Journal. December 9, 1919. p. 10. Retrieved May 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- Charles A. Reinhart (October 26, 1919). "Sport Review". p. 50. Retrieved February 8, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Red Weaver".
- Whitney Martin (November 25, 1943). "Sarazen Loses Squire Title Sells Property". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- "Centre College Football Records (1910-1919)".
- "Centre Downs Indiana In Last Two Minutes of Play". The Courier-Journal. October 5, 1919. p. 42. Retrieved May 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Centre Swamps Hanover". The Indianapolis Star. September 28, 1919. p. 25. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2016-07-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Centre College Smashed Vaunted Virginia Eleven". The Courier-Journal. November 2, 1919. p. 47. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Centre College Victorious Over West Virginia Team". The Courier-Journal. November 9, 1919. p. 43. Retrieved May 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- Frank G. Weaver (1919). "Come On, You Praying Kentuckians". Association Men. 45: 416.
- "Kentucky Colonels Have Phenomenal Record; Always Pray Before Battle". Arizona Daily Star. November 28, 1919. p. 7. Retrieved May 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- "It Really Happened In Football". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. November 17, 1937.
- Sam H. McMeekin (November 16, 1919). "Colonels Are Triumphant In Big Game At Danville". The Courier-Journal. p. 53. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- Sam H. McMeekin (November 23, 1919). "Centre College Overwhelms Depauw Football Eleven". The Courier-Journal. p. 44. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Colonels Romp Over Georgetown". The Courier-Journal. November 28, 1919. p. 8. Retrieved May 30, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- "How About This?". The Atlanta Constitution. November 28, 1919. p. 18. Retrieved May 30, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Detail Story of Stadium Game". Boston Post. October 24, 1920. p. 56. Retrieved March 16, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Kicks 90 Goals, "Red Weaver's Toe Stuff May Be Useless Next Year". The Wichita Beacon. December 24, 1920. p. 4. Retrieved March 16, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- "All-Time Football Team Lists Greats Of Past, Present". Gadsden Times. July 27, 1969.
- "Kentucky School Wins". The Dekaly Daily Chronicle. 21 (1). December 1, 1919.
- "The Centre College Football Squad". The Gazette Times. Pittsburgh. December 3, 1919. p. 13. Retrieved May 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.