1920 Tulane Green Wave football team
The 1920 Tulane Green Wave football team represented the Tulane Green Wave of the Tulane University during the 1920 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. The 1920 team tied for the SIAA championship with Georgia and Georgia Tech, and was the first called the "Green Wave", after a song titled "The Rolling Green Wave".[2]
| 1920 Tulane Green Wave football | |
|---|---|
SIAA co-champion | |
| Conference | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| 1920 record | 6–2–1 (5–0 SIAA) |
| Head coach | Clark Shaughnessy (6th season) |
| Offensive scheme | Single wing |
| Captain | John Wight |
| Home stadium | Second Tulane Stadium (Capacity: 11,000)[1] |
| 1920 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia + | 7 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane + | 5 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech + | 4 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Centre | 4 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Furman | 3 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | 3 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 3 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transylvania | 2 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howard | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi College | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 1 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 1 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chattanooga | 1 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Citadel | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 0 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 0 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgetown (KY) | 0 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Millsaps | 0 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mercer | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wofford | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 8 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Before the season
In the prior year of 1919, coach Clark Shaughnessy guided Tulane to a then-school record of seven consecutive wins,[3] and had transformed Tulane into a competitor among Southern collegiate teams.[4]
Though he was famous for later using the T formation, at Tulane Shaughnessy employed the single wing. Shaughnessy also introduced to Tulane the Minnesota shift, an innovation created by his former coach Henry L. Williams.[5]
Germany Schulz was hired to take over duties as athletic director.[6]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2 | Southwestern Louisiana* | New Orleans, LA | W 79–0 |
| October 9 | Mississippi College | New Orleans, LA | W 29–0 |
| October 16 | Rice* |
| T 0–0 |
| October 23 | at Ole Miss | Oxford, MS (rivalry) | W 32–0 |
| October 30 | at Michigan* |
| L 21–0 |
| November 6 | at Florida |
| W 14–0 |
| November 13 | Mississippi A&M | New Orleans, LA | W 6–0 |
| November 25 | at LSU | Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry) | W 21–0 |
| December 4 | Detroit* | New Orleans, LA | L 7–0 |
| |||
Season summary
Southwestern Louisiana
The season opened with a 79–0 victory over Southwestern Louisiana. One full quarter was played by the substitutes.[8]
Mississippi College
The Mississippi College Choctaws and Goat Hale fell to Tulane 29–0.[8]
Rice
Sources:[8] |
The Rice Owls fought Tulane to a scoreless tie in a game shifted to Heinemann Park.[8]
On Oct. 20, 1920, Earl Sparling, the editor of the Tulane Hullabaloo, wrote a football song which was printed in the newspaper. The song was titled "The Rolling Green Wave." Although the name was not immediately adopted, it began to receive acceptance.[9]
Mississippi
Tulane beat Mississippi 32–0. Coach Shaughnessy introduced a new shift in the first half, and the players had trouble implementing it.[8] By the second period, Tulane played conventional football instead.[8]
Michigan
The season's first loss was 21–0 to the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor,[10] succumbing to the northern foes by the second half.[8]
Florida
Sources:[11] |
In Tampa, Tulane beat the Florida Gators 14–0.[8] Florida's Tootie Perry played one of the best games seen in Tampa.[11] Dwyer went over right tackle for the first touchdown. After B. Brown cut loose for a 30-yard run, Richcoon scored the last.[11]
The starting lineup was Beaulau (left end), Unsworth (left tackle), Fitz (left guard), Reed (center), Killinger (right guard), Payne (right tackle), Wight (right end), Richeson (quarterback), Dwyer (left halfback), Brown (right halfback), McGraw (fullback).[12]
Mississippi A&M
In what the yearbook called "the critical game of the season,"[8] Tulane won 6–0 over the Mississippi Aggies.
LSU
Tulane triumphed 21–0 over rival LSU.[8] The starting lineup was Wiegand (left end), Payne (left tackle), Fitz (left guard), Reed (center), Unsworth (right guard), Beallieu (right tackle), Wight (right end), Richeson (quarterback), Dwyer (left halfback), Brown (right halfback), Smith (fullback).[13]
Detroit
Sources:[14] |
On a muddy field, the Detroit Titans beat Tulane 7–0. Detroit opened up with passes early, leading to Lauer's off tackle touchdown.[14] The starting lineup was Smith (left end), Payne (left tackle), Unsworth (left guard), Reed (center), Palermo (right guard), Fitz (right tackle), Wight (right end), Richeson (quarterback), Brown (left halfback), Dwyer (right halfback), Beaullieu (fullback).[14]
Players
Line
| Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaston Beaullieu | end | ||||||
| Fits Fitz | guard | ||||||
| Killinger | guard | ||||||
| Palermo | tackle | ||||||
| Virgil Payne | tackle | ||||||
| Eddie Reed | center | New Orleans, Louisiana | Spring Hill College | ||||
| Bennie Smith | end and fullback | ||||||
| Johnny Unsworth | tackle | ||||||
| Bob Wiegand | end | ||||||
| Dicky Wight | end | ||||||
| Johnny Wight | right end | ||||||
Backfield
| Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennie Brown | right halfback | ||||||
| Bill Dwyer | halfback | ||||||
| Mal Maloney | quarter and fullback | ||||||
| Forres McGraw | fullback | ||||||
| Pinkie Nagle | halfback | ||||||
| Harold Quinn | quarter and fullback | ||||||
| Lyle Richeson | quarterback | ||||||
References
- Ryan Whirty (2012-06-26). "The History of Tulane Stadium(s)". Gambit Magazine. Retrieved 2012-09-11.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-06-19. Retrieved 2016-05-18.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Tulane Football History Archived 2016-03-31 at the Wayback Machine, Tulane University, retrieved August 15, 2010.
- Leonard Victor Huber, New Orleans: A Pictorial History, p. 258, Pelican Publishing, 1991, ISBN 0-88289-868-X.
- Dawson's Tulane System Designed For Super-Power, The Palm Beach Post, December 17, 1939.
- "GERMAN" SCHULZ NAMED DIRECTOR TULANE SPORTS, The Atlanta Constitution, July 25, 1920.
- https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/tulane/1920-schedule.html
- Jambalaya, 1921
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-24. Retrieved 2016-05-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-12-29. Retrieved 2016-05-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "'Gators Put Up Strong Fight Against Tulane". The Florida Alligator. 19 (17). November 12, 1920.
- "'Gators Trimmed By Tulane". The Atlanta Constitution. November 7, 1920. p. 2. Retrieved July 23, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- Woodruff 1928, p. 139
- "Detroit Defeats Tulane". The Atlanta Constitution. December 5, 1920. p. 3. Retrieved May 18, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. 2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)