1927 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

Last updated

1927 Vanderbilt Commodores football
Conference Southern Conference
Record8–1–2 (5–0–2 SoCon)
Head coach
Captain Vernon Sharpe
Home stadium Dudley Field
Uniform
20svandyuniform2.png
Seasons
←  1926
1928  →
1927 Southern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Georgia Tech + 7 –0 –18 –1 –1
Tennessee + 5 –0 –18 –0 –1
NC State + 4 –0 –09 –1 –0
Vanderbilt 5 –0 –28 –1 –2
No. 8 Georgia 6 –1 –09 –1 –0
Florida 5 –2 –07 –3 –0
Ole Miss 3 –2 –05 –3 –1
Virginia 4 –4 –05 –4 –0
Clemson 2 –2 –05 –3 –1
Alabama 3 –4 –15 –4 –1
LSU 2 –3 –14 –4 –1
Mississippi A&M 2 –3 –05 –3 –0
Washington and Lee 2 –3 –04 –4 –1
VPI 2 –3 –05 –4 –0
Maryland 2 –3 –04 –7 –0
South Carolina 2 –4 –04 –5 –0
VMI 2 –4 –06 –4 –0
Tulane 2 –5 –12 –5 –1
North Carolina 2 –5 –04 –6 –0
Sewanee 1 –4 –02 –6 –0
Kentucky 1 –5 –03 –6 –1
Auburn 0 –6 –10 –7 –2
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from Dickinson System

The 1927 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the 1927 Southern Conference football season. The 1927 season was Dan McGugin's 23rd year as head coach. Running back Jimmy Armistead led the nation in scoring in 1927 with 138 points. [1] The team's quarterback was Bill Spears. One fellow wrote Vanderbilt produced "almost certainly the legit top Heisman candidate in Spears, if there had been a Heisman Trophy to award in 1927." [2]

Contents

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 24at Chattanooga *
W 45–18 [3]
October 1 Ouachita Baptist
W 39–10 [4]
October 8 Centre *
  • Dudley Field
  • Nashville, TN
W 53–6 [5]
October 15at Texas *
L 6–1318,000 [6]
October 22 Tulane
  • Dudley Field
  • Nashville, TN
W 32–0 [7]
October 29 Kentucky
  • Dudley Field
  • Nashville, TN (rivalry)
W 34–66,000 [8]
November 6 Georgia Tech
  • Dudley Field
  • Nashville, TN (rivalry)
T 0–017,000 [9]
November 12at Tennessee
T 7–7 [10]
November 19 Maryland
  • Dudley Field
  • Nashville, TN
W 39–205,000 [11]
November 24 Sewanee
  • Dudley Field
  • Nashville, TN (rivalry)
W 26–6 [12]
December 3at Alabama
W 14–720,000 [13]
  • *Non-conference game

[14]

Season summary

Chattanooga

Vanderbilt started the season with a 45–18 victory over Chattanooga. Chattanooga did not lose another game and was champion of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

Ouachita

In the second week of play, Ouachita was defeated 39–10.

Centre

Vanderbilt overwhelmed Centre 53–6.

Texas

Vanderbilt at Texas
1234Total
Vanderbilt00066
•Texas1300013
  • Date: October 15
  • Location: Fair Park Stadium
    Dallas
  • Game attendance: 18,000
  • Referee: Boyton

In Dallas, the Commodores suffered the season's only loss to Texas Longhorns 13–6. Texas scored on a 20-yard pass from Baldwin to Ford, and on a run from Baldwin. [15] Vanderbilt's lone score came on a 16-yard pass to Owens. Spears fought three Texans as he threw the pass. [15]

The starting lineup was Kelly (left end), Lusky (left tackle), Cecil (left guard), V. Sharpe (center), Oliver (right guard), Abernathy (right tackle), Creson (right end), Spears (quarterback), McIlwain (left halfback), Owen (right halfback), Armistead (fullback). [15]

Tulane

Bernie Bierman thought of ditching his single-wingback formation after the 32–0 win over Tulane, and was convinced to keep it by McGugin. [16]

The starting lineup was Abernathy (left end), Hawkins (left tackle), Kelly (left guard), V. Sharpe (center), Cecil (right guard), Lusky (right tackle), Creson (right end), Spears (quarterback), Owen (left halfback), McIlwain (right halfback), Armistead (fullback). [17]

Kentucky

Kentucky was beaten 34–6. The starting lineup was James (left end), Hawkins (left tackle), Kelly (left guard), Oliver (center), Cecil (right guard), Lusky (right tackle), Creson (right end), Spears (quarterback), Owen (left halfback), McIlwain (right halfback), Armistead (fullback). [18]

Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt
1234Total
Ga. Tech00000
Vanderbilt00000

A wet field and a strong defense, ranked by one researcher as best in the South, [19] helped Georgia Tech reassert itself and hold Vanderbilt to a scoreless tie, despite the Commodores having the upper hand in play. [20] A strong game had been predicted, showcasing each team's backfield stars in Stumpy Thomason of Tech and Bill Spears of Vanderbilt. [21] Vernon Sharpe suffered a knee injury before the game.

The starting lineup was Abernathy (left end), Hawkins (left tackle), Kelly (left guard), V. Sharpe (center), Cecil (right guard), Lusky (right tackle), Creson (right end), Spears (quarterback), Owen (left halfback), McIlwain (right halfback), Armistead (fullback) [22]

Tennessee

Vanderbilt at Tennessee
1234Total
Vanderbilt00077
Tennessee00077

Robert Neyland was hired to coach Tennessee in 1926 by Nathan Dougherty with the explicit goal to "even the score with Vanderbilt", and had his first great team in 1927. McGugin's Commodores led 7–0 until a late Dick Dodson run tied the score. [23] "After the game McGugin questioned each of his players as to his whereabouts during the run. Without exception the players claimed that two men had blocked them. McGugin shrugged. "Well, we'll just protest the play. It's perfectly obvious that Tennessee had twenty-two men on the field." [23]

Vanderbilt center Vernon Sharpe arguably had the better season, but was outperformed by Tennessee's Elvin Butcher. [24]

The starting lineup was Abernathy (left end), Hawkins (left tackle), James (left guard), V. Sharpe (center), Cecil (right guard), Lusky (right tackle), Creson (right end), Spears (quarterback), Owen (left halfback), McIlwain (right halfback), Armistead (fullback). [25]

Maryland

Spears played only in the first half in the 39–20 win over Maryland, but completed 10 of 12 passes. [26]

Sewanee

Vanderbilt defeated Sewanee 26–6. The starting lineup was Abernathy (left end), Hawkins (left tackle), Oliver (left guard), V. Sharpe (center), Cecil (right guard), Lusky (right tackle), Creson (right end), Owen (quarterback), McIlwain (left halfback), Sims (right halfback), Armistead (fullback). [27]

Alabama

Vanderbilt at Alabama
1234Total
•Vanderbilt700714
Alabama07007

The Commodores faced Wallace Wade's Alabama Crimson Tide in the season finale. Spears gained more than the entire Alabama backfield as the Commodores won 14–7. [28] The highlight of Vanderbilt's first scoring drive was a pass from Spears to Armistead of 20 yards, down to the 3-yard line, from which Armistead later ran it in. [28] On Alabama's scoring drive, Red Brown ran 23 yards on a reverse, down to the 4-yard line. Tony Holm eventually got the score. [28] In the fourth quarter, Spears led the winning drive, once circling end for 34 yards, tackling by Starling just as he seemed to break free. [28] He then passed to Larry Creson for 10 yards, ran for 6, and then 13 more around end to the 16-yard line. After Spears and Armistead worked it down to the 9-yard line, a pass to Roy Gibson got the touchdown. [28]

Postseason

Spears passed for 1,207 yards and 9 touchdowns. [19] An all-senior football team at the end of the year used Vandy's offensive system. [29]

Personnel

Coaching Staff

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References

  1. ↑ Ernie Couch (July 30, 2001). SEC Football Trivia. ISBN   9781418571788.
  2. ↑ Mark Purcell (November 1988). "Spears and Vandy excitement in 1927" (PDF). College Football Historical Society. 2 (1). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Vanderbilt hands Moccasins 45 to 18 defeat after U. of C. stadium dedication". The Chattanooga Times. September 24, 1927. Retrieved December 9, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Vanderbilt passes win over Ouachita". The Commercial Appeal. October 2, 1927. Retrieved December 9, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Vanderbilt buries Centre Colonels under 54 to 6 landslide". The Courier-Journal. October 9, 1927. Retrieved December 9, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Texas cops sensational win over Commodores". The Knoxville Sunday Journal. October 16, 1927. Retrieved April 24, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Bill Spears hero of Vandy triumph". The Birmingham News. October 23, 1927. Retrieved April 10, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Commodores win from Ky". Greensboro Daily Record. October 30, 1927. Retrieved December 9, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Commodores and Tornado in deadlock". The News and Observer. November 6, 1927. Retrieved December 9, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Commodores and Vols battle to tie in thrilling game". Nashville Banner. November 13, 1927. Retrieved August 6, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Spears hurt as Commodores beat Maryland team 39–20". Nashville Banner. November 20, 1927. Retrieved December 9, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Commodores unleash winning attack". The Bristol Herald Courier. November 25, 1927. Retrieved April 17, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "McGuginites splinter Tide's big forward wall and twice rip over 70 yard marches in 14 to 7 win". The Tennessean. December 4, 1927. Retrieved August 5, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "1927 Vanderbilt Commodores Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 "Tennesseans Score On Pass In Last Period". Abilene Reporter-News. October 16, 1927. p. 4. Retrieved May 10, 2016– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  16. ↑ Edwin Pope (1955). Football's Greatest Coaches. p. 341. Retrieved March 8, 2015– via archive.org. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  17. ↑ Woodruff 1928 , p. 231
  18. ↑ Woodruff 1928 , p. 244
  19. 1 2 Mark Purcell (November 1988). "Spears and Vandy excitement in 1927" (PDF). College Football Historical Society. 2 (1). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  20. ↑ "In the South". The Waco News-Tribune. November 7, 1927. p. 2. Retrieved March 20, 2016– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  21. ↑ "Star Backs Promise Battle When Vandy Meets Georgia Tech". The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times. p. 4. Retrieved March 20, 2016– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  22. ↑ "Jackets and Vandy Fight To Tie, 0-0" (PDF). The Technique. November 11, 1927. p. 4.
  23. 1 2 Edwin Pope (1956). Football's Greatest Coaches. p. 340.
  24. ↑ "Four Georgia Grid Stars Voted Places On United Press Conference Team". Banner-Herald. November 23, 1917.
  25. ↑ Woodruff 1928 , p. 266
  26. ↑ Woodruff 1928 , p. 267
  27. ↑ Woodruff 1928 , p. 270
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 20, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  29. ↑ "Southern Team Will Used Vandy offensive System". Kingsport Times. December 25, 1927. p. 2. Retrieved March 20, 2016– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg

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