1919 Centre Praying Colonels football team
American college football season
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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 9â0.[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 |
| Record | 9â0 (1â0 SIAA) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive scheme | Single-wing |
| Captain | Bo McMillin |
| Home stadium | Cheek Field |
Uniform | |
 | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn $ | 5 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 8 | â | 1 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 6 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 8 | â | 1 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Centre | 1 | â | 0 | â | 0 | 9 | â | 0 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 3 | â | 1 | â | 1 | 3 | â | 4 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech | 3 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 7 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | 3 | â | 1 | â | 1 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 3 | â | 1 | â | 2 | 5 | â | 1 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Furman | 2 | â | 1 | â | 1 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 5 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 4 | â | 2 | â | 2 | 4 | â | 2 | â | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 3 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 3 | â | 2 | â | 2 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 2 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wofford | 1 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 2 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transylvania | 1 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 2 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 1 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Citadel | 1 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 4 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 1 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 6 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgetown (KY) | 0 | â | 0 | â | 0 | 0 | â | 2 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 0 | â | 3 | â | 2 | 3 | â | 3 | â | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | 0 | â | 4 | â | 1 | 1 | â | 7 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mercer | 0 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 0 | â | 2 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi College | 0 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 5 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howard (AL) | 0 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 5 | â | 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, Georgia's Bum Day had been the first player from the South ever selected to Camp's first teamâ and Centre thus became the first Southern 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]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 27 | Hanover* |
| W 95â0 |
| October 4 | at Indiana* |
| W 12â3 |
| October 18 | St. Xavier* |
| W 57â0 |
| October 25 | at Transylvania | Lexington, KY | W 69â0 |
| November 1 | at Virginia* | W 49â7 | |
| November 8 | at West Virginia* | Charleston, WV | W 14â6 |
| November 15 | Kentucky |
| W 56â0 |
| November 22 | vs. DePauw* | Louisville, KY | W 56â0 |
| November 27 | at Georgetown (KY) | Georgetown, KY | W 77â7 |
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A game with Maryville was scheduled for October 11 but never played due to Maryville injuries.
Before the season
Five Centre regulars were natives of Fort Worth, Texas, namely captain and quarterback Bo McMillin, and linemen Bill James, Sully Montgomery, Matty Bell, and Red Weaver.[7] They were accused of being professionals, but the charges were rebuked by season's end.[8] According to one author, "Without Bo it would not be a Centre team."[9] Centre's linemen were known as the "Seven Mustangs".[10]
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.[11]
Game summaries
Week 1: Hanover
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanover | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Centre | 26 | 20 | 21 | 28 | 95 |
- Date: September 27
- Location: Cheek Field
Danville, KY - Referee: Dexheimer (Chattanooga)
- Sources:[12]
On opening day, Centre swamped Hanover, 95â0. 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
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| Indiana | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
- Date: October 4
- Location: Jordan Field
Bloomington, IN - Referee: Gardner (Cornell)
- Sources:[12]
Centre beat Indiana, 12â3. Indiana was up 3â0 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
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Xavier | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Centre | 13 | 12 | 13 | 19 | 57 |
- Date: October 18
- Location: Cheek Field
Danville, KY
- Sources:[14]
The Colonels beat St. Xavier, 57â0. The field was in poor condition due to heavy rains from the past week. Xavier never crossed Centre's 30-yard line.[14] McMillin twice connected with Armstrong for 80-yard forward passes. McMillin also had four runs of greater than 50 yards. Roberts's punts averaged 60 yards in the second half.[14]
The starting lineup was Bell (left end), Montgomery (left tackle), Van Antwerp (left guard), Weaver (center), Ford (right guard), James (right tackle), King (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Armstrong (left halfback), Davis (right halfback), Roberts (fullback).[14]
Week 4: at Transylvania
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Centre | 20 | 13 | 13 | 23 | 69 |
| Transylvania | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Date: October 25
- Location: Lexington, KY
- Referee: Marty (Cincinnati)
- Sources:[15]
In the fourth week of play, the Colonels beat Transylvania, 69â0. Transylvania's Milton broken several bones in his foot the week previous.[16] Davis and McMillin each scored three touchdowns.[15]
The starting lineup was King (left end), Montgomery (left tackle), Van Antwerp (left guard), Weaver (center), Cregor (right guard), James (right tackle), Bell (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Armstrong (left halfback), Davis (right halfback), Roberts (fullback).[15]
Week 5: at Virginia
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Centre | 14 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
| Virginia | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
- Date: November 1
- Location: Lambeth Field
Charlottesville, VA - Referee: Smith (Washington & Lee)
- Sources:[17]
Centre's backfield starred and smashed the Virginia Orange and Blue, 49â7 in the mud. Joe Murphy had a 75-yard touchdown run.[17] Soon after, McMillin went 70 yards for a touchdown.[17] Kuyk scored Virginia's points.[17]
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).[17]
Week 6: at West Virginia
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Centre | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| West Virginia | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
- Date: November 8
- Location: Charleston, WV
- Referee: Mike Thompson
- Sources:[18]
The sixth week of play brought the highlight of the season â a 14â6 comeback win over West Virginia, a team which beaten Eastern power Princeton the week before, and had 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][19][20]
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.[18] Murphy was in a flimsy track suit and track shoes.[21]
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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).[18]
Week 7: Kentucky
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Centre | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 | 56 |
- Date: November 15
- Location: Cheek Field
Danville, KY - Referee: Marty (Kenyon)
- Sources:[22]
With a large crowd at home on Cheek Field, the Colonels beat rival Kentucky, 56â0, giving the Wildcats their worst loss on the season. Roberts had three touchdowns.[22]
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]
Week 8: vs. DePauw
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DePauw | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Centre | 7 | 14 | 21 | 14 | 56 |
- Date: November 22
- Location: Louisville, KY
- Referee: Marty (Kenyon)
- Sources:[23]
The Colonels defeated the DePauw in Louisville 56â0. McMillin's passes "aroused the wonderment of the crowd."[23] The first touchdown came on an 18-yard pass to Army Armstrong.[23]
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).[23]
Week 9: at Georgetown
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Centre | 14 | 21 | 28 | 14 | 77 |
| Georgetown | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
- Date: November 27
- Location: Georgetown, KY
- Referee: Marty (Kenyon)
- Sources:[24]
Centre rolled up a 77â7 score on the Georgetown Tigers. Georgetown's one score came off a 65-yard fumble return.[24] 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).[24]
After the season
Legacy
Red Weaver reportedly scored 46 extra point field goals in a row,[25] though it was in fact 43, and held the NCAA record with a reported 99 consecutive points after touchdowns in the 1919 and 1920 seasons.[26][27] Weaver was put at the placekicker position on an Associated Press Southeast Area All-Time football team 1869-1919 era.[28]
The season brought national attention to the small town of Danville.[29]
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 â 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 parentheses. The chart mimics a single wing on offense.
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Starters
Line
| Jersey number | Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matty Bell | End | 7 | Fort Worth, TX | North Side H. S. | 163 | 20 | |
| 4 | Ben Cregor | Guard | 6 | Springfield, KY | Springfield H. S. | 5'11" | 175 | 20 |
| 5 | Bill James | Tackle | 8 | Fort Worth, TX | North Side H. S. | 169 | 21 | |
| 2 | Sully Montgomery | Tackle | 9 | Fort Worth, TX | North Side H. S. | 6'3" | 210 | 18 |
| 6 | Terry Snoddy | End | 5 | Owensboro, KY | Owensboro H. S. | 5'10" | 173 | 19 |
| 3 | Howard Van Antwerp | Guard | 8 | Mt. Sterling, KY | Mt. Sterling H. S. | 173 | 20 | |
| 11 | Red Weaver | Center | 7 | Fort Worth, TX | North Side H. S. | 5'10" | 158 | 21 |
Backfield
| Jersey number | Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Norris Armstrong | Halfback | 7 | Fort Smith, AR | Fort Smith H. S. | 5'10" | 154 | 21 |
| 8 | Allen Davis | Halfback | 9 | Danville, KY | Danville H. S. | 148 | 20 | |
| 7 | Bo McMillin | Quarterback | 9 | Fort Worth, TX | North Side H. S. | 5'9" | 175 | 21 |
| 12 | Red Roberts | Fullback | 9 | Somerset, KY | Somerset H. S. | 6'2" | 193 | 19 |
Subs
Line
| Jersey number | Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coleman | Tackle | 2 | ||||||
| 17 | Clayton Ford | Guard | 1 | Danville, KY | 190 | 20 | ||
| 18 | William Garrett | Center | 1 | Columbus, OH | West H. S. | 155 | 21 | |
| 16 | Gus King | End | 3 | Oak Cliff, TX | 155 | 20 | ||
| 13 | McCullom | End | 1 | 155 | ||||
| Edwin "Lefty" Whitnell | End | 2 | Fulton, KY | Fulton H. S. | 160 | 19 | ||
Backfield
| Jersey number | Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Edgar Diddle | Halfback | 1 | Gradyville, KY | Castle Heights | 166 | 21 | |
| 10 | Joe "Chick" Murphy | Halfback | 1 | Columbus, OH | East H. S. | 130 | 20 | |
Scoring leaders
The following is a list of statistics and scores, largely dependent on newspaper summaries.
| Player | Touchdowns | Extra points | Field Goals | Safeties | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bo McMillin | 16 | 7 | 103 | ||
| Red Roberts | 15 | 4 | 94 | ||
| Terry Snoddy | 9 | 54 | |||
| Allen Davis | 8 | 2 | 50 | ||
| Red Weaver | 1 | 43 | 49 | ||
| Norris Armstrong | 7 | 42 | |||
| Joe Murphy | 7 | 42 | |||
| Edwin Whitnel | 3 | 18 | |||
| Matty Bell | 2 | 12 | |||
| Hump Tanner | 2 | 12 | |||
| Edgar Diddle | 1 | 6 | |||
| Safety v. Transy | 1 | 2 | |||
| Howard Van Antwerp | 1 | 1 | |||
| Total | 71 | 57 | 1 | 485 | |
