1919 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team
American college football season
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The 1919 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team[note 1] represented the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado of the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1919 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. The Tornado was coached by John Heisman in his 15th year as head coach, compiling a record of 7â3 (3â1 SIAA) and outscoring opponents 257 to 33.
| 1919 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football | |
|---|---|
| |
| Conference | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Record | 7â3 (3â1 SIAA) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive scheme | Jump shift |
| Captain | Pup Phillips |
| Home stadium | Grant Field |
| 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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Before the season
Jack McDonough started at quarterback as a true freshman when Marshall Guill was moved to end. Pup Phillips was captain.
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 27 | Furman | W 74â0 | [3] | ||
| October 4 | Camp Gordon* |
| W 48â0 | [4] | |
| October 4 | Wake Forest* |
| W 14â0 | [4] | |
| October 11 | Clemson |
| W 28â0 | 5,000 | [5] |
| October 18 | Vanderbilt |
| W 20â0 | [6] | |
| October 25 | at Pittsburgh* | L 6â16 | [7] | ||
| November 1 | Davidson* |
| W 33â0 | [8] | |
| November 8 | Washington & Lee* |
| L 0â3 | [9] | |
| November 15 | Georgetown* |
| W 27â0 | [10] | |
| November 27 | Auburn |
| L 7-14 | [11] | |
| |||||
Game summaries
Camp Logan
The season opened with a 48â0 defeat of Camp Logan.
Furman
In the second week of play, Tech swamped Furman, 74â0.
Wake Forest
Tech beat Wake Forest 14â0.
Clemson
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Ga. Tech | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 28 |
- Date: October 11
- Location: Grant Field
Atlanta, GA - Game attendance: 5,000
- Referee: Jogger Elcock
Sources:[13]
After being held scoreless in the first half, Tech beat Clemson 28â0. The entire backfield, as well Fincher, Lebey, and Higgins in the line, were cited as stars of the game.[13] The play of Tech seemed stimulated in the second half by the substitution of Shorty Guill. The first touchdown was the best run of the game, for 26 yards around left end,[13] Flowers "sidestepped, ducked, twisted and turned until he had again crossed the field almost to the opposite side and then stiff-arming the last man in his way, crossed the goal for a touchdown."[13] Red Barron went around right end for 35 yards and the second touchdown. A 15-yard pass from Flowers to Bill Fincher netted the third touchdown.[13] Ferst went back in for Guill and got the last touchdown on a 12-yard buck behind left guard.[13]
The starting lineup was: Fincher (left end), Higgins (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Phillips (center), Dowling (right guard), Lyman (right tackle), Staton (right end), McDonough (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Gaiver (fullback).[13]
Vanderbilt
Tech beat Dan McGugin's Vanderbilt Commodores in the mud 20â0, giving the Commodores their only loss on the season. Buck Flowers and fullback Bill Giaver starred.[14]
The starting lineup was: Fincher (left end), Higgins (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Amis (center), Dowling (right guard), Huffines (right tackle), Staton (right end), Guill (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Gavier (fullback).[15]
Pittsburgh
Tech was beaten 16â6 by Pop Warner's Pittsburgh Panthers, the first team to score on Tech all year.
Davidson
Tech beat Davidson 33â0, Flowers running around his old teammates.[16]
Washington & Lee
Quarterback Jim Mattox made the field goal to help Washington & Lee upset Tech.[17] the first loss to a Southern team since 1914 for Tech.
The starting lineup was: Fincher (left end), Doyal (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Phillips (center), Dowling (right guard), Higgins (right tackle), Staton (right end), Guill (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Ferst (right halfback), Gavier (fullback).[18]
Georgetown
Dewey Scarboro returned a kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown in the 27â0 win over Georgetown.[19]
Auburn
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Auburn | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 14 |
| Ga. Tech | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
- Date: November 27
- Location: Grant Field
Atlanta, GA - Referee: Jogger Elcock
- Sources:
The Auburn Tigers beat Tech 14â7, its first loss to an SIAA school in five years. The first touchdown of the game was made by Jack McDonough. Judy Harlan later fell on his own punt for a safety. In the third quarter, Warren blocked a Dewey Scarboro punt and Sloan recovered the ball and ran it 35 yards for a touchdown. Auburn's Fatty Warren "waddled" for a 40-yard touchdown off a blocked punt in the victory.[20][21]
The starting lineup was Guill (left end), Fincher (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Phillips (center), Dowling (right guard), Huffines (right tackle), Staton (right end), McDonough (quarterback), Barron (left halfback), Ferst (right halfback), Harlan (fullback).[22]
Postseason
After a divorce in 1919, Heisman left Atlanta to prevent any social embarrassment to his former wife, who chose to remain in the city.[23] He picked Bill Alexander as successor and went back to the University of Pennsylvania for three seasons, from 1920 to 1922.
Notes
- Although Georgia Tech's teams are officially known as the "Yellow Jackets", northern writers called the team the "Golden Tornado" in 1917; the name was commonly used until 1928 and for many years afterwards as an alternate nickname.[1] It may have been coined by Morgan Blake.[2]
