1927 NC State Wolfpack football team
American college football season
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The 1927 NC State Wolfpack football team represented North Carolina State University during the 1927 Southern Conference football season. They played their home games in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Wolfpack were coached by Gus Tebell in his third year as head coach, compiling a record of 9â1 and outscoring opponents 216 to 69.
- Gus Tebell (3rd season)
| 1927 NC State Wolfpack football | |
|---|---|
SoCon co-champion | |
| Conference | Southern Conference |
| Record | 9â1 (4â0 SoCon) |
| Head coach |
|
| Captain | Nick Nicholson |
| Home stadium | Riddick Stadium |
Uniform | |
 | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech + | 7 | â | 0 | â | 1 | 8 | â | 1 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee + | 5 | â | 0 | â | 1 | 8 | â | 0 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NC State + | 4 | â | 0 | â | 0 | 9 | â | 1 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 5 | â | 0 | â | 2 | 8 | â | 1 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8 Georgia | 6 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 9 | â | 1 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 5 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 7 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 3 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 3 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia | 4 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 2 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 3 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 3 | â | 4 | â | 1 | 5 | â | 4 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 2 | â | 3 | â | 1 | 4 | â | 4 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 2 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington and Lee | 2 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 4 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VPI | 2 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maryland | 3 | â | 5 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 7 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | 2 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 5 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VMI | 2 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | 2 | â | 5 | â | 1 | 2 | â | 5 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Carolina | 2 | â | 5 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 6 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 1 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 2 | â | 6 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 1 | â | 5 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 6 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 0 | â | 6 | â | 1 | 0 | â | 7 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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NC State tied with Georgia Tech and Tennessee for the Southern Conference title, including the only unbeaten and untied conference record. Also in the conference were Bill Spears-led Vanderbilt (giving both Tech and Tennessee their ties) and Georgia's "dream and wonder team." NC State was led by All-Southern running back and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Jack McDowall.[1]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 23 | Elon* | W 39â0 | [2] | ||
| September 30 | at Furman* |
| L 0â20 | 3,000 | [3] |
| October 8 | Clemson |
| W 18â6 | [4] | |
| October 13 | Wake Forest* |
| W 30â7 | [5] | |
| October 22 | vs. Florida | W 12â6 | 7,000 | [6] | |
| October 29 | North Carolina |
| W 19â6 | 18,000 | [7] |
| November 5 | vs. Davidson* | W 25â6 | [8] | ||
| November 11 | at Duke* | W 20â18 | [9] | ||
| November 24 | at South Carolina | W 34â0 | 4,500 | [10] | |
| December 3 | Michigan State* |
| W 19â0 | [11] | |
| |||||
Game summaries
Week 1: Elon
The Wolf Pack opened the season with a 39â0 victory over Elon.
Week 2: at Furman
In the second week, NC State suffered the season's only loss on the road to the Furman Purple Hurricane 0â20. Furman quarterback Whitey Rawl scored three touchdowns.[13]
Week 3: Clemson
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| ⢠NC State | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 18 |
- Date: October 16, 1927
- Location: Riddick Stadium
Raleigh, NC - Referee: Alexander (W&J)
The Wolfpack beat the Clemson Tigers 18â6. Though Jack McDowall did not score any of the touchdowns his play resulted in all the scores, including passes to Childress and Goodwin.[14]
The starting lineup for the Wolfpack against Florida: Goodwin (left end), Evans (left tackle), Vaughan (left guard), Metts (center), Nicholson (right guard), Lepo (right tackle), Childress (right end), Adams (quarterback), Outen (left halfback), McDowall (right halfback), Warren (fullback). Herman Stegeman was umpire.[14][15]
Week 4: Wake Forest
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons were defeated 30â7.[16] McDowall threw several passes, and returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown.[16]
Week 5: at Florida
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠NC State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
- Date: October 23, 1927
- Location: Plant Field
Tampa, FL - Referee: Springer (Penn)
In the fifth week of play, the Wolfpack faced captain Jack McDowall's native Florida Gators in Tampa, winning 12â6. Neither team scored until the final period. Since McDowall had been turned down by the University of Florida, legend has it just afterwards he mailed coach Tom Sebring the game ball.[17]
A drive brought the Wolfpack to the 3-yard line, the feature play of which was a 30-yard pass from McDowall to Childress. A pass from McDowall to Frank Goodwin got the score.[18] The Gators then began passing desperately in an attempt to win. A pass bounced off the hands of a Florida back and into McDowall's, who returned the ball 75 yards for the deciding score.[19] On the ensuing kickoff, Gator back Tommy Owens ran it back for an 88-yard touchdown.[18][20]
The starting lineup for the Wolfpack against Florida: Goodwin (left end), Lepo (left tackle), Nicholson (left guard), Metts (center), Vaughan (right guard), Evans (right tackle), Childress (right end), Adams (quarterback), McDowall (left halfback), Cram (right halfback), Warren (fullback).[18]
Week 6: North Carolina
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N. Carolina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| ⢠NC State | 7 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 19 |
- Date: October 30
- Location: Riddick Stadium
Raleigh, NC - Game attendance: 18,000
- Referee: Rip Major
NC State defeated the in-state rival North Carolina Tar Heels 19 to 6.[21]
The first score came after a 30-yard pass from Jack McDowall to Hunsucker set up a 9-yard end run from McDowall for touchdown. The third touchdown was a 4-yard touchdown pass the width of the field from McDowall to Hunsucker.[22]
The starting lineup for the Wolfpack against North Carolina: Goodwin (left end), Evans (left tackle), Vaughan (left guard), Metts (center), Nicholson (right guard), Lepo (right tackle), Childress (right end), Adams (quarterback), McDowall (left halfback), Hunsucker (right halfback), Lipscomb (fullback).[22][23]
Week 7: vs. Davidson
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠NC State | 6 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 25 |
| Davidson | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
- Date: November 5, 1927
- Location: Greensboro, NC
- Referee: Gooch (Virginia)
The Wolf Pack beat the Davidson Wildcats 25â6. McDowall had a run of 65 yards.[24]
The starting lineup was: Goodwin (left end), Evans (left tackle), Vaughan (left guard), Metts (center), C. Nicholson (right guard), Lepo (right tackle), Childress (right end), Adams (quarterback), Hunsucker (left halfback), McDowall (right halfback), Warren (fullback).[24]
Week 8: at Duke
NC State defeated Duke in Durham 20â18 "in one of the most thrilling football battles ever staged in N. C."[25][26] After the Blue Devils rushed out to an early 12â0 lead, McDowall's two drop kicks proved the difference.[25]
Week 9: at South Carolina
The South Carolina Gamecocks were shutout 34â0.[27]
Week 10: Michigan State
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mich. State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠NC State | 6 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 19 |
- Date: December 3
- Location: Riddick Stadium
Raleigh, NC - Game weather: Rain
- Sources:[28]
In the season's final game, NC State hosted a northern opponent, the Michigan Aggies. On a muddy, waterlogged field,[29] the Wolfpack won 19 to 0.[30]
Captain Jack McDowall was cited as the best player in his final game, despite his only scoring play being a pass for an extra point.[28]
Awards and honors
Players
Line
| Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Evans | tackle | ||||||
| Childress | end | ||||||
| John Ford | guard | ||||||
| Floyd | tackle | ||||||
| Frank Goodwin | end | ||||||
| Joseph Harden | center | ||||||
| Jordan | end | ||||||
| John Lepo | tackle | ||||||
| Metts | center | ||||||
| Nick Nicholson | guard | ||||||
| Fred Vaughan | guard | Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina | 196 | ||||
Backfield
| Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparky Adams | quarterback | ||||||
| Fred Crum | halfback | ||||||
| George Hunsucker | halfback | ||||||
| Robert Jeffries | fullback | ||||||
| Jack McDowall | halfback | Gainesville, Florida | Rockingham High | 6'1" | 175 | 22 | |
| Bill "Chink" Outen | halfback | ||||||
| Clarence Ridenhour | quarterback | ||||||
| Bob Warren | fullback | ||||||
Coaching staff
- Head coach: Gus Tebell
- Assistants: Butch Slaughter, Doc Sermon
