1928 VPI Gobblers football team
American college football season
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The 1928 VPI Gobblers football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the 1928 Southern Conference football season. The team was led by their head coach Andy Gustafson and finished with a record of seven wins and two losses (7â2). This was the senior season for the "Pony Express" backfield which included Frank Peake, Herbert McEver, Scotty MacArthur, and Tommy Tomko.[1]
- Andy Gustafson (3rd season)
- Albert Ewell Bailey
- Lloyd Broderick Nutter
| 1928 VPI Gobblers football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Southern Conference |
| Record | 7â2 (4â1 SoCon) |
| Head coach |
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| Captains |
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| Home stadium | Miles Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 3 Georgia Tech $ | 7 | â | 0 | â | 0 | 10 | â | 0 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 6 | â | 0 | â | 1 | 9 | â | 0 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 6 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 8 | â | 1 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VPI | 4 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 7 | â | 2 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 6 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 3 | â | 1 | â | 1 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 4 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 8 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 4 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 8 | â | 2 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | 3 | â | 3 | â | 1 | 6 | â | 3 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 3 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Carolina | 2 | â | 2 | â | 2 | 5 | â | 3 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 2 | â | 2 | â | 1 | 4 | â | 3 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | 2 | â | 2 | â | 1 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maryland | 2 | â | 3 | â | 1 | 6 | â | 3 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VMI | 2 | â | 3 | â | 1 | 5 | â | 3 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 2 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 5 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NC State | 1 | â | 3 | â | 1 | 4 | â | 5 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 1 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 2 | â | 4 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia | 1 | â | 6 | â | 0 | 2 | â | 6 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington and Lee | 1 | â | 6 | â | 0 | 2 | â | 8 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 0 | â | 5 | â | 0 | 2 | â | 7 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 0 | â | 7 | â | 0 | 1 | â | 8 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 29 | Roanoke* | W 34â7 | [2][3] | |||
| October 6 | HampdenâSydney* |
| W 32â7 | [4][5] | ||
| October 13 | at Colgate* |
| L 14-35 | 3,000 | [6][7] | |
| October 20 | at North Carolina | W 16-14 | 9,000 | [8][9][10] | ||
| October 27 | King* |
| W 54â0 | [11][12] | ||
| November 3 | 2:30 p.m. | vs. Maryland | W 9â6 | 6,000+ | [13][14][15] | |
| November 10 | Virginia |
| W 20â0 | 5,000â7,000 | [16][17] | |
| November 17 | 2:00 p.m. | at Washington and Lee |
| W 13â7 | 5,000 | [18][19][20][21][22] |
| November 29 | vs. VMI |
| L 6-16 | 20,000 | [23][24][25][26] | |
| ||||||
Before the season
The 1927 VPI Gobblers football team compiled a 5â4 record and were led by Andy Gustafson in his second season as head coach.
Game summaries
Roanoke
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| ⢠VPI | 7 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 34 |
- Date: September 29, 1928
- Location: Miles Stadium
Blacksburg, VA - Referee: Paul Magoffin
VPI's first game of the season was a victory over Roanoke at Miles Stadium.
The starting lineup for VPI was: Gray (left end), Ritter (left tackle), Hotchkiss (left guard), Price (center), Dexter Hubbard (right guard), Bailey (right tackle), Mahaney (right end), Hooper (quarterback), Mattox (left halfback), Peake (right halfback), Looney (fullback). The substitutes were: Amole, Baker, Brown, Coffee, Green, Maury Hubbard, MacArthur, Owens, Pattie, Rule, Shafer, Harry Spear, Phil Spear and Wimmer.
The starting lineup for Roanoke was: Ed I. Bell (left end), Lloyd "Buzzy" Goode (left tackle), D. C. Lionberger (left guard), Harold Nank (center), Beare (right guard), Thomas Fryer (right tackle), Stanley Rutherford (right end), J. H. "Deana" Gilbert (quarterback), Billy O. Williams (left halfback), Pleas Ramsey (right halfback), J. "Dutch" Dietrich (fullback). The substitutes were: William Altizer, Roy Boyle, W. T. "Ted" Fix and Lewis Lionberger.
HampdenâSydney
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| ⢠VPI | 7 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 32 |
- Date: October 6, 1928
- Location: Miles Stadium
Blacksburg, VA - Referee: Parrish (VPI)
After their victory over Roanoke, VPI played HampdenâSydney College at Miles Stadium.
The starting lineup for VPI was: Gray (left end), Bailey (left tackle), Hotchkiss (left guard), Price (center), Dexter Hubbard (right guard), Ritter (right tackle), Mahaney (right end), Hooper (quarterback), Mattox (left halfback), Peake (right halfback), Owens (fullback). The substitutes were: Amole, Brown, Green, Jones, Maury Hubbard, MacArthur, Pattie, Rule and Spear.
The starting lineup for HampdenâSydney was: Ellis Allen (left end), Henry McLaughlin (left tackle), Charles Jett (left guard), John Hunt (center), Hugh Blanton (right guard), Hughes Reverley (right tackle), Stuart Worden (right end), Robert Lawson (quarterback), Ralph Willis (left halfback), Thomas Peach (right halfback), John Montgomery (fullback). The substitutes were: Carl Arehart, S. B. Carter, Charles Gatewood, Henry Harris, William Jefferson, Cecil Jones, Wellford Reed and George Woodworth.
Colgate
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPI | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| ⢠Colgate | 0 | 6 | 22 | 7 | 35 |
- Date: October 13, 1928
- Location: Whitnall Field
Hamilton, NY - Game attendance: 3,000
- Game weather: "inclement weather"
- Referee: E. F. Houghitt (Michigan)
The starting lineup for VPI was: Gray (left end), Bailey (left tackle), Hotchkiss (left guard), Brown (center), Dexter Hubbard (right guard), Ritter (right tackle), Pattie (right end), Hooper (quarterback), Mattox (left halfback), Peake (right halfback), Owens (fullback). The substitutes were: Maury Hubbard, Jones, Looney, MacArthur, Mahaney, Rule and Spear.
The starting lineup for Colgate was: Mike Stramiello (left end), Arthur Huntington (left tackle), Bob Gillson (left guard), John Cox (center), Bruce DuMont (right guard), Ralph Lockwood (right tackle), Frank Abruzzino (right end), Izzy Yablok (quarterback), Thomas Dowler (left halfback), John Galloway (right halfback), Edward Herb (fullback). The substitutes were: Joseph Barclay, Thatcher Cottrell, Thomas Doyle, Joseph Franklin, Richard Gasper, Hoot Haines, Leslie Hart, Leonard Macaluso and Salvatore Maggio.
North Carolina
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠VPI | 3 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 16 |
| UNC | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
- Date: October 20, 1928
- Location: Kenan Memorial Stadium
Chapel Hill, NC - Game attendance: 9,000
- Referee: Richard Carrington (UVA)
The starting lineup for VPI was: Mahaney (left end), Bailey (left tackle), Hotchkiss (left guard), Brown (center), Dexter Hubbard (right guard), Ritter (right tackle), Gray (right end), Hooper (quarterback), Peake (left halfback), Phil Spears (right halfback), Looney (fullback).
The starting lineup for North Carolina was: O'Dell Sapp (left end), Nelson Howard (left tackle), Ray Farris (left guard), Harry Schwartz (center), Bud Shuler (right guard), M. E. Donahoe (right tackle), Samuel Presson (right end), Albert Whisnant (quarterback), James Ward (left halfback), Leon Spaulding (right halfback), Edison Foard (fullback). The substitutes were: J. Thomas Greshham, J. E. Magner, Maus, E. Strudwick Nash and Charles Wyrick.
King
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠VPI | 20 | 13 | 21 | 0 | 54 |
- Date: October 27, 1928
- Location: Miles Stadium
Blacksburg, VA - Referee: Parrish (VPI)
Virginia Tech halfback Eugene Rule fractured his collarbone during the game and did not play the remainder of the season.[27]
The starting lineup for VPI was: Ray (left end), Green (left tackle), Jones (left guard), Price (center), Maury Hubbard (right guard), S. Spear (right tackle), Mahaney (right end), MacArthur (quarterback), Mattox (left halfback), Rule (right halfback), Owens (fullback).
The starting lineup for King was: Bowman (left end), Dommer (left tackle), Woodman (left guard), Schwartz (center), P. Davis (right guard), Backus (right tackle), Townley (right end), Johnson (quarterback), Laughlin (left halfback), Trimble (right halfback), Simms (fullback).
Maryland
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| ⢠VPI | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
- Date: November 3, 1928
- Location: League Park
Norfolk, VA - Game start: 2:30 p.m.
- Game attendance: 6,000+
- Game weather: "Leaden skies"
- Referee: Witt (VMI)
The starting lineup for VPI was: Gray (left end), Bailey (left tackle), Hotchkiss (left guard), Brown (center), Dexter Hubbard (right guard), Ritter (right tackle), Mahaney (right end), Hooper (quarterback), Peake (left halfback), Phil Spear (right halfback), Looney (fullback). The substitutes were: Davis, Maury Hubbard, Jones, MacArthur and Owens.
The starting lineup for Maryland was: Charles Dodson (left end), William Fisher (left tackle), Arthur Wondrack (left guard), George Madigan (center), Omar D. Crothers Jr. (right guard), John McDonald (right tackle), Herman Lombard (right end), Blackistone (quarterback), Roberts (left halfback), John Parsons (right halfback), Gerald Snyder (fullback). The substitutes were: Dix, William W. Evans, William Heintz, Gordon Kessler, Julius J. Radice and Warcholy.
Virginia
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UVA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠VPI | 7 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 20 |
- Date: November 10, 1928
- Location: Miles Stadium
Blacksburg, VA - Game attendance: 5,000â7,000
- Game weather: "driving snow"
- Referee: Branch Bocock
The starting lineup for VPI was: Gray (left end), Bailey (left tackle), Hotchkiss (left guard), Brown (center), Dexter Hubbard (right guard), Ritter (right tackle), Mahaney (right end), Hooper (quarterback), Phil Spear (left halfback), Mattox (right halfback), Owens (fullback). The substitutes were: Peake.
The starting lineup for Virginia was: Harry Flippen (left end), William Luke (left tackle), Harris (left guard), George Taylor (center), Vernon Austin (right guard), Richard DeButts (right tackle), Howard Turner (right end), John Sloan (quarterback), Gus Kaminer (left halfback), Albert Lewy (right halfback), Bledsoe Pinkerton (fullback). The substitutes were: William Paxton.
Washington and Lee
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠VPI | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| W&L | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
- Date: November 17, 1928
- Location: Wilson Field
Lexington, VA - Game start: 2:00 p.m.
- Game attendance: 5,000
- Game weather: "Indian summer afternoon"
- Referee: Richard Carrington (UVA)
The starting lineup for VPI was: Gray (left end), Bailey (left tackle), Hotchkiss (left guard), Brown (center), Dexter Hubbard (right guard), Ritter (right tackle), Mahaney (right end), Hooper (quarterback), Mattox (left halfback), Peake (right halfback), Owens (fullback).
The starting lineup for Washington and Lee was: Charles Day (left end), Earl Fitzpatrick (left tackle), Thomas Taylor (left guard), Howell Snodgrass (center), Henry Groop (right guard), William Hawkins (right tackle), Mason Sproul (right end), William Lott (quarterback), John Faulkner (left halfback), Morton Thibodeau (right halfback), Eugene White (fullback). The substitutes were: David Eberhart, John Jacob, Albert Jones and Myer Seligman.
VMI
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠VMI | 0 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 16 |
| VPI | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
- Date: November 29, 1928
- Location: Maher Field
Roanoke, VA - Game attendance: 20,000
- Referee: Ed Thorpe (De LaSalle)
The starting lineup for VPI was: Gray (left end), Bailey (left tackle), Hotchkiss (left guard), Brown (center), Dexter Hubbard (right guard), Ritter (right tackle), Mahaney (right end), Hooper (quarterback), Mattox (left halfback), Peake (right halfback), Owens (fullback). The substitutes were: Amole, Maury Hubbard, Looney, Rule, Harry Spear and Phil Spear.
The starting lineup for VMI was: William Moss (left end), Aubrey Grow (left tackle), Louis Chadwick (left guard), Virgil Grow (center), Philip Willard (right guard), Luther Hewlett (right tackle), Tommy Scott (right end), Albert Hawkins (quarterback), Albert Barnes (left halfback), Frank Harner (right halfback), McCray (fullback). The substitutes were: Roy Dunn, William Haase, Ernest Laughorn, Joel Moody, James Smith and Gordon Walker.
Players
Roster
| VPI 1928 roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Monogram Club members
Nineteen players received monograms for their participation on the 1928 VPI team.[28]
| Player | Hometown | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Albert Ewell Bailey (Capt.) | Roanoke, Virginia | |
| Joseph Murray Brown | Staunton, Virginia | |
| John Edward Gray | Newport News, Virginia | |
| Henry Virgil "Bird" Hooper | Newport News, Virginia | |
| Philip Smith Hotchkiss | ||
| Louis Dexter Hubbard | Forest, Virginia | World War II veteran (Lieutenant Colonel, Army). |
| William Coles Hudgins | Norfolk, Virginia | |
| John Ote Looney | Roanoke, Virginia | |
| James Bushell "Scotty" MacArthur | Newport News, Virginia | Born in Greenock, Scotland. |
| Arthur Randolph Mahaney | ||
| Cloy Mattox | Leesville, Virginia | Major League Baseball catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics during the 1929 season. |
| Lloyd Broderick Nutter (Capt.) | Blacksburg, Virginia | World War II veteran (Captain, Army). |
| Milton Anthony Owens | Portsmouth, Virginia | |
| Walter Wilson Pattie | Waynesboro, Virginia | |
| Frank Peake | Hampton, Virginia | |
| Marcus Oliver Ritter | Winchester, Virginia | |
| Eugene Butler Rule | Jodie, West Virginia | |
| Philip Hitchborn Spear | Portsmouth, Virginia | |
| Cyril Method "Tommy" Tomko | Disputanta, Virginia |