1932 VPI Gobblers football team

American college football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1932 VPI Gobblers football team represented Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute in the 1932 Southern Conference football season. The team was led by their head coach Henry Redd and finished with a record of eight wins and one loss (8–1).

ConferenceSouthern Conference
Record8–1 (6–1 SoCon)
Headcoach
CaptainBill Grinus
Quick facts VPI Gobblers football, Conference ...
1932 VPI Gobblers football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Record8–1 (6–1 SoCon)
Head coach
CaptainBill Grinus
Home stadiumMiles Stadium
Seasons
← 1931
1933 â†’
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More information Conf., Overall ...
1932 Southern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 9 Tennessee +7–0–19–0–1
Auburn +6–0–19–0–1
LSU +4–0–06–3–1
VPI6–1–08–1–0
Vanderbilt4–1–26–1–2
NC State3–1–16–1–2
Alabama5–2–08–2–0
Tulane5–2–16–2–1
Duke5–3–07–3–0
Georgia Tech4–4–14–5–1
Kentucky4–5–04–5–0
Virginia2–3–05–4–0
Ole Miss2–3–05–6–0
Georgia2–4–22–5–2
Maryland2–4–05–6–0
North Carolina2–5–13–5–2
South Carolina1–2–15–4–2
VMI1–4–02–8–0
Washington and Lee1–4–01–9–0
Florida1–6–03–6–0
Clemson0–4–03–5–1
Mississippi State0–4–03–5–0
Sewanee0–6–02–7–1
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from Dickinson System
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Schedule

More information Date, Time ...
DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 24Roanoke*
W 32–7[1][2]
October 13:00 p.m.at Georgia
W 7–67,000[3][4]
October 82:30 p.m.at Maryland
W 23–011,000+[5][6]
October 152:30 p.m.vs. William & Mary*
W 7–017,000[7][8]
October 22Kentucky
  • Miles Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
W 7–08,000[9][10]
October 292:30 p.m.at Washington and Lee
W 32–64,000-5,000[11][12][13][14][15]
November 5at Alabama
L 6–911,000[16][17][18]
November 12Virginiadagger
  • Miles Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA (rivalry)
W 13–03,000[19][20][21]
November 24vs. VMI
W 26–012,000-15,000[22][23][24]
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Before the season

The 1931 VPI Gobblers football team compiled a 3–4–2 record and were led by Orville Neale in his second season as head coach.

Game summaries

Roanoke

Roanoke vs. VPI
More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Roanoke 0 070 7
• VPI 19 067 32
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See also: 1932 Roanoke Maroons football team

VPI's first game of the season was a victory over Roanoke at Miles Stadium.

The starting lineup for VPI was: Seaman (left end), Negri (left tackle), Botnick (left guard), Porterfield (center), English (right guard), Hoenstine (right tackle), Palmer (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Holsclaw (left halfback), Mills (right halfback), Robison (fullback). The substitutes were: Botnick,, Casey, Copenhaver, Dillon, Hall, Hite, Hoblitzell, Howard, Huffman, McIntire, Ochs, Ottaway, Spruill, Thomas and Woodard.

The starting lineup for Roanoke was: Thomas West (left end), Siebert "Pete" Lavinder (left tackle), Jesse Price (left guard), Stuart Thomas (center), Harry Suttner (right guard), Gene Barnett (right tackle), Herbert Copenhaver (right end), Harrison Weeks (quarterback), Harry Russell (left halfback), Claude Matthews (right halfback), Bud Miley (fullback). The substitutes were: Charles Engers, Lawrence Fisher, Lexter Holyfield, Ed Petersen, Gus Quisito, Rice, Robertson and Fred Smith.

Georgia

VPI at Georgia
More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
• VPI 0 700 7
Georgia 0 006 6
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See also: 1932 Georgia Bulldogs football team

After their victory over Roanoke, VPI played the University of Georgia at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.

VPI Captain Bill Grinus blocked the tying extra point in the upset over Georgia.[25]

The starting lineup for VPI was: Seaman (left end), Hoenstine (left tackle), Murphy (left guard), Porterfield (center), Hite (right guard), Grinus (right tackle), McIntire (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Mills (left halfback), Holsclaw (right halfback), G. Smith (fullback). The substitutes were: Casey.

The starting lineup for Georgia was: McCarthy Crenshaw (left end), Davis (left tackle), John Brown (left guard), J. Vason McWhorter (center), Leroy Moorehead (right guard), Opp (right tackle), Fred Miller (right end), Wendell Sullivan (quarterback), George Chapman (left halfback), Samuel Brown (right halfback), Lloyd Gilmore (fullback). The substitutes were: Graham Batchelor, William David, Paul Hart, Homer Key and Charles Turbeyville.

Maryland

VPI at Maryland
More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
• VPI 7 1420 23
Maryland 0 000 0
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See also: 1932 Maryland Terrapins football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Seaman (left end), Negri (left tackle), Murphy (left guard), Porterfield (center), Hite (right guard), Grinus (right tackle), McIntire (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Mills (left halfback), Holsclaw (right halfback), G. Smith (fullback). The substitutes were: Botnick, Casey, Copenhaver, English, Groth, Hall, Hoenstine, Howard, Huffman, Ottaway, Palmer, Simmons and Thomas.

The starting lineup for Maryland was: Rufus Vincent (left end), Vaul Rouzer (left tackle), Albert Farrel (left guard), Scott (center), John McDonald (right guard), George Cole (right tackle), Bill Wood (right end), Ray Poppelman (quarterback), Dick Nelson (left halfback), Earl Widmyer (right halfback), Al Woods (fullback). The substitutes were: Willis Benner, Bucky Buscher, Joseph Crecca, Donald DeVeau, Hawkins, Frank Hines, George Hockensmith, Charles Keenan, John Mayhew, Stewart McCaw, John Mitchell, Norwood Sothoron and Fred Stieber.

William & Mary

William & Mary vs. VPI
More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
W&M 0 000 0
• VPI 0 070 7
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See also: 1932 William & Mary Indians football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Seaman (left end), Grinus (left tackle), Murphy (left guard), Porterfield (center), Hite (right guard), Negri (right tackle), McIntire (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Holsclaw (left halfback), Mills (right halfback), G. Smith (fullback).

The starting lineup for William & Mary was: C. Sorenson (left end), Waddy Stewart (left tackle), Anderson (left guard), Joseph Bridgers (center), Edwin Meade (right guard), Gerry Quirk (right tackle), Thomas Halligan (right end), Bill Chalko (quarterback), Aime LaCroix (left halfback), William Palese (right halfback), Harry Spack (fullback). The substitutes were: Giles.

Kentucky

Kentucky vs. VPI
More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Kentucky 0 000 0
• VPI 0 070 7
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See also: 1932 Kentucky Wildcats football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Seaman (left end), Grinus (left tackle), Murphy (left guard), Porterfield (center), Hite (right guard), Negri (right tackle), McIntire (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Mills (left halfback), Holsclaw (right halfback), G. Smith (fullback).

The starting lineup for Kentucky was: Joe Rupert (left end), Burton Aldridge (left tackle), O. L. "Bud" Davidson (left guard), Frank Seale (center), Ralph Blevins (right guard), George Skinner (right tackle), Howard Kreuter (right end), Ralph Kercheval (quarterback), Ellis T. Johnson (left halfback), Darrell Darby (right halfback), Thomas Cassady (fullback). The substitutes were: Stanley Bach.

Washington and Lee

VPI at Washington and Lee
More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
• VPI 14 0018 32
W&L 6 000 6
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  • Date: October 29, 1932
  • Location: Wilson Field
    Lexington, VA
  • Game start: 2:30 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 4,000-5,000
  • Referee: Frank Lane
See also: 1932 Washington and Lee Generals football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Seaman (left end), Negri (left tackle), Murphy (left guard), Porterfield (center), Hite (right guard), Grinus (right tackle), McIntire (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Mills (left halfback), Holsclaw (right halfback), G. Smith (fullback). The substitutes were: Botnick, Casey, Copenhaver, Cunningham, English, Groth, Hall, Hoblitzell, Hoenstine, Howard, Huffman, Jennings, Ottaway, Palmer, Simmons, Thomas, Tyler and Yorke.

The starting lineup for Washington and Lee was: Solomon Mosovich (left end), Robert Morris (left tackle), Amos Bolen (left guard), William Grove (center), Charles Elbrick (right guard), Clarence Carman (right tackle), Charles Smith (right end), William Seaton (quarterback), Joseph Sawyers (left halfback), Edwin Bacon (right halfback), John Jones (fullback). The substitutes were: Nace Collins, George Glynn, Samuel Mattox, Harvey Pride and William Thomas.

Alabama

VPI at Alabama
More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
VPI 0 600 6
• Alabama 0 090 9
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See also: 1932 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Against the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama, VPI lost 9–6 in front 11,000 spectators at Denny Stadium, which was the second largest crowd to ever visit the stadium at the time.[16] VPI came into the game undefeated (6-0), while Alabama was 5–1. After a scoreless first quarter, the Gobblers took a 6–0 lead in the second after Ray Mills threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Al Casey.[16] In the third, the score was cut to 6–2 after a bad snap to Casey from the center resulted in a safety.[16] Later in the quarter Alabama took a 9–6 lead that it held to the end of the game when halfback Dixie Howell scored a touchdown on a nine-yard run.[16]

Alabama's assistant coach was former VPI player Hank Crisp.

The starting lineup for VPI was: Seaman (left end), Negri (left tackle), Murphy (left guard), Porterfield (center), Hite (right guard), Grinus (right tackle), McIntire (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Mills (left halfback), Holsclaw (right halfback), G. Smith (fullback). The substitutes were: Botnick, Casey, Groth, Huffman, Palmer and Thomas.

The starting lineup for Alabama was: Foy Leach (left end), Carney Laslie (left tackle), Calvin Frey (left guard), Willis Hewes (center), Thomas Hupke (right guard), Newton Godfree (right tackle), Don Hutson (right end), Hillman Holley (quarterback), Howard Chappell (left halfback), Bub Walker (right halfback), Larry Hughes (fullback). The substitutes were: Johnny Cain, James Dildy, Ellis "Red" Houston, Dixie Howell, B'Ho Kirkland, Bill Lee and Donald Sanford.

Virginia

Virginia vs. VPI
More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
UVA 0 000 0
• VPI 0 706 13
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  • Date: November 12, 1932
  • Location: Miles Stadium
    Blacksburg, VA
  • Game attendance: 3,000
  • Game weather: Snow flurries
  • Referee: Lane (Dartmouth)
See also: 1932 Virginia Cavaliers football team

VPI's 1932 homecoming game was a victory over rival Virginia.

The starting lineup for VPI was: Seaman (left end), Grinus (left tackle), Murphy (left guard), Porterfield (center), Hite (right guard), Huffman (right tackle), McIntire (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Mills (left halfback), Holsclaw (right halfback), G. Smith (fullback).

The starting lineup for Virginia was: William Condon (left end), Ray Burger (left tackle), Cris Tompkins (left guard), Lewis Reiss (center), Horace Hallett (right guard), Charles Poss (right tackle), Gene Wager (right end), Thomas Johnson (quarterback), Eugene Stevens (left halfback), Frank Sippley (right halfback), Spencer Berger (fullback).

VMI

VMI vs. VPI
More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
VMI 0 000 0
• VPI 0 13130 26
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See also: 1932 VMI Keydets football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Seaman (left end), Huffman (left tackle), Botnick (left guard), Porterfield (center), Hite (right guard), Grinus (right tackle), McIntire (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Mills (left halfback), Holsclaw (right halfback), G. Smith (fullback).

The starting lineup for VMI was: Fred Urick (left end), William Kaylor (left tackle), John Burgess (left guard), James Nimmo (center), Jones (right guard), Lowe (right tackle), Jack Walker (right end), William Smith (quarterback), Ed Law (left halfback), Charles Straub (right halfback), Ed Kostainsek (fullback).

After the season

In December 1932, the VPI players elected Bill Porterfield as captain of the 1933 VPI Gobblers football team.[26]

Players

Roster

More information VPI 1932 roster ...
VPI 1932 roster
  • Bill Anderson
  • George Vanderslice Beamon
  • William Earle Betts
  • Benny Botnick
  • Al Casey
  • George Clark
  • Dick Cofer
  • James Henry Copenhaver
  • Martin Cunningham
  • Owens L. "Scrapper" Day
  • J. L. "Nick" Dillon
  • Edward "Red" English
  • George Francis
  • James Curtis Geddie
  • Bill Grinus (Capt.)
  • Charles Alexander "Heinie" Groth
  • Earl "Bus" Hall
  • Gene Hite
  • William Roy Hoblitzell
  • Garland Woodrow Hoenstine
  • Duncan Holsclaw
  • Frank Howard
  • Harry Worden Howard
  • Roy "Tris" Huffman
  • Tom B. Hutcheson
  • Wiley Leroy Jennings
  • M. J. "Red" Kasun
  • John McIntire
  • Sonny Miles
  • Ray Mills
  • Charles Morgan
  • John Murphy
  • Richard Whitmore Neale
  • Warren "Red" Negri
  • John Norman Ochs
  • Keith Millner Oliver
  • James Edward Ottaway
  • E. Alex Pais
  • Benny Palmer
  • Bill Porterfield
  • Carl Francis Robison
  • Al Seaman
  • Leon Dalmain Simmons
  • Bill Smith
  • George Smith
  • Dave R. Smoak
  • Howard Arnold "Hank" Spruill
  • Daniel Reiser Thoma
  • Dave T. Thomas
  • W. F. "Buck" Tyler
  • Hazell Eugene Waldrop
  • Paul Kenneth Wolfe
  • Jim Woodard
  • John Lester Yorke
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Varsity letter winners

Eighteen players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1932 VPI team.[27]

More information Player, Hometown ...
Player Hometown Notes
Benjamin Botnick Elmira, New York World War II veteran (Navy).
Alfred Layden Casey Portsmouth, Virginia
Edward Ralph "Red" English Altavista, Virginia World War II veteran (Army).
Bill Grinus (Capt.) Orient, Illinois
Earl Jenis "Bus" Hall Princeton, West Virginia
Eugene Goliday Hite Port Deposit, Maryland Lieutenant Colonel, Army. Lost on Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 3505.
William Duncan Holsclaw Charleston, West Virginia
Roy Edward "Tris" Huffman Culpeper, Virginia
John A. McIntire Moundsville, West Virginia
Ray Mills Keyser, West Virginia
Charles Emmett Ashburn Morgan South Norfolk, Virginia
John Marshall Murphy Knoxville, Tennessee
Warren Anthony "Red" Negri Danbury, Connecticut
Benny Palmer Newport News, Virginia
William Breckenridge Porterfield, Jr. Glade Spring, Virginia World War II veteran (Lieutenant Commander, Navy).
Alfred Elsworth Seaman Pontiac, Michigan World War II veteran (Sergeant, Army).
George Maxie Smith Petersburg, Virginia
David T. Thomas Hyattsville, Maryland
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Coaching and training staff

  • Head coach: Henry Redd
  • Assistant coaches
  • Manager: H. W. Maddox, Jr.
  • Freshman coaches
    • Freshman head coach: Herbert McEver
    • Backfield coach and trainer: K. A. Esleeck
    • Line coach: P. S. Hotchkiss
    • Assistant coach: P. H. Spear
    • Assistant coach: H. H. Stark
  • Freshman Manager: M. A. Johnson

References

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