Jimmy Armistead
American football player (1905–1984)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Cate Armistead (August 29, 1905 – March 1984) was an American college football player.
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | Running back/Quarterback |
| Personal information | |
| Born | August 29, 1905 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | March 1984 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Listed height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Listed weight | 174 lb (79 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Hume-Fogg |
| College | Vanderbilt (1926–1928) |
| Awards and highlights | |
| |
Early years
James Cate Armistead was born on August 29, 1905, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Wirt Mayo Armistead and Sarah Adeline Cate.
High school
Armistead attended Hume-Fogg High School in Nashville, Tennessee. The first game played at Dudley Field was between the home-standing Commodores and the powerful Michigan Wolverines. A goal-line stand by the Commodores preserved a 0–0 tie.[1] The following Friday, nearby Hume-Fogg High School played a game at Dudley. Senior Jimmie Armistead returned the opening kick for a touchdown, providing the first touchdown ever recorded in the stadium.[citation needed]
Vanderbilt
Armistead was a prominent running back for the Vanderbilt Commodores of Vanderbilt University from 1926 to 1928. He was also bald,[2] called by one writer "the bald eagle of Vanderbilt."[3]
1926
He started slow; "Nature neglected to endow him with pugnacity; Or even aggressiveness. As a sophomore, he was so timid on attack that he was as easy to snuff out as a candle."[4] He was always shy, and took no joy in seeing his opponent fail.[5] In 1926, Vanderbilt lost its only game to national champion Alabama. Armistead once caught a pass in the game and was tackled just a few yards short of the goal without fighting for extra yardage. From there Vanderbilt failed to score; and so some Vanderbilt fans blamed Armistead for the loss.[5]
1927
He took the criticism of 1926 to heart and emerged a new player in 1927.[5] Armistead led the nation in scoring in 1927 with 138 points,[6] a year in which he was a target of quarterback Bill Spears.[7]
1928
When Spears graduated, Armistead was the triple-threat option,[4] i.e. he now had to pass and kick, as well as captain.[8] Armistead starred in the 14 to 7 victory over Kentucky.[9] He made the second-team of the composite All-Southern eleven behind Florida quarterback Clyde Crabtree.[10]
