1906 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

1906 Vanderbilt Commodores football
SIAA Champion
Conference Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1906 record 8–1 (5–0 SIAA)
Head coach Dan McGugin (3rd year)
Offensive scheme Short-punt
Captain Dan Blake
Home stadium Dudley Field
1906 SIAA football standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
Vanderbilt $ 5 – 0 – 0     8 – 1 – 0
Clemson 4 – 0 – 1     4 – 0 – 3
Sewanee 5 – 1 – 0     8 – 1 – 0
Alabama 3 – 1 – 0     5 – 1 – 0
Texas A&M 2 – 1 – 0     6 – 1 – 0
Ole Miss 3 – 2 – 0     4 – 2 – 0
Georgia Tech 3 – 3 – 0     5 – 3 – 1
Texas 1 – 1 – 0     9 – 1 – 0
Davidson 1 – 1 – 1     3 – 2 – 2
Georgia 2 – 3 – 1     2 – 4 – 1
Mississippi A&M 0 – 2 – 1     2 – 2 – 1
LSU 0 – 2 – 1     2 – 2 – 2
Tennessee 0 – 4 – 1     1 – 6 – 2
Mercer 0 – 2 – 0     2 – 3 – 0
Tulane 0 – 3 – 0     0 – 4 – 1
Auburn 0 – 5 – 0     1 – 5 – 1
Nashville   –         –  
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1906 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University during the 1906 college football season. The team's head coach was Dan McGugin, who served his third season in that capacity. Members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA), the Commodores played seven home games in Nashville, Tennessee, and finished the season with a record of 8–1 overall and 5–0 in SIAA. The 1906 season was played under a set of new rules. The rules governing intercollegiate were changed to promote a more "open" and less dangerous style of play. The changes included the legalization of the forward pass and allowing the punting team to recover an "on-side" kick as a live ball.

The 1906 Vanderbilt team had one of the best seasons in school history, outscoring opponents 278–16. Innis Brown rated the 1906 team as the best the South ever had. Vanderbilt won all its home games, finishing the season on a 22-game home win streak. Their only loss came on the road at western power Michigan, 10–4. The game was tied until the closing minutes.

Seven of the Commodores' eight wins came by shutout – only two teams scored on them all season. Vanderbilt gave Texas, Sewanee, and Alabama their only loss, and most notably defeated a northern power in Carlisle by a single Bob Blake field goal 4–0. Coach McGugin called it "the crowning feat of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association season."[1] For some, Vanderbilt's eleven was the entire All-Southern team.[2]

Before the season

At the end of 1905 football looked to be abolished due to all the reoccurring violence. Football was a sport that had degenerated into dangerous tactics such as the flying wedge, punching, kicking, pilling-on, and elbows to the face. Most any violent behavior was allowed. Fatalities and injuries mounted during the 1905 season. Union College halfback Harold Moore died of a cerebral hemorrhage after being kicked in the head while attempting to tackle an NYU runner. The Chicago Tribune referred to 1905 football season as a “death harvest,” the 1905 football season resulted in 19 player deaths and 137 serious injuries.[3]

An intercollegiate conference, which would become the forerunner of the NCAA, approved radical rule changes for the 1906 season. They legalized the forward pass, abolished the dangerous flying wedge, created a neutral zone between offense and defense and doubled the first-down distance to 10 yards, to be gained in three downs.

Schedule

Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance
October 6 3:15 p. m. Kentucky State Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 28–0  
October 13 Ole Miss Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 29–0  
October 20 Alabama Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 78–0  
October 27 Texas Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 45–0  
November 3 at Michigan* Regents Field • Ann Arbor, MI L 4–10   10,000
November 10 Rose Polytechnic*dagger Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 33–0  
November 17 at Georgia Tech Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 37–6   5,000
November 22 Carlisle* Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 4–0   8,000
November 30 Sewanee Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 20–0   6,000
*Non-conference game.

[4]

Season summary

Week 1: Kentucky State

In a 28–0 win over Kentucky State College to open the season, Owsley Manier scored three touchdowns and the Commodores as a whole rushed for 630 yards.[5] G. A. Hall had a 33-yard punt return for a touchdown.[6] The Commodores were penalized several times.[7] Kentucky never had a first down and had to punt after second down.[6]

The starting lineup against Kentucky State: Stone (left end); Pritchard (left tackle); King (left guard); Wynne (center); Sherrill (right guard); E. Noel (right tackle); B. Blake (right end); Costen (quarterback); Crawford (left halfback); Craig (right halfback); Manier (fullback).[6]

Week 2: Mississippi

Mississippi vs. Vanderbilt
1 2Total
Miss 0 0 0
• Vanderbilt 12 17 29

Vanderbilt easily beat Mississippi 29–0. Like McGugin, Mississippi's coach Thomas S. Hammond was a protege of Michigan coach Fielding Yost.[7] One account reads "whatever hopes the spectators had of seeing a close and exciting football game today when Vanderbilt faced Mississippi were shattered in the very first five minutes of play."[8] The stars of the contest were Dan Blake and Honus Craig.[8] Mississippi failed to gain a single first down.[8] Umpire Henry D. Phillips kicked Joe Pritchard out of the contest for supposed rough playing.[9]

The starting lineup against Mississippi: V. Blake (left end); E. Noel (left tackle); McLain (left guard); Stone (center); Chorn (right guard); Pritchard (right tackle); B. Blake (right end); Costen (quarterback); D. Blake (left halfback); Craig (right halfback); Manier (fullback).[8]

Week 3: Alabama

The only loss of the year for the Alabama Crimson Tide was its biggest ever loss to Vandy, 78–0. Vanderbilt executed several onside kicks from scrimmage.[10] Owsley Manier scored five touchdowns[5] as "the back field frequently went twenty-five or thirty yards over the line".[11] Alabama was held to just a single first down.[11] Due to injuries, Alabama had not wished to come, and "the comparatively few who came to see them play were scarcely rewarded by seeing touchdowns made every two minutes."[7]

The starting lineup against Alabama: V. Blake (left end); Pritchard (left tackle); McLain (left guard); Stone (center), Chorn (right guard); E. Noel (right tackle); B. Blake (right end); Costen (quarterback); D. Blake (left halfback); Craig (right halfback); Manier (fullback).[11]

Week 4: Texas

Vanderbilt romped over the Texas Longhorns 45–0. Sam Costen had one run of 61 yards. Two other touchdowns were had by Vandy but referee Bradley Walker called the team back for holding.[12] The Texas men seemed equal to Vanderbilt's in physique, yet they too failed to net a first down.[7][12]

The starting lineup against Texas: V. Blake (left end); Pritchard (left tackle); Chorn (left guard); Stone (center); McLain (right guard); E. Noel (right tackle); B. Blake (right end); Costen (quarterback); Craig (left halfback); D. Blake (right halfback); Manier (fullback).[12]

Week 5: at Michigan

Vanderbilt at Michigan
1 2Total
Vanderbilt 0 4 4
• Michigan 4 6 10

On November 3, 1906, Vanderbilt lost to the Michigan Wolverines by a score of 10 to 4. The game remained tied at 4–4 until the closing minutes. The Masonic Theater in Nashville was crowded by those who had come to see the game detailed.[7]

John Garrels

Before the game, Michigan coach Fielding Yost said "I have said right along that the Vanderbilt team would come nearer beating us than any team ever did...In Craig, Blake, and Manier I think Vanderbilt has the three greatest backs of any one team in the country."[13] On the night just before the game, 4,200 students attended a mass meeting at University Hall. McGugin and Yost both spoke to the crowd and agreed that the game would be one of the closest played in Ann Arbor in many years. D. G. Fite, father-in-law of both McGugin and Yost, traveled from his home in Tennessee to watch the game.[14]

Owsley Manier.

John Garrels put Michigan ahead with a field goal from the 25-yard line. On the preceding drive, Garrels had completed a 15-yard forward pass to Bishop, the first legal forward pass completed by Michigan under the new rules. Michigan led, 4–0, at halftime. Early in the second half, Vanderbilt tied the score with a field goal by Dan Blake from the 30-yard line. With two minutes left in the game, Garrels ran 68 yards for a touchdown. The Chicago Daily Tribune wrote: "Garrels, on a fake kick, with splendid interference by Hammond, Curtis, and Workman, ran Vanderbilt's left end at lightning speed for sixty-eight yards and a touchdown." Curtis kicked the extra point, and Michigan led, 10–4.[15][16]

Vanderbilt's lineup against Michigan was V. Blake (left end); Pritchard (left tackle); Chorn (left guard); Stone (center); McLain (right guard); E. Noel (right tackle); B. Blake (right end); Costen (quarterback); Craig (left halfack); D. Blake (right halfback); Manier (fullback).[15]

Week 6: Rose Polytechnic

The 33 to 0 win over Rose Polytechnic proved the surprise of the season.[7] Owsley Manier again scored five touchdowns, but he also "probably prevented the visitors from scoring by his clever defensive work."[17] Bob Blake kicked four extra points and a 20-yard field goal from placement.[17]

The starting lineup against Rose Tech: V. Blake (left end); Pritchard (left tackle); McLain (left guard); Stone (center); Chorn (right guard); E. Noel (right tackle); B. Blake (right end); Costen (quarterback); D. Blake (left halfback); Craig (right halfback); Manier (fullback).[17]

Week 7: at Georgia Tech

Vanderbilt at Georgia Tech
1 2Total
• Vanderbilt 23 14 37
Ga Tech 0 6 6
  • Date: November 17
  • Location: Atlanta, GA
  • Game attendance: 5,000

Vanderbilt defeated coach John Heisman, who had helped legalize the forward pass, and his Georgia Tech team in the rain and mud 37–6.[7] Lobster Brown scored Tech's points. Atlanta Constitution sportswriter Alex Lynn wrote after the game that Owsley Manier was "the greatest fullback and all round man ever seen in Atlanta."[18] He again scored five touchdowns.

The starting lineup against Georgia Tech: V. Blake (left end); Pritchard (left tackle); McLain (left guard); Stone (center); Chorn (right guard); E. Noel (right tackle); B. Blake (right end); Costen (quarterback); D. Blake (left halfback); Craig (right halfback); Manier (fullback).

Week 8: Carlisle

Carlisle vs. Vanderbilt
1 2Total
Carlisle 0 0 0
• Vanderbilt 4 0 4

Just a week before the contest, Vanderbilt negotiated a game with the Carlisle Indians to fill an open date. The Nashville Banner predicted it would be "the greatest game the south ever saw." The game started forty-five minutes late to accommodate the large crowd.[19]

Vanderbilt won by a single, 17-yard Bob Blake field goal 4–0.[20] In the first two minutes of play, the Indians drove the ball to Vanderbilt's 3-yard line, but the Commodores line held and they got no further.[21] Frank Mount Pleasant, one of the first regular spiral pass quarterbacks,[22] attempted four field goals, but missed them all.[23]

Albert Exendine

Atlanta Constitution sporting editor A. W. Lynn wrote "The general surprises are numerous enough, but the largest particular one was the Commodore–Indian contest, when Vanderbilt took off the greatest honors ever falling to the lot of a southern football team in the hardest battle ever fought on a southern gridiron.[24][25] John Heisman wrote "Manier bucked the Indians' line. Costen handled the ball surely and well downed Mt. Pleasant in his tracks on most of Blake's punts...I am still convinced that outside Yale and Princeton, the Commodores would have an even break with any other team in the country."[19] Vanderbilt running back Honus Craig called this his hardest game, giving special praise to Albert Exendine as "the fastest end I ever saw."[26]

One source claims the Carlisle Indians failed to receive supplies on the trip to Nashville, including their receiving carboys emptied of water. "The Indians had the poorest kind of accommodations at Nashville, and on account of the change of water every one of them became ill."[27]

The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was V. Blake (left end); Pritchard (left tackle); McLain (left guard); Stone (center); Chorn (right guard); E. Noel (right tackle); B. Blake (right end); Costen (quarterback); D. Blake (left halfback); Craig (right halfback); Manier (fullback).[23]

Week 9: Sewanee

Sewanee vs. Vanderbilt
1 2Total
Sewanee 0 0 0
• Vanderbilt 10 10 20
  • Date: November 30
  • Location: Nashville, TN
  • Game attendance: 6,000
  • Referee: Rowbotham

Despite Vanderbilt's strong record, the Sewanee Tigers had their own and felt cause for optimism in the effective Southern championship. One account recals "A high authority on foot-ball said the other day: "Vanderbilt is not invincible, by a good a deal." The Sewanee "Tigers" are going to Nashville on Thursday to prove that fact."[28] Vanderbilt struggle but still won 20–0. "With Vandy making only 20 points–Vandy was stale, was the explanation."[24] After the win over Carlisle, "a matter-of-course feeling pervaded the entire game."[7]

The starting lineup against Sewanee: V. Blake (left end); Pritchard (left tackle); McLain (left guard); Stone (center); Chorn (right guard); E. Noel (right tackle); B. Blake (right end); Costen (quarter); D. Blake (left halfback); Craig (right halfback); Manier (fullback).[29]

Legacy

In 1911, Innis Brown, captain of the 1905 team, rated the 1906 team as the best the South ever had.[30]

Players

Varsity letter winners

Line

Player Position Games
started 		Hometown Prep schoolHeightWeightAge
Bob BlakeEnd9 Cuero, Texas 172 21
Vaughn BlakeEnd9 Cuero, Texas 15119
Walter K. ChornGuard9 Howard County, Missouri 172 21
Fatty McLainGuard8 19821
Edwin T. NoelTackle 9 178 19
Oscar NoelEnd4
Joe PritchardTackle9 Sharon, Mississippi 19620
Stein StoneCenter 9 175 22

Backfield

Player Position Games
started 		Hometown Prep schoolHeightWeightAge
Dan BlakeHalfback9 Cuero, Texas 165 23
Sam CostenQuarterback9 McKenzie, Tennessee 150 22
Honus CraigHalfback9 Culleoka, Tennessee 16822
G. A. HallQuarterback4
Owsley ManierFullback9 Nashville, Tennessee 170 19

[31][32]

Subs

Player Position Games
started 		Hometown Prep schoolHeightWeightAge
Guy CrawfordHalfback
Alex CunninghamEnd

Scoring Leaders

The Commodores in action.

In 1906, touchdowns were worth 5 points and field goals 4.

Player TouchdownsExtra points Field goalsPoints
Owsley Manier2300115
Bob Blake332567
Honus Craig70035
Dan Blake60134
Sam Costen20010
Vaughn Blake1005
Guy Crawford1005
G. A. Hall1005
Safety against Georgia Tech0002
TOTAL44326278

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dan McGugin (1907). "Football In Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association". The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide: 49.
  2. ↑ "Daniel Earle McGugin". Coach & Athlete 28: 42. 1965 – via Google books.
  3. ↑ http://muckrakerfarm.com/1905/11/football-years-death-harvest-record-shows-that-nineteen-football-players-have-been-killed-in-1905/
  4. ↑ "Coaching Records Game by Game: Dan McGugin 1906". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  5. 1 2 Bill Traughber (September 8, 2005). "Vandy All-Americans".
  6. 1 2 3 "Vandy Makes 5 Touchdowns". Atlanta Constitution. October 7, 1906. p. 2. Retrieved February 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Dr. R. B. Steele. "The Football Season of 1906". Vanderbilt University Quarterly 7: 48–53.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Vandy Eleven Smashes Miss.". Atlanta Constitution. October 14, 1906. p. 7. Retrieved May 12, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Vanderbilt 29, Mississippi 0.". The Courier-Journal. October 14, 1906. p. 32. Retrieved February 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Seventy-Eight To Nothing". The Tennessean. October 21, 1906. p. 6. Retrieved February 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. 1 2 3 "Vanderbilt 78, Alabama 0.". The Courier-Journal. October 21, 1906. p. 30. Retrieved February 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 3 "Texas Walloped". The Houston Post. October 28, 1906. p. 21. Retrieved May 12, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Prepare For Vanderbilt". Detroit Free Press. October 29, 1906. p. 8. Retrieved February 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Must Face a Strong Foe: Vanderblt Seems Tough Proposition for Michigan; Gridiron Battle at Ann Arbor Today Expected to Be One of the Closest Played on the Wolverine Strong-hold in Years". Chicago Daily Tribune. November 3, 1906. p. 6.
  15. 1 2 "Garrels' Big Run Brings Victory". Chicago Daily Tribune. November 4, 1906. p. 1. Retrieved March 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Garrel's [sic] Long Run Saves Michigan". The New York Times. November 4, 1906.
  17. 1 2 3 "Vandy Takes Slow Battle". Atlanta Constitution. November 11, 1906. p. 7. Retrieved May 11, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ Alex Lynn (November 18, 1906). "Brown's Toe and the Wet Cave Score". Atlanta Constitution. p. 1. Retrieved May 11, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. 1 2 Bill Traughber. Vanderbilt Football: Tales of Commodore Gridiron History.
  20. ↑ "Vanderbilt Beats Carlisle". Daily Press. November 23, 1906. Retrieved March 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "Indians Lose To Vanderbilt". Detroit Free Press. November 23, 1906. p. 9. Retrieved February 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Photos: Carlisle Football". radiolab. Archived from the original on 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  23. 1 2 "Vanderbilt The Winner". The InterOcean. November 23, 1906. p. 4. Retrieved March 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. 1 2 "Surprises The Rule During Past Season". The Atlanta Constitution. December 2, 1906. Retrieved March 4, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ Alex Lynn (November 25, 1906). "Vandy's Great Victory Will Live In History". Atlanta Constitution. p. 5. Retrieved March 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ ""Honus" Craig, All-Southern Right Halfback---He Talks". Abilene Daily Reporter. April 25, 1909.
  27. ↑ "[No title]". The Sun. November 27, 1906. p. 12. Retrieved March 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "A Voice From Sewanee". News and Observer. November 29, 1906. p. 1.
  29. ↑ "Tigers Struggle For Victory". The Tennessean. November 30, 1906. p. 7. Retrieved February 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ "Brown Calls Vanderbilt '06 Best Eleven South Ever Had". Atlanta Constitution. February 19, 1911. p. 52. Retrieved March 8, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ↑ "Meeting of Executive Committee". Vanderbilt University Quarterly 7: 58.
  32. ↑ "Line-Up of Teams and Weights As Announced By The Coaches". The Tennessean. November 22, 1906. p. 7. Retrieved February 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
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