1920 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team
| 1920 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football | |
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SIAA Co-Champion | |
| Conference | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| 1920 record | 8–1 (5–0 SIAA) |
| Head coach | William Alexander (1st year) |
| Offensive scheme | Jump shift |
| Captain | Buck Flowers |
| Home stadium | Grant Field |
| 1920 SIAA football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia + | 8 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech + | 5 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane + | 4 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Furman | 4 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Centre | 4 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | 3 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 2 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transylvania | 1 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chattanooga | 1 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 1 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 1 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi College | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howard | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Citadel | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 0 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Millsaps | 0 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 0 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgetown | 0 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mercer | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wofford | 0 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 8 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1920 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team represented the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado of the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1920 college football season. The Tornado was coached by William Alexander in his 1st year as head coach.. The team compiled a record of 8–1 (5–0 SIAA), outscored opponents 312 to 16, and tied for first place with Georgia and Tulane in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA).[1] Georgia Tech played its home games at Grant Field. Its only loss was a controversial one to Pop Warner's Pittsburgh at Forbes Field.[2][3] Georgia Tech gave Centre College its first loss to a southern team since 1916. Florent Gibson of the Pittsburgh Post rated Tech as the best team in the country.
Several players received postseason honors. Nearly the entire eleven was selected All-Southern by some sportswriter. Tackle Bill Fincher made Walter Camp's first-team All-American, only the fourth player to do so. Fincher also was the team's placekicker. Captain and senior halfback Buck Flowers made some third-team All-America selections, and provided much offense with his running and drop kicks. Flowers also handled punting for Georgia Tech and led the country with an average of 49.4 yards per punt in 1920.[1] His longest punts were 82 yards against Georgetown and 85 yards against Davidson.[4] Coach Alexander said Flowers was the best punter Tech ever had and the best back he ever coached.[5] Halfback Red Barron and fullback Judy Harlan were also prominent in the backfield.
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 25, 1920 | Wake Forest* | Grant Field • Atlanta, GA | W 44–0 | ||||||
| October 2, 1920 | Oglethorpe* | Grant Field • Atlanta, GA | W 55–0 | ||||||
| October 9, 1920 | Davidson* | Grant Field • Atlanta, GA | W 66–0 | ||||||
| October 16, 1920 | at Vanderbilt | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN | W 44–0 | ||||||
| October 23, 1920 | at Pittsburgh* | Forbes Field • Pittsburgh, PA | L 3–10 | ||||||
| October 30, 1920 | Centre | Grant Field • Atlanta, GA | W 24–0 | ||||||
| November 6, 1920 | Clemson | Grant Field • Atlanta, GA | W 7–0 | ||||||
| November 13, 1920 | Georgetown | Grant Field • Atlanta, GA | W 35–6 | ||||||
| November 25, 1920 | Auburn | Grant Field • Atlanta, GA | W 34–0 | ||||||
| *Non-conference game. | |||||||||
Season summary
Week 1: Wake Forest
The first game of the year saw Georgia Tech pitted against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Tech won 44–0. Judy Harlan scored the year's first touchdown.[6] Wake Forest failed to net a single first down.[7] Harlan and Red Barron scored two touchdowns each and quarterbacks Jack McDonough and Pinkey Hunt one each. Captain Flowers also drop-kicked a 26-yard field goal.[8]
Week 2: Oglethorpe
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In the second week of play, Georgia Tech defeated Jogger Elcock's Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels 55–0.[9] Buck Flowers had a 68-yard touchdown run. He got his start on a "criss-cross" play near his own 32-yard line, and ran for the touchdown crossing the field laterally many times showing an assortment of moves.[9]
The starting lineup for Tech against Oglethorpe: J. Staton (left end), Fincher (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Amis (center), O. Davis (right guard), A. Staton (right tackle), Ratterman (right end), McDonough (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Harlan (fullback)[9]
Week 3: Davidson
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On October 9, Georgia Tech defeated the Davidson Wildcats 66–0. Halfback Red Barron scored four touchdowns,[10] including an interception return of 76 yards.[11] He also ran in a touchdown from 25 yards out after catching a forward pass from fullback Judy Harlan. Tech attempted six passes the whole game, completing 3 for 114 yards.[11]
The starting lineup for Tech against Davidson: J. Staton (left end), Fincher (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Amis (center), O. Davis (right guard), A. Staton (right tackle), Ratterman (right end), McDonough (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Harlan (fullback)[10]
Week 4: at Vanderbilt
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Georgia Tech dominated in a week 4 win over the Vanderbilt Commodores. The 44 to 0 victory was one of the largest at Old Dudley Field;[12] the worst loss there for Vanderbilt since North Carolina won 48 to 0 in 1900.
Georgia Tech had entered into the meat of its schedule after three dominating wins. Upcoming engagements with Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh, and Centre would determine the season's outcome. Pittsburgh and Centre–but Pittsburgh especially, were the biggest opponents. Vanderbilt was seen as the warm up act to these two, for it was far superior to any of Tech's prior games.[13] The first game of the year to have direct implications for the Southern championship,[14] it was cited by some as the most interesting southern contest of the week.[15]
The Golden Tornado were clear favorites.[16] Georgia Tech outplayed Vanderbilt and had the ball for three-fourths of the game. Many Commodores left with injuries.[12] Vanderbilt's ends were easily skirted by the Tech backs Buck Flowers, Red Barron, and Frank Ferst.[12]
First half
Captain Flowers made a drop kick from 44 yards out.[17] Ferst came in for Flowers when Georgia Tech started to use substitutes, in the middle of the second quarter.
Second half
The third quarter saw Vanderbilt's one exciting drive offensively. Runs by captain Red Floyd and Frank Godchaux, as well as a forward pass, got the ball deep into Tech's territory. Georgia Tech intercepted the pass and assuaged the scoring threat. Fumbles would cost Vanderbilt, one by Grailey Berryhill leading to Tech's third touchdown. In the fourth quarter a fight broke out, involving Gink Hendrick, some Tech players, and spectators. Hendrick claimed to be protecting Jess Neely from some player for Georgia Tech.[18] No ejections could be made since too many players were involved.[12] Tech lost some 133 yards from penalties during the contest.
Week 5: at Pitt
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The Golden Tornado suffered its only loss at the hands of Pop Warner's Pittsburgh Panthers at Forbes Field by a score of 10 to 3. The game was controversial, and Pitt was considered lucky to have won. Pitt fullback Orville Hewitt injured Tech quarterback Jack McDonough's ankle, and Frank Ferst had to take his place for the rest of the season.
First half
Pitt back Tom Davies was injured in the first quarter. Buck Flowers made the only points of the half with a 20-yard drop-kick.
Second half
Pitt fullback Orville Hewitt plunged over for a touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Davies had returned and added the point. He later added a 30-yard field goal.
Week 6: Centre
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Arguably the highlight of the year was the defeat of the Centre Praying Colonels by a score of 24 to 0. It was Centre's first loss to a southern team since 1916. Also, both schools had just recently fought against the North. Centre the week before played valiantly against Harvard, a foreshadowing of next year's game. A story goes that tackle Bill Fincher sought to knock Centre quarterback Bo McMillin out of the game, taking with him brass-knuckles or "something equally diabolical."[19]
One writer claimed "even the great "Bo" McMillin was powerless against the Tech players."[20] The Atlanta Constitution reported: "McMillin's forward passes outdid anything of the kind seen here in many years, but Tech seemed to know where they were going."[21]
The starting lineup for Tech against Georgetown: J. Staton (left end), Fincher (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Amis (center), O. Davis (right guard), A. Staton (right tackle), Ratterman (right end), Ferst (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Harlan (fullback)
Week 7: Clemson
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Coach Alexander rested his starters for the game against the Clemson Tigers and played substitutes throughout. Sub quarterback Pinkey Hunt scored the lone touchdown in the final quarter.[22]
End Georgie Ratterman was under treatment by a stomach specialist as the result of trouble supposedly caused by over-exertion during his confinement in a German prison during the First World War. It was unknown if he could still play.[22]
The starting lineup for Tech against Clemson: Mayer (left end), McCree (left tackle), Webb (left guard), Johnson (center), Berry (right guard), Lyman (right tackle), Gringer (right end), Glaver (quarterback), Brewster (halfback), Scarboro (halfback), Rushing (fullback)[22]
Week 8: Georgetown
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In the eighth week of play, the Golden Tornado faced the Georgetown Hilltoppers coached by former Carlisle great Albert Exendine, and won 35–6. Exendine countered claims of Tech running up the score, saying his safety men were not playing their best. "The sportsmanship displayed by the Golden Tornado was all that could be desired" said Exendine.[23] The outstanding feature of the game was Flowers' 80-yard touchdown run.[23] Ed Hamilton was umpire.
The starting lineup for Tech against Georgetown: J. Staton (left end), Fincher (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Amis (center), O. Davis (right guard), Johnson (right tackle), A. Staton (right end), Ferst (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Harlan (fullback)[23]
Week 9: Auburn
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The Auburn Tigers had a powerful eleven which beat Vanderbilt 56 to 6 to counter Tech's 44 to 0. Some Auburn fans predicted a victory over Tech and the Southern title.[24] On November 25, 1920, Georgia Tech defeated Auburn at Grant Field by a score of 34 to 0 for a share of the SIAA title.[25] Flowers scored three touchdowns in the game, including punt returns of 82 and 65 yards and a 33-yard run from scrimmage, and also passed for a fourth touchdown.[4][26] Flowers also kicked a punt that went 65 yards in the air against Auburn.[25] Sportswriter Morgan Blake had this to say of Flowers' play against Auburn: "The Auburn Tiger came up with claws sharpened. As he writhed in death agony when the battle was over, he made one request, 'Please omit Flowers'".[4]
The Atlanta Journal wrote that Flowers was "flitting like a phantom, an undulating, rippling, chromatic phantom, over the whitewashed lines".[4] The yearbook remarked Bill Fincher "began his great work on the sand lots of Tech Hi here in Atlanta years ago and ended it up by smearing "Fatty" Warren of the Auburn Tigers all over the flats of Grant Field on Turkey Day last."[27]
The starting lineup for Tech against Auburn: J. Staton (left end), Fincher (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Amis (center), Davis (right guard), A. Staton (right tackle), Ratterman (right end), Ferst (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Harlan (fullback).
Postseason
Bill Fincher was selected first-team All-American by Walter Camp. Captain Flowers was selected as a third-team All-American by the United Press and the International News Service. Records conflict as to his rushing totals during the 1920 season. According to one account, which acknowledged it was based on incomplete records, Flowers rushed 80 times for 819 yards (10.2 yards per carry) and had 290 punt return yards (16.5 yards per return) in six games.[28] According to another account, published by the United Press in 1958, Flowers rushed for 1,425 yards in 1920.[29]
Players
Starters
Line
- John Staton, end
- Bill Fincher, tackle
- Dummy Lebey, guard
- Dad Amis, center
- Oscar Davis, guard
- Al Staton, tackle
- Georgie Ratterman, end
Backfield
- Jack McDonough, quarter
- Buck Flowers, half
- Red Barron, half
- Judy Harlan, full
Substitutes
- Berry, guard
- Jimmy Brewster, half
- Frank Ferst, quarter
- Claire Frye, center
- Bill Glaver, quarter
- Gringer, end
- Jesse Fincher, tackle
- Pinkey Hunt, quarter
- Johnson, center
- Lyman, tackle
- Mayer, end
- McCree, tackle
- Oats, half
- Rushing, full
- Dewey Scarboro, half
- Webb, guard
- Welchel, full
Coaching staff
- Head coach: William Alexander
- Backfield coach: Joe Guyon
- Line coach: F. F. Wood
- Reserve coach: Kid Clay
- Freshman coach: George Griffin
See also
- Auburn–Georgia Tech football rivalry
- Clemson–Georgia Tech football rivalry
- 1920 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season
- 1920 College Football All-Southern Team
- 1920 College Football All-America Team
References
- 1 2 "Renowned Athlete Buck Flowers Dies". Sumter Daily Item. April 11, 1983. p. 3A.
- ↑ Chris Yandle. "GT Vault: It's Been Awhile". Retrieved February 23, 2015.
- ↑ Walter Coxe (1953). "The Tornado of '20". Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine 32 (2): 22.
- 1 2 3 4 "Buck Flowers Member Biography". College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
- ↑ Lynn Hogan (1973). "They Walked Away Into Legend...". Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine 51 (4): 15–19.
- ↑ Paul Warwick (September 26, 1920). "It Wasn't a Great Exhibition But Everybody Had Fine Time Looking at Tornado, Says Paul". Atlanta Constitution. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Golden Tornado Won With Ease". The Charlotte News. September 26, 1920. p. 16. Retrieved June 4, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Georgia Tech Wins Victory". Winston-Salem Journal. September 26, 1920. p. 1. Retrieved June 4, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 Paul Warwick (October 3, 1920). "Petrels Are Crushed by Tech, But the Defeat Was Honorable; Harlan, Flowers, Barron, Star". Atlanta Constitution. p. 2. Retrieved June 4, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "Davidson Helpless Before Georgia Tech". The Washington Post. October 10, 1920. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "Tech's Golden Tornado Destroys Defense of Valiant Davidsonians And Administers Terrible Defeat". The Atlanta Constitution. October 10, 1920. p. 3. Retrieved June 3, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 4 Russell, Fred, and Maxwell Edward Benson. Fifty Years of Vanderbilt Football. Nashville, TN, 1938, p. 38
- ↑ "Jackets Prepare For Vanderbilt". The Columbus Ledger. October 13, 1920.
- ↑
"Southern Football Games Today To Have Bearing On Grid Title For 1920; Tech Plays Vanderbilt". The Macon Daily Telegraph. October 16, 1920. - ↑ Jack Veiock (October 15, 1920). "Big Teams To Be Active Saturday". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
- ↑ "Vandy Grapples With Georgians". Miami Herald. October 16, 1920.
- ↑ Camp, Walter (1921). Spalding's Official Football Guide. American Sports Publishing Company.
- ↑ "Tech Wallops Vanderbilt; Georgia Barely Wins; Yale Beaten; Princeton A Victor". Augusta Chronicle. October 17, 1920.
- ↑ "Fincher, Guyon, Strupper-and Shaw Hardy". The Miami News. November 3, 1943.
- ↑ Arthur Duffy (November 1, 1920). "Sport Comment". Boston Post. p. 12. Retrieved June 4, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Georgia Tech Beats Strong Centre Team By Score of 24 To 0". News and Observer. October 31, 1920. p. 13. Retrieved June 4, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 Wallace George (November 7, 1920). "In Featureless Game Tornado Second String Bests Clemson Tigers". Atlanta Constitution. p. 3. Retrieved June 4, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 Cliff Wheatley (November 14, 1920). "Hilltoppers Stage Noble Defense During First Half, but Crumble Finally; Reserved Used by Tech". Atlanta Constitution. p. 2. Retrieved June 3, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Dixie Football is Given Praise". The Charlotte News. October 26, 1920. p. 2. Retrieved March 27, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "Golden Tornado Sweeps Through Auburn Team 34–0: "Buck" Flowers in Final Game of Career Plays Spectacular Football, Makes Two Eighty-Yard Runs". The Spartanburg Herald. November 26, 1920. p. 14.
- ↑ "Golden Tornado Wins: Georgia Tech Crushes Alabama Poly by Score of 34 to 0". The New York Times. November 26, 1920. p. 19.
- ↑ "The Blueprint" (PDF).
- ↑ "Buck Flowers: He Could Do It All — Well". Daily Item (Sumter, S.C.). October 15, 1969. p. B2.
- ↑ Henry L. Farrell (1920-12-10). "Brilliant Backs Are Features of 1920 Eleven: United Press Scribe Picks An All-American Eleven Himself". Middletown Daily Herald.
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