1912 Vanderbilt Commodores football team
| 1912 Vanderbilt Commodores football | |
|---|---|
 | |
SIAA champion | |
| Conference | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| 1912 record | 8–1–1 (4–0–1 SIAA) |
| Head coach | Dan McGugin (9th year) |
| Assistant coach | Owsley Manier |
| Offensive scheme | Short-punt |
| Captain | Lewie Hardage |
| Home stadium | Dudley Field |
| 1912 SIAA football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt $ | 4 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas A&M | 2 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky State | 1 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 5 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 5 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 2 | – | 1 | – | 2 | 5 | – | 1 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 3 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 2 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mercer | 2 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi College | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 0 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Central | 0 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Citadel | 0 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howard | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1912 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the 1912 college football season. The 1912 season was Dan McGugin's 9th year as head coach. Members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA), the Commodores won their third straight conference title this year, posting a 8–1–1 record (4–0–1 SIAA). Vanderbilt outscored its opponents 391 to 19.
The 105–0 victory over Bethel was the largest in school history.[1] The team's only loss was to national champion Harvard. They also suffered a tie to Auburn.
Several players received postseason honors. Lew Hardage was selected a third-team All-American by Walter Camp.
Before the season
Vanderbilt faced its hardest schedule to date,[2] and lost varsity letter winners in quarterback Ray Morrison, tackle Ewing Y. Freeland and guard Will Metzger. Freeland in Texas and Metzger in business.[3] Aside from Morrison, Vanderbilt retained the rest of its great backfield of last year with halfbacks Lew Hardage, the team's captain, and Wilson Collins, and fullback Ammie Sikes.[2] Replacing Morrison at quarterback was renowned drop kicker Zach Curlin.[4]
The 1912 season saw the NCAA implement several rule changes to increase scoring: including the value of a touchdown increased from 5 points to 6, a 100-yard field, 10-yard endzones, elimination of the onside kick, and an unlimited use of the forward pass.[2]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 28 | Bethel (TN)* | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN | W 105–0 | ||||||
| October 5 | Maryville (TN)* | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN | W 100–3 | ||||||
| October 12 | Rose Polytechnic* | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN | W 54–0 | ||||||
| October 19 | at Georgia | Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta, GA (Rivalry) | W 46–0 | 4,500 | |||||
| October 26 | Ole Miss | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN (Rivalry) | W 24–0 | ||||||
| November 2 | Virginia | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN | W 13–0 | 4,000 | |||||
| November 9 | at Harvard* | Harvard Stadium • Allston, MA | L 3–9 | ||||||
| November 16 | Centre* | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN | W 23–0 | ||||||
| November 23 | at Auburn | Rickwood Field • Birmingham, AL | T 7–7 | ||||||
| November 28 | Sewanee | Dudley Field • Nashville, TN (Rivalry) | W 16–0 | 10,000 | |||||
| *Non-conference game. | |||||||||
Season summary
Bethel
The season started with a bang, the largest win in school history, a 105–0 win over Bethel College in a pouring rain. Future Vanderbilt star Josh Cody played for Bethel.[6]
Wilson Collins started the scoring barrage when he took a punt 45 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown.[7] The game was played in the mud, in which substitute quarterback Rabbi Robins was better suited than starter Zach Curlin.[7] Robins once returned a kick 70 yards for a touchdown.[7] Collins had five touchdowns, Enoch Brown three, Hardage and Robins and Morrison two each, and Reyer and Chester one each.[7]
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was Turner (left end), Covington (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Morgan (center), Huffman (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Curlin (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), Sikes (fullback).[1]
Maryville
The Commodores then rolled up a 100–3 score on the Maryville Scots. Despite the first two games being like practice games, the large scores were quite the surprise.[8] Maryville's Badgett scored on a 31-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.[9] Vanderbilt once scored on a 40-yard forward pass from Hardage to Brown.[10]
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was Turner (left end), Covington (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Morgan (center), Huffman (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Curlin (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), Sikes (fullback).[9]
Rose Polytechnic
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The game with Rose Polytechnic was seen as the first real test of the season. Still, the Commodores romped 54–0, subs replacing the regulars by the end of the first half.[8] The first score came on a 35-yard interception return by Lew Hardage. Rose Poly once tried a trick play with a player in civilian clothes receiving the ball.[11]
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was Turner (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Morgan (center), Swofford (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Robins (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), Chester (fullback).[11]
at Georgia
The Commodores easily defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 46–0 in the rain. Coaching the Bulldogs was McGugin product Alex Cunningham. The game was played on the infield and part of the right outfield of Ponce de Leon Park.[12] The score would have been larger but for the water and mud.[8] Georgia star Bob McWhorter was held in check, with his longest gain being 12 yards.[8]
The first score of the game came when Wilson Collins got away for a 20-yard run, but fumbled. The ball was picked up by Zach Curlin and run in for a touchdown. When the game ended, Georgia men tried to steal the ball, and a fight broke out, broken up by coach McGugin and umpire Ted Coy.[12]
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was Turner (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Morgan (center), Huffman (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Robins (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Shea (right halfback), Chester (fullback).[12]
Mississippi
Vanderbilt beat Mississippi 24–0, the visitors showing a strong defense.[13] Morgan, Collins, and Sikes were on the sidelines all game. Multiple times, the Commodores fumbled near the goal line.[14]
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was Milholland (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Daves (left guard), T. Brown (center), Swafford (right guard), Covington (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Robins (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Shea (right halfback), Turner (fullback).[13]
Virginia
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Vanderbilt met Virginia for the first time since 1898,[16] and won for the first time 13–0.[15] Ammie Sikes scored first, after a drive highlight by 35 and 28-yard runs by Lew Hardage paved the way.[15] A 30-yard forward pass from Hardage to Enoch Brown got the second touchdown.[15] In the last period, Sikes broke loose, down to the 5-yard line when he was caught from behind by Buck Mayer.[15]
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was Turner (left end), Daves (left tackle), Huffman (left guard), Morgan (center), Covington (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), Milholland (right end), Curlin (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), Sikes (fullback).[15]
at Harvard
|
Vanderbilt suffered its only loss of the season on the road to coach Percy Haughton's national champion Harvard Crimson 9–3. Only Dartmouth played the Crimson closer. "As usual Harvard tried out the strength of its defense in the first period, kicking usually on the second down."[17] Harvard used mostly substitutes and scored a touchdown five minutes after the second period began.[17] Lew Hardage was injured and taken off the field.[17] Vanderbilt's lone score was a 28-yard field goal from Zach Curlin early in the third quarter, after Harvard muffed a punt.[17] The Crimson added another field goal in the final period.[17]
In the last ten minutes, the Commodores tried their full repertoire of tricks, including a delayed forward pass in which the ball was handled by four men and netted a 22-yard gain from Rabbi Robins.[18] The International News Service reported: "Although defeated, Vanderbilt was not outplayed; for never was a gamer team seen in the Stadium."[19]
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was Turner (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Swafford (left guard), Morgan (center), Daves (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Curlin (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), Sikes (fullback).[18]
Centre
Vanderbilt playing with just four regulars and a new backfield beat the Centre Colonels 23–0.[20] Hardage stayed home in Decatur, Alabama due to his injury.[20]
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was Chester (left end), Daves (left tackle), Reyer (left guard), Huffman (center), Swafford (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), Reams (right end), Robins (quarterback), Luck (left halfback), Shea (right halfback), Milholland (fullback).[20]
at Auburn
|
The Auburn Tigers upset expectations and tied the Commodores 7–7. Ammie Sikes scored first for Vanderbilt.[21] Auburn's scored after a Sikes fumble. The ball was kicked some fifteen yards down field clear of the melee, picked up by Kirk Newell and run 55 yards to the endzone.[21]
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was Reams (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Moody (center), Covington (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Curlin (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), Turner (fullback).[21]
Sewanee
|
Vanderbilt defeated rival Sewanee 16–0. In the first period, Sewanee had to punt from its own endzone. The pass to Jenks Gillem went wide, and before he could recover it he was downed by Enoch Brown for a safety.[22] Gillem had one punt of 58 yards that day.[n 1] Vanderbilt's game seemed to stagnate until Wilson Collins was hurt and replaced with Shea in the third quarter.[24] Then two touchdowns came in the fourth period, one by Robins and another Turner.[22] In his last game, Lew Hardage played well despite his hurt left ankle.[25]
The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was Reams (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Morgan (center), Swofford (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Robins (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), Sikes (fullback).[25]
Postseason
Awards and honors
Lew Hardage was selected third-team All-American by Walter Camp, the fourth ever Southern player to get such a recognition.[26] He was a unanimous All-Southern selection. Innis Brown wrote "Hardage has been rated as probably the most successful man in the south at making forward passes."[27] Ammie Sikes, Hugh Morgan, Tom Brown, and Enoch Brown all made composite All-Southern.
Championships
Vanderbilt won the SIAA title in football, baseball, and track.[28]
Personnel
Depth chart
The following chart provides a visual depiction of Vanderbilt's lineup during the 1912 season with games started at the position reflected in parenthesis.[3] The chart mimics a short punt formation while on offense, with the quarterback under center.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
- |
Varsity letter winners
"Wearers of the V."[29]
Line
| Player | Position | Games started |
Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Brown | guard | |||||
| Tom Brown | tackle | 6'2" | 180 | |||
| Joe Covington | guard | |||||
| Carl T. Martin | end | |||||
| Hugh Morgan | center | 216 | ||||
| Kent Morrison | end | |||||
Backfield
| Player | Position | Games started |
Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson Collins | halfback | |||||
| Zach Curlin | halfback | |||||
| Lew Hardage | halfback | 165 | ||||
| Fred "Rabbi" Robins | halfback | |||||
Staff
- Frank Gilliland - manager
Scoring leaders
| Player | Touchdowns | Extra points | Field goals | Safeties | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lew Hardage | 11 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 96 |
| Wilson Collins | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 66 |
| Rabbi Robins | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 |
| Enoch Brown | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 |
| Zach Curlin | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 25 |
| Kent Morrison | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Yunk Chester | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Glen Reams | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Tom Shea | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Ammie Sikes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Tom Brown | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Malcolm Luck | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Whitey Milholland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Pud Reyer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Peck Turner | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| N/A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| TOTAL | 56 | 36 | 5 | 2 | 391 |
See also
- 1912 College Football All-Southern Team
- 1912 College Football All-America Team
- 1912 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season
Notes
References
- 1 2 Spick Hall (September 29, 1912). "Vanderbilt Makes The Largest Score In Her Football History". The Tennessean. p. 35. Retrieved September 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 Spick Hall (September 15, 1912). "Commodores Face The Hardest Schedule For Many Long Years". The Tennessean. p. 19. Retrieved June 17, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Vanderbilt University, p. 259
- ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 260
- ↑ "1912 Vanderbilt Commodores Schedule and Results".
- ↑ Christopher J. Walsh. Where Football Is King: A History of the SEC. p. 121.
- 1 2 3 4 Traughber, p. 57
- 1 2 3 4 Vanderbilt University, p. 261
- 1 2 "Commodores Win". The Courier-Journal. October 6, 1912. p. 35. Retrieved June 17, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Details of Scores Made Yesterday". The Tennessean. October 6, 1912. p. 2. Retrieved June 17, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 "Vanderbilt Smeared It On Rose Poly In Fine Form". The Tennessean. October 13, 1912. p. 8. Retrieved May 2, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 Percy Whiting (October 20, 1912). "Vandy Played A Great Game". The Tennessean. p. 8. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Spick Hall (October 27, 1912). "Miss. Men Showed A Fierce Defense". The Tennessean. p. 8. Retrieved May 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 262
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Spick Hall (November 3, 1912). "Vanderbilt Victor Over Old Virginia". The Tennessean. p. 8. Retrieved May 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 29
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Vandy Played A Great Game". The Tennessean. November 10, 1912. p. 8. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "Crimson Team Is Victorious". The Courier-Journal. November 10, 1912. p. 35. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 263
- 1 2 3 Spick Hall (November 17, 1912). "Central Had Lot of Grit and Vim". The Tennessean. p. 8. Retrieved May 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 4 Spick Hall (November 24, 1912). "Auburn Holds Vandy To A Tie". The Tennessean. p. 14. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 "Vanderbilt Downs Sewanee". Wilmington Morning Star. November 29, 1912. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.compage=12.
- ↑ "All-Time Football Team Lists Greats Of Past, Present". Gadsden Times. July 27, 1969.
- ↑ "Commodores On The Desired End". Detroit Free Press. November 29, 1912. p. 8. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "Commodores Are Again Victorious". The Tennessean. November 29, 1912. p. 10. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "On the Gridiron and Diamond". The Kappa Alpha Journal. 30 (2): 211.
- ↑ "Innis Brown's All-Southern". Atlanta Constitution. December 1, 1912. Retrieved March 4, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 210
- ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 213
Bibliography
- Traughber, Bill (2011). Vanderbilt Football: Tales of Commodore Gridiron History. The History Press. ISBN 978-1-60949-423-0.
- Vanderbilt University (1912). Vanderbilt University Quarterly. 12.