1928 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team

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1928 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
28GaTech.jpg
National champion (Boand, Helms, Houlgate, et al.)
Co-national champion (Davis)
SoCon champion
Conference Southern Conference
1928 record 10–0 (7–0 SoCon)
Head coach William Alexander (9th year)
Assistant coach Don Miller
Assistant coach Bill Fincher
Offensive scheme Jump shift
Captain Peter Pund
Home stadium Grant Field
Seasons
« 1927 1929 »
1928 Southern Conference football standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
Georgia Tech $ 7 0 0     10 0 0
Tennessee 6 0 1     9 0 1
Florida 6 1 0     8 1 0
VPI 4 1 0     7 2 0
Alabama 6 2 0     6 3 0
LSU 3 1 1     6 2 1
Clemson 4 2 0     8 3 0
Vanderbilt 4 2 0     8 2 0
Tulane 3 3 1     6 3 1
Ole Miss 3 3 0     5 4 0
North Carolina 2 2 2     5 3 2
Kentucky 2 2 1     4 3 1
South Carolina 2 2 1     6 2 2
Maryland 2 3 1     6 3 1
VMI 2 3 1     5 3 2
Georgia 2 4 0     4 5 0
NC State 1 3 1     4 5 1
Mississippi A&M 1 4 0     2 4 2
Virginia 1 6 0     2 6 1
Washington and Lee 1 6 0     2 8 0
Sewanee 0 5 0     2 7 0
Auburn 0 7 0     1 8 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1928 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team[note 1] represented the Georgia Institute of Technology (commonly known as Georgia Tech) during the 1928 college football season. The team, which was a member of the Southern Conference, was coached by William Alexander in his ninth year as head coach. Alexander compiled a record of 10–0 (7–0 SoCon) and outscored his opponents 213 to 40. Georgia Tech played its home games at Grant Field.

Both USC and Georgia Tech claim national championships for 1928. Under the Dickinson System, the USC was recognized as #1, but the Rose Bowl was contested between the #2 and #3 teams, California and Georgia Tech. The game was decided by a safety, which was scored after Cal's Roy "Wrong Way" Riegels ran 65 yards (59 m) in the wrong direction.

Several Georgia Tech players received postseason honors. Captain and center Peter Pund was a consensus All-American. Coach Knute Rockne said of Tech's 13–0 defeat of Notre Dame, "I sat at Grant Field and saw a magnificent Notre Dame team suddenly recoil before the furious pounding of one man–Peter Pund". Tackle Frank Speer was also selected as a first-team All-American by Associated Press.

Pre-season

After the defeat of Georgia Bulldogs' 1927 Dream and Wonder team,[3] Georgia Tech returned all but one of its key players.[4][5] Alabama coach Wallace Wade said Georgia Tech, the Georgia Bulldogs, and Vanderbilt had the best chances of winning a southern crown.[6][7] Tech coach William Alexander held daily scrimmages.[8] The Georgia Tech team was led by center and senior captain Peter Pund, who was never penalized,[9] and was a key player of the defense.[10] Halfback Warner Mizell headed a powerful backfield that also included Stumpy Thomason and Roy Lumpkin.

Schedule

Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance
October 6 VMI Grant FieldAtlanta, GA W 13–0   18,000
October 13 at Tulane Second Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 12–0    
October 20 Notre Dame* Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 13–0   35,000
October 27 3:00 p. m. at North Carolina Kenan Memorial StadiumChapel Hill, NC W 20–7   20,000
November 3 Oglethorpe* Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 32–7   8,000
November 10 Vanderbilt Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 19–7   30,000
November 17 Alabama Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 33–13   26,000
November 29 Auburn Grant Field • Atlanta, GA W 51–0   20,000
December 8 2:00 p. m. Georgia Grant Field • Atlanta, GA (Rivalry) W 20–6   40,000
January 1, 1929 vs. California* Rose BowlPasadena, CA (Rose Bowl) W 8–7   66,604
*Non-conference game.

[11]

Season summary

V. M. I.

V. M. I. at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
V. M. I. 0 0 0 0 0
Ga. Tech 0 6 7 6 19

Georgia Tech opened the season with a 13–0 defeat of the VMI Keydets, which was marred by fumbles in every quarter.[12] Tech gained 307 yards and VMI 159.[13] The Georgia Tech line "tore the V. M. I. line to shreds" and all members of the backfield played well.[12] W. R. Tichenor was umpire.[12] Georgia Tech's starting lineup was Holland (left end), Thrash (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Speer (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), and Randolph (fullback).[12]

Tulane

Georgia Tech at Tulane
1 2 3 4 Total
Ga. Tech 0 6 0 6 12
Tulane 0 0 0 0 0

Georgia Tech scored twice on forward passes to beat the Tulane Green Wave 12–0. The first came in the second quarter; Warner Mizell threw a 25-yard (23 m) pass to Tom Jones. The second came in the fourth quarter on a pass from Dunlap to Stumpy Thomason.[14] Georgia Tech started the second half of the game with a fierce drive down to the 1-yard (0.91 m) line when Randolph fumbled the ball away.[14]

Notre Dame

Notre Dame at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
Notre Dame 0 0 0 0 0
Ga. Tech 7 0 0 6 13

Georgia Tech defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 13–0.[15] Father Lumpkin intercepted two Irish passes, running the second to the 3-yard (2.7 m) line to set up the winning score.[16] In 1928, coach Rockne said, "I sat at Grant Field and saw a magnificent Notre Dame team suddenly recoil before the furious pounding of one man–Peter Pund ... Nobody could stop him. I counted 20 scoring plays that this man ruined".[17] Rockne wrote of an attack on his coaching in the Atlanta Journal, "I am surprised that a paper of such fine, high standing [as yours] would allow a zipper to write in his particular vein ... the article by Fuzzy Woodruff was not called for".[18] Georgia Tech's starting lineup was Holland (left end), Maree (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Speer (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), and Randolph (fullback).[15]

North Carolina

Georgia Tech at North Carolina
1 2 3 4 Total
Ga. Tech 6 14 0 0 20
UNC 0 0 0 7 7

The Golden Tornado invaded North Carolina for the first time and beat the Tar Heels 20–7.[20] Georgia Tech started the game with its second stringers, which seemed to perform sufficiently.[19] Four minutes into the game, Earl Dunlap hit Tom Jones with a 55-yard (50 m) touchdown pass.[19] The next score came when Fitzgerald cut back on a 37-yard (34 m) touchdown run. The third was a short run Dunlap set up by a pass to Holland.[21] In the second half, Tech made two first downs to ten for North Carolina.[21] Georgia Tech's starting lineup was Jones (left end), Watkins (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Speer (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), and Randolph (fullback).[22]

Oglethorpe

Oglethorpe at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
Oglethorpe 0 7 0 0 7
Ga. Tech 0 7 6 10 23

Georgia Tech defeated the Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels 32–7. After a 7–7 tie in the first half, the Petrels were smothered "under an avalanche of off tackle plays" in the second;[23][24] their touchdown drive used up all of their energy.[25] Stumpy Thomason had multiple long runs. Cy Bell starred for Oglethorpe.[23] Tech gained 320 yards (290 m) to Oglethorpe's 62 yards (57 m). W. R. Tichenor was umpire. Light rain kept the attendance at 8,000.[25] Georgia Tech's starting lineup was Jones (left end), Thrash (left tackle), Edwards (left guard), Pund (center), Brooke (right guard), Speer (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Wilson (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), and Randolph (fullback).[23]

Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
Vanderbilt 0 0 0 7 7
Ga. Tech 0 7 6 6 19
  • Date: November 10
  • Location: Grant Field
    Atlanta, GA
  • Game attendance: 30,000

Georgia Tech ended the Jimmy Armistead-led Vanderbilt Commodores' hopes of a southern crown with a 19–7 victory.[27] The ground-gaining of Thomason, Lumpkin, and Mizell carried Georgia Tech.[27] Georgia Tech's first touchdown came on a 45-yard (41 m) pass from Tom Jones to Warner Mizell on a triple pass play.[26] Georgia Tech's next score came on an end run from Mizell. Vanderbilt's lone score came on an 85-yard (78 m) run by lineman Bull Brown after picking up a Stumpy Thomason fumble.[28] The last score was a short run by Lumpkin.[26] Georgia Tech's starting lineup was Jones (left end), Maree (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Speer (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Schulman (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Lumpkin (right halfback), and Randolph (fullback).[26]

Alabama

Alabama at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
Alabama 0 13 0 0 13
Ga. Tech 6 7 0 20 33

Tech defeated coach Wallace Wade's Alabama Crimson Tide 33–13, scoring three times in the final period to break a 13–13 tie.[29] Warner Mizell scored first when he went back to punt but fumbled the snap, and picked it up and ran it 75 yards (69 m). In the fourth quarter, Alabama drove to Tech's 32-yard (29 m) line when Tony Holm suffered a fractured rib.[note 2] Georgia Tech took over and the deadlock was eventually broken when Stumpy Thomason ran 46 yards (42 m). Later, Mizell passed to Thomason for another touchdown. The final score came on an interception from Bob Durant returned 55 yards (50 m).[29]

Georgia Tech's starting lineup was Jones (left end), Maree (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Speer (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), and Randolph (fullback).[30]

Auburn

Prior to the Auburn game, Mizell was sick with influenza.[31] Tech won 51–0. Georgia Tech's starting lineup was Jones (left end), Maree (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Watkins (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Schulman (quarterback), Fiasst (left halfback), Lumpkin (right halfback), and Randolph (fullback).[31]

Georgia

Georgia at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
Georgia 6 0 0 0 6
Ga. Tech 0 7 13 0 20
  • Date: December 8
  • Game attendance: 40,000
  • Referee: Gardner (Cornell)

Georgia Tech defeated the rival Georgia Bulldogs 20–6.[32] In the third period, Stumpy Thomason twisted for a 42-yard (38 m) run after an exchange of punts. Lumpkin ran through the line for 15 yards (14 m) and the ensuing touchdown to lead 14–6.[32] The Tennessee Volunteers upset the high-scoring Florida Gators to give Georgia Tech the only claim to the southern championship.[32] Georgia Tech's starting lineup was Jones (left end), Watkins (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Thrash (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), and Lumpkin (fullback).[32]

California

Georgia Tech vs. California
1 2 3 4 Total
Ga. Tech 0 2 6 0 8
Cal 0 0 0 7 7

Under the Dickinson System, USC was recognized as #1 but the 1929 Rose Bowl was contested between the #2 and #3 teams, California and Georgia Tech. The game was decided by a safety scored after Roy "Wrong Way" Riegels ran 65 yards (59 m) in the wrong direction.[33] Riegels picked up a fumble by Georgia Tech's Stumpy Thomason.

Thirty yards (27 m) from Tech's end zone, Riegels was turned around and ran many yards in the wrong direction. Riegels told Associated Press,[34] "I was running toward the sidelines when I picked up the ball ... I started to turn to my left toward Tech's goal. Somebody shoved me and I bounded right off into a tackler. In pivoting to get away from him, I completely lost my bearings."[34] Teammate and quarterback Benny Lom chased Riegels, screaming at him to stop. Known for his speed, Lom finally caught up with Riegels at California's 3-yard (2.7 m) line and tried to turn him around, but he was immediately hit by a wave of Georgia Tech players and tackled back to the 1-yard (0.91 m) line. The Bears chose to punt rather than risk a play so close to their own end zone, but Georgia Tech's Vance Maree blocked Lom's punt for a safety, giving it a 2–0 lead.[35][36]

File:Wrongwayriegels.jpg
Roy Riegels' wrong-way run.

During Roy's wrong-way run, Georgia Tech's coach Bill Alexander told his excited players who were jumping near the team's bench; "Sit down. Sit down. He's just running the wrong way. Every step he takes is to our advantage".[37] Broadcaster Graham McNamee, who was commentating the game on radio, said during Roy's run; "What am I seeing? What's wrong with me? Am I crazy? Am I crazy? Am I crazy?"[38] After the play, Riegels was so distraught he had to be persuaded to return to the game for the second half by coach Nibs Price Roy said, "Coach, I can't do it. I've ruined you, I've ruined myself, I've ruined the University of California. I couldn't face that crowd to save my life." Coach Price responded by saying "Roy, get up and go back out there—the game is only half over".[39]

Riegels did play; he turned in a stellar second-half performance, including blocking a Georgia Tech punt. Lom passed for a touchdown and kicked the extra point, but that was not enough. Georgia Tech won the game and its second national championship 8–7. Its starting lineupn was Waddey (left end), Speer (left tackle), Drennon (left guard), Pund (center), Westbrook (right guard), Maree (right tackle), Jones (right end), Durant (quarterback), Thomason (left halfback), Mizell (right halfback), and Lumpkin (fullback).[40]

Post-season

Awards and honors

Several GeorgiaTech players received post-season honors. Tackle Frank Speer was selected as a first-team All-American by Associated Press.[41] Center Peter Pund was recognized as a consensus All-American.[42] Halfback Warner Mizell was a second-team All-American and first-team All-Southern. Ends Tom Jones and Frank Waddey, tackle Vance Maree, and guard Raleigh Drennon were also placed on All-Southern teams.[43]

Champions

Both USC and Georgia Tech claim national championships for 1928.[44] Georgia Tech was retroactively selected as the national champion by the Berryman QPRS system, Billingsley Report, Boand System, College Football Researchers Association, Helms Athletic Foundation, Houlgate System, National Championship Foundation, Poling System, and Jeff Sagarin's ELO-Chess methodology system, and as a co-national champion by Parke H. Davis.[45] In honor of the Rose Bowl victory, Stumpy Thomason was awarded a bear cub by a local businessman. He grew attached to it and would drive it around town with him and feed it Coca Cola.[46]

Personnel

Depth chart

The following chart depicts Tech's lineup during the 1928 season with games started at the position shown in parenthesis. The chart mimics the offense after the jump shift has taken place.

LE
Tom Jones (7)
Glenn Holland (2)
Frank Waddey (1)
Slick Keener (0)
LT LG C RG RT
Vance Maree (4) Joe Westbrook (7) Peter Pund (9) Raleigh Drennon (7) Frank Speer (6)
Ken Thrash (2) Raleigh Drennon (1) Fatty Cain (0) Jim Brooks (1) Vance Maree (1)
Coot Watkins (2) Hudson Edwards (1) Hobby Law (0) Joe Westbrook (1) Ken Thrash (1)
Frank Speer (1) Jack Holt (0) Geo. Muse (0) Joe Kent (0) Coot Watkins (1)
RE
Frank Waddey (8)
Tom Jones (1)
Ed Herron (0)
Phil Von Weller (0)
QB
Bob Durant (7)
Izzy Schulman (2)
RHB
Stumpy Thomason (6)
Father Lumpkin (2)
Warner Mizell (1)
Shorty Smith (0)
Fite Fitzgerald (0)
FB
Bob Randolph (7)
Father Lumpkin (2)
LHB
Warner Mizell (7)
Sleepy Faisst (1)
Stumpy Thomason (1)
Wilson (1)
Earl Dunlap (0)
Russ Russell (0)

Lettermen

Line

Number Player Position Games
started
Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
72 Jim Brooke Guard 1 Columbus, Georgia 5'11" 180 18
10 Raleigh Drennon Guard 8 Atlanta, Georgia 5'10" 187 21
42 Hudson Edwards Guard 1 Atlanta, Georgia 6'0" 181 18
4 Ed Herron End Chattanooga, Tennessee 5'10" 170 19
2 Glenn Holland End 2 Atlanta, Georgia 5'11" 170 20
5 Tom Jones End 8 Clarkesville, Georgia 5'11" 175 19
61 Slick Keener End Gadsden, Alabama 5'10" 181 21
38 Vance Maree Tackle 4 Savannah, Georgia 6'1" 191 19
15 Peter Pund Center 9 Augusta, Georgia Richmond Academy 6'0" 182 21
78 Seedy Rusk Center Atlanta, Georgia 6'0" 179 21
48 Frank Speer Tackle 7 Atlanta, Georgia 6'0" 204 20
80 Ken Thrash Tackle 3 Orlando, Florida 5'10" 190 22
22 Phil Von Weller End Albany, Georgia 6'0" 178 20
26 Coot Watkins Tackle 3 Atlanta, Georgia 6'0" 199 20
70 Frank Waddey End 9 Memphis, Tennessee 5'10" 184 23
6 Joe Westbrook Guard 8 Moultrie, Georgia 5'11" 180 23

Backfield

Number Player Position Games
started
Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
84 Earl Dunlap Halfback Sumter, South Carolina 5'10" 177 18
22 Bob Durant Quarterback 7 Bluefield, West Virginia 5'9" 161 20
7 Sleepy Faisst Halfback 1 Little Rock, Arkansas 5'10" 160 20
18 Fite Fitzgerald Halfback Jackson, Tennessee 5'10" 164 20
59 Father Lumpkin Fullback 4 Dallas, Texas 6'1" 176 19
67 Warner Mizell Halfback 8 Atlanta, Georgia 5'10" 170 20
63 Bob Parham Halfback Atlanta, Georgia 6'1" 176 21
24 Bob Randolph Fullback 8 Atlanta, Georgia 5'10" 176 21
28 Izzy Shulman Quarterback, halfback 2 Jackson, Tennessee 5'8" 155 20
37 Shorty Smith Halfback Cartersville, Georgia 5'7" 153 21
71 Stumpy Thomason Halfback 7 Atlanta, Georgia 5'8" 174 20

Substitutes

Line

Number Player Position Games
started
Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
62 Fatty Cain Center Savannah, Georgia 5'9" 183 18
65 Jack Holt Tackle Little Rock, Arkansas 6'1" 188 20
Joe Kent Guard Moultrie, Georgia 5'10" 181 21
1 Hobby Law Center Chattanooga, Tennessee 5'9" 173 19
81 Geo Muse Center Covington, Kentucky 5'10" 178 19

Backfield

Number Player Position Games
started
Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
53 Jimmie Frink Halfback Miami, Florida 5'10" 162 19
Bob Horn Halfback Norfolk, Virginia 5'10" 178 21
54 Sol Luna Halfback Pittsburg, Tennessee 5'8" 163 20
8 Russ Russell Halfback New York, New York 5'10" 160 19
Bob Strickland Halfback Sumter, South Carolina 5'10" 174 19

[22]

Coaching staff

See also

Notes

  1. Although Georgia Tech's teams are officially known as the "Yellow Jackets", northern writers called the team the "Golden Tornado" in 1917; the name was commonly used until 1928 and for many years afterwards as an alternate nickname.[1] It may have been coined by Morgan Blake.[2]
  2. Holm played his greatest game.[29]

Endnotes

  1. Van Brimmer & Rice 2011, p. 147
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  3. Garrett 2011, p. 843
  4. Van Brimmer 2006, p. 26
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  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 1928 Season Recap
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  33. 33.0 33.1 "Roy Riegels, 84, Who Took Off In Wrong Direction in Rose Bowl", The New York Times, March 28, 1993. Accessed January 28, 2008.
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  46. Van Brimmer 2006, p. 25

References

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