1921 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team

The 1921 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team[note 1] represented the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado of the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1921 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. The Golden Tornado played its home games at Grant Field.

1921 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football
SIAA co-champion
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1921 record8–1 (5–0 SIAA)
Head coach
Offensive schemeJump shift
CaptainJudy Harlan
Home stadiumGrant Field
Uniform
1921 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
Centre + 5 0 0  10 1 0
Georgia + 6 0 1  7 2 1
Georgia Tech + 5 0 0  8 1 0
Vanderbilt + 5 0 1  7 0 1
Tennessee 4 1 1  6 2 1
Florida 4 1 2  6 3 2
Mississippi College 3 1 1  7 2 1
Sewanee 4 2 0  6 2 0
Transylvania 2 1 0  4 4 0
LSU 2 1 1  6 1 1
South Carolina 2 1 1  5 1 2
Furman 4 2 1  7 2 1
Auburn 3 2 0  5 3 0
Mississippi A&M 2 3 1  4 4 1
Tulane 3 4 0  4 6 0
Alabama 2 4 2  5 4 2
Oglethorpe 2 4 0  5 4 0
Chattanooga 2 4 0  4 6 0
The Citadel 1 2 1  3 3 2
Kentucky 1 3 1  4 3 1
Ole Miss 1 4 0  3 6 0
Howard 1 4 0  3 6 0
Mercer 1 5 0  3 6 0
Louisville 0 1 0  2 2 1
Wofford 0 2 0  2 7 0
Georgetown (KY) 0 3 0  2 6 0
Millsaps 0 3 0  1 5 1
Clemson 0 5 2  1 6 2
  • + Conference co-champions

The Golden Tornado was coached by William Alexander in his second year as head coach, compiling an 8–1 record (5–0 against Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) teams) and outscoring opponents 360 to 56. The team beat Rutgers and its only loss was its only road game, at the Polo Grounds in New York City, to undefeated eastern power Penn State.

Defeating the rival Auburn Tigers secured a sharing of the SIAA title with the Georgia Bulldogs and Vanderbilt Commodores, though "no championship was ever won with less effort or achievement." noted sportswriter Fuzzy Woodruff.

Captain Judy Harlan made Walter Camp's third-team All-America. Red Barron led the team in scoring and rushed for 1,459 yards during the season, a school record at the time.[3] Harlan, Barron, brothers John and Al Staton, and Oscar Davis made All-Southern.

Before the season

Harlan running interference for Barron

In 1921, football used a one-platoon system in which players played offense, defense, and special teams. A team which scored a touchdown had the option to kick-off or receive, and the ball was much rounder. Coach William Alexander retained his predecessor John Heisman's scheme, using the pre-snap movement of his jump shift offense.

Gone from the team were greats such as Buck Flowers and Bill Fincher, who graduated in 1920. The Tornado captain was senior fullback Judy Harlan,[4][5] called the school's greatest back by some[6] and one of the country's best defensive backs.[7]

Also in the backfield was junior halfback Red Barron, who had just recovered from a broken jaw received the previous season in a game against Vanderbilt.[8] Future Tech fullback Sam Murray said about a strong runner during the 1930s, "He's good. But if I were playing again, I would have one wish – never to see bearing down upon me a more fearsome picture of power than Judy Harlan blocking for Red Barron."[9]

Junior starting quarterback Jack McDonough missed the final four games last year due to an ankle injury caused by Pitt's fullback Orville Hewitt. Another halfback was Jimmy Brewster, known as the "side stepping wonder".

In the line at either end were the brothers John and Al Staton. At guard was Oscar Davis, who (with Barron) was listed on an All-Tech Alexander-era team.[10] At center was sophomore Dad Amis.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 24Wake Forest*W 42–0
October 1Oglethorpe
  • Grant Field
  • Atlanta, GA
W 41–08,000
October 8Davidson*
  • Grant Field
  • Atlanta, GA
W 70–0
October 15Furman
  • Grant Field
  • Atlanta, GA
W 69–0
October 22Rutgers*
  • Grant Field
  • Atlanta, GA
W 48–1415,000
October 29vs. Penn State*L 28–7
November 5Clemson
W 48–7
November 12Georgetown
  • Grant Field
  • Atlanta, GA
W 21–7
November 24Auburn
W 14–025,000
  • *Non-conference game

[11]

Season summary

Wake Forest

Wake Forest at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
Wake 0 000 0
Ga. Tech 14 1477 42

The season opened with a 42–0 shutout of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, who were hold to just one first down.[8]

The intense heat made for many substitutions, and a number of Tech players starred.[8] Despite the weather, Harlan still smashed into the line. Brewster got the season's first touchdown, a 25-yard run around left end. Barron later got a touchdown on a 60-yard run.[8]

The starting lineup was J. Staton (left end), McRee (left tackle), McIntyre (left guard), Amis (center), Davis (right guard), Lyman (right tackle), A. Staton (right end), Hunt (quarterback), Brewster (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), and Harlan (fullback).[8]

Oglethorpe

Oglethorpe at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
Oglethorpe 0 000 0
Ga. Tech 14 7137 41

In the second week of play, Red Barron starred as the Tornado defeated the neighboring Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels 41–0. Just prior to the game Oglethorpe had lost its star Johnny Knox.[12]

The Tornado had 363 yards from scrimmage to Oglethorpe's four. The "right side of the Oglethorpe line was a wide open as the gap of Gehenna." A crowd of about 8,000 attended.[12]

Dewey Scarboro scored Tech's first touchdown, and the second came on a 25-yard run by Barron, the star of the contest.[12] In the third quarter, Tech sent in a substitute backfield which was even more successful.[12]

The starting lineup was Nabelle (left end), Johnson (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Frye (center), Davis (right guard), Fincher (right tackle), A. Staton (right end), McDonough (quarterback), Scarboro (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), and Harlan (fullback).[12]

Davidson

Davidson at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
Davidson 0 000 0
Ga. Tech 7 21735 70

Tech shut out Davidson 70–0, with 22 first downs; Davidson had none.[13] For the first touchdown, Barron threw a pass and Staton ran 35 yards for the score.[14] The final score came when Barron had a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown,[15] and Judy Harlan had four touchdowns.[13]

The starting lineup was J. Staton (left end), McRee (left tackle), Frye (left guard), Amis (center), Borum (right guard), Lyman (right tackle), A. Staton (right end), McDonough (quarterback), Ferst (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), and Harlan (fullback).[13]

Furman

Furman at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
Furman 0 000 0
Ga. Tech 7 183212 69

The Tech backfield, led by Barron, defeated Billy Laval's Furman Purple Hurricane, 69–0.[16] Milton McManaway played for Furman.[16][note 2]

Barron had a 55-yard touchdown run.[15] A punt return for a touchdown, with Barron reversing field, was disallowed due to an offside penalty.[16] Judy Harlan received praise for his work as a defensive back.[16]

The starting lineup was J. Staton (left end), McRee (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Amis (center), Frye (right guard), Lyman (right tackle), A. Staton (right end), McDonough (quarterback), Ferst (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), and Harlan (fullback).[16]

Rutgers

Rutgers at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
Rutgers 7 007 14
Ga. Tech 14 14137 48

The Tornado defeated Rutgers in an inter-sectional contest, 48–14. Tech's shift was at its peak,[18] and Red Barron was the game's star.[17] The first score was when Barron broke away for a 20-yard touchdown run around end. Rutgers' Carl Waite threw a 30-yard touchdown to Heinie Benkert.[14]

The starting lineup was J. Staton (left end), McRee (left tackle), Frye (left guard), Amis (center), Davis (right guard), Lyman (right tackle), A. Staton (right end), McDonough (quarterback), Brewster (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), and Harlan (fullback).[17]

Barron's touchdown against Penn State

Penn State

Georgia Tech vs. Penn State
1 234Total
Ga. Tech 7 000 7
Penn State 7 777 28

On October 29, the Penn State Nittany Lions' undefeated "Mystery Team" defeated Georgia Tech 28–7 at the Polo Grounds.[20][21][22] Both teams used a shift.[23]

Tech started strong, and Red Barron scored Tech's only touchdown.[24] The game's star play immediately followed: an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Glenn Killinger.[19] Penn State's defense stiffened after that.[23]

The starting lineup was J. Staton (left end), McRee (left tackle), Frye (left guard), Amis (center), Davis (right guard), Lyman (right tackle), A. Staton (right end), McDonough (quarterback), Barron (left halfback), Brewster (right halfback), and Harlan (fullback).[19]

Clemson

Clemson at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
Clemson 7 000 7
Ga. Tech 7 71420 48

"Just as we used to bring in a load of stove wood at nightfall, feed the pigs and milk the cows, so do football teams of note have their chores to perform year in and year out. Georgia Tech performed one of its accustomed tasks Saturday afternoon, when Clemson was decidedly thrashed, but the task was not performed in the usual manner, for Clemson scored a touchdown. The score was 48 to 7."[25]

Tech started the game with a second-string backfield.[25] Clemson scored first, with Burton running in a touchdown.[25] Tech's first score came six seconds before the end of the first quarter, when Red Barron went around the tackle for a touchdown.[25] The second touchdown came after a 20-yard Barron run.[25] Pinkey Hunt got the first score of the second half.[25] The fourth touchdown came when Jimmy Brewster gained 28 yards down field and almost 100 yards in all.[25] Brewster also scored the next touchdown on a 15-yard run after completing an 18-yard pass.[25] Barron and Harlan returned to the lineup late, scoring an additional touchdown apiece.[25]

The starting lineup was Cornell (left end), Johnson (left tackle), Barnett (left guard), Amis (center), Davis (right guard), Lyman (right tackle), A. Staton (right end), McDonough (quarterback), Ferst (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), and Farnsworth (fullback).[25]

Georgetown

Georgetown at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
Georgetown 0 007 7
Ga. Tech 0 7140 21

The Tornado defeated the Georgetown Blue and Gray, 21–7. Tech's first score came from Judy Harlan on a two-yard run behind right tackle.[26] The second score was in the second half, when Red Barron skirted the left end for 20 yards and a touchdown.[26] Barron made his team's final touchdown on a two-yard run behind left guard.[26] Georgetown scored on a 95-yard return after DuFour recovered a Jack McDonough fumble.[26]

A pass during the Tech-Auburn game

The starting lineup was J. Staton (left end), Johnson (left tackle), Frye (left guard), Amis (center), Davis (right guard), A. Staton (right tackle), Mitchell (right end), McDonough (quarterback), Ferst (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), and Harlan (fullback).[27]

Auburn

Auburn at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
Auburn 0 000 0
Ga. Tech 0 0014 14

Georgia Tech defeated Auburn, 14–0. More than 21,000 fans, the largest crowd of the Southern football season, watched the game.[29]

After a scoreless first half, Tech opened a drive to start the second half with runs from Barron, Harlan, and Ferst. As Barron was about to score, he fumbled and McDonough recovered the ball in the end zone. Barron later scored the second touchdown.[28]

The starting lineup was J. Staton (left end), Johnson (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Amis (center), Davis (right guard), A. Staton (right tackle), Mitchell (right end), McDonough (quarterback), Ferst (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), and Harlan (fullback).[28]

Postseason

Awards and honors

Barron rushed for 1,459 yards during the season,[3] and led the team in scoring with 90 points.[30] Harlan, Barron, and Al Staton were composite All-Southerns, and Davis and John Staton made some All-Southern teams.[31] Harlan made Walter Camp's third All-America team,[32] and Barron made Jack Veiock's third team.[33]

Championships

For yet another season, neither Tech nor the Bulldogs of Georgia lost to a Southern team. Tech tied with independent Centre, Georgia, and Vanderbilt for claims of the SIAA title.[29] For Georgia coach Herman Stegeman, the contest for the mythical title of greatest Southern team was between Centre, Georgia Tech, and Georgia.[29] Sportswriter Fuzzy Woodruff in his History of Southern Football explained Tech was picked as champion "through force of habit";[34] though "no championship was ever won with less effort or achievement."[34]

Personnel

Depth chart

The following chart depicts Tech's lineup during the 1921 season, with games started at the position in parentheses. It mimics the offense after the jump shift.

LE
John Staton (7)
Cornell (1)
Nabelle (1)
 
LTLGCRGRT
J. P. McCrea (5)Claire Frye (4)Dad Amis (8)Oscar Davis (7)W. P. Lyman (6)
Johnson (4)Dummy Lebey (3)Claire Frye (1)Borum (1)Albert Staton (2)
Barnett (1)Claire Frye (1)Jesse Fincher (1)
John McIntyre (1)
RE
Albert Staton (7)
Mitchell (2)
 
 
QB
Jack McDonough (8)
Pinkey Hunt (1)
RHB
Red Barron (8)
Jimmy Brewster (1)
FB
Judy Harlan (8)
Farnsworth (1)
LHB
Frank Ferst (5)
Jimmy Brewster (2)
Red Barron (1)
Dewey Scarboro (1)

Scoring leaders

The following is an incomplete list of statistics and scores, largely dependent on newspaper summaries.

Player Touchdowns Extra points Points
Red Barron15090
Judy Harlan12072
Jimmy Brewster10060
Bip Farnsworth3018
Frank Ferst3018
Jack McDonough3018
Dewey Scarboro3018
Albert Staton11117
W. P. Lyman01414
Granger01010
Carter106
Caldwell106
Pinkey Hunt106
John Staton066
Oscar Davis011
Total5342360

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. The previous week, Georgia had defeated Furman 27–7.[16]

Endnotes

  1. Van Brimmer & Rice 2011, p. 147
  2. "Golden Tornadoes". Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  3. "Tech's "Old Time" Football Records" (PDF). Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  4. "To Judy Harlan, Leader of Tech". Atlanta Constitution. November 27, 1921. p. 19. Retrieved May 14, 2015 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Judy Harlan". Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine. 54. 1973.
  6. "Another Judy Harlan". Ironwood Daily Globe. October 19, 1927. p. 7. Retrieved May 14, 2015 via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Eight Stars of Constitution's All-Southern". Atlanta Constitution. November 28, 1920. p. 3. Retrieved May 14, 2015 via Newspapers.com.
  8. Cliff Wheatley (September 25, 1921). "Attack of Alex's Great Outfit Too Much for Wake Forest Team". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 3. Retrieved June 8, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  9. Lynn Hogan (1973). "They Walked Away Into Legend..." Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine. 51 (4): 15–19.
  10. "Georgia Tech's All Era Teams" (PDF). Georgia Tech Football: 155. 2007.
  11. "1921 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Schedule and Results". sports-reference.com. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  12. Fuzzy Woodruff (October 2, 1921). ""Red" Barron Is Brilliant Star As Tornado Sweeps to Victory". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 3. Retrieved June 8, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Tech's Golden Tornado Roars Across Field To Victory Over Davidson". The Charlotte Observer. October 9, 1921. p. 15. Retrieved June 8, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  14. Camp 1922, p. 27
  15. Camp 1922, p. 26
  16. Fuzzy Woodruff (October 16, 1921). "Golden Tornado Overwhelms Furman, 69-0". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 3. Retrieved May 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Barron Is Star For Tornado". The Atlanta Constitution. October 23, 1921. p. 3. Retrieved May 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  18. Camp 1922, p. 57
  19. "Penn State Tears Georgia Techites' Line Into Shreds". Pittsburgh Daily Post. October 30, 1921. p. 20. Retrieved May 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  20. Prato 2015, p. 335
  21. "Football games played at The Polo Grounds, New York". luckyshow.org. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  22. "Penn State in the Polo Grounds – Part 2". joepasdoghouse.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2016.
  23. Camp 1922, p. 51
  24. Woodruff 1928, pp. 126–127
  25. Paul Warwick (November 6, 1921). "Clemson Rushes Over Touchdown Against Tech, But Is Swamped". Atlanta Constitution. p. 3. Retrieved May 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  26. "Tech-Georgetown Play by Detail". Atlanta Constitution. November 13, 1921. p. 4. Retrieved May 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  27. "Georgetown Defense Smashed By Tech". Atlanta Constitution. November 13, 1921. p. 4. Retrieved May 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  28. "Techs Beat Alabama In Final 14 To 0". Greensboro Daily News. November 25, 1921. p. 12. Retrieved May 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  29. Camp 1922, p. 85
  30. Camp 1922, p. 165
  31. "All-Southern Football Team". Charlotte Observer. December 4, 1921.
  32. "Walter Camp's All-America Selections for 1921" (PDF). The New York Times. December 21, 1921. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  33. "Players from Coast to Coast Put on All-American Team by Veiock". Tulsa Daily World. December 4, 1921.
  34. Woodruff 1928, p. 183

References

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