1927 Tennessee Volunteers football team

The 1927 Tennessee Volunteers football team (variously "Tennessee", "UT" or the "Vols") represented the University of Tennessee in the 1927 Southern Conference football season. Playing as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon), the team was led by head coach Robert Neyland, in his second year, and played their home games at Shields–Watkins Field in Knoxville, Tennessee. The 1927 Vols won eight, lost zero and tied one game (8–0–1 overall, 5–0–1 in the SoCon). The only blemish on Tennessee's schedule was a tie with in-state rival, Vanderbilt. Playing seven home games, the 1927 Vols outscored their opponents 246 to 26 and posted seven shutouts.

1927 Tennessee Volunteers football
SoCon co-champion
ConferenceSouthern Conference
1927 record8–0–1 (5–0–1 SoCon)
Head coach
Offensive schemeSingle-wing
CaptainJohn Barnhill
Home stadiumShields–Watkins Field
1927 Southern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
Georgia Tech + 7 0 1  8 1 1
Tennessee + 5 0 1  8 0 1
NC State + 4 0 0  9 1 0
Vanderbilt 5 0 2  8 1 2
Georgia 6 1 0  9 1 0
Florida 5 2 0  7 3 0
Ole Miss 3 2 0  5 3 1
Virginia 4 4 0  5 4 0
Clemson 2 2 0  5 3 1
Alabama 3 4 1  5 4 1
LSU 2 3 1  4 4 1
Mississippi A&M 2 3 0  5 3 0
Washington and Lee 2 3 0  4 4 1
VPI 2 3 0  5 4 0
Maryland 2 3 0  4 7 0
South Carolina 2 4 0  4 5 0
VMI 2 4 0  6 4 0
Tulane 2 5 1  2 5 1
North Carolina 2 5 0  4 6 0
Sewanee 1 4 0  2 6 0
Kentucky 1 5 0  3 6 1
Auburn 0 6 1  0 7 2
  • + Conference co-champions

Before the season

Robert Neyland was hired to coach Tennessee in 1926 by Nathan Dougherty with the explicit goal to "even the score with Vanderbilt", and had his first great team in 1927.[1]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResult
September 24Carson–Newman*W 33–0
October 1at North CarolinaW 26–0
October 8Maryville*
  • Shields–Watkins Field
  • Knoxville, TN
W 7–0
October 15Ole Miss
  • Shields–Watkins Field
  • Knoxville, TN
W 21–7
October 22Transylvania*
  • Shields–Watkins Field
  • Knoxville, TN
W 57–0
October 29Virginia
  • Shields–Watkins Field
  • Knoxville, TN
W 42–0
November 5Sewanee
  • Shields–Watkins Field
  • Knoxville, TN
W 32–12
November 12Vanderbilt
  • Shields–Watkins Field
  • Knoxville, TN (rivalry)
T 7–7
November 24at KentuckyW 20–0
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming

[2]

Season summary

CarsonNewman

In the season opener, Tennessee beat in-state opponent CarsonNewman 330.

North Carolina

In the second week of play, Tennessee defeated UNC 26–0. The starting lineup was Lowe (left end), McArthur (left tackle), F. Johnson (left guard), Butcher (center), Burgers (right guard), Hundley (right tackle), Alley (right end), Elmore (quarterback), Derryberry (left halfback), Witt (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).[3]

Maryville

The Vols beat the Maryville Scots 70.

Ole Miss

Tennessee had an easy 217 victory over the Ole Miss Rebels, weakening in the last quarter for the first touchdown scored on the Vols. Passes from Witt and runs by Dodson got Tennessee's scores.[4]

The starting lineup was McKeen (left end), McArthur (left tackle), Barnhill (left guard), Butcher (center), Tripp (right guard), Elliott (right tackle), Alley (right end), Elmore (quarterback), Derryberry (left halfback), Witt (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).[5]

Transylvania

The season's fifth shutout, Tennessee beat Transylvania 420.

Virginia

The Volunteers beat the Virginia Cavaliers 42–0. The starting lineup was McKeen (left end), McArthur (left tackle), Barnhill (left guard), Butcher (center), Tripp (right guard), Elliott (right tackle), Alley (right end), Elmore (quarterback), Derryberry (left halfback), Witt (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).[6]

Sewanee

Tennessee beat Sewanee 32–12. The starting lineup was McKeen (left end), McArthur (left tackle), Barnhill (left guard), Butcher (center), Tripp (right guard), H. Johnson (right tackle), Alley (right end), Tudor (quarterback), Derryberry (left halfback), Witt (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).[7]

Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt at Tennessee
1 234Total
Vanderbilt 0 007 7
Tennessee 0 007 7

McGugin's Commodores led 70 until a late Dick Dodson run tied the score.[8] "After the game McGugin questioned each of his players as to his whereabouts during the run. Without exception the players claimed that two men had blocked them. McGugin shrugged. "Well, we'll just protest the play. It's perfectly obvious that Tennessee had twenty-two men on the field."[8]

Vanderbilt center Vernon Sharpe arguably had the better season, but was outperformed by Tennessee's Elvin Butcher.[9] The starting lineup was McKeen (left end), McArthur (left tackle), Barnhill (left guard), Butcher (center), Tripp (right guard), H. Johnson (right tackle), Alley (right end), Elmore (quarterback), Derryberry (left halfback), Witt (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).[10]

Kentucky

To close the season, the Volunteers shutout the Kentucky Wildcats 200. The starting lineup was McKeen (left end), McArthur (left tackle), Barnhill (left guard), Butcher (center), Tripp (right guard), H. Johnson (right tackle), Alley (right end), Elmore (quarterback), Witt (left halfback), Derryberry (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).[11]

Postseason

Coach Alexander of Tech wrote Neyland to accept a co-championship, and no Pickens Cup was awarded.[12]

Players

Line

Number Player Position Games
started
Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
29George Abernathycenter
41Scott Aldenguard
25Herc Alleyend
24John BarnhillguardSavannah, Tennessee175
34Ed Burgessguard
23Elvin ButchercenterKnoxville, Tennessee184
32Joe Bybeeend
40Frank Elliotttackle
37Jim Finneycenter
53Ben Fullerguard
44Louis Greentackle
54Houston Herndonend
30Hobart Hooserguard
35Bo Hundleytackle
46Xen Hunttackle
20Farmer Johnsonguard
22Howard Johnsontackle
33Ted Loweend
18Dave McArthurtackle
26Allyn McKeenend
36Harry Meyerend
27Arthur Trippguard
43George Wiggscenter

Backfield

Number Player Position Games
started
Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
15E. Derryberryhalfback
13Dick Dodsonfullback180
52Jimmy Dykeshalfback
12Jimmy Elmorequarterback
16Amos Hornerfullback
51Clyde Keltnerhalfback
49Carl Reischlinghalfback
21Amos Trotterhalfback
19Vincent Tudorquarterback
14Roy Witthalfback
17Ed Younghalfback

[13]

References

  • Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. 3.
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