1909 VPI football team

1909 VPI football
Southern champion
Conference Independent
1909 record 6–1
Head coach Branch Bocock (1st year)
Captain Hoss Hodgson
Home stadium Miles Field

The 1909 VPI football team represented the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute in the 1909 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Branch Bocock, the team went 6–1 and claims a Southern championship.[1][2] Tech outscored its opponents 148 to 27. The starting lineup averaged 172 pounds.[3] This is the first season the team was referred to in print as the "Gobblers", and it became the official nickname in 1912.[2][4]

Schedule

Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance
October 2 Clemson* Miles Field • Blacksburg, VA W 6–0   -
October 13 at Princeton* University Field • Princeton, NJ L 6–8   -
October 23 at Richmond Broad Street Park • Richmond, VA W 52–0   1,500[5]
October 30 vs. Washington and Lee* Lynchburg, VA W 34–6   2,200[6]
November 6 3:30pm[7] vs. North Carolina Broad Street Park[7] • Richmond, VA W 15–0   2,000[8]
November 12[9] at George Washington Washington, D.C. W 17–8   -
November 25 2:30pm[10] vs. North Carolina A&M Athletic Park[11] • Norfolk, VA W 18–5   10,000[11]
*Non-conference game.

Players

The following players were members of the 1909 football team according to the roster published in the 1910 edition of The Bugle, the Virginia Tech yearbook.[13]

VPI 1909 roster
Quarterback
  • John Lepburn Hughes

Guards

Tackles

  • William Henry Burruss
  • Edward Raymond Norris

Center

  • Aubrey Gravatt Gibbs
 Ends
  • Thomas Paret Hicks
  • Joseph Talmage Luttrell

Halfbacks

  • Henry Evans Billups
  • Asbury Nathaniel Hodgson

Fullback

  • Vivian Burnett Hodgson
 Substitutes
  • Winston Bozel Davis
  • Frederick Hughes Legge
  • Caesar Pancratius Massei

Season summary

Clemson

Clemson at VPI
1 2Total
Clemson 0 0 0
• VPI 6 0 6
  • Date: October 6
  • Location: Miles Field
    Blacksburg, VA
  • Referee: Shaughnessy

VPI opened its season with the Clemson Tigers, winning 6–0. "Hughes, playing quarter for the first time, starred for V. P. I."[14] Hughes got the touchdown when he picked up a fumble.[14]

VPI's starting lineup against Clemson: Sharpe (left end), Jones (left tackle), E. Hodgson (left guard), Gibbs (center), Burrass (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Luttrell (right halfback), Leggs (fullback).[14]

at Princeton

VPI at Princeton
1 2Total
VPI 6 0 6
• Princeton 5 3 8

VPI's strongest showing came in the close loss to Princeton. In a game plagued by frigid weather conditions,[15] each side scored on a fumble.[16] Princeton's Logan Cunningham scored a touchdown in the first two minutes of play after a fumble on VPI's 10-yard line, and missed the extra point.[17] Later in the contest, a snap from center went over the Princeton quarterback's head, and Hoss Hodgson returned the lost fumble 50 yards for a touchdown.[18] Hodgson then made his own extra point. After leading 6 to 5 for some time, and only minutes left to play, Princeton's Cunningham made a drop kick to secure the 8 to 6 victory.[19]

VPI's starting lineup against Princeton: Luttrell (left end), Burruss (left tackle), Jones (left guard), Gibbes (center), E. Hodgson (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Billups (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback).[19]

at Richmond

VPI at Richmond
1 2Total
• VPI 29 23 52
Richmond 0 0 0

Sources:[20]

VPI rolled up the season's largest score on the Richmond Spiders, winning 52–0 and playing well on both sides of the ball, especially the offense.[20] The backfield starred in a game of conventional football.[20]

VPI's starting lineup against Richmond: A. Hodgson (left end), Burruss (left tackle), Pitts (left guard), Gibbes (center), E. Hodgson (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Billups (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback).[20]

Washington & Lee

VPI at Washington & Lee
1 2Total
• VPI 11 23 34
W&L 0 5 5
  • Date: October 30
  • Location: Lynchburg, VA
  • Game attendance: 2,200
  • Referee: Barry (Georgetown)

Sources:[21]

VPI "buried" the Washington & Lee Generals under a 34–5 score. Hughes' 65-yard touchdown run and Hoss Hodgson's punting and kicking featured.[21] Fullback Anderson starred for the Generals.[21] The big win was surprising.[21]

VPI's starting lineup against W&L: Luttrell (left end), Burruss (left tackle), Pitts (left guard), Gibbs (center), E. Hodgson (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Billups (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback).[21]

North Carolina

North Carolina at VPI
1 2Total
UNC 0 0 0
• VPI 6 9 15
  • Date: November 6
  • Location: Broad Street Park
    Richmond, VA
  • Game start: 3:30 p. m.
  • Game attendance: 2,000
  • Referee: Pat Barry (Georgetown)

Sources:[7][8]

Hodgson starred in a closely contested game between VPI and the Tar Heels, making a field goal in the second half to lead VPI to a 15–0 win.[8]

VPI's starting lineup against the Tar Heels: Luttrell (left end), Burruss (left tackle), Jones (left guard), Gibbs (center), E. Hodgson (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Legge (left halfback), A. Hodgson (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback).[7]

George Washington

VPI at George Washington
1 2Total
• VPI 11 6 17
GW 3 5 8

Sources:[22]

VPI won over the defending Southern champion George Washington Hatchetites in Washington, D. C. 17–8. Hodgson's punting again featured.[22] The weather was much better than last year.[9]

VPI's starting lineup against the Hatchetites: Luttrell (left end), Burruss (left tackle), E. Hodgson (left guard), Gibbs (center), Jones (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Billups (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback).[22]

North Carolina A&M

North Carolina A&M at VPI
1 2Total
N.C. A&M 0 5 5
• VPI 12 6 18
  • Date: November 25
  • Location: Athletic Park
    Norfolk, VA
  • Game start: 2:30 p. m.
  • Game attendance: 10,000
  • Referee: Myers (Harvard)

Sources:[11]

VPI defeated the North Carolina Aggies 18–5. Despite the 18–5 score, VPI had to play aggressively throughout.[11] The first score came twelve minutes into the first half, Vivian Hodgson going over.[11] Later, on a fake kick, Luttrell ran 30 yards around left end. The A&M squad followed Hoss Hodgson's helmet, which he tossed as if it were a kicked ball.[11]

The last touchdown came on a new trick play from coach Bocock, apparently similar to a statue of liberty play.[11] Vivian Hodgson prepared to pass, and Hughes took it out of his suspended hand and ran 75 yards for a touchdown.[11] North Carolina's Aggies showed fight in the second half.[11]

VPI's starting lineup against the Aggies: Luttrell (left end), Burruss (left tackle), Massie (left guard), Gibbs (center), E. Hodgson (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), A. Hodgson (left halfback), Billups (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback).[11]

Postseason

VPI claimed a Southern championship at year's end.[2]

References

  1. ↑ e. g. "VPI Southern Champions".
  2. 1 2 3 "Virginia Tech Historical Data Book".
  3. ↑ "Sidelines".
  4. ↑ "What is a Hokie?". University Relations, Virginia Tech. 2006.
  5. ↑ "Techs Pile Up Score of 52-0 Against Spiders". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Virginia. October 24, 1909. p. E1. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Virginia Tech Buries W. & L. By Large Score". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Virginia. October 31, 1909. p. E1. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Techs and Carolina Are Anxious for Game To-Day". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Virginia. November 6, 1909. p. 3. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 "V.P.I. Beats Carolina in Fiercely Fought Game". Daily Press. Library of Virginia. November 7, 1909. p. 6. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Techs Off to Play George Washington". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Virginia. November 12, 1909. p. 5. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  10. ↑ "V.P.I. -- A. & M. Game in Norfolk To-Day". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Virginia. November 25, 1909. p. 5. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "V.P.I. Wins From A. & M. In Great Struggle". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Virginia. November 26, 1909. p. 5. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  12. ↑ Virginia Tech Football Past Schedules "1909–1910". Virginia Tech Sports Information Department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed November 18, 2015.
  13. ↑ "The Bugle 1910" (PDF). Virginia Tech Bugle. 1910. p. 167. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
  14. 1 2 3 "Clemson Loses To Virginia Techs". Times Dispatch. October 3, 1909.
  15. ↑ "Football". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 14, 1909. p. 9. Retrieved December 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Drop-Kick Wins Again". Daily Princetonian. 34 (97). October 14, 1909.
  17. ↑ Associated Press (October 14, 1909). "V. P. I. Football Team Gives Princeton A Scare". Daily Press. 14 (23).
  18. ↑ "Princeton 8; Blacksburg 6". The Evening News. 20 (97). October 14, 1909.
  19. 1 2 "V. P. I. Team Gives Princeton A Scare". Times Dispatch. October 14, 1909.
  20. 1 2 3 4 "Techs Pile Up Score of 52-0 Against Spiders". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Virginia. October 24, 1909. p. E1. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 "Virginia Tech Buries W. & L. By Large Score". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Virginia. October 31, 1909. p. E1. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  22. 1 2 3 "V.P.I. Gets Revenge". The Washington Post. November 13, 1909. p. 8. Retrieved May 25, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
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