1927 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team

1927 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football
SoCon co-champion
Conference	Southern Conference
1927 record	8–1–1 (7–0–1 SoCon)
Head coach	William Alexander (8th year)
Assistant coach	Don Miller
Assistant coach	Bill Fincher
Offensive scheme	Jump shift
Captain	Ed Crowley
Home stadium	Grant Field
Uniform

1927 Southern Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		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	3	–	5	–	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

The 1927 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team^{[note 1]} represented the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado of the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1927 college football season. A member of the Southern Conference (SoCon), Georgia Tech was coached by William Alexander in his 8th year as head coach, compiling a record of 8–1–1 (7–0–1 SoCon) and outscoring opponents 125 to 39. Georgia Tech played its home games at Grant Field.

In what was considered the best Georgia Tech season since 1918,^[3] the Tornado shared the SoCon title with the Tennessee Volunteers and NC State Wolfpack. Tech clinched the SoCon in the season's final game: upsetting rival Georgia's previously undefeated "dream and wonder team" which was nonetheless picked as a national champion by some selectors.^[4] Coach Alexander notably instituted "The Plan" to beat the rival Bulldogs; for weeks saving his regulars for practice.^[5]

The Tornado also upset the Alabama Crimson Tide, handing the Tide their first loss in over two seasons. One researcher ranks Tech as the year's best Southern defense.^[6] Tech suffered its only loss to Notre Dame, and held Vanderbilt to a scoreless tie.

Before the season

Tech was coming off the weakest season in coach William Alexander's tenure.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
October 1		VMI	Grant Field • Atlanta, GA	W 7–0	17,000
October 8		Tulane	Grant Field • Atlanta, GA	W 13–6
October 15		Alabama	Grant Field • Atlanta, GA	W 13–0	25,000
October 22		North Carolina	Grant Field • Atlanta, GA	W 13–0
October 29	2:00 p. m.	at Notre Dame*	Carter Field • South Bend, IN	L 7–26	17,000
November 6		at Vanderbilt	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN	T 0–0
November 12		LSU	Grant Field • Atlanta, GA	W 23–0
November 19		Oglethorpe*	Grant Field • Atlanta, GA	W 19–7
November 24	2:00 p. m.	Auburn	Grant Field • Atlanta, GA	W 18–0
December 3	2:00 p. m.	No. 1 Georgia	Grant Field • Atlanta, GA	W 12–0	38,000
*Non-conference game.

^[7]

Season summary

Week 1: V. M. I.

Week 1: V. M. I. at Georgia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total V. M. I. 0 0 0 0 0 • Ga. Tech 0 0 7 0 7 Date: October 7 Location: Grant Field Atlanta, GA Game attendance: 17,000 Referee: Bill Streit Sources:[8]

To open the season, Tech defeated VMI 7–0.^[9] The Cadets played strongly for two quarters, but were near collapse by game's end.^[10] Al Barnes starred for VMI and Stumpy Thomason starred for Tech. "The V. M. I. team tried every brand of football they knew. But it was useless against the Tech defense and offense."^[8] The lone score came from Warner Mizell.^[8]

The starting lineup for Tech against V. M. I.: Crowley (left end), Thrash (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Smith (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Horn (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).^[8]

Week 2: Tulane

Week 2: Tulane at Georgia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total Tulane 0 6 0 0 6 • Ga. Tech 7 0 0 6 13 Date: October 8 Location: Grant Field Atlanta, GA Game attendance: 12,000 Game weather: Rain Referee: Arthur R. Hutchins Sources:[11][12]

On a sloppy, wet field, the Tornado beat Tulane 13–6 despite many publications calling the game a "toss-up".^[13] Tech's first score came after a fumble recovery when Stumpy Thomason scored. In the second quarter, Bill Banker "zigzagged through the entire Tech defense" for an 80-yard touchdown. Rain fell at halftime and for the entire third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Thomason had another, 10-yard touchdown.^[11]

On the 11th, 15,000 gathered at Grant Field to pay tribute to Charles Lindbergh.^[14]

The starting lineup for Tech against Tulane: Crowley (left end), Watkins (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Rusk (center), Drennon (right guard), Speer (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).^[15]

Week 3: Alabama

Week 3: Alabama at Georgia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 • Ga. Tech 0 7 0 6 13 Date: October 15 Location: Grant Field Atlanta, GA Game attendance: 25,000 Referee: Birch (Chicago) Sources:[16]

In the biggest upset of the young Southern Conference season,^[16] Georgia Tech defeated Wallace Wade's defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide 13–0. The loss snapped Alabama's 24-game unbeaten streak. Alabama's line was exceptionally heavy, averaging some 200 pounds.^[16]

Alabama had the upperhand in the first quarter, advancing the ball steadily to Tech's 14-yard line before being stopped on downs.^[16] The Jackets tipped the scale with a drive in the second quarter, highlighted by a 30-yard touchdown run by Stumpy Thomason.^[16] After a scoreless, see-sawing second half, the last touchdown was scored by Warner Mizell in the final minute.^[16]

The starting lineup for Tech against Alabama: Crowley (left end), Thrash (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).^[16]

Week 4: North Carolina

Week 4: North Carolina at Georgia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total UNC 0 0 0 0 0 • Ga. Tech 0 7 0 6 13 Date: October 22 Location: Grant Field Atlanta, GA Referee: Hoban (Dartmouth) Sources:[17]

In the fourth week of play, Tech defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 13–0. Tech's defensive line had a stellar game, several times thwarting the Tar Heel as it approached the goal.^[17] The first touchdown came in the second quarter, after a drive using fullback Randolph on several line plunges. A lateral pass sent captain Ed Crowley over for the score. In the fourth quarter, Stumpy Thomason had a 75-yard touchdown.^[17]

The starting lineup for Tech against North Carolina: Bullard (left end), Watkins (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Ruck (center), Martin (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Schulman (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Fitzgerald (right halfback), Devaughn (fullback).^[17]

Week 5: at Notre Dame

Week 5: Georgia Tech at Notre Dame

1 2 3 4 Total Ga. Tech 0 0 0 7 7 • Notre Dame 0 6 13 7 26 Date: October 29 Location: Carter Field South Bend, IN Game attendance: 17,000 Sources:[18]

At Carter Field, Knute Rockne's Notre Dame Fighting Irish easily defeated Georgia Tech 26–7^[19] in one of the season's most important clashes.^[20] "Had Rockne willed it the score might have doubled;"^[21] and "only the able punting of Mizell...prevented a greater victory for the Irish."^[18]

Rockne started the game with substitutes, and sent in his regulars to start the second quarter.^[22] A 12-yard off-tackle run, a 25-yard pass, and an 11-yard gain on a double pass preceded a touchdown.^[18] The Irish led just 6–0 at the half. In the second half the Irish poured it on; the lone score from Tech was by Stumpy Thomason after a blocked Irish punt.^[18]

The starting lineup for Tech against Notre Dame: Crowley (left end), Hood (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Watkins (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Thomason (left halfback), Mizell (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).^[22]

Week 6: at Vanderbilt

Week 6: Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt

1 2 3 4 Total Ga. Tech 0 0 0 0 0 Vanderbilt 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 6 Location: Dudley Field Nashville, TN Game weather: Wet

A wet field and a strong defense, ranked by one researcher as best in the South,^[6] helped Tech reassert itself and held the Vanderbilt Commodores to a scoreless tie, despite the Commodores having the upperhand in play.^[23]

With the recent loss to Notre Dame, Tech had been overshadowed before the game by rival Georgia and its national championship bid. A strong game had been predicted, showcasing each team's backfield stars in Stumpy Thomason of Tech and Bill Spears of Vanderbilt.^[3] The high-flying attack of quarterback Spears led one writer to say Vandy produced "almost certainly the legit top Heisman candidate in Spears, if there had been a Heisman Trophy to award in 1927."^[6]

The starting lineup for Tech against Vanderbilt: Crowley (left end), Thrash (left tackle), Drennon (left guard), Pund (center), Martin (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).^[24]

Week 7: LSU

Week 7: LSU at Georgia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total LSU 0 0 0 0 0 • Ga. Tech 0 3 7 13 23 Date: November 13 Location: Grant Field Atlanta, GA Referee: Powell (Wisconsin)

Starting the game with second-string men only to send them in later and add 20 points, Tech crushed coach Mike Donahue's LSU Tigers 23–0. "The game was devoid of thrills".^[25] The first touchdown came late in the third quarter, when Randolph scored behind right tackle.^[25]

The starting lineup for Tech against LSU: Bullard (left end), Thrash (left tackle), Lillard (left guard), Rusk (center), Westbrook (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Holland (right end), Smith (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Horn (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).^[26]

Week 8: Oglethorpe

The Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels led the Tornado through three quarters 7–6, threatening to upset Tech just as it had last year, but Tech managed to survive the scare by pulling ahead 19–7 in the final quarter. Warner Mizell saved the day with two touchdowns.^[27]

Week 9: Auburn

Week 9: Auburn at Georgia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total Auburn 0 0 0 0 0 • Ga. Tech 6 0 12 0 18 Date: November 27 Location: Grant Field Atlanta, GA Game attendance: 15,000 Referee: Jack Black (Davidson) Sources:[28]

Tech easily beat the Auburn Tigers 18–0. Auburn did not win a game all year. Stumpy Thomason went over the line for the first score In the second half, Tech played its first string minus Thomason, and Tech scored two more touchdowns. Warner Mizell ran off tackle for 50 yards for the first, and had a 1-yard run for the second.^[28]

The starting lineup for Tech against Auburn: Bullard (left end), Hood (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Rusk (center), Lillard (right guard), Thrash (right tackle), Holland (right end), Smith (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), Oltz (fullback).^[28]

Week 10: Georgia

Week 10: Georgia at Georgia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total Georgia 0 0 0 0 0 • Ga. Tech 0 6 6 0 12 Date: December 3 Location: Grant Field Atlanta, GA Game attendance: 38,000 Referee: Gardner (Cornell) Sources:[29][30]

Georgia Tech faced the undefeated and top-ranked in-state rival Georgia Bulldogs for the conference crown. The Bulldogs were known as the "Dream and Wonder team" and gave Yale its only loss. In the rain, Tech won 12–0. For the first time this year, neither of Georgia's ends Tom Nash nor Shiver played particularly well.^[31]

Prior to the game, Coach Alexander instituted "The Plan," splitting his team into two squads and playing mostly reserves for four weeks. The regulars practiced for the upcoming Georgia contest.^[5] Grant Field was expected to be filled to capacity, the largest crowd ever in the south.^[32] One account read "And never in the history of athletics in the Southland has there been an occasion so momentous as this. The football championship of the South and as some may justifiably figure, the nation, will be decided on Saturday in the capital city and native sons will decide it."^[33]

Tech's first touchdown came on a pass from Warner Mizell to quarterback Bob Durant. The second one came shortly after Stumpy Thomason returned an interception 57 yards to Georgia's 22-yard line.^[29][30] Thomason scored on a 13-yard end run.^[30]

The starting lineup for Tech against Georgia: Crowley (left end), Watkins (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Speer (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Read (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).^[30]

Post season

The defeat of Georgia netted Tech the Southern title.^[34][35] Several Tech players received postseason honors. Tackle Frank Speer, Center Peter Pund, and Halfbacks Warner Mizell and Stumpy Thomason were all selected All-Southern.

Personnel

Depth chart

The following chart depicts Tech's lineup during the 1927 season with games started at the position shown in parenthesis. The chart mimics the offense after the jump shift has taken place.

LE Ed Crowley Bullard Glenn Holland LT LG C RG RT Coot Watkins Joe Westbrook Peter Pund Raleigh Drennon Hood Ken Thrash Martin Seedy Rusk Joe Kent Coot Watkins Frank Speer Geo. Muse RE Frank Waddey P. Von Weller Slick Keener QB Bob Durant Izzy Schulman RHB Stumpy Thomason Fite Fitzgerald Read Shorty Smith Russ Russell FB Bob Randolph Devaughn LHB Warner Mizell Parham Jimmie Frink Sleepy Faisst Bob Horn

Roster

Line

Number	Player	Position	Games started	Hometown	Prep school	Height	Weight	Age
14	Bullard	End
42	Ed Crowley	End		Watkinsville, Georgia		6'1"	180	21
51	Raleigh Drennon	Guard		Atlanta, Georgia		5'10"	187	20
9	Glenn Holland	End		Atlanta, Georgia		5'11"	170	19
2	Hood	Tackle
49	Slick Keener	End		Gadsden, Alabama		5'10"	181	20
63	Joe Kent	Guard
66	Martin	Guard
50	Geo Muse	Center
71	Peter Pund	Center		Augusta, Georgia	Richmond Academy	6'0"	182	20
37	Seedy Rusk	Center		Atlanta, Georgia		6'0"	179	20
17	Frank Speer	Tackle		Atlanta, Georgia		6'0"	204	19
41	Ken Thrash	Tackle		Orlando, Florida		5'10"	190	21
33	Phil Von Weller	End		Albany, Georgia		6'0"	178	19
52	Frank Waddey	End		Memphis, Tennessee		5'10"	184	22
65	Coot Watkins	Tackle		Atlanta, Georgia		6'0"	199	19
61	Joe Westbrook	Guard		Moultrie, Georgia		5'11"	180	22

Backfield

Number	Player	Position	Games started	Hometown	Prep school	Height	Weight	Age
40	DeVaughn	Fullback
29	Bob Durant	Quarterback		Bluefield, West Virginia		5'9"	161	19
28	Sleepy Faisst	Halfback		Little Rock, Arkansas		5'10"	160	19
25	Fite Fitzgerald	Halfback		Jackson, Tennessee		5'10"	164	19
13	Jimmie Frink	Halfback
38	Bob Horn	Halfback
72	Warner Mizell	Halfback		Atlanta, Georgia	Miami Senior High	5'10"	170	19
60	Parham	Halfback
30	Bob Randolph	Fullback		Atlanta, Georgia		5'10"	176	20
11	Read	Halfback
10	Russ Russell	Halfback
64	Izzy Shulman	Quarterback		Jackson, Tennessee		5'8"	155	19
26	Shorty Smith	Halfback		Cartersville, Georgia		5'7"	153	20
35	Stumpy Thomason	Halfback		Atlanta, Georgia		5'8"	174	19

Unlisted

Number	Player
1	Heeke
4	Largen
7	Queen
8	Diekman
12	Sprick
15	Jetton
22	Alexander
27	Lewis
36	Lillard
44	Oltz
45	Gaston
46	Bunch
53	Schwartz
55	Sloan

^[12]

See also

• 1927 Southern Conference football season
• 1927 College Football All-Southern Team
• 1927 College Football All-America Team

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]

Endnotes

1. Van Brimmer & Rice 2011, p. 147
2. "Golden Tornadoes". Retrieved January 28, 2015.
3. "Star Backs Promise Battle When Vandy Meets Georgia Tech". The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times. p. 4. Retrieved March 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
4. e. g. Clyde Berryman. "QPRS American College Football National Champions (1920-2013)" (PDF).
5. Van Brimmer 2006, p. 26
6. Mark Purcell (November 1988). "Spears and Vandy excitement in 1927" (PDF). College Football Historical Society. 2 (1).
7. "1927 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Schedule and Results".
8. H. D. Anastasas (October 7, 1927). "V. M. I. Cadets No Match For Alexander's Fighting Jackets" (PDF). The Technique. p. 4.
9. "Ga. Tech Triumphs Over V.M.I.". The Cadet. 21 (2). October 3, 1927.
10. "V. M. I. Is Licked By Georgia Tech". Kingsport Times. October 2, 1927. p. 2. Retrieved April 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Georgia Tech Downs Tulane On Wet Field". The Anniston Star. October 8, 1927. p. 16. Retrieved March 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Georgia Tech Football Program; Tulane vs. Georgia Tech".
13. "'Bama Strings Red Line Across Field In Front of LSU". The Index-Journal. October 8, 1927. p. 4. Retrieved March 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
14. https://smartech.gatech.edu/bitstream/handle/1853/33525/1927-10-14_17_03.pdf?sequence=1
15. "Yellow Jackets Defeat Green Wave 13-6" (PDF). The Technique. October 14, 1927. p. 4.
16. C. E. Wilson (October 16, 1927). "'Bama Takes First Defeat In 3 Seasons". The Anniston Star. p. 8. Retrieved October 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Jackets Take 13 to 0 Victory Over TarHeels". The Anniston Star. October 23, 1927. p. 8. Retrieved March 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
18. Frank Getty (October 30, 1927). "Notre Dame Wins Easily Over Tornado". The Anniston Star. p. 8. Retrieved March 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "The Fighting Irish Football Encyclopedia".
20. "Notre-Georgia Tech Game Attracts Interest". The Evening News. October 26, 1927. p. 20. Retrieved March 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
21. "Notre Dame Crushes Georgia Tech Eleven". The Daily Journal-Gazette. October 31, 1927. p. 5. Retrieved October 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
22. Frank Getty (October 29, 1927). "Rockne's Team To Give Its Best In Georgia Battle". The News-Herald. p. 9. Retrieved October 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
23. "In the South". The Waco News-Tribune. November 7, 1927. p. 2. Retrieved March 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
24. "Jackets and Vandy Fight To Tie, 0-0" (PDF). The Technique. November 11, 1927. p. 4.
25. "Georgia Tech Smashes Way To Victory". Anniston Star. November 13, 1927. p. 10. Retrieved March 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
26. "Second Varsity Displays Wares in 23-0 Victory" (PDF). The Technique. November 18, 1927. p. 4.
27. "Petrels In Lead For 3 Periods, But Lose 19 to 7". The Index-Journal. p. 7. Retrieved March 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
28. "Mizell Speeds Sixty Yards To Touchdown" (PDF). The Technique. 17 (9). November 25, 1927.
29. Patrick Garbin. About Them Dawgs!: Georgia Football's Memorable Teams and Players. p. 44.
30. "Biggest Upset of Southern Conference Spoils 'U' Mark". Oakland Tribune. December 4, 1927. p. 33. Retrieved July 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
31. "All-American Debate Boils Over Nation". The Bismarck Tribune. December 7, 1927. p. 8. Retrieved July 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
32. "Georgia 11 Meets Ancient Tech Foes". Ironwood Daily Globe. December 3, 1927. p. 5. Retrieved August 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
33. Lawrence Perry (December 2, 1927). "Georgia and Georgia Tech Clash in Annual Grid Classic". Oakland Tribune. p. 43. Retrieved July 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
34. "Georgia Tech Slides Into Southern Title By Whipping Georgia". The Springfield Leader. December 4, 1927. p. 16. Retrieved March 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
35. Alan J. Gould (December 4, 1927). "Tornado Rises To Conference Honors By Win". Sarasota Herald Tribune.

References

• Van Brimmer, Adam (2006). Stadium Stories: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Guilford, CT: Insiders' Guide. ISBN 978-0-7627-4020-8.
• Van Brimmer, Adam; Rice, Homer (2011). 100 Things Yellow Jackets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die. Chicago: Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-61749-703-2.