1925 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team

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1925 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
1925 record6–2–1 (4–1–1 SoCon)
Head coach
Offensive schemeJump shift
CaptainDoug Wycoff
Home stadiumGrant Field
Uniform
20sgatechuniform.png
Seasons
← 1924
1926 →
1925 Southern Conference football standings
  • v
  • t
 Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Alabama + 7 – 0 – 0 10 – 0 – 0
Tulane + 5 – 0 – 0 9 – 0 – 1
North Carolina 4 – 0 – 1 7 – 1 – 1
Washington and Lee 5 – 1 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Virginia 4 – 1 – 1 7 – 1 – 1
Georgia Tech 4 – 1 – 1 6 – 2 – 1
Kentucky 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Florida 3 – 2 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
Auburn 3 – 2 – 1 5 – 3 – 1
VPI 3 – 3 – 1 5 – 3 – 2
Vanderbilt 3 – 3 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Tennessee 2 – 2 – 1 5 – 2 – 1
South Carolina 2 – 2 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
Georgia 2 – 4 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Sewanee 1 – 4 – 0 4 – 4 – 1
Mississippi A&M 1 – 4 – 0 3 – 4 – 1
VMI 1 – 5 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
LSU 0 – 2 – 1 5 – 3 – 1
NC State 0 – 4 – 1 3 – 5 – 1
Ole Miss 0 – 4 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Clemson 0 – 4 – 0 1 – 7 – 0
Maryland 0 – 4 – 0 2 – 5 – 1
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1925 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team[note 1] represented the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado of the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1925 Southern Conference football season. The Tornado was coached by William Alexander in his sixth year as head coach, compiling a record of 6–2–1. The team was captained by Doug Wycoff. It had one of the best defenses in school history.[3]

The team most notably beat Penn State. It suffered losses to national champion Alabama and the defending national champion Notre Dame Fighting Irish. It also had a surprise tie with rival Auburn.

Before the season[]

1925 saw the south's widespread use of the forward pass.[4] Coach William Alexander was a Heisman protege and utilized his "jump shift". Don Miller of Four Horsemen fame assisted Alexander in the backfield, and former star Tech tackle Bill Fincher assisted with the line.[3]

Triple threat Doug Wycoff, mentioned for All-American by at the end of last year,[5] was elected captain of the 1925 team, having been "the outstanding back of the South for the past two years."[6][7] Coach Alexander called him "the best player ever to wear a cleat for Georgia Tech."[3]

Schedule[]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 26Oglethorpe*
W 13–7
October 3VMI
  • Grant Field
  • Atlanta, GA
W 33–0[8]
October 10vs. Penn State*
  • Yankee Stadium
  • Bronx, NY
W 16–78,000
October 17Florida
  • Grant Field
  • Atlanta, GA
W 23–7
October 24Alabama
  • Grant Field
  • Atlanta, GA
L 7–020,000
October 31Notre Dame*
  • Grant Field
  • Atlanta, GA
L 13–0
November 7Vanderbilt
  • Dudley Field
  • Nashville, TN (rivalry)
W 7–0
November 14Georgia
W 3–035,000
November 26Auburn
T 7–7
  • *Non-conference game

[9]

Season summary[]

Week 1: Oglethorpe[]

Week 1: Oglethorpe at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
Oglethorpe 0 007 7
• Ga. Tech 0 607 13
  • Date: September 26
  • Location: Grant Field
    Atlanta, GA

Sources:[10]

The season opened with a 13–7 defeat of Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) champion Oglethorpe.[note 2] Neither team scored in the first quarter, but in the second Wycoff went over for a 4-yard touchdown. The second Tech score came in the final quarter, when Carter Barron ran it in from 6 yards out following a long drive. A forward pass, Walsh to Campbell, got Oglethorpe's touchdown.[10]

The starting lineup was Merkle (left end), Tharpe (left tackle), Godwin (left guard), Poole (center), Forrester (right guard), Carpenter (right tackle), Marshall (right end), Williams (quarterback), Barron (left halfback), Wycoff (right halfback), S. Murray (fullback).[11]

Week 2: V. M. I.[]

Week 2: V. M. I. at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
V. M. I. 0 000 0
• Ga. Tech 0 71412 33
  • Date: October 3
  • Location: Grant Field
    Atlanta, GA
  • Referee: Jogger Elcock

Sources:[5]

Tech beat VMI 33–0. In the second quarter, a pass from Murray to Wycoff added 24 yards. Carter Barron got it in from the 1-yard line some plays later.[5] The next touchdown drive was highlighted by a 34-yard touchdown run. Murray scored yet another touchdown.[5] A 26-yard pass was caught by Johnny Marshall, and Tech drove down to the 1-yard line when the final quarter started.[5] Ike Williams went across for a touchdown. With substitutes in the backfield for most of the final period, John Brewer scored a touchdown on another triple pass play,[3] this time from the 6-yard line.[5]

The starting lineup was Irwin (left end), Tharpe (left tackle), Godwin (left guard), Poole (center), Forrester (right guard), Carpenter (right tackle), Marshall (right end), Williams (quarterback), Barron (left halfback), Wycoff (right halfback), S. Murray (fullback).[5]

Week 3: vs. Penn State[]

Week 3: Georgia Tech at Penn State
1 234Total
• Ga. Tech 0 079 16
Penn St. 0 700 7
  • Date: October 10
  • Location: Yankee Stadium
    Bronx, NY
  • Game attendance: 8,000
  • Game weather: Wind
  • Referee: C. J. McCarty (Germantown)

Sources:[12]

The third week brought the highlight of the year — a defeat of Hugo Bezdek's previously undefeated Penn State Nittany Lions 16–7 in a howling wind in Yankee Stadium.[12][13] Tech utilized its shift on nearly every play.[14] Penn State scored first after a punt by Doug Wycoff into the wind gave them the ball at Tech's 30-yard line. From here, Penn State threw a forward pass from a cross buck formation. Dangerfield shook off three tacklers on his way to the goal just as the half ended.[12]

A similar thing happened to start the second half and give Tech its score. Penn State's Gray got off a bad punt into the wind, nearly over his own goal line.[12] Using its shift to perfection,[15] Wycoff eventually got over the tying touchdown. After a fumble recovery,[16] an 80-yard drive utilizing Wycoff and Sam Murray[17] ended in a Carter Barron touchdown for the third score. After an interception, Ike Williams also added a 25-yard field goal.[12][17]

The starting lineup was Marshall (left end), Tharpe (left tackle), Godwin (left guard), Poole (center), Forrester (right guard), Carpenter (right tackle), Merkle (right end), Williams (quarterback), Wycoff (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), S. Murray (fullback).[12]

Week 4: Florida[]

Week 4: Florida at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
Florida 0 070 7
• Ga. Tech 7 3130 23
  • Date: October 17
  • Location: Grant Field
    Atlanta, GA

Sources:[18]

Tech beat Florida 23–7. The Gators made just five first downs to Tech's 15.[18]

Doug Wycoff scored two touchdowns. Wycoff scored first, and Ike Williams added the extra point. In the second period, Williams made a 12-yard field goal. Wycoff and Sam Murray scored in the third period, with one extra point converted by Williams.[18][19][20]

The starting lineup was Merkle (left end), Carpenter (left tackle), Forrester (left guard), Poole (center), Godwin (right guard), Tharpe (right tackle), Marshall (right end), Williams (quarterback), Wycoff (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), S. Murray (fullback).[18]

Week 5: Alabama[]

Week 5: Alabama at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
• Alabama 0 070 7
Ga. Tech 0 000 0
  • Date: October 24
  • Location: Grant Field
    Atlanta, GA
  • Game attendance: 20,000
  • Game weather: Wet

Sources:[21]

The national champion Alabama Crimson Tide beat Georgia Tech 7–0 on a Johnny Mack Brown punt return for a touchdown.[22] Pooley Hubert cleared two Tech players out of the way.[23] "Hubert played the greatest game of his career and was called the greatest defensive back ever to appear on Grant Field". Tech turned the ball over on downs at the Alabama 28 and again at the Alabama 21.[21] Star tackle Six Carpenter was injured.[24] Tech was the only team all year to rush for more yardage and gain more first downs than Alabama.[3]

The starting lineup was Merkle (left end), Tharpe (left tackle), Godwin (left guard), Poole (center), Forrester (right guard), Carpenter (right tackle), Marshall (right end), Williams (quarterback), Wycoff (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), S. Murray (fullback).[22]

Week 6: Notre Dame[]

Week 6: Notre Dame at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
• Notre Dame 6 700 13
Ga. Tech 0 000 0
  • Date: October 31
  • Location: Grant Field
    Atlanta, GA
  • Game attendance: 10,000
  • Game weather: Cold rain
  • Referee: Frank Birch

Sources:[25]

Resembling its old form,[26] Knute Rockne's defending national champion Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated Georgia Tech 13–0. The game was played in a cold rain,[27] and Tech played its substitutes aside from Walt Godwin.[26][28] All scores were made in the first half.[28]

An interception by Red Edwards set up the first score.[25] Christie Flanagan was the star for the Irish.[26]

The starting lineup was Irwin (left end), Hood (left tackle), Godwin (left guard), Elliott (center), Angley (right guard), Hearn (right tackle), Crowley (right end), Morse (quarterback), Connelly (left halfback), Brewer (right halfback), Holland (fullback).[25]

Week 7: at Vanderbilt[]

Week 7: Vanderbilt at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
Vanderbilt 0 000 0
• Ga. Tech 0 007 7
  • Date: November 7
  • Location: Grant Field
    Atlanta, GA
  • Referee: Ed Finlay

Sources:[29]

Describing the most spectacular play he ever saw, coach William Alexander cites one from the 1925 game against the Vanderbilt Commodores. Wycoff was hurt, such that he elected to use his substitute Dick Wright with only minutes to go in the game. On a muddy field, Wright ran off tackle and dodged Vanderbilt's safety Gil Reese, "usually a sure tackler," to get the touchdown with a run to give Tech a 7–0 victory.[29] The yearbook remarked, Wright "should have run for governor of Georgia right after he ran 56 yards against Vandy."[3]

The starting lineup was Merkle (left end), Tharpe (left tackle), Godwin (left guard), Poole (center), Forrester (right guard), Cooper (right tackle), Marshall (right end), Williams (quarterback), Wycoff (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), S. Murray (fullback)[30]

Week 8: Georgia[]

Week 8: Georgia at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
Georgia 0 000 0
• Ga. Tech 0 030 3
  • Date: November 14
  • Location: Grant Field
    Atlanta, GA
  • Game attendance: 35,000
  • Referee: Gardner (Big Ten)

Sources:[31]

Rivals Georgia and Georgia Tech met for the first time since 1916.[3] Quarterback Ike Williams thought the game clock read five seconds remaining in the third quarter when in actuality it was five minutes. Williams set up his offense for a field goal and kicked it to put Tech up 3–0 on first down. Luckily for Williams, Tech won 3–0.[32] Georgia tried all kinds of forward passes in desperation.[31]

Georgia end Smack Thompson would yell out in his sleep, and had said "Kill the SOB" in reference to Doug Wycoff leading up to the game. Once during the game, the two collided with each other, knocking each unconscious.[33]

The starting lineup was Merckle (left end), Tharpe (left tackle), Godwin (left guard), Poole (center), Forrester (right guard), Fair (right tackle), Marshall (right end), Williams (quarterback), Wycoff (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), S. Murray (fullback).[31]

Week 9: Auburn[]

Auburn surprised with a 7–7 tie in the final week.[34] Doug Wycoff scored Tech's touchdown.[35] Pea Green caught a 9-yard pass from Frank Tuxworth on Auburn's score, after a blocked Wycoff punt.[36]

Postseason[]

Awards and honors[]

Doug Wycoff

Doug Wycoff received 21 of a possible 32 first-team All-Southern selections of the Associated Press composite.[37] Center Owen Poole got six. Guard Walt Godwin also made some All-Southern teams,[38] and tackle Six Carpenter made second-team All-Southern for Norman E. Brown.[39]

Godwin was named to Knute Rockne's All-America team. Wycoff and end Gus Merkle made Billy Evans's "National Honor Roll."

Legacy[]

Coach Alexander recalled "The work of Douglas Wycoff against Notre Dame two years in succession was brilliant in the extreme, as was his plunging against Penn. State when we defeated them twice."[40] Morgan Blake, sports writer for the Atlanta Journal, said of an all-time All-Southern list: "It seems to us that one name is left out in this collection, who may have been the best all-around player the South has had.

"We have reference to Doug Wycoff of Tech who, for three straight years, was practically the unanimous all-Southern football choice, despite the fact that Georgia Tech had very lean years during his period of play at this institution. If Wycoff had been flanked by such a pair of halfbacks as Red Barron and Buck Flowers, or Thomason and Mizell while he was with the Jackets, he would have been an all-American. As it was he had to carry all of the offensive load and on the defense he was a wheelhorse. He was a great punter and passer. If Wycoff was not the best all-around player the South had produced then he was very close to the peak."[41]

Personnel[]

Depth chart[]

The following chart depicts Tech's lineup during the 1925 season with games started at the position shown in parenthesis. The chart mimics the offense after the jump shift has taken place.

LE
Gus Merkle (5)
Bull Irwin (2)
Johnny Marshall (1)
 
LT LG C RG RT
Mack Tharpe (6) Walt Godwin (6) Owen Poole (7) Wally Forrester (6) Six Carpenter (4)
Six Carpenter (1) Wally Forrester (1) Red Elliott (1) Tom Angley (1) Bus Cooper (1)
Papa Hood (1) Firpo Martin (0) Walt Godwin (1) Dick Fair (1)
Tiny Hearn (1)
Mack Tharpe (1)
RE
Johnny Marshall (6)
Ed Crowley (1)
Gus Merkle (1)
John Murray (0)
QB
Ike Williams (7)
Finley McRae (1)
John Brewer (0)
RHB
Carter Barron (5)
Doug Wycoff (2)
John Brewer (1)
FB
Sam Murray (7)
Ralph Holland (1)
LHB
Doug Wycoff (5)
Carter Barron (2)
Vaughan Connelly (1)
Dick Wright (0)

Lettermen[]

Line[]

Number Player Position Games
started 		Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
64 Tom Angley Guard 1 Baltimore, Maryland University School 5'8" 190 21
5 Six Carpenter Tackle 4 Newnan, Georgia
17 Bus Cooper Tackle 1
21 Ed Crowley End 1 Watkinsville, Georgia 6'1" 180 19
11 Red Elliott Center 1 Minnesota
53 Dick Fair Tackle 1 Atlanta, Georgia
15 Wally Forrester Guard 5 Leesburg, Georgia Gordon Institute
22 Gaston Tackle
36 Walt Godwin Guard 6 5'7" 200 27
23 Papa Hood Tackle 1 220
10 Tiny Hearn Tackle 1 GMA
49 Bull Irwin End 2 Atlanta, Georgia
3 John Lillard Guard
54 Johnny Marshall End 5 Jacksonville, Florida Duval High School 21
6 Firpo Martin Guard GMA
14 Gus Merkle End 3
12 John Murray End
13 Owen Poole Center 5 Boys High School 155
24 Mack Tharpe Tackle 4 Moultrie, Georgia 22
2 Ken Thrash Tackle Orlando, Florida 19

Backfield[]

Number Player Position Games
started 		Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
1 Carter Barron Halfback 6 Clarkesville, Georgia 20
19 John Brewer Quarterback, halfback 1 Griffin, Georgia 6'0" 185 19
33 Vaughan Connelly Halfback 1 Atlanta, Georgia
62 Ralph Holland Fullback 1 Atlanta, Georgia
12 Sam Murray Fullback 5
4 Finley McRae Quarterback
39 Ike Williams Quarterback 5 Little Rock, Arkansas Central H. S. 5'10" 180 22
70 Dick Wright Halfback Sumter, South Carolina
27 Doug Wycoff Halfback 8 Little Rock, Arkansas Central H. S. 6'2" 195 22

Substitutes[]

Unlisted[]

Number Player
18 Read
28 Williamson
34 Sprick
41 Kid Carson
42 Rauber
44 McDaniell
50 Jamieson
51 Diamond
81 Harlow
84 Ralph Bullard

[3][42]

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. ^ Tech was in the SIAA before 1922.

Endnotes[]

  1. ^ Van Brimmer & Rice 2011, p. 147
  2. ^ "Golden Tornadoes". Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Blue Print. 1926.
  4. ^ Schmidt, Raymond (2007-06-18). Shaping College Football. ISBN 9780815608868.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Golden Tornado Swamps Cadets". The Index-Journal. October 4, 1925. p. 6. Retrieved May 3, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  6. ^ "1925 Football Captains". The Stanford Daily. Vol. 68. October 27, 1925.
  7. ^ http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv11/CFHSNv11n3g.pdf[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Golden Tornado beats V.M.I. 33 to 0". The Courier-Journal. October 4, 1925. Retrieved December 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "1925 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Schedule and Results".
  10. ^ a b "Georgia Tech Opens Season With Victory". The Anniston Star. September 27, 1925. p. 8. Retrieved May 3, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  11. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 71
  12. ^ a b c d e f "Ga. Tech Easy Victory In Penn Battle At N. Y." Florence Morning News. p. 11. Retrieved April 29, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  13. ^ "Southerners, In Howling Gale, Beat Penn State, Until Now Undefeated". Waco News-Tribune. October 11, 1925. p. 13. Retrieved April 29, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  14. ^ Raymond Schmidt (2007). Shaping College Football: The Transformation of an American Sport, 1919-1930. Syracuse University Press. p. 90. ISBN 9780815608868.
  15. ^ George Trevor (October 11, 1925). "Penn State's Logy Team Stung By Swarming Horde of Yellowjackets". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 13. Retrieved April 29, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  16. ^ Ray Schmidt (1998). "The Golden Tornado" (PDF). College Football Historical Society. 11 (3): 15. Retrieved August 23, 2016.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ a b "Golden Tornado Sweeps Over Penn State 16 to 7 in A Hurricane". Anniston Star. October 11, 1925. p. 8. Retrieved April 29, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  18. ^ a b c d "Florida 'Gators Lose Hard Battle". The Index-Journal. October 18, 1925. p. 7. Retrieved September 4, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  19. ^ Universal Service (October 18, 1925). "Florida Beaten In Great Battle By Gold Tornado". St. Petersburg Times.
  20. ^ "Two Year Deadlock With Florida 'Gators Broken By Georgia Tech, 23 to 7". The Anniston Star. October 18, 1925. p. 8. Retrieved September 5, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  21. ^ a b 1925 Alabama recap
  22. ^ a b "Alabama Wins 7 to 0, Brown Scores In Third After Punt By Wycoff". Anniston Star. October 25, 1925. p. 10. Retrieved May 3, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  23. ^ Scott, Richard (2004). Legends of Alabama Football. ISBN 9781582612775.
  24. ^ http://www.phideltathetaarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/1925_vol50_no1-5.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  25. ^ a b c "Notre Dame Rushes 13-0 Win Over In First Half". The Decatur Herald. November 1, 1925. p. 23. Retrieved May 3, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  26. ^ a b c "Notre Dame "Comes Back"; Downs Georgia Tech, 13 To 0". Zanesville Times Signal. November 1, 1925. p. 13. Retrieved September 5, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  27. ^ "Notre Dame Battles Georgia Tech Eleven". The Evening News. October 31, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved April 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  28. ^ a b "Notre Dame Backs Skirt Jackets Ends To Win 13-0". The Technique. November 6, 1925. p. 4.[permanent dead link]
  29. ^ a b W. A. Alexander (1926). "Forty-Five Yards for Georgia Tech" (PDF). Kansas City Star. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-02-13. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  30. ^ "Golden Tornado Wins From Vandy". The Index-Journal. November 8, 1925. p. 6. Retrieved January 3, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  31. ^ a b c "Ike Williams Saves Day By Kick In Third". The Anniston Star. November 15, 1925. p. 8. Retrieved March 3, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  32. ^ "'Froggy' Started March of Great Quarterbacks", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, pp. 3B, September 10, 1933
  33. ^ Walsh, Christopher J. (2006-07-18). Where Football is King: A History of the SEC. ISBN 9781461734772.
  34. ^ Davis J. Walsh (November 27, 1925). "Wash. State And Ala. May Be Opponents". Journal Gazette. p. 7. Retrieved April 29, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  35. ^ "Jackets and Tigers Fight to 7-7 Score In Annual Thanksgiving Classic". The Technique. November 27, 1925.
  36. ^ Ed White (November 25, 1926). "Gleanings From Grant Field". The Technique.[permanent dead link]
  37. ^ "All Southern Grid Team Compiled By The Associated Press". Kingsport Times. November 30, 1925.
  38. ^ e. g. "All-Southern Team of Stars". Harrisburg Telegraph. November 28, 1925. p. 13. Retrieved March 3, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  39. ^ Norman E. Brown (December 5, 1925). "Flournoy Best Kicker; Hubert The Cleverest Field General". The Daily News. p. 3. Retrieved March 3, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  40. ^ W. A. Alexander (1926). "Forty-Five Yards for Georgia Tech" (PDF). Kansas City Star. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-02-13. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  41. ^ closed access "Famous Footballers". Times-Picayune. January 30, 1932.
  42. ^ "Technique [Volume 15, Issue 08]".

References[]

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