1912 Vanderbilt Commodores football
SIAA champion
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record8–1–1 (3–0–1 SIAA)
Head coach
Offensive schemeShort punt
CaptainLewie Hardage
Home stadiumDudley Field
1912 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Vanderbilt $ 3 –0 –18 –1 –1
Texas A&M 2 –0 –08 –1 –0
Kentucky State 1 –0 –07 –2 –0
Auburn 6 –1 –16 –1 –1
Georgia 5 –1 –16 –1 –1
Sewanee 2 –1 –25 –1 –2
Georgia Tech 5 –3 –05 –3 –1
Alabama 3 –3 –15 –3 –1
Tulane 3 –3 –05 –3 –0
Mississippi A&M 3 –3 –04 –3 –0
Clemson 3 –3 –04 –4 –0
Ole Miss 2 –2 –05 –3 –0
Mercer 2 –3 –15 –3 –1
LSU 2 –3 –04 –3 –0
Mississippi College 1 –4 –03 –4 –0
Florida 0 –2 –15 –2 –1
Centre 0 –2 –04 –5 –0
The Citadel 0 –3 –02 –4 –0
Tennessee 0 –4 –04 –4 –0
Howard (AL) 0 –4 –01 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1912 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the 1912 college football season. The 1912 season was Dan McGugin's ninth year as head coach. Members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA), the Commodores won their third straight conference title this year, posting an 8–1–1 win–loss–tie record (3–0–1 SIAA). The team played its home games at Dudley Field. It used the short punt formation as its offensive scheme.

Vanderbilt outscored its opponents 391–19. The team scored 100 points in each of the first two contests; the 105–0 victory over Bethel of Russellville, Kentucky was the largest in Vanderbilt history.[1] The team posted seven shutout victories, being scored upon in only three games. The team's only loss came to national champion Harvard. The Commodores also played to a tie with the Auburn Tigers.

Several players received postseason honors. Halfback and team captain Lewie Hardage was selected a third-team All-American by Walter Camp, the fourth player from the South ever to receive such recognition, and was a unanimous first-team All-Southern selection. Center Hugh Morgan, end Enoch Brown, tackle Tom Brown, fullback Ammie Sikes, and guard Herman Daves also received All-Southern recognition.

Before the season

Vanderbilt faced its hardest schedule to date.[2] The team lost several varsity letter winners to graduation, including quarterback Ray Morrison, tackle Ewing Y. Freeland, and guards Charles H. Brown and Will Metzger.[3][4] Aside from Morrison, Vanderbilt retained the rest of its backfield of the previous year, then voted best in the South by the Atlanta Constitution.[5] It included halfbacks Lew Hardage (the team's captain) and Wilson Collins and fullback Ammie Sikes.[2] Replacing Morrison at quarterback was renowned drop kicker Zach Curlin.[6]

The 1912 season saw the NCAA implement several rule changes to increase scoring. These included: the value of a touchdown increased from 5 points to 6, the length of the field was reduced to 100 yards, 10-yard end zones were added, the onside kick was eliminated, and unlimited use of the forward pass was introduced.[2]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 283:30 p.m.Bethel (KY)*
W 105–0
October 5Maryville (TN)*
  • Dudley Field
  • Nashville, TN
W 100–3
October 12Rose Poly*
  • Dudley Field
  • Nashville, TN
W 54–0
October 19at Georgia
W 46–04,500
October 26Ole Miss
  • Dudley Field
  • Nashville, TN (rivalry)
W 24–0
November 2Virginia*
  • Dudley Field
  • Nashville, TN
W 13–04,000
November 9at Harvard*
L 3–9
November 16Central University*
  • Dudley Field
  • Nashville, TN
W 23–0
November 23at Auburn
T 7–7
November 28Sewanee
  • Dudley Field
  • Nashville, TN (rivalry)
W 16–010,000
  • *Non-conference game
  • Source: sports-reference.com[7]
  • All times are in Central time

Game summaries

Bethel (KY)

The season started with the largest win in school history, a 105–0 victory over Bethel of Russellville, Kentucky. Future Vanderbilt star Josh Cody played for Bethel.[8]

The game began at 3:30 p.m. in pouring rain.[9][10] Wilson Collins began the scoring when he took a punt 45 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown.[11] Substitute quarterback Rabbi Robins was better suited to the mud than starter Zach Curlin.[11] At one point during the game, Robins returned a kick 70 yards for a touchdown.[11] Collins had five touchdowns, Enoch Brown three, Hardage, Robins and Morrison two each, and Reyer and Chester one each.[11]

The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Turner (left end), Covington (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Morgan (center), Huffman (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Curlin (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), and Sikes (fullback).[1]

Maryville (TN)

Maryville at Vanderbilt
1 234Total
Maryville 0 003 3
• Vanderbilt 27 162829 100

The Commodores then won by a 100–3 score against the Maryville Scots. Despite the first two games being like practice games, the large scores were a surprise, for in both the substitutes replaced the regulars by the second quarter.[13] Maryville's Badgett scored on a 31-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.[14] One of Vanderbilt's scores was a 40-yard forward pass from Hardage to Brown.[12]

The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Turner (left end), Covington (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Morgan (center), Huffman (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Curlin (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), and Sikes (fullback).[14]

Rose Polytechnic

Rose Polytechnic at Vanderbilt
1 234Total
Rose Poly 0 000 0
• Vanderbilt 20 2077 54

The game with Rose Polytechnic was seen as the first real test of the season. The Commodores still managed a 54–0 victory, with substitutes replacing the regulars by the end of the first half.[13] The first score came on a 35-yard interception return by Lew Hardage.[15]

During the game's opening drive, Rose Poly tried a trick play with a player in civilian clothes and satchel receiving the ball.[15] He was caught by Vanderbilt defenders before he reached his own 30-yard line.[15]

The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Turner (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Morgan (center), Swofford (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Robins (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), and Chester (fullback).[15]

Georgia

The Commodores easily defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 46–0 in the rain. Coaching the Bulldogs was McGugin product Alex Cunningham. The game was played on the infield and part of the right outfield of Ponce de Leon Park.[16] According to Vanderbilt University Quarterly, the score would have been higher but for the water and mud.[13] Georgia star Bob McWhorter was held in check; his best run went for 12 yards.[13]

Center Hugh Morgan

The first score of the game came when Wilson Collins got away for a 20-yard run, but fumbled. The ball was picked up by Zach Curlin and run in for a touchdown. When the game ended, Georgia men tried to steal the ball, and a fight broke out, broken up by coach McGugin and umpire Ted Coy.[16]

The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Turner (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Morgan (center), Huffman (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Robins (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Shea (right halfback), and Chester (fullback).[16]

Mississippi

Vanderbilt beat Mississippi 24–0, the visitors showing a strong defense.[17] Morgan, Collins, and Sikes were on the sidelines for the whole game. Multiple times, the Commodores fumbled near the goal line.[18]

Game action from Vanderbilt vs. Virginia, 1912

The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Milholland (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Daves (left guard), T. Brown (center), Swafford (right guard), Covington (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Robins (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Shea (right halfback), and Turner (fullback).[17]

Virginia

Virginia at Vanderbilt
1 234Total
Virginia 0 000 0
• Vanderbilt 6 700 13
  • Date: November 2
  • Location: Dudley Field • Nashville, Tennessee
  • Game attendance: 4,000
  • Referee: Selden (Sewanee)

Vanderbilt met Virginia for the first time since 1898.[20] It also won for the first time, 13–0.[19] Ammie Sikes scored first, after runs of 35 and 28 yards by Lew Hardage paved the way.[19] A 30-yard forward pass from Hardage to Enoch Brown got the second touchdown.[19] In the last period, Sikes broke loose, down to the 5-yard line when he was caught from behind by Buck Mayer.[19]

The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Turner (left end), Daves (left tackle), Huffman (left guard), Morgan (center), Covington (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), Milholland (right end), Curlin (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), and Sikes (fullback).[19]

Zach Curlin drop kicked a field goal against Harvard.

Harvard

Vanderbilt at Harvard
1 234Total
Vanderbilt 0 030 3
• Harvard 0 603 9

Vanderbilt suffered its only loss of the season on the road to coach Percy Haughton's national champion Harvard Crimson 9–3. Only Dartmouth played the Crimson closer. "As usual Harvard tried out the strength of its defense in the first period, kicking usually on the second down."[21] Harvard used mostly substitutes and scored a touchdown five minutes after the second period began.[21] Lew Hardage was injured and taken off the field.[21]

Vanderbilt's lone score was a 28-yard field goal from Zach Curlin early in the third quarter, after Harvard muffed a punt.[21] The Crimson added another field goal in the final period.[21]

In the last ten minutes, the Commodores tried their full repertoire of tricks, including a delayed forward pass in which the ball was handled by four men and netted a 22-yard gain from Rabbi Robins.[22] The International News Service reported: "Although defeated, Vanderbilt was not outplayed; for never was a gamer team seen in the Stadium."[23]

The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Turner (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Swafford (left guard), Morgan (center), Daves (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Curlin (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), and Sikes (fullback).[22]

Central University

Vanderbilt playing with just four regulars and a new backfield beat Central University, 23–0.[24] Hardage stayed home in Decatur, Alabama due to an injury.[24]

The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Chester (left end), Daves (left tackle), Reyer (left guard), Huffman (center), Swafford (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), Reams (right end), Robins (quarterback), Luck (left halfback), Shea (right halfback), and Milholland (fullback).[24]

Ammie Sikes

Auburn

Vanderbilt at Auburn
1 234Total
Vanderbilt 0 700 7
Auburn 0 070 7

The Auburn Tigers upset expectations and tied the Commodores 7–7. Ammie Sikes scored first for Vanderbilt.[25] Auburn scored after a Sikes fumble. The ball was kicked some fifteen yards down field clear of the melee, picked up by Kirk Newell, and run 55 yards to the end zone.[25]

The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Reams (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Moody (center), Covington (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Curlin (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), and Turner (fullback).[25]

Sewanee

Sewanee at Vanderbilt
1 234Total
Sewanee 0 000 0
• Vanderbilt 2 0014 16

Vanderbilt defeated rival Sewanee 16–0. In the first period, Sewanee had to punt from its own end zone. The pass to Jenks Gillem went wide, and before he could recover it he was downed by Enoch Brown for a safety.[26] Gillem had one punt of 58 yards that day.[n 1] Vanderbilt's game seemed to stagnate until Wilson Collins was hurt and replaced by Tom Shea in the third quarter.[28] Then two touchdowns came in the fourth period, one by Robins and another Turner.[26] In his last game, Lew Hardage played well despite his hurt left ankle.[29][30]

Vanderbilt had clamored for a rematch to decide a champion after its tie with Auburn, but Auburn was upset by Georgia 12–6, meaning Vanderbilt's victory over Sewanee secured the SIAA title.[31]

The starting lineup for Vanderbilt was: Reams (left end), Shipp (left tackle), Daves (left guard), Morgan (center), Swofford (right guard), T. Brown (right tackle), E. Brown (right end), Robins (quarterback), Hardage (left halfback), Collins (right halfback), and Sikes (fullback).[29]

Postseason

Lew Hardage

Awards and honors

Lew Hardage was selected third-team All-American by Walter Camp, the fourth ever Southern player to get such a recognition.[32][n 2] He was a unanimous All-Southern selection.[32] Innis Brown wrote: "Hardage has been rated as probably the most successful man in the south at making forward passes."[34] Ammie Sikes, Hugh Morgan, Tom Brown, and Enoch Brown all made composite All-Southern.

Championships

Vanderbilt won the SIAA title in football, baseball, and track.[35] According to Nathan Stauffer, Texas A&M was Vanderbilt's nearest challenger for best football team in the South.[36]

Personnel

Depth chart

The following chart provides a visual depiction of Vanderbilt's lineup during the 1912 season with games started at the position reflected in parentheses.[4] The chart mimics a short punt formation while on offense, with the quarterback under center.

LE
Peck Turner (6)
Glen Reams (2)
Yunk Chester (1)
Whitey Milholland (1)
Zeke Martin (0)
LTLGCRGRT
Cleveland Shipp (6)Herman Daves (7)Hugh Morgan (8)Swofford (4)Tom Brown (9)
Joe Covington (2)Chester Huffman (1)Tom Brown (1)Chester Huffman (3)Joe Covington (1)
Herman Daves (2)Swofford (1)Chester Huffman (1)Joe Covington (2)R. E. Lowe (0)
Pud Reyer (1)Herman Daves (1)
Darwin (0)
RE
Enoch Brown (8)
Glen Reams (1)
Whitey Milholland (1)
Kent Morrison (0)
 
QB
Zach Curlin (5)
Rabbi Robins (5)
LHBRHB
Lew Hardage (9)Wilson Collins (7)
Malcolm Luck (1)Tom P. Shea (3)
FB
Ammie Sikes (5)
Yunk Chester (2)
Peck Turner (2)
Whitey Milholland (1)

-

Varsity letter winners

Tom Brown

The lettermen were dubbed "Wearers of the V."[37] Team manager Frank Gilliland was also a letterman.[37]

Line
Player Position Games
started		 Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
Tom Brown tackle10Gallatin, TennesseeUnknown6'2"18022
Joe Covington guard5UnknownUnknownUnk.Unk.Unk.
Zeke Martin end0Mobile, AlabamaUniversity Military SchoolUnk.Unk.Unk.
Hugh Morgan center8Nashville, TennesseeUnknownUnk.21619
Kent Morrison end0UnknownMcTyeire SchoolUnk.Unk.Unk.
Backfield
Player Position Games
started		 Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
Wilson Collins halfback7Pulaski, TennesseeMassey School5'9"16523
Zach Curlin halfback5Luxora, ArkansasWebb SchoolUnk.Unk.22
Lew Hardage halfback9Decatur, AlabamaUnknownUnk.16521
Rabbi Robins halfback5Tupelo, MississippiMcTyeire SchoolUnk.Unk.21
Scoring leaders
Player Touchdowns Extra points Field goals Safeties Points
Lew Hardage 11271096
Wilson Collins 1100066
Rabbi Robins 700042
Enoch Brown 610037
Zach Curlin 214025
Kent Morrison 330021
Yunk Chester 300018
Glen Reams 300018
Tom Shea 300018
Ammie Sikes 200012
Tom Brown 140010
Malcolm Luck 10006
Whitey Milholland 10006
Pud Reyer 10006
Peck Turner 10006
N/A 00024
Total563652391

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Gillem was later selected as the punter for the Associated Press All-Time Southeast 1869–1919 era team.[27]
  2. ↑ Camp's teams had been historically loaded with players from Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Penn, and other Northeastern colleges.[33]

References

  1. 1 2 Spick Hall (September 29, 1912). "Vanderbilt Makes The Largest Score In Her Football History". The Tennessean. p. 35. Retrieved September 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. 1 2 3 Spick Hall (September 15, 1912). "Commodores Face The Hardest Schedule For Many Long Years". The Tennessean. p. 19. Retrieved June 17, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ↑ Percy H. Whiting (September 9, 1912). "Vanderbilt Loses Stars; New Rules Hurt Chances McGugin To Have Real Team, However, As Usual". Atlanta Georgian. p. 10.
  4. 1 2 Vanderbilt University, p. 259
  5. ↑ Charles Weatherby (April 2, 2014). "Wilson Collins". The Miracle Braves of 1914: Boston's Original Worst-to-First World Series: 13. ISBN 9781933599700.
  6. ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 260
  7. ↑ "1912 Vanderbilt Commodores Schedule and Results". sports-reference.com. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  8. ↑ Walsh 2006, p. 121
  9. ↑ "Vanderbilt Plays Bethel Today on Dudley Field at 3:30 p. m." Nashville Tennessean and The Nashville American. Nashville, Tennessee. September 28, 1912. p. 10. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  10. ↑ "Vanderbilt Smothered Bethel on Dudley Field---Other Results". Nashville Tennessean and The Nashville American. Nashville, Tennessee. September 29, 1912. p. 35. Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Traughber 2011, p. 57
  12. 1 2 "Details of Scores Made Yesterday". The Tennessean. October 6, 1912. p. 2. Retrieved June 17, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  13. 1 2 3 4 Vanderbilt University, p. 261
  14. 1 2 "Commodores Win". The Courier-Journal. October 6, 1912. p. 35. Retrieved June 17, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "Vanderbilt Smeared It On Rose Poly In Fine Form". The Tennessean. October 13, 1912. p. 8. Retrieved May 2, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  16. 1 2 3 Percy Whiting (October 20, 1912). "Vandy Played A Great Game". The Tennessean. p. 8. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  17. 1 2 Spick Hall (October 27, 1912). "Miss. Men Showed A Fierce Defense". The Tennessean. p. 8. Retrieved May 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  18. ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 262
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Spick Hall (November 3, 1912). "Vanderbilt Victor Over Old Virginia". The Tennessean. p. 8. Retrieved May 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  20. ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 29
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Vandy Played A Great Game". The Tennessean. November 10, 1912. p. 8. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  22. 1 2 "Crimson Team Is Victorious". The Courier-Journal. November 10, 1912. p. 35. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  23. ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 263
  24. 1 2 3 Spick Hall (November 17, 1912). "Central Had Lot of Grit and Vim". The Tennessean. p. 8. Retrieved May 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  25. 1 2 3 4 Spick Hall (November 24, 1912). "Auburn Holds Vandy To A Tie". The Tennessean. p. 14. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  26. 1 2 3 "Vanderbilt Downs Sewanee". Wilmington Morning Star. November 29, 1912. p. 12. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  27. ↑ "All-Time Football Team Lists Greats Of Past, Present". Gadsden Times. July 27, 1969.
  28. ↑ "Commodores On The Desired End". Detroit Free Press. November 29, 1912. p. 8. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  29. 1 2 "Commodores Are Again Victorious". The Tennessean. November 29, 1912. p. 10. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  30. ↑ Woodruff 1928, p. 275
  31. ↑ Woodruff 1928, p. 274
  32. 1 2 Order, Kappa Alpha (1913). "On the Gridiron and Diamond". The Kappa Alpha Journal. 30 (2): 211.
  33. ↑ Joe Williams, "Joe Williams Says", El Paso Herald-Post, p. 10 (November 12, 1935). Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Innis Brown's All-Southern". Atlanta Constitution. December 1, 1912. Retrieved March 4, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  35. ↑ Vanderbilt University, p. 210
  36. ↑ Nathan Stauffer. "All-Southern Football Team of 1912". Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide: 65.
  37. 1 2 Vanderbilt University, p. 213

Bibliography

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