1912 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

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.

1912 Vanderbilt Commodores football
SIAA champion
Conference	Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1912 record	8–1–1 (3–0–1 SIAA)
Head coach	Dan McGugin (9th season)
Offensive scheme	Short punt
Captain	Lewie Hardage
Home stadium	Dudley Field

1912 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Vanderbilt $	3	–	0	–	1			8	–	1	–	1
Texas A&M	2	–	0	–	0			8	–	1	–	0
Kentucky State	1	–	0	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Auburn	6	–	1	–	1			6	–	1	–	1
Georgia	5	–	1	–	1			6	–	1	–	1
Sewanee	2	–	1	–	2			5	–	1	–	2
Georgia Tech	5	–	3	–	0			5	–	3	–	1
Alabama	3	–	3	–	1			5	–	3	–	1
Tulane	3	–	3	–	0			5	–	3	–	0
Mississippi A&M	3	–	3	–	0			4	–	3	–	0
Clemson	3	–	3	–	0			4	–	4	–	0
Ole Miss	2	–	2	–	0			5	–	3	–	0
Mercer	2	–	3	–	1			5	–	3	–	1
LSU	2	–	3	–	0			4	–	3	–	0
Mississippi College	1	–	4	–	0			3	–	4	–	0
Florida	0	–	2	–	1			5	–	2	–	1
Centre	0	–	2	–	0			4	–	5	–	0
The Citadel	0	–	3	–	0			2	–	4	–	0
Tennessee	0	–	4	–	0			4	–	4	–	0
Howard (AL)	0	–	4	–	0			1	–	7	–	0
$ – Conference champion

Vanderbilt outscored its opponents 391–19. The team scored 100 points in each of the first two contests; the 105–0 victory over Bethel 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 some varsity letter winners to graduation, including quarterback Ray Morrison, tackle Ewing Y. Freeland, and guard Will Metzger.[3] Aside from Morrison, Vanderbilt retained the rest of its backfield of the previous year, then voted best in the South by the Atlanta Constitution.[4] 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.[5]

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

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
September 28	Bethel (TN)*	Dudley Field Nashville, TN	W 105–0
October 5	Maryville (TN)*	Dudley Field Nashville, TN	W 100–3
October 12	Rose Polytechnic*	Dudley Field Nashville, TN	W 54–0
October 19	at Georgia	Ponce de Leon Park Atlanta, GA (rivalry)	W 46–0	4,500
October 26	Ole Miss	Dudley Field Nashville, TN (rivalry)	W 24–0
November 2	Virginia*	Dudley Field Nashville, TN	W 13–0	4,000
November 9	at Harvard*	Harvard Stadium Allston, MA	L 3–9
November 16	Centre*	Dudley Field Nashville, TN	W 23–0
November 23	at Auburn	Rickwood Field Birmingham, AL	T 7–7
November 28	Sewanee	Dudley Field Nashville, TN (rivalry)	W 16–0	10,000
*Non-conference game Source: sports-reference.com[6]

Season summary

Bethel

The season started with the largest win in school history, a 105–0 victory over Bethel College in pouring rain. Future Vanderbilt star Josh Cody played for Bethel.[7]

Wilson Collins began the scoring when he took a punt 45 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown.[8] Substitute quarterback Rabbi Robins was better suited to the mud than starter Zach Curlin.[8] At one point during the game, Robins returned a kick 70 yards for a touchdown.[8] Collins had five touchdowns, Enoch Brown three, Hardage, Robins and Morrison two each, and Reyer and Chester one each.[8]

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

Maryville at Vanderbilt

1 2 3 4 Total Maryville 0 0 0 3 3 • Vanderbilt 27 16 28 29 100 Date: October 5 Location: Dudley Field • Nashville, Tennessee Sources:[9]

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.[10] Maryville's Badgett scored on a 31-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.[11] One of Vanderbilt's scores was a 40-yard forward pass from Hardage to Brown.[9]

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).[11]

Rose Polytechnic

Rose Polytechnic at Vanderbilt

1 2 3 4 Total Rose Poly 0 0 0 0 0 • Vanderbilt 20 20 7 7 54 Date: October 12 Location: Dudley Field • Nashville, Tennessee Referee: Bradley Walker Sources:[12]

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.[10] The first score came on a 35-yard interception return by Lew Hardage.[12]

During the game's opening drive, Rose Poly tried a trick play with a player in civilian clothes and satchel receiving the ball.[12] He was caught by Vanderbilt defenders before he reached his own 30-yard line.[12]

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).[12]

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.[13] According to Vanderbilt University Quarterly, the score would have been higher but for the water and mud.[10] Georgia star Bob McWhorter was held in check; his best run went for 12 yards.[10]

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.[13]

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).[13]

Mississippi

Vanderbilt beat Mississippi 24–0, the visitors showing a strong defense.[14] Morgan, Collins, and Sikes were on the sidelines for the whole game. Multiple times, the Commodores fumbled near the goal line.[15]

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).[14]

Virginia

Virginia at Vanderbilt

1 2 3 4 Total Virginia 0 0 0 0 0 • Vanderbilt 6 7 0 0 13 Date: November 2 Location: Dudley Field • Nashville, Tennessee Game attendance: 4,000 Referee: Selden (Sewanee) Sources:[16]

Vanderbilt met Virginia for the first time since 1898.[17] It also won for the first time, 13–0.[16] Ammie Sikes scored first, after runs of 35 and 28 yards by Lew Hardage paved the way.[16] A 30-yard forward pass from Hardage to Enoch Brown got the second touchdown.[16] In the last period, Sikes broke loose, down to the 5-yard line when he was caught from behind by Buck Mayer.[16]

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).[16]

Zach Curlin drop kicked a field goal against Harvard.

Harvard

Vanderbilt at Harvard

1 2 3 4 Total Vanderbilt 0 0 3 0 3 • Harvard 0 6 0 3 9 Date: November 9 Location: Harvard Stadium • Allston, Massachusetts Referee: J. B. Pendleton (Bowdoin) Sources:[18]

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."[18] Harvard used mostly substitutes and scored a touchdown five minutes after the second period began.[18] Lew Hardage was injured and taken off the field.[18]

Vanderbilt's lone score was a 28-yard field goal from Zach Curlin early in the third quarter, after Harvard muffed a punt.[18] The Crimson added another field goal in the final period.[18]

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.[19] The International News Service reported: "Although defeated, Vanderbilt was not outplayed; for never was a gamer team seen in the Stadium."[20]

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).[19]

Centre

Vanderbilt playing with just four regulars and a new backfield beat the Centre Colonels 23–0.[21] Hardage stayed home in Decatur, Alabama due to an injury.[21]

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).[21]

Ammie Sikes

Auburn

Vanderbilt at Auburn

1 2 3 4 Total Vanderbilt 0 7 0 0 7 Auburn 0 0 7 0 7 Date: November 23 Location: Rickwood Field • Birmingham, Alabama Referee: Bradley Walker Sources:[22]

The Auburn Tigers upset expectations and tied the Commodores 7–7. Ammie Sikes scored first for Vanderbilt.[22] 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.[22]

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).[22]

Sewanee

Sewanee at Vanderbilt

1 2 3 4 Total Sewanee 0 0 0 0 0 • Vanderbilt 2 0 0 14 16 Date: November 28 Location: Dudley Field • Nashville, Tennessee Game attendance: 10,000 Referee: Bradley Walker Sources:[23]

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.[23] 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.[25] Then two touchdowns came in the fourth period, one by Robins and another Turner.[23] In his last game, Lew Hardage played well despite his hurt left ankle.[26][27]

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.[28]

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).[26]

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.[29][n 2] He was a unanimous All-Southern selection.[29] Innis Brown wrote: "Hardage has been rated as probably the most successful man in the south at making forward passes."[31] 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.[32] According to Nathan Stauffer, Texas A&M was Vanderbilt's nearest challenger for best football team in the South.[33]

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 parenthesis.[3] 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) LT LG C RG RT 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) LHB RHB 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."[34] Team manager Frank Gilliland was also a letterman.[34]

Line

Player	Position	Games started	Hometown	Prep school	Height	Weight	Age
Charles Brown	guard	0	Unknown	Unknown	Unk.	Unk.	Unk.
Tom Brown	tackle	10	Gallatin, Tennessee	Unknown	6'2"	180	22
Joe Covington	guard	5	Unknown	Unknown	Unk.	Unk.	Unk.
Zeke Martin	end	0	Mobile, Alabama	University Military School	Unk.	Unk.	Unk.
Hugh Morgan	center	8	Nashville, Tennessee	Unknown	Unk.	216	19
Kent Morrison	end	0	Unknown	McTyeire School	Unk.	Unk.	Unk.

Backfield

Player	Position	Games started	Hometown	Prep school	Height	Weight	Age
Wilson Collins	halfback	7	Pulaski, Tennessee	Massey School	5'9"	165	23
Zach Curlin	halfback	5	Luxora, Arkansas	Webb School	Unk.	Unk.	22
Lew Hardage	halfback	9	Decatur, Alabama	Unknown	Unk.	165	21
Rabbi Robins	halfback	5	Tupelo, Mississippi	McTyeire School	Unk.	Unk.	21

Scoring leaders

Player	Touchdowns	Extra points	Field goals	Safeties	Points
Lew Hardage	11	27	1	0	96
Wilson Collins	11	0	0	0	66
Rabbi Robins	7	0	0	0	42
Enoch Brown	6	1	0	0	37
Zach Curlin	2	1	4	0	25
Kent Morrison	3	3	0	0	21
Yunk Chester	3	0	0	0	18
Glen Reams	3	0	0	0	18
Tom Shea	3	0	0	0	18
Ammie Sikes	2	0	0	0	12
Tom Brown	1	4	0	0	10
Malcolm Luck	1	0	0	0	6
Whitey Milholland	1	0	0	0	6
Pud Reyer	1	0	0	0	6
Peck Turner	1	0	0	0	6
N/A	0	0	0	2	4
Total	56	36	5	2	391

See also

• 1912 College Football All-Southern Team
• 1912 College Football All-America Team
• 1912 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season

Notes

1. Gillem was later selected as the punter for the Associated Press All-Time Southeast 1869–1919 era team.[24]
2. Camp's teams had been historically loaded with players from Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Penn, and other Northeastern colleges.[30]

References

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

Bibliography

• Traughber, Bill (2011). Vanderbilt Football: Tales of Commodore Gridiron History. The History Press. ISBN 978-1-60949-423-0.
• Vanderbilt University (1912). Vanderbilt University Quarterly. 12.
• Walsh, Christopher J. (2006). Where Football Is King: A History of the SEC. ISBN 9781461734772.
• Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. 1.