1919 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Football Team

The 1919 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team represented the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado of the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1919 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. The Tornado was coached by John Heisman in his 15th year as head coach, compiling a record of 7–3 (3–1 SIAA) and outscoring opponents 257 to 33.

Before the season

Jack McDonough started at quarterback as a true freshman when Marshall Guill was moved to end. Pup Phillips was captain.

Schedule

Season summary

Camp Logan

The season opened with a 48–0 defeat of Camp Logan.

Furman

In the second week of play, Tech swamped Furman, 74–0.

Wake Forest

Tech beat Wake Forest 14–0.

Clemson

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After being held scoreless in the first half, Tech beat Clemson 28–0. The entire backfield, as well Fincher, Lebey, and Higgins in the line, were cited as stars of the game. The play of Tech seemed stimulated in the second half by the substitution of Shorty Guill. The first touchdown was the best run of the game, for 26 yards around left end, Flowers "sidestepped, ducked, twisted and turned until he had again crossed the field almost to the opposite side and then stiff-arming the last man in his way, crossed the goal for a touchdown." Red Barron went around right end for 35 yards and the second touchdown. A 15-yard pass from Flowers to Bill Fincher netted the third touchdown. Ferst went back in for Guill and got the last touchdown on a 12-yard buck behind left guard.

The starting lineup was: Fincher (left end), Higgins (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Phillips (center), Dowling (right guard), Lyman (right tackle), Staton (right end), McDonough (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Gaiver (fullback).

Vanderbilt

Tech beat Dan McGugin's Vanderbilt Commodores in the mud 20–0, giving the Commodores their only loss on the season. Buck Flowers and fullback Bill Giaver starred.

The starting lineup was: Fincher (left end), Higgins (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Amis (center), Dowling (right guard), Huffines (right tackle), Staton (right end), Guill (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Gavier (fullback).

Pittsburgh

Tech was beaten 16–6 by Pop Warner's Pittsburgh Panthers, the first team to score on Tech all year.

Davidson

Tech beat Davidson 33–0, Flowers running around his old teammates.

Washington & Lee

Quarterback Jim Mattox made the field goal to help Washington & Lee upset Tech. the first loss to a Southern team since 1914 for Tech.

The starting lineup was: Fincher (left end), Doyal (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Phillips (center), Dowling (right guard), Higgins (right tackle), Staton (right end), Guill (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Ferst (right halfback), Gavier (fullback).

Georgetown

Dewey Scarboro returned a kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown in the 27–0 win over Georgetown.

Auburn

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The Auburn Tigers beat Tech 14–7, its first loss to an SIAA school in five years. The first touchdown of the game was made by Jack McDonough. Judy Harlan later fell on his own punt for a safety. In the third quarter, Warren blocked a Dewey Scarboro punt and Sloan recovered the ball and ran it 35 yards for a touchdown. Auburn's Fatty Warren "waddled" for a 40-yard touchdown off a blocked punt in the victory.

The starting lineup was Guill (left end), Fincher (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Phillips (center), Dowling (right guard), Huffines (right tackle), Staton (right end), McDonough (quarterback), Barron (left halfback), Ferst (right halfback), Harlan (fullback).

Postseason

After a divorce in 1919, Heisman left Atlanta to prevent any social embarrassment to his former wife, who chose to remain in the city. He picked Bill Alexander as successor and went back to Penn for three seasons from 1920–1922.

Notes

Endnotes

References

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