The 1926 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team represented the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado of the

Georgia Institute of Technology The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly referred to as Georgia Tech or, in the state of Georgia, as Tech or The Institute, is a public research university and institute of technology in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1885, it is part of ...

during the

1926 Southern Conference football season The 1926 Southern Conference football season was the college football games played by the member schools of the Southern Conference as part of the 1926 college football season. The season began on September 18. In the annual Rose Bowl game, the S ...

. The Tornado was coached by

William Alexander William or Bill Alexander may refer to: Literature *William Alexander (poet) (1808–1875), American poet and author * William Alexander (journalist and author) (1826–1894), Scottish journalist and author *William Alexander (author) (born 1976), ...

in his seventh year as head coach, compiling a record of 4–5.

Before the season

Doug Wycoff had graduated.

Schedule

Season summary

Oglethorpe

Sources: The season opened with a great upset and perhaps the greatest victory in the history of the Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels when they downed Tech 7–6. Halfback "Cy" Bell ran for a 42-yard touchdown run, and "Nutty" Campbell got the game-winning extra point. After the game, Oglethorpe fans reacted to the victory by staging a spontaneous parade through downtown Atlanta. The starting lineup was Irwin (left end), Gaston (left tackle), Lillard (left guard), Poole (center), Drennon (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Hearn (right end), McRae (quarterback), Brewer (left halfback), Parham (right halfback), Holland (fullback)

VMI

In the second week of play, Tech shutout VMI 13–0. The starting lineup was Marshall (left end), Tharpe (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Poole (center), Angley (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Crowley (right end), McRae (quarterback), Smith (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Murray (fullback)

Tulane

Tech edged Tulane 9–6. The starting lineup was Crowley (left end), Tharpe (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Poole (center), Angley (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Marshall (right end), Brewer (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Murray (fullback).

Alabama

Wallace Wade's national champion Alabama Crimson Tide surprised and held Georgia Tech to two first downs in a 21–0 victory.

Hoyt Winslett Hoyt "Wu" Winslett (January 22, 1904 – October 2, 1998) was an American college football player and businessman. He was part of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide's first two national championship teams in 1925 and 1926. Winslett is also ...

passed for all three touchdowns. The starting lineup was Crowley (left end), Tharpe (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Pund (center), Angley (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Marshall (right end), McRae (quarterback), Smith (left halfback), Reed (right halfback), Murray (fullback).

Washington and Lee

Tech beat the Washington & Lee Generals 19–7.

Notre Dame

Knute Rockne Knut (Norwegian and Swedish), Knud (Danish), or Knútur (Icelandic) is a Scandinavian, German, and Dutch first name, of which the anglicised form is Canute. In Germany both "Knut" and "Knud" are used. In Spanish and Portuguese Canuto is used whi ...

's undefeated Notre Dame beat Tech 12–0. Red Barron stood out in the cold weather.

Vanderbilt

Sources: Vanderbilt beat Georgia Tech 13–7. Tech scored on an off-tackle play when Carter Barron got loose for a 50-yard run.

Bill Spears William Douglas Spears (August 31, 1906 – December 31, 1992) known as "Bounding Bill Spears" was an American football player and stand-out quarterback for Dan McGugin's Vanderbilt Commodores football teams from 1925 to 1927. Spears was ele ...

faked a pass and ran for 24 yards to spark a drive to tie the game at 7, and added two field goals to beat the Tornado. The starting lineup was Crowley (left end), Tharpe (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Poole (center), Lillard (right guard), Thrash (right tackle), Marshall (right end), Randolph (quarterback), Horn (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Murray (fullback).

Georgia

Down 13 to 0 at the half, rival Georgia came back to beat Tech. Herdis McCrary and

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

George Morton made the touchdowns. The starting lineup was Crowley (left end), Hood (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Poole (center), Angley (right guard), Tharpe (right tackle), Marshall (right end), Brewer (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Horn (right halfback), Murray (fullback).

Auburn

In the annual rivalry matchup, Tech beat Auburn 20–7. The starting lineup was Erwin (left end), Tharpe (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Poole (center), Drennon (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Marshall (right end), Brewer (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Murray (fullback).

Players

Depth chart

The following chart provides a visual depiction of Tech's lineup during the 1924 season with games started at the position reflected in parenthesis. The chart mimics the offense after the

jump shift The jump shift or Heisman shift, was an American football shift maneuver utilized by John Heisman John William Heisman (October 23, 1869 – October 3, 1936) was a player and coach of American football, baseball, and basketball, as well ...

has taken place.

Notes

Endnotes

References

* * {{Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football navbox Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football seasons Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football 1920s in Atlanta