Bill Fincher

William Enoch Fincher (November 12, 1896 – July 17, 1978) was an American college football player and coach. He played the end and tackle positions for the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team of the Georgia Institute of Technology. Fincher was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1974.

Early years

Fincher was born in Spring Place, Georgia. He attended old Tech High School in Atlanta.

Georgia Tech

Fincher attended Georgia Institute of Technology, graduating with a mechanical engineering degree in 1921. At school, he played football, basketball, and ran track and field, track. He was a prominent tackle and end for the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football teams. Fincher could play any position on the Lineman (gridiron football), line in the complicated Heisman shift offense. He made a record 122 of 136 Conversion (gridiron football), PAT attempts. He stood 6 feet tall and weighed 182 pounds. He was nominated though not selected for an ''Associated Press'' All-Time Southeast 1869–1919 era team.

Fincher had a glass eye which he would covertly pull out after feigning an injury, turn to his opponents and say: "So that's how you want to play!"

1916

Fincher was a substitute for the 1916 Georgia Tech vs. Cumberland football game, 222 to 0 rout of Cumberland University, Cumberland in 1916 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team, 1916.

1917

He was a starter for the 1917 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team, 1917 FBS National Football Championship, national championship team. The 1917 team was Tech's first national championship and outscored opponents 491 to 17, and for many years it was considered the greatest football team the American South, South ever produced. Fincher kicked 49 extra points.

1918

He was a consensus College Football All-America Team, All-American in 1918 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team, 1918, a year in which he was Captain (sports), captain.

1920

In 1920 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team, 1920 he made Walter Camp's first team All-American, a rarity for a player from the South.

One writer said Fincher "seemingly ate ten-penny Nail (fastener), nails" and "was the 'meanest' lineman I ever witnessed in action." A story goes that he sought to knock Bo McMillin out of the Centre Colonels football, Centre–Tech game, taking with him brass-knuckles or "something equally diabolical." Before the game, Fincher said "You're a great player Bo...I feel awful sorry about it because you are not going to be in there very long—about three minutes."

Fincher also once held a charging Model-T for no gain. The yearbook remarks "Bill began his great work on the sand lots of Tech Hi here in Atlanta years ago and ended it up by smearing Fatty Warren, "Fatty" Warren of the Auburn Tigers football, Auburn Tigers all over the flats of Grant Field on Turkey Day last."

Coaching

Fincher was head coach of a college football team for one season. In 1921, he led the William & Mary Tribe football, William & Mary Indians football team to a 4–3–1 record. In 1925, he joined Georgia Tech's coaching staff as a line coach, replacing Fay Wood. He was still a line coach for the school through 1927.

Head coaching record

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fincher, Bill
1896 births
1978 deaths
American football ends
American football placekickers
American football tackles
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football coaches
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football players
William & Mary Tribe football coaches
All-American college football players
All-Southern college football players
College Football Hall of Fame inductees
People from Murray County, Georgia
Coaches of American football from Georgia (U.S. state)
Players of American football from Atlanta