1924 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1924 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football Southern Conference SoCon 5–3–1 3–2–1 William Alexander 5th Jump shift George Gardner Grant Field 200 The 1924 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football teamnote Although Georgia Tech's teams are officially known as the "Yellow Jackets", northern writers called the team the "Golden Tornado" in 1917; the name was commonly used until 1928 and for many years afterwards as an alternate nickname.Van Brimmer Rice 2011 147 It may have been coined by Morgan Blake.January 28, 2015 http://livinghistory.gatech.edu/new/traditions/tradition/tornado.html Golden Tornadoes represented the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado of the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1924 Southern Conference football season. The Tornado was coached by William Alexander in his fifth year as head coach, compiling a record of 5–3–1 record. The Tornado defeated eastern power Penn State, and suffered losses to SoCon champion Alabama, national champion Notre Dame, and Vanderbilt, which defeated Tech in Atlanta for the first time since 1906. Doug Wycoff was All-American. Schedule September 27 w y Oglethorpe Grant Field Atlanta, GA 19–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95919552/oglethorpe-team-gives-tech-trouble/ The Birmingham News Oglethorpe team gives Tech trouble September 28, 1924 December 11, 2023 Newspapers.com October 4 w VMI Grant Field Atlanta, GA 3–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90848807/tech-defeats-vmi-cadets-by-3-to-0-sco/ The Atlanta Constitution Tech defeats V.M.I. Cadets by 3 to 0 score October 5, 1924 December 19, 2021 Newspapers.com October 11 t Florida Grant Field Atlanta, GA 7–7 20,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-georgia-tech-and-flo/136666063/ The Birmingham News Georgia Tech and Florida battle to 7–7 tie October 12, 1924 December 11, 2023 Newspapers.com October 18 w y Penn State Grant Field Atlanta, GA 15–13 22,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-penn-state-rou/136673801/ The Philadelphia Inquirer Penn State routed by Golden Tornados October 19, 1924 December 11, 2023 Newspapers.com October 25 l Alabama Grant Field Atlanta, GA rivalry 0-14 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-yellow-jackets-fall/136673935/ The Huntsville Times Yellow Jackets falls to Bama October 26, 1924 December 11, 2023 Newspapers.com November 1 l y y Notre Dame Cartier Field South Bend, IN rivalry 3-34 24,000 Rockmen Crush 'Golden Tornado': Fighting Irish Win Again As 24,000 Cheer The South Bend Tribune Kenneth S. Conn November 2, 1924 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99233163/rockmen-crush-golden-tornado/ Newspapers.com November 8 w LSU Grant Field Atlanta, GA 28–7 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-yellow-jackets-rout-zouaves/136674051/ The State Yellow Jackets rout Zouaves November 9, 1924 December 11, 2023 Newspapers.com November 15 l Vanderbilt Grant Field Atlanta, GA rivalry 0-3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chattanooga-daily-times-jackets-lose-to/136674178/ The Chattanooga Daily Times Jackets lose to Vanderbilt by field goal November 16, 1924 December 11, 2023 Newspapers.com November 27 w Auburn Grant Field Atlanta, GA rivalry 7–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-work-of-wycoff-defeats/136674282/ Tampa Sunday Tribune Work of Wycoff defeats Auburn November 28, 1924 December 11, 2023 Newspapers.com1924 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football December 11, 2023 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/georgia-tech/1924-schedule.html Game summaries Oglethorpe The season opened with a 19–0 defeat of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association co-champion Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels. VMI VMI at Georgia Tech VMI Ga. Tech 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 October 4 Grant FieldAtlanta, GA Jogger Elcock Tech edged VMI with an Ike Williams field goal.http://digitalcollections.vmi.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15821coll8/id/3990 The Cadet Georgia Tech Wins From Flying Squadron By Field Goal October 6, 1924 The starting lineup was Merkle (left end), Usry (left tackle), Godwin (left guard), Poole (center), Carpenter (right guard), Gardner (right tackle), Nebelle (right end), Wilton (quarterback), Williams (left halfback), Reeves (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback). Florida Florida at Georgia Tech Florida Ga. Tech 0 7 0 0 7 0 0 0 October 11 Grant FieldAtlanta, GA W. R. Tichenor Tech and the Florida Gators fought to a 7–7 tie, the second Florida-Tech tie in two years. Within the first few minutes, Tech scored when Gus Merkle launched at Edgar C. Jones, causing him to crash into the approaching Cy Williams and fumble. Doug Wycoff picked it up and ran 35 yards for the score.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3140550/the_indexjournal/ The Index-Journal Yellow Jackets Tie With Gators Associated Press October 12, 1924 6 September 1, 2015 Newspapers.com Florida once fumbled at Tech's 1-yard line. Again the Gators drove to the goal, and a Jones to Ark Newton pass tied the game. The starting lineup was Merkle (left end), Usry (left tackle), Godwin (left guard), Poole (center), Carpenter (right guard), Gardner (right tackle), Nebelle (right end), Wilton (quarterback), Williams (left halfback), Vaughan Connelly (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3143667/miami_tribune/ Miami Tribune Missed Field Goals Cost Each Team Win October 12, 1924 11 September 2, 2015 Newspapers.com Penn State thumb|First field goal vs. Penn State by Williams Penn State at Georgia Tech Penn St. Ga. Tech 0 0 0 13 3 9 3 0 October 18 Grant FieldAtlanta, Georgia 22,000 C. J. McCarty (Germantown) Sources: Tech upset the Penn State Nittany Lions 15–13. Ike William made two field goals, one in the first and the other in the third quarter. In the second quarter, Tech's Gardner picked up a fumble by Penn State's quarterback Baker, and raced 20 yards for a touchdown. and a safety made Tech's 15. Soon after, Tech gots its safety.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5183319/the_anniston_star/ 8 October 19, 1924 The Anniston Star Dixie Eleven Resists Invasions of Warriors From the East 15 to 13 May 6, 2016 Newspapers.com In the final period, State staged a desperate comeback and scored two touchdowns. The starting lineup was Merkle (left end), Usry (left tackle), Godwin (left guard), Glenn (center), Carpenter (right guard), Gardner (right tackle), Nebelle (right end), Moore (quarterback), Williams (left halfback), Reeves (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback). Alabama Alabama at Georgia Tech Alabama Ga. Tech 0 7 0 7 0 0 0 0 October 25 Grant FieldAtlanta, GA Sources: Coach Wallace Wade's Alabama Crimson Tide defeated Tech 14–0, handing coach Alexander his first loss to a Southern team.1924 Season http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/24-m-footbl-recaps.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20181002115423/http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/24-m-footbl-recaps.pdf October 2, 2018 dead Tech drove the ball to the Alabama 6 in the third with a chance to tie the game up but was stopped on 4th and 1. The starting lineup was Marshall (left end), Usry (left tackle), Godwin (left guard), Poole (center), Carpenter (right guard), Tharpe (right tackle), Nabelle (right end), Moore (quarterback), Williams (left halfback), Reeves (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).Woodruff 1928 32 Notre Dame Tech lost to Knute Rockne's national champion Notre Dame Fighting Irish with the Four Horsemen 34–3. The starting lineup was Nabelle (left end), Gardner (left tackle), Carpenter (left guard), Poole (center), Godwin (right guard), Usry (right tackle), Marshall (right end), Wilton (quarterback), Williams (left halfback), Connelly (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).Woodruff 1928 38 LSU Tech beat coach Mike Donahue's LSU Tigers 28–7. The starting lineup was King (left end), Usry (left tackle), Godwin (left guard), Poole (center), Forrester (right guard), Huffkines (right tackle), Gardner (right end), Wilton (quarterback), Williams (left halfback), Murray (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).Woodruff 1928 48 Vanderbilt Vanderbilt at Georgia Tech Vanderbilt Ga. Tech 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 November 15 Grant FieldAtlanta, Georgia Sources:Atlanta Constitution Strategy of Commodores Defeats Tech November 16, 1924 The Vanderbilt Commodores traveled to Atlanta followed by the largest crowd ever to accompany Vanderbilt on a trip, with five special sections. The lone score of the game could largely be credited to halfback Gil Reese. Vanderbilt elected to start the game with the wind at its back, hoping for an edge in punts which would lead to good field position early. Reese caught one of these punts in these exchanges on the fly and, noticing both of Tech's ends blocked to the ground, raced to within striking distance of the end zone. From there, Hek Wakefield made a drop kick. Wakefield was the star of the game; "He was death on returning punts and when he started around the ends the Tech stars groaned," recalls one account. Georgia Tech's one chance to score came when fullback Douglas Wycoff missed a kick low, partially blocked by Vanderbilt. Hendrix attempted to recover but missed, and Georgia Tech retained possession at the 4-yard line. On first down, a snap from center missed Wycoff, and Vanderbilt fullback Tom Ryan recovered the ball at the 15-yard line, and later punted it away to safety.Russell, Fred, and Maxwell Edward Benson. Fifty Years of Vanderbilt Football. Nashville, TN, 1938, p. 42-43 The game was a defensive scrap the rest of the way. Gil Reese gained −15 yards rushing, and Wycoff was stopped all game. Bip Farnsworth was the Tornado's lone consistent ground gainer. Georgia Tech Alumnus December 1924 Atlanta, GA 79 The punting battle between Douglas Wycoff and Tom Ryan was one of the few noted features of the game.note It was the first win for Vanderbilt in Atlanta since 1906. The starting lineup was King (left end), Usry (left tackle), Godwin (left guard), Poole (center), Carpenter (right guard), Gardner (right tackle), Nabelle (right end), Wilton (quarterback), Williams (left halfback), Murray (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).Woodruff 1928 55 Auburn Auburn at Georgia Tech Auburn Ga. Tech 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 November 17 Grant FieldAtlanta, Georgia Sources: Tech beat rival Auburn 7–0. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Wycoff extended the ball over the goal line.http://georgiatechticketstubs.com/collection/1920s/1924-season/1924-11-17-georgia-tech-vs-auburn/ 1924-11-17 – Georgia Tech vs. Auburn | Georgia Tech Ticket Stubs The starting lineup was King (left end), Usry (left tackle), Godwin (left guard), Poole (center), Carpenter (right guard), Gardner (right tackle), Nabelle (right end), S. Murray (quarterback), I. Williams (left halfback), Farnsworh (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).Woodruff 1928 63 Postseason Doug Wycoff was selected first-team All-American by Lawrence Perry. Personnel 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 parentheses. The chart mimics the offense after the jump shift has taken place. LE King (3)Gus Merkle (3)Johnny Marshall (1)Nabelle (1) LT LG C RG RT Usry (7) Walt Godwin (7) Owen Pool (7) Six Carpenter (6)Gardner (5) Gardner (1)Six Carpenter (1) Glenn (1) Wally Forrester (1)Huffines (1) Walt Godwin (1)Mack Tharpe (1) Usry (1) RE Nabelle (6)Gardner (1)Johnny Marshall (1)  QB Wilton (5) Fred Moore (2)Sam Murray (1) RHB Reeves (3)Vaughan Connelly (2)Sam Murray (2)Bip Farnsworth (1) FB Doug Wycoff (8) LHB Ike Williams (8) Notes note Endnotes 30em References https://books.google.com/books?id=tfMjFXHLfZwC&pg=PT147 100 Things Yellow Jackets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die Van Brimmer Adam Rice Homer 2011 Chicago Triumph Books 978-1-61749-703-2 A History of Southern Football 1890–1928 Woodruff Fuzzy 1928 3 Georgia Tech Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football seasons Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football Category:1920s in Atlanta