1931 VPI Gobblers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1931 VPI Gobblers football Southern Conference SoCon 3–4–2 1–4–1 Orville Neal 2nd Charles Eugene Brown Miles Stadium The 1931 VPI Gobblers football team represented Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute in the 1931 Southern Conference football season. The team was led by their head coach Orville Neal and finished with a record of three wins, four losses and two ties (3–4–2).1931 Virginia Tech Hokies Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football June 4, 2022 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/virginia-tech/1931-schedule.html Schedule Eastern September 26 w y 1931 King Tornado King Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA 33–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103182664/vpi-easily-victor-over-king-college/ Knoxville News Sentinel V. P. I. Easily Victor Over King College September 27, 1931 November 12, 2022 Newspapers.comV. P. I. Has Easy Time https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1931-09-27/ed-1/seq-53/ Library of Congress The Sunday Star September 27, 1931 53 November 12, 2022 October 3 3:00 p.m. l y Georgia Sanford Stadium Athens, GA 0–40 15,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103182764/georgia-smothers-virginia-poly-400/ Bristol Herald Courier Georgia Smothers Virginia Poly, 40–0 October 4, 1931 November 12, 2022 Newspapers.comGeorgia Beats Virginia Poly To Open 1931 Season https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/gua1179162/1931-10-09/ed-1/seq-7/ University of Georgia The Red & Black October 9, 1931 7 November 12, 2022Georgia Whips V. P. I. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1931-10-04/ed-1/seq-64/ Library of Congress The Sunday Star October 4, 1931 64 November 12, 2022 October 10 w y Davidson Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA 18–6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103182881/vpi-overpowers-davidson-to-win-18-to/ The Charlotte News V. P. I. Overpowers Davidson to Win 18 to 6 October 11, 1931 November 12, 2022 Newspapers.comGobblers Down Wildcats 18-6 https://davidson.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/view/BookReaderViewer/01DCOLL_INST/12300015110005716 Davidson College The Davidsonian October 14, 1931 3 November 12, 2022Casey Wins For V. P. I. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1931-10-11/ed-1/seq-59/ Library of Congress The Sunday Star October 11, 1931 59 November 12, 2022 October 17 2:30 p.m. t y y William & Mary City Stadium Richmond, VA 6–6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103183000/william-and-mary-holds-gobblers-to-deadl/ Daily Press William And Mary Holds Gobblers To Deadlock Score, 6–6 October 18, 1931 November 12, 2022 Newspapers.comRedskins Battle Strong V.P.I. Club In Hard Contest https://digital.libraries.wm.edu/flat-hat-1931-october-27 College of William & Mary The Flat Hat October 27, 1931 3 November 12, 2022Virginia Elevens Tie https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1931-10-18/ed-1/seq-69/ Library of Congress The Sunday Star October 18, 1931 69 November 12, 2022 October 24 2:30 p.m. l y Kentucky McLean Stadium Lexington, KY 6–20 6,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103183167/kentucky-beats-vpi-eleven-206/ The Birmingham News Kentucky Beats V. P. I. Eleven, 20–6 October 25, 1931 November 12, 2022 Newspapers.comWildcats Turn Back Gobblers By 20-6 Score https://exploreuk.uky.edu/catalog/xt786688hn67#page/1/mode/1up University of Kentucky The Kentucky Kernel October 27, 1931 1 November 12, 2022Kentucky Outlasts V. P. I. To Win, 20 To 6 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1931-10-25/ed-1/seq-60/ Library of Congress The Sunday Star October 25, 1931 60 November 12, 2022 October 31 l y Maryland Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA 0–20 5,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87189509/maryland-beats-vpi/ Richmond Times-Dispatch Tech Beaten By Maryland; 20 to 0 score November 1, 1931 November 12, 2022 Newspapers.comMaryland Defeats V. P. I., 20-0 https://digital.lib.umd.edu/result/id/a7469b6e-94c2-4f23-a964-638f60e43125?relpath=pcdm University of Maryland, College Park The Diamondback November 2, 1931 1 September 22, 2024Maryland Routs Virginia Poly, 20-0 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1931-11-01/ed-1/seq-65/ Library of Congress The Sunday Star November 1, 1931 65 November 12, 2022 November 7 l y Washington and Lee Maher Field Roanoke, VA 0–6 5,000 Generals Overthrow Techmen 6 To 0 https://dspace.wlu.edu/bitstream/handle/11021/28220/RTP_19311110.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Washington and Lee University The Ring-tum Phi November 10, 1931 1 November 12, 202280-Yard Run Gives W. And L. Upset Win https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1931-11-08/ed-1/seq-65/ Library of Congress The Sunday Star November 8, 1931 65 November 12, 2022https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103196566/sawyers-80-yard-dash-on-intercepted/ Richmond Times-Dispatch Sawyers' 80-Yard Dash On Intercepted Pass Nets W. & L. 6–0 Win November 8, 1931 November 14, 2022 Newspapers.comW. & L. Gets Single Score to Beat Tech https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=LG19311110.1.1&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia The Lexington Gazette November 10, 1931 1 December 1, 2022Generals Down V. P. I. 6 to 0 in Annual Battle at Roanoke https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=RCN19311112.1.2&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia Rockbridge County News November 12, 1931 2 December 3, 2022 November 14 t y Virginia Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA rivalry 0–0 7,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103180595/techmen-battle-cavaliers-to-tie-at-scott/ Daily Press Techmen Battle Cavaliers To Tie At Scott Stadium November 15, 1931 November 12, 2022 Newspapers.comCavaliers-Tech In Scoreless Tie https://search.lib.virginia.edu/sources/uva_library/items/uva-lib:2734613 University of Virginia The Daily Progress November 16, 1931 8 November 12, 2022Cavalier, Gobbler Unable To Score https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1931-11-15/ed-1/seq-69/ Library of Congress The Sunday Star November 15, 1931 69 November 12, 2022 November 26 w y VMI Maher Field Roanoke, VA rivalry 13–6 18,000 V. M. I. Loses To Va. Tech 13–6 In Turkey Day Classic https://digitalcollections.vmi.edu/digital/collection/p15821coll8/id/6067 Virginia Military Institute The Cadet November 30, 1931 1 November 12, 2022V. M. I. Goes Down Fighting to V. P. I. 13 to 6 https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=RCN19311203.1.2&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia Rockbridge County News December 3, 1931 2 December 1, 2022Virginia Tech Trips Old Rival https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=LG19311201.1.1&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia The Lexington Gazette December 1, 1931 1 December 3, 2022 Before the season The 1930 VPI Gobblers football team compiled a 5–3–1 record and were led by Orville Neal in his first season as head coach. Game summaries King King vs. VPI King VPI 0 0 0 0 14 13 0 6 September 26, 1931 Miles StadiumBlacksburg, VA VPI's first game of the season was a victory over King at Miles Stadium. The starting lineup for VPI was: Chandler (left end), Stark (left tackle), Swart (left guard), Brown (center), Hite (right guard), Grinus (right tackle), Seaman (right end), Groth (quarterback), Casey (left halfback), Robison (right halfback), Porterfield (fullback). The substitutes were: Dyke, Hall, Hardwick, Hoenstine, Jennings, Kasun, Kelsey, Miles, Morgan, Oliver, Ottley, Palmer, Sifford, Simmons and Yorke. The starting lineup for King was: Klein (left end), Cox (left tackle), Bell (left guard), Owens (center), Cook (right guard), Robinson (right tackle), Bricker (right end), Arnold (quarterback), Isaac (left halfback), Harris (right halfback), Barnett (fullback). The substitutes were: Emert, Flenore and Gannaway. Georgia VPI at Georgia VPI Georgia 0 0 0 0 13 13 14 0 October 3, 1931 Sanford StadiumAthens, GA 3:00 p.m. 15,000 Buck Flowers 1931 Georgia Bulldogs football team After their victory over King, VPI played the University of Georgia at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. The starting lineup for VPI was: Seaman (left end), Stark (left tackle), Hite (left guard), Brown (center), Swart (right guard), Grinus (right tackle), Chandler (right end), Groth (quarterback), Casey (left halfback), Robison (right halfback), Porterfield (fullback). The starting lineup for Georgia was: Vernon Smith (left end), Robert Rose (left tackle), Ralph Maddox (left guard), Graham Batchelor (center), Milton Leathers (right guard), James Hamrick (right tackle), Weddington Kelley (right end), Austin Downes (quarterback), Spud Chandler (left halfback), Marion Dickens (right halfback), Jack Roberts (fullback). The substitutes were: Homer Key, Wendell Sullivan and Jodie Whire. Davidson Davidson vs. VPI Davidson VPI 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 18 October 10, 1931 Miles StadiumBlacksburg, VA Richard Carrington (UVA) 1931 Davidson Wildcats football team The starting lineup for VPI was: Palmer (left end), Stark (left tackle), Hite (left guard), Brown (center), Swart (right guard), Grinus (right tackle), Chandler (right end), Porterfield (quarterback), Casey (left halfback), Hardwick (right halfback), Robison (fullback). The substitutes were: Murphy and Ottley. The starting lineup for Davidson was: Lelon Raker (left end), John Wagner (left tackle), Graham Mathis (left guard), Ulrich Gardner (center), Powhatan Conway (right guard), Whitfield (right tackle), Robert Johnston (right end), Donald King (quarterback), Charles Pearce (left halfback), Edward Peabody (right halfback), Donald McQueen (fullback). The substitutes were: Barrier, Eugene Cannon, Jerome Clark, William Flinn, Calvin Kuykendall, John McConnell, McElrath, Allen Mills, Frederick Ogden and West. William & Mary William & Mary vs. VPI W&M VPI 0 6 0 0 0 6 0 0 October 17, 1931 City StadiumRichmond, VA Richard Carrington (UVA) 1931 William & Mary Indians football team The starting lineup for VPI was: Seaman (left end), Stark (left tackle), Murphy (left guard), Brown (center), Swart (right guard), Grinus (right tackle), Palmer (right end), Hardwick (quarterback), Casey (left halfback), Groth (right halfback), Robison (fullback). The substitutes were: Hite, Ottley and Porterfield. The starting lineup for William & Mary was: Bob Henderson (left end), Otis Douglas (left tackle), George Fisher (left guard), Thomas Ayers (center), Edwin Meade (right guard), Gerry Quirk (right tackle), Thomas Halligan (right end), Edward Bergin (quarterback), Barrett Roberts (left halfback), William Palese (right halfback), Butch Constantino (fullback). The substitutes were: Harold Balkan, E. A. DeBordenave, Aime LaCroix and Nash Lindsey. Kentucky VPI at Kentucky VPI Kentucky 0 6 0 0 7 0 7 6 October 24, 1931 McLean StadiumLexington, KY 2:30 p.m. 6,000 "Soggy and muggy" Frank Lane 1931 Kentucky Wildcats football team The starting lineup for VPI was: Palmer (left end), Stark (left tackle), Murphy (left guard), Brown (center), Hite (right guard), Grinus (right tackle), Seaman (right end), Groth (quarterback), Casey (left halfback), Robison (right halfback), Howard (fullback). The substitutes were: Betts, Chandler, English, Hardwick, Hoenstine, Miles, Morgan, Ottley, Porterfield, Simmons and Swart. The starting lineup for Kentucky was: U. T. Duff (left end), Ralph Wright (left tackle), O. L. "Bud" Davidson (left guard), Frank Seale (center), Darrell Darby (right guard), Kenneth Andrews (right tackle), George Skinner (right end), Dick Richards (quarterback), Shipwreck Kelly (left halfback), Cecil Urbaniak (right halfback), Ralph Kercheval (fullback). The substitutes were: Stanley Bach, Thomas Cassady, M. J. "Bud" Cavana, Engel, Foster, Janes, Ellis T. Johnson, Robert Kipping, Howard Kreuter, William Luther, Robert Montgomery, Parrish, Pribble, Newell Wilder, Worthington and George Yates. Maryland Maryland vs. VPI Maryland VPI 0 13 7 0 0 0 0 0 October 31, 1931 Miles StadiumBlacksburg, VA 5,000 "Chilly" 1931 Maryland Aggies football team VPI's 1931 homecoming game was a loss to Maryland. The starting lineup for VPI was: Seaman (left end), Stark (left tackle), Hite (left guard), Brown (center), Swart (right guard), Hoenstine (right tackle), Palmer (right end), Groth (quarterback), Hardwick (left halfback), Porterfield (right halfback), Robison (fullback). The substitutes were: Casey, Howard and Murphy. The starting lineup for Maryland was: Alfred Pease (left end), Ernie Carliss (left tackle), Courtney Hayden (left guard), Parker Faber (center), Jesse Krajcovic (right guard), George Cole (right tackle), Jack Norris (right end), Charles May (quarterback), Boze Berger (left halfback), George V. Chalmers (right halfback), Ray Poppelman (fullback). The substitutes were: Charles Keenan, Paul Kiernan and John Mitchell. Washington and Lee Washington & Lee vs. VPI W&L VPI 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 November 7, 1931 Maher FieldRoanoke, VA 5,000 Lane (W&J) 1931 Washington and Lee Generals football team The starting lineup for VPI was: Palmer (left end), Stark (left tackle), Hite (left guard), Brown (center), Dyke (right guard), Grinus (right tackle), Chandler (right end), Ottley (quarterback), Hardwick (left halfback), Robison (right halfback), Howard (fullback). The substitutes were: Casey, Groth, Morgan, Porterfield, Seaman and Swart. The starting lineup for Washington and Lee was: Solomon Mosovich (left end), Thomasson Boland (left tackle), Amos Bolen (left guard), Patrick Mitchell (center), Charles Tilson (right guard), Robert Morris (right tackle), John Hanley (right end), Louis Wilson (quarterback), Wilbur Mattox (left halfback), Eugene Martin (right halfback), Frank Bailey (fullback). The substitutes were: William Grove and Joseph Sawyers. Virginia VPI at Virginia VPI Virginia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 November 14, 1931 Scott StadiumCharlottesville, VA 7,000 Frank Lane 1931 Virginia Cavaliers football team The starting lineup for VPI was: Chandler (left end), Stark (left tackle), Hite (left guard), Brown (center), Dyke (right guard), Grinus (right tackle), Palmer (right end), Howard (quarterback), Casey (left halfback), Hardwick (right halfback), Robison (fullback). The substitutes were: Groth, Ottley and Porterfield. The starting lineup for Virginia was: William Condon (left end), Charles Poss (left tackle), Herbert Bryant (left guard), Lewis Reiss (center), Bill DeButts (right guard), Ray Burger (right tackle), Gene Wager (right end), William Edgar (quarterback), William Thomas (left halfback), Douglas Myers (right halfback), Ward Brewer (fullback). VMI VMI vs. VPI VMI VPI 0 6 0 0 0 0 6 7 November 26, 1931 Maher FieldRoanoke, VA 18,000 "Balmy November weather" Black (Davidson) 1931 VMI Keydets football team The starting lineup for VPI was: Seaman (left end), Stark (left tackle), Hite (left guard), Brown (center), Betts (right guard), Grinus (right tackle), Swart (right end), Groth (quarterback), Hardwick (left halfback), Porterfield (right halfback), Robison (fullback). The substitutes were: Casey and Howard. The starting lineup for VMI was: John Gill (left end), Pus Hilliard (left tackle), Al Rochelle (left guard), James Rea (center), Arthur Marklis (right guard), Charles Straub (right tackle), Randolph Gregory (right end), William Smith (quarterback), Paul Travers (left halfback), Tucker Watkins (right halfback), Ralph Waite (fullback). The substitutes were: Charles Bailey, William Kaylor, Ed Kostainsek, Jack Lavinder, Louis Seigel, Irvin Smith, Eugene Spaulding and Fred Urick. Players Roster VPI 1931 roster William Earle Betts Charles Eugene Brown (Capt.) Alfred Layden Casey Edwin F. Chandler Earl E. Dyke Edward "Red" English Bill Grinus Heinie Groth Earl Jenis Hall Samuel Elkana Hardwick Eugene Goliday Hite Garland Woodrow Hoenstine Frank A. Howard Wiley Leroy Jennings M. J. "Red" Kasun Kelsey John A. McIntire W. L. "Sonny" Miles Charles Morgan John Marshall Murphy Keith Millner Oliver Waightes Gibbs Ottley Benny Palmer William Breckenridge Porterfield Carl Francis Robison Alfred Elsworth Seaman Henry DeWitt Shank Sifford Leon Dalmain Simmons Harry Hyman Stark James L. Swart John Lester Yorke Monogram Club members Eighteen players received monograms for their participation on the 1931 VPI team.Virginia Tech Honors Players https://www.virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=VPTNL19311203.1.11&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN--------- Library of Virginia Virginian-Pilot and the Norfolk Landmark December 3, 1931 11 March 5, 2026 Player Hometown Notes William Earle Betts Richmond, Virginia World War II veteran (Captain, Army Corps of Engineers). Awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Croix de Guerre. Charles Eugene "Dolly" Brown Portsmouth, Virginia Alfred Layden Casey Portsmouth, Virginia Edwin F. Chandler Newport News, Virginia World War II veteran (Commander, Naval Reserve). Earl E. Dyke Newport News, Virginia Bill Grinus Orient, Illinois Charles Alexander "Heinie" Groth Cedar Rapids, Iowa Earl Jenis "Bus" Hall Princeton, West Virginia Samuel Elkana Hardwick Dublin, Virginia Frank A. Howard Childress, Virginia John Marshall Murphy Knoxville, Tennessee Waightes Gibbs Ottley Norfolk, Virginia Benny Palmer Newport News, Virginia William Breckenridge Porterfield, Jr. Glade Spring, Virginia World War II veteran (Lieutenant Commander, Navy). Carl Francis Robison Watertown, New York World War II veteran (Lieutenant Commander, Navy). Awarded the Navy Cross. Alfred Elsworth Seaman Pontiac, Michigan World War II veteran (Sergeant, Army). Harry Hyman Stark Portsmouth, Virginia James L. Swart Coaching and training staff Head coach: Orville Neal Assistant coaches P. Hotchkiss Herbert McEver Line coach: Lyal Clark Manager: H. D. Shank Freshman head coach: Henry Redd Freshman Manager: W. H. Walthall References VPI Category:Virginia Tech Hokies football seasons VPI Football