1927 Tennessee Volunteers football team

American college football season February 2026 January 2019 1927 Tennessee Volunteers football Southern Conference SoCon 8–0–1 5–0–1 Robert Neyland 2nd Single-wing John Barnhill Shields–Watkins Field SoCon co-champion The 1927 Tennessee Volunteers football team (variously "Tennessee", "UT" or the "Vols") represented the University of Tennessee in the 1927 Southern Conference football season. Playing as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon), the team was led by head coach Robert Neyland, in his second year, and played their home games at Shields–Watkins Field in Knoxville, Tennessee. The 1927 Vols won eight, lost zero and tied one game (8–0–1 overall, 5–0–1 in the SoCon). The only blemish on Tennessee's schedule was a tie with in-state rival, Vanderbilt. Playing seven home games, the 1927 Vols outscored their opponents 246 to 26 and posted seven shutouts. Before the season Robert Neyland was hired to coach Tennessee in 1926 by Nathan Dougherty with the explicit goal to "even the score with Vanderbilt", and had his first great team in 1927.1583 Robert Neyland Schedule September 24 w y 1927 Carson–Newman Parsons Carson–Newman Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN 33–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82951959/tennessee-gives-parsons-33-to-0-dubbing/ The Knoxville News-Sentinel Tennessee gives Parsons 33 to 0 dubbing September 25, 1927 August 6, 2021 Newspapers.com October 1 w y North Carolina Emerson Field Chapel Hill, NC 26–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82952110/carolina-loses-to-tennessees-vols/ The News and Observer Carolina loses to Tennessee's Vols October 2, 1927 August 6, 2021 Newspapers.com October 8 w y 1927 Maryville Scots Maryville (TN) Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN 7–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82952247/vols-forwards-fail-to-function-against-m/ The Knoxville Journal Vols forwards fail to function against Maryville October 9, 1927 August 6, 2021 Newspapers.com October 15 w Ole Miss rivalry Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN 21–7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82952352/ole-miss-scores-on-tennessee-squad/ The Clarion-Ledger Ole Miss scores on Tennessee squad October 16, 1927 August 6, 2021 Newspapers.com October 22 w y 1927 Transylvania Pioneers Transylvania Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN 57–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82952485/volunteers-smother-transylvania-by-570/ The Courier-Journal Volunteers smother Transylvania by 57–0 October 23, 1927 August 6, 2021 Newspapers.com October 29 w Virginia Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN 42–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82952652/virginia-defeated-by-tennessee-420/ Richmond Times Dispatch Virginia defeated by Tennessee, 42–0 October 30, 1927 August 6, 2021 Newspapers.com November 5 w Sewanee Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN 32–12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82952864/tennessee-smashes-sewanee-in-last-half/ Nashville Banner Tennessee smashes Sewanee in last half, winning 32–12 November 6, 1927 August 6, 2021 Newspapers.com November 12 t y Vanderbilt Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN rivalry 7–7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82953061/commodores-and-vols-battle-to-tie-in-thr/ Nashville Banner Commodores and Vols battle to tie in thrilling game November 13, 1927 August 6, 2021 Newspapers.com November 24 w y Kentucky McLean Stadium Lexington, KY rivalry 20–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82953228/tennessee-conquers-kentucky-20-to-0/ The Lexington Herald Tennessee conquers Kentucky, 20 to 0 November 25, 1927 August 6, 2021 Newspapers.com Game summaries Carson–Newman In the season opener, Tennessee beat in-state opponent Carson–Newman 33–0. North Carolina In the second week of play, Tennessee defeated UNC 26–0. The starting lineup was Lowe (left end), McArthur (left tackle), F. Johnson (left guard), Butcher (center), Burgers (right guard), Hundley (right tackle), Alley (right end), Elmore (quarterback), Derryberry (left halfback), Witt (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).Woodruff 1928 207 Maryville The Vols beat the Maryville Scots 7–0. Ole Miss Tennessee had an easy 21–7 victory over the Ole Miss Rebels, weakening in the last quarter for the first touchdown scored on the Vols. Passes from Witt and runs by Dodson got Tennessee's scores.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5470538/the_anniston_star/ June 2, 2016 Newspapers.com Tennessee Takes Easy Victory Over Mississippi, 21-7 The Anniston Star October 16, 1927 8 The starting lineup was McKeen (left end), McArthur (left tackle), Barnhill (left guard), Butcher (center), Tripp (right guard), Elliott (right tackle), Alley (right end), Elmore (quarterback), Derryberry (left halfback), Witt (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).Woodruff 1928 230 Transylvania The season's fifth shutout, Tennessee beat Transylvania 42–0. Virginia The Volunteers beat the Virginia Cavaliers 42–0. The starting lineup was McKeen (left end), McArthur (left tackle), Barnhill (left guard), Butcher (center), Tripp (right guard), Elliott (right tackle), Alley (right end), Elmore (quarterback), Derryberry (left halfback), Witt (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).Woodruff 1928 242 Sewanee Tennessee beat Sewanee 32–12. The starting lineup was McKeen (left end), McArthur (left tackle), Barnhill (left guard), Butcher (center), Tripp (right guard), H. Johnson (right tackle), Alley (right end), Tudor (quarterback), Derryberry (left halfback), Witt (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).Woodruff 1928 253 Vanderbilt Vanderbilt at Tennessee Vanderbilt Tennessee 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 7 November 12 Knoxville, Tennessee McGugin's Commodores led 7–0 until a late Dick Dodson run tied the score.https://archive.org/stream/fottballsgreates00pope#page/340/mode/2up 340 Football's Greatest Coaches Edwin Pope Edwin Pope "After the game McGugin questioned each of his players as to his whereabouts during the run. Without exception the players claimed that two men had blocked them. McGugin shrugged. "Well, we'll just protest the play. It's perfectly obvious that Tennessee had twenty-two men on the field." Vanderbilt center Vernon Sharpe arguably had the better season, but was outperformed by Tennessee's Elvin Butcher.http://athnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/athnewspapers-j2k/view?docId=bookreader/adb/adb1927/adb1927-2315.mets.xml;query=%22all-southern%22%20football;brand=athnewspapers-j2k-brand#page/1/mode/1up Four Georgia Grid Stars Voted Places On United Press Conference Team November 23, 1917 Banner-Herald December 11, 2014 June 3, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20141211100140/http://athnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/athnewspapers-j2k/view?docId=bookreader/adb/adb1927/adb1927-2315.mets.xml;query=%22all-southern%22%20football;brand=athnewspapers-j2k-brand#page/1/mode/1up dead The starting lineup was McKeen (left end), McArthur (left tackle), Barnhill (left guard), Butcher (center), Tripp (right guard), H. Johnson (right tackle), Alley (right end), Elmore (quarterback), Derryberry (left halfback), Witt (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).Woodruff 1928 266 Kentucky To close the season, the Volunteers shutout the Kentucky Wildcats 20–0. The starting lineup was McKeen (left end), McArthur (left tackle), Barnhill (left guard), Butcher (center), Tripp (right guard), H. Johnson (right tackle), Alley (right end), Elmore (quarterback), Witt (left halfback), Derryberry (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).Woodruff 1928 272 Postseason Coach Alexander of Tech wrote Neyland to accept a co-championship, and no Pickens Cup was awarded.Woodruff 1928 277 Players Line Tennessee Volunteers Number Player Position Gamesstarted Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age29 George Abernathycenter41 Scott Aldenguard 25 Herc Alleyend24 John Barnhillguard Savannah, Tennessee 17534 Ed Burgessguard23 Elvin Butchercenter Knoxville, Tennessee 18432 Joe Bybeeend40 Frank Elliotttackle37 Jim Finneycenter53 Ben Fullerguard44 Louis Greentackle54 Houston Herndonend30 Hobart Hooserguard35 Bo Hundleytackle46 Xen Hunttackle20 Farmer Johnsonguard22 Howard Johnsontackle33 Ted Loweend18 Dave McArthurtackle26 Allyn McKeenend36Harry Meyerend27 Arthur Trippguard43 George Wiggscenter Backfield Tennessee Volunteers Number Player Position Gamesstarted Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age15 E. Derryberryhalfback13 Dick Dodsonfullback Peabody Academy 18052 Jimmy Dykeshalfback12 Jimmy Elmorequarterback16 Amos Hornerfullback51 Clyde Keltnerhalfback49 Carl Reischlinghalfback21 Amos Trotterhalfback19 Vincent Tudorquarterback14 Roy Witthalfback17 Ed Younghalfback References Additional sources A History of Southern Football 1890–1928 Woodruff Fuzzy 3 1928 Tennessee Category:Tennessee Volunteers football seasons Category:Southern Conference football champion seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Tennessee Volunteers football