1916 Tennessee Volunteers football team

American college football season February 2026 January 2019 1916 Tennessee Volunteers football Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association SIAA 8–0–1 6–0–1 John R. Bender 1st Short punt Multiple Graham Vowell Waite Field SIAA co-champion 1917 The 1916 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1916 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season.http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/schedules/tennessee-games/1916-volunteers-season/ 1916 Tennessee Football Schedule August 23, 2014 John R. Bender served his first season as head coach of the Volunteers. Because of World War I, Tennessee did not field another varsity squad until 1919. The 1916 Vols won eight games and lost none. The only blemish on Tennessee's record was a scoreless draw with Kentucky in the last game; and the Vols won a share of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association title for the second time in three years — sharing the title with Georgia Tech. This season also saw the first homecoming football game in Tennessee football history, hosting rival Vanderbilt, against which Tennessee achieved a then-rare victory.. The New York Herald ranked quarterback Buck Hatcher as the season's premier punter. Captain and end Graham Vowell was the season's only unanimous All-Southern selection, and was a third-team All-America selection by Walter Camp. Next to him on the line was his older brother, Morris Vowell. Next to him was Chink Lowe. At the other end was Lloyd Wolfe. Before the season Coach Bender came to Tennessee from Kansas State, effectively switching jobs with former Volunteers head coach Zora Clevenger. Bender ran a short punt system. In 1916, football used a one-platoon system in which players played both offense, defense, and special teams. Quarterback Buck Hatcher was a triple-threat. Schedule Eastern September 30 w y Tusculum Waite Field Knoxville, TN 33–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-volunteers-start-w/140869703/ The Commercial Appeal Volunteers start well; Tusculum team unable to cope with Orange and White October 1, 1916 February 13, 2024 Newspapers.com October 7 w y 1916 Maryville Scots Maryville (TN) Waite Field Knoxville, TN 32–6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-and-tribune-maryville-beaten/140869840/ The Journal and Tribune Maryville beaten 32 to 6 but plays football all the route October 8, 1916 February 13, 2024 Newspapers.com October 14 w y Clemson Riggs Field Calhoun, SC 14–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-news-tigers-succumbed-to-t/140869940/ The Charlotte News Tigers succumbed to Tennesseans October 15, 1916 February 13, 2024 Newspapers.com October 21 w South Carolina Waite Field Knoxville, TN rivalry 26–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93380511/tennessee-defeats-carolina-in-snappy-exh/ The Journal and Tribune Tennessee defeats Carolina in snappy exhibition, 26 to 0 October 22, 1916 February 13, 2022 Newspapers.com October 28 w y Florida Plant Field Tampa, FL rivalry 24–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-tennessee-elev/140870066/ The Montgomery Advertiser Tennessee eleven clearly outclasses that of Florida October 29, 1916 February 13, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 w y Chattanooga Chamberlain Field Chattanooga, TN 12–7 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-poor-headwork-lost-f/140870183/ The Atlanta Journal Poor headwork lost for 'Nooga November 5, 1916 February 13, 2024 Newspapers.com November 11 w y Vanderbilt Waite Field Knoxville, TN rivalry 10–6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-terrible-jolt-handed/140869158/ The Atlanta Journal Terrible jolt handed by Vols of old Tennessee November 12, 1916 February 13, 2024 Newspapers.com November 18 w y Sewanee Andrews Field Chattanooga, TN 17–0 500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chattanooga-daily-times-tennessee-defeat/136969133/ The Chattanooga Daily Times Tennessee defeats Sewanee in riot of thrilling runs and pretty punting November 19, 1916 December 17, 2023 Newspapers.com November 30 t Kentucky Waite Field Knoxville, TN rivalry 0–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/knoxville-sentinel-doc-rodes-comes-to/140870342/ The Knoxville Sentinel "Doc" Rodes comes to town, holds Tennessee to tie game and upset December 1, 1916 February 13, 2024 Newspapers.com Game summaries Tusculum The season opened with a 33–0 defeat of Tusculum. Maryville In the second week of play, Tennessee beat the Maryville Scots 32–0. Clemson Tennessee at Clemson Tennessee Clemson 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 October 12 Riggs FieldClemson, SC Bocock Sources: Tennessee beat Clemson 14–0, the game remaining 0–0 well into the fourth quarter. Eventually in the fourth, Tennessee drove to the 1-yard line and lost the ball on downs. After forcing Clemson to punt, Tennessee again found itself at the 1-yard line, and was penalized 5 yards. Clemson was also penalized 5 yards, and with the ball back at the 1-yard line the Volunteers scored the touchdown. The second touchdown came on an interception.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15645812/the_greenville_news/ Tigers Outplayed and Defeated by Tennessee 14 to 0 9 October 15, 1916 The Greenville News December 8, 2017 Newspapers.com The starting lineup was G. Vowell (left end), M. Vowell (left tackle), Shoulders (left guard), Robinson (center), Lowe (right guard), Henderson (right tackle), Wolfe (right end), Luck (quarterback), Emery (left halfback), Shelby (right halfback), A. Hatcher (fullback). South Carolina The Volunteers defeated South Carolina 26–0. Florida Tennessee at Florida Tennessee Florida 7 7 0 10 0 0 0 0 October 28 Plant FieldTampa, FL Coles (Clemson) Sources: The Vols blanked the Florida Gators in Tampa 24–0 in the two rivals first-ever meeting. Hatcher's punts were the feature of the contest.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5184289/the_atlanta_constitution/ 5 Atlanta Constitution Tennessee 24, Florida 0 October 29, 1916 May 7, 2016 Newspapers.com The starting lineup was G. Vowell (left end), M. Vowell (left tackle), Lowe (left guard), Robinson (center), Shoulders (right guard), Hambaugh (right tackle), Wolfe (right end), A. Hatcher (quarterback), Shelby (left halfback), Emory (right halfback), Luck (fullback). Chattanooga Tennessee beat Chattanooga 12–7, the most points scored on the Vols all season. Vanderbilt Tennessee upset the Vanderbilt Commodores 10–6. Vanderbilt's lone score came on a 70-yard run by Rabbit Curry. Graham Vowell scored the touchdown and Buck Hatcher kicked a field goal.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2090900// The Charlotte Observer March 29, 2015 6 November 13, 1916 Newspapers.com Defeat of Vandy Was Big Surprise Hatcher regularly outpunted Tom Zerfoss. Both ends, Vowell and Lloyd Wolfe, helped stop Curry.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4031640/the_tennessean/ The Tennessean Auburn Has Bulge In Weight And Experience Behind Line 12 November 15, 1916 January 13, 2016 Newspapers.com The starting lineup was G. Vowell (left end), M. Vowell (left tackle), Lowe (left guard), Robinson (center), Henderson (right guard), Hambaugh (right tackle), Wolfe (right end), A. Hatcher (quarterback), Emory (left halfback), Twifford (right halfback), Ring (fullback).Woodruff 1928 42 Sewanee The Volunteers beat the Sewanee Tigers 17–0. Morris Vowell had a 99-yard interception return. Kentucky Kentucky at Tennessee Kentucky Tennessee 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 November 30 Waite FieldKnoxville, TN Henry (Kenyon) Sources: The season closed with an upset tie by the Kentucky Wildcats, an account of which reads "Rodes and McIlvain, Kentucky's quarterback and fullback, played a magnificent game and had they received the proper support from their team, would have piled up a large score against Tennessee."https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2274824/the_atlanta_constitution/ Kentucky State Outplays Tenn. December 1, 1916 Atlanta Constitution 8 April 23, 2015 Newspapers.com The starting lineup was G. Vowell (left end), M. Vowell (left tackle), Lowe (left guard), Robinson (center), Henderson (right guard), Hambaugh (right tackle), Wolfe (right end), A. Hatcher (quarterback), Emory (left halfback), J. Luck (right halfback), Ring (fullback). Postseason The New York Herald ranked quarterback Buck Hatcher as the season's premier punter.https://books.google.com/books?id=pgITAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Buck+Hatcher+was+classed+by+the+New+York+Herald+as+the+world%27s+premier+punter+of+1916%22 150 The Record of Sigma Alpha Epsilon 37 [1] 1917 Graham Vowell was the season's only unanimous All-Southern selection, and was a third-team All-America selection by Walter Camp. Personnel Depth chart +Offense LE Graham Vowell   LT LG C RG RT Morris Vowell Chink Lowe Charles W. Robinson Possum Henderson P. C. Hambaugh William Shoulders RE Lloyd Wolfe   QB Buck Hatcher LHBRHB Bill EmoryJames K. Luck A. G. ShelbyBill Emory FB Ned Ring James K. Luck - References Additional sources A History of Southern Football 1890–1928 Woodruff Fuzzy 1928 2 Tennessee Category:Tennessee Volunteers football seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Tennessee Volunteers football