1927 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1927 Vanderbilt Commodores football Southern Conference SoCon 8–1–2 5–0–2 Dan McGugin 23rd Vernon Sharpe Dudley Field 200 The 1927 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the 1927 Southern Conference football season. The 1927 season was Dan McGugin's 23rd year as head coach. Running back Jimmy Armistead led the nation in scoring in 1927 with 138 points.SEC Football Trivia Ernie Couch 30 July 2001 Thomas Nelson 9781418571788 https://books.google.com/books?id=o9qcRV21QkgC&q=football+armistead+vanderbilt&pg=PT168 The team's quarterback was Bill Spears. One fellow wrote Vanderbilt produced "almost certainly the legit top Heisman candidate in Spears, if there had been a Heisman Trophy to award in 1927."http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv02/CFHSNv02n1a.pdf College Football Historical Society 2 1 November 1988 Spears and Vandy excitement in 1927 Mark Purcell 2014-11-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20160911232525/http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv02/CFHSNv02n1a.pdf 2016-09-11 dead Schedule September 24 w y y Chattanooga Chamberlain Field Chattanooga, TN 45–18 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chattanooga-daily-times-vanderbilt-hands/136526434/ The Chattanooga Times Vanderbilt hands Moccasins 45 to 18 defeat after U. of C. stadium dedication September 24, 1927 December 9, 2023 Newspapers.com October 1 w 1927 Ouachita Baptist Tigers Ouachita Baptist Dudley Field Nashville, TN 39–10 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-vanderbilt-passes/136526486/ The Commercial Appeal Vanderbilt passes win over Ouachita October 2, 1927 December 9, 2023 Newspapers.com October 8 w y 1927 Centre Praying Colonels Centre Dudley Field Nashville, TN 53–6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-vanderbilt-buries-ce/136526564/ The Courier-Journal Vanderbilt buries Centre Colonels under 54 to 6 landslide October 9, 1927 December 9, 2023 Newspapers.com October 15 l y y Texas Fair Park Stadium Dallas, TX 6–13 18,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123476491/texas-cops-sensational-win-over-commodor/ The Knoxville Sunday Journal Texas cops sensational win over Commodores October 16, 1927 April 24, 2023 Newspapers.com October 22 w Tulane Dudley Field Nashville, TN 32–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99467774/bill-spears-hero-of-vandy-triumph/ The Birmingham News Bill Spears hero of Vandy triumph October 23, 1927 April 10, 2022 Newspapers.com October 29 w Kentucky Dudley Field Nashville, TN rivalry 34–6 6,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-commodores-win-fro/136526620/ Greensboro Daily Record Commodores win from Ky. October 30, 1927 December 9, 2023 Newspapers.com November 6 t Georgia Tech Dudley Field Nashville, TN rivalry 0–0 17,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-commodores-and-tor/136525078/ The News and Observer Commodores and Tornado in deadlock November 6, 1927 December 9, 2023 Newspapers.com November 12 t y Tennessee 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 19 w Maryland Dudley Field Nashville, TN 39–20 5,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/nashville-banner-spears-hurt-as-commodor/136526717/ Nashville Banner Spears hurt as Commodores beat Maryland team 39–20 November 20, 1927 December 9, 2023 Newspapers.com November 24 w Sewanee Dudley Field Nashville, TN rivalry 26–6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99911390/commodores-unleash-winning-attack/ The Bristol Herald Courier Commodores unleash winning attack November 25, 1927 April 17, 2022 Newspapers.com December 3 w y Alabama Legion Field Birmingham, AL 14–7 20,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71660822/mcguginites-splinter-tides-big-forward/ The Tennessean McGuginites splinter Tide's big forward wall and twice rip over 70 yard marches in 14 to 7 win December 4, 1927 August 5, 2021 Newspapers.com1927 Vanderbilt Commodores Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football December 9, 2023 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/vanderbilt/1927-schedule.html Game summaries Chattanooga Vanderbilt started the season with a 45–18 victory over Chattanooga. Chattanooga did not lose another game and was champion of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Ouachita In the second week of play, Ouachita was defeated 39–10. Centre Vanderbilt overwhelmed Centre 53–6. Texas Vanderbilt at Texas Vanderbilt Texas 0 0 0 6 13 0 0 0 October 15 Fair Park StadiumDallas 18,000 Boyton In Dallas, the Commodores suffered the season's only loss to Texas Longhorns 13–6. Texas scored on a 20-yard pass from Baldwin to Ford, and on a run from Baldwin. Vanderbilt's lone score came on a 16-yard pass to Owens. Spears fought three Texans as he threw the pass.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5217841/abilene_reporternews/ Tennesseans Score On Pass In Last Period Abilene Reporter-News 4 October 16, 1927 May 10, 2016 Newspapers.com The starting lineup was Kelly (left end), Lusky (left tackle), Cecil (left guard), V. Sharpe (center), Oliver (right guard), Abernathy (right tackle), Creson (right end), Spears (quarterback), McIlwain (left halfback), Owen (right halfback), Armistead (fullback). Tulane Bernie Bierman thought of ditching his single-wingback formation after the 32–0 win over Tulane, and was convinced to keep it by McGugin.https://archive.org/stream/fottballsgreates00pope#page/340/mode/2up Football's Greatest Coaches 341 Edwin Pope Edwin Pope archive.org March 8, 2015 1955 The starting lineup was Abernathy (left end), Hawkins (left tackle), Kelly (left guard), V. Sharpe (center), Cecil (right guard), Lusky (right tackle), Creson (right end), Spears (quarterback), Owen (left halfback), McIlwain (right halfback), Armistead (fullback).Woodruff 1928 231 Kentucky Kentucky was beaten 34–6. The starting lineup was James (left end), Hawkins (left tackle), Kelly (left guard), Oliver (center), Cecil (right guard), Lusky (right tackle), Creson (right end), Spears (quarterback), Owen (left halfback), McIlwain (right halfback), Armistead (fullback).Woodruff 1928 244 Georgia Tech Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt Ga. Tech Vanderbilt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 November 6 Dudley FieldNashville, Tennessee Wet A wet field and a strong defense, ranked by one researcher as best in the South,http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv02/CFHSNv02n1a.pdf College Football Historical Society 2 1 November 1988 Spears and Vandy excitement in 1927 Mark Purcell 2014-11-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20160911232525/http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv02/CFHSNv02n1a.pdf 2016-09-11 dead helped Georgia Tech reassert itself and hold Vanderbilt to a scoreless tie, despite the Commodores having the upper hand in play.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4675548/the_waco_newstribune/ The Waco News-Tribune 2 March 20, 2016 Newspapers.com November 7, 1927 In the South A strong game had been predicted, showcasing each team's backfield stars in Stumpy Thomason of Tech and Bill Spears of Vanderbilt.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3337460/the_daily_deadwood_pioneertimes/ The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times 4 Star Backs Promise Battle When Vandy Meets Georgia Tech March 20, 2016 Newspapers.com Vernon Sharpe suffered a knee injury before the game. The starting lineup was Abernathy (left end), Hawkins (left tackle), Kelly (left guard), V. Sharpe (center), Cecil (right guard), Lusky (right tackle), Creson (right end), Spears (quarterback), Owen (left halfback), McIlwain (right halfback), Armistead (fullback)https://smartech.gatech.edu/bitstream/handle/1853/33548/1927-11-11_17_07.pdf?sequence=1 4 The Technique November 11, 1927 Jackets and Vandy Fight To Tie, 0-0 Tennessee Vanderbilt at Tennessee Vanderbilt Tennessee 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 7 November 12 Knoxville, Tennessee 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. 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 1956 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 May 10, 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 Abernathy (left end), Hawkins (left tackle), James (left guard), V. Sharpe (center), Cecil (right guard), Lusky (right tackle), Creson (right end), Spears (quarterback), Owen (left halfback), McIlwain (right halfback), Armistead (fullback).Woodruff 1928 266 Maryland Spears played only in the first half in the 39–20 win over Maryland, but completed 10 of 12 passes.Woodruff 1928 267 Sewanee Vanderbilt defeated Sewanee 26–6. The starting lineup was Abernathy (left end), Hawkins (left tackle), Oliver (left guard), V. Sharpe (center), Cecil (right guard), Lusky (right tackle), Creson (right end), Owen (quarterback), McIlwain (left halfback), Sims (right halfback), Armistead (fullback).Woodruff 1928 270 Alabama Vanderbilt at Alabama Vanderbilt Alabama 7 0 0 7 0 7 0 0 December 3 Legion FieldBirmingham, Alabama 20,000 The Commodores faced Wallace Wade's Alabama Crimson Tide in the season finale. Spears gained more than the entire Alabama backfield as the Commodores won 14–7.http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/27-m-footbl-recaps.pdf Archived copy 2016-05-10 2016-10-20 https://web.archive.org/web/20161020115223/http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/27-m-footbl-recaps.pdf dead The highlight of Vanderbilt's first scoring drive was a pass from Spears to Armistead of 20 yards, down to the 3-yard line, from which Armistead later ran it in. On Alabama's scoring drive, Red Brown ran 23 yards on a reverse, down to the 4-yard line. Tony Holm eventually got the score. In the fourth quarter, Spears led the winning drive, once circling end for 34 yards, tackling by Starling just as he seemed to break free. He then passed to Larry Creson for 10 yards, ran for 6, and then 13 more around end to the 16-yard line. After Spears and Armistead worked it down to the 9-yard line, a pass to Roy Gibson got the touchdown. After the season Spears passed for 1,207 yards and 9 touchdowns. An all-senior football team at the end of the year used Vandy's offensive system.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4593934/kingsport_times/ Kingsport Times 2 December 25, 1927 Southern Team Will Used Vandy offensive System March 20, 2016 Newspapers.com Personnel Coaching staff Dan McGugin (Michigan '03), head coach Johnny "Red" Floyd (Vanderbilt '20), assistant coach Lewie Hardage (Vanderbilt '12), backfield coach Hek Wakefield (Vanderbilt '24), end coach Gus Morrow (Vanderbilt '22), line coach References Additional sources A History of Southern Football 1890–1928 Woodruff Fuzzy 3 1928 Vanderbilt Category:Vanderbilt Commodores football seasons Vanderbilt Commodores football