1901 Georgia Tech football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1901 Georgia Tech football Independent 4–0–1 John McKee 1st Hope HudsonThe Georgia Tech football information guide lists A. B. Hoilson as captain; however, there is no record of such a person on the team and is probably a typo. Piedmont Park The 1901 Georgia Tech football team represented the Georgia School of Technology during the 1901 college football season. The team was known as the Blacksmiths during the season. October 12, 1901 Techs to Meet Gordon Cadets This Afternoon The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia On May 16, Georgia Tech notified that it had been suspended by the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association amidst charges of professionalism during the 1901 baseball season. May 16, 1901 Fight on the Techs Comes from Nashville The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia While Georgia Tech disagreed that it had done anything against the association's rules, its president, Lyman Hall, proposed that the faculty would take hold of the management of the athletic teams to get reinstated to the SIAA. August 26, 1901 Yow May Return to Tech and Good Team Expected The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia However, the SIAA would not make a permanent decision until following the football season, which meant that SIAA teams were unable to schedule football games against Georgia Tech until the matter was decided. The SIAA did not approve Georgia Tech's full reinstatement into the association until at its annual meeting on December 21. December 21, 1901 Tech Is Reinstated by the Association The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia Georgia Tech entered the 1901 season on a fourteen-game losing streak. The previous year was a financial failure, raising concerns that Tech would not be able to field a baseball or football team in 1901. December 7, 1900 Journal Heads Subscription to Aid the Tech's Athletics The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia However, money raised by The Atlanta Journal and through the Georgia Tech Athletic Association made it possible to secure the upcoming season. January 14, 1901 Techs Elect Their New Athletic Officers: Great Dramatic Benefit to Pay Old Debts The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia In a January 1901 meeting, Andrew Pittman was picked to continue as football manager and Hudson, 1900's left guard, was named as captain. However, by March, Pittman resigned and Stephen Snowden was elected in his place. March 11, 1901 Tech Student Body Elects Athletic Officials The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia By the time the season started, B. R. Pringle would become the team's manager. September 26, 1901 First Game Will Be October 12 The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia On July 31, John McKee, former player at North Carolina and coach at North Carolina A&M, was announced as Georgia Tech's new head coach. July 31, 1901 Tech Will Return Many Old Football Players The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia McKee arrived in Atlanta on September 15 and the team began practice two days later. Expectations were high that McKee would keep tight control of the team and that the season would be a success. September 17, 1901 Under Coach McGee Tech Commences Practice Today The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia Georgia Tech was considered to have a heavy team, a strong line, and fast backs. October 1, 1901 A Surprise Will Be Tech The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia Coach McKee said of the team late in the season, "you may say that Tech has the strongest team she has ever put on the gridiron". November 7, 1901 New Men in Tech's Line-Up Play Good Practice Game The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia The season was a great success following three straight winless seasons. The Blacksmiths finished with a 4–0–1 record and was scored against only one time. However, low attendance was still an issue, which led to the program being in debt, though not as extensively as the previous two seasons. Following the end of Georgia Tech's season, Coach McKee accepted an invitation to assist the Georgia team in preparing for its game against Auburn. November 23, 1901 Coach McKee Goes to Athens to Help Train Georgia Team The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia A dispute with Georgia Tech over his salary payment continued into the next summer and was only resolved after McKee threatened to file a lawsuit and the supporters of Tech's athletic association raised money to settle the matter. June 25, 1902 Coach M'Kee Paid and Suit Is Withdrawn The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia He did not return to the team in 1902. Schedule October 12 3:30 p.m. w Gordon Piedmont Park Atlanta, GA 29–0 October 14, 1901 Techs Show Team Work in Game with Gordon Cadets The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia October 15 3:30 p.m. w Furman Piedmont Park Atlanta, GA 17–0 October 16, 1901 Tech Scored 17 Furman Boys 0 The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29739439/tech_scored_17_furman_boys_0/ Newspapers.com October 17 CancelledSaint Albans asked do be released from its contract due to an inability to travel. Saint Albans Piedmont Park Atlanta, GA October 16, 1901 St. Albans Cancels Game The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia October 19 CancelledGeorgia Tech cancelled its travel to Augusta over concerns that the game would have low attendance and would not be financially viable after the slim attendance at an early match between Georgia and South Carolina. October 19, 1901 Short Items Concerning Men and Public Affairs The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia 1901 Wofford Terriers Wofford Augusta, GA October 19, 1901 Tech Team Did Not Go to Augusta Yesterday The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia October 25 w y 1901 Wofford Terriers Wofford Spartanburg, SC 33–0 October 26, 1901 Tech Defeated Wofford by Big Score of 33 to 0 The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia October 26 3:00 p.m. t y Furman Greenville, SC 5–5 October 27, 1901 Techs 5, Furman 5 The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29739588/techs_5_furman_5/ Newspapers.com November 9 3:00 p.m. w South Carolina Piedmont Park Atlanta, GA 13–0 300 November 10, 1901 Techs Defeat the South Carolinans The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29738540/techs_defeat_the_south_carolinans/ Newspapers.com November 16 3:00 p.m. CancelledThe teams originally contracted for Davidson to receive a $200 guarantee, but after seeing the lackluster crowds, Georgia Tech sent a second letter recalling the original agreement and offering 85% of the gate receipts instead. No response was received from Davidson so the game was still advertised. However, Davidson did not show up to the game and no announcement was made. The crowd arrived to find the gates locked and waited until someone arrived to inform them that the game had been called off. November 17, 1901 Big Crowd Waited in Vain for Game The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia Davidson Piedmont Park Atlanta, GA A game was also planned with Georgia on October 12, but it did not materialize because Tech was not reinstated into the SIAA. August 12, 1901 University Will Have Strong Football Team The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia August 30, 1901 Georgia Will Make Trip Through the Southwest The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia Games was also considered against local teams from Macon and Savannah, Georgia, and Columbia, South Carolina, but Tech eventually declined these games as it felt playing professionals would hurt its chances of SIAA reinstatement. October 8, 1901 Macon Will Play Jacksonville The Macon News Macon, Georgia Later in the season, the team again tried to schedule a game with Georgia and explored matches with Sewanee and North Carolina. November 4, 1901 Tech in Condition for Game with Carolina Saturday The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia A game was also proposed against Alabama on Thanksgiving, but this game did not take place. Game summaries Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 2; text-align:center; nocollapse #fff #eee Gordon Cadets (0–0–0) at Georgia Tech Blacksmiths (0–0–0) Saturday, October 12, 1901 3:30 p.m. Gordon 0 0 Georgia Tech 23 6 Piedmont Park • Atlanta, Georgia Unknown Unknown Source: October 13, 1901 Techs Won in Football The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia October 14, 1901 Tech to Play Tomorrow The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia Georgia Tech's first game of the season was against Gordon. It was the first time the two schools had played. The game was played in a heavy rain and the field soon became muddy and slippery. The conditions dampened the mood of the crowd who sat "in depressing silence" throughout the game. The first half was played for fifteen minutes and the second half for only ten. Gordon started with the ball but turned it over on downs. On Tech's first possession, it made several quick gains before Wayne Holman scored a touchdown two minutes into the game. Tech scored at will through the rest of the half with Don Towers scoring twice and Oliver Huie scoring once. Gordon's quarterback, Covington, ran into the goal post and broke his nose forcing him to leave the game. At halftime, Tech led by a score of 23 to 0. In the second half, the Blacksmiths made substitutions to give the more players the practice. Gordon started off the half with runs up the center and looked like they would score, but Georgia Tech's defense prevented a touchdown. Tech made one touchdown in the shortened second half by Towers. The game ended with Georgia Tech winning 29 to 0, its first victory since 1897. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 2; text-align:center; nocollapse #fff #eee Furman Baptists (0–0–0) at Georgia Tech Blacksmiths (1–0–0) Tuesday, October 15, 1901 3:30 p.m. Furman 0 0 Georgia Tech 11 6 Piedmont Park • Atlanta, Georgia Unknown Reynolds Tichenor Source: This was Furman's first game of the season and the first time the two schools had faced each other. The game was played with a twenty-minute first half and a fifteen-minute second half. October 16, 1901 Tech Played Hard Ball and Won by Good Score The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia October 16, 1901 Ga. Techs 16, Furman 0 The Greenville News Greenville, South Carolina October 18, 1901 Furman Team in Atlanta The Greenville News Greenville, South Carolina October 17, 1901 Tech Defeats Furman The Tuskaloosa Gazette Tuscaloosa, Alabama Georgia Tech won the toss and immediately had two successive runs of twenty-yards each. On the next run, Oliver Huie scored a touchdown from the 5-yard line. On its next possession, Huie made a forty-yard run for a touchdown. Georgia Tech received the next kickoff, but the half ended with the Blacksmith's on Furman's 30-yard line and Tech leading 11 to 0. The second half was marked by multiple fumbles by Furman, due, in part, by its inexperienced center. Huie scored his third touchdown in the second half. Georgia Tech won the game 17 to 0. This marked the first time Georgia Tech won back-to-back games. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 2; text-align:center; nocollapse #fff #eee Georgia Tech Blacksmiths (2–0–0) at Wofford Spartans (1–0–0) Friday, October 25, 1901 Afternoon Georgia Tech 22 11 Wofford 0 0 Unknown Field • Spartanburg, South Carolina Unknown Unknown Source: October 26, 1901 The Techs Defeat Wofford The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia October 26, 1901 Georgia Techs vs Wofford The Greenville News Greenville, South Carolina October 26, 1901 Wofford Beaten Badly The State Columbia, South Carolina Georgia Tech was originally scheduled to play Wofford in Augusta, Georgia, a week earlier, but the game was cancelled due to concerns overt low attendance and a lack of financial viability. A game in Spartanburg, South Carolina, was added as part of Georgia Tech's travel to play a rematch with Furman in Greenville, South Carolina, the next day. This was the first time Georgia Tech and Wofford met in football. The ground was so hard that every time the men hit it, "it took the skin off". October 28, 1901 Tech Team Has Returned from Trip to Carolina The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia Georgia Tech started off with the ball and immediately made a 25-yard run followed by Huie's 70-yard run for a touchdown. On its next possession, Huie made two more long runs of over twenty yards, but Tech fumbled the ball on the Wofford's 5-yard line. Wofford made two small runs and then had to punt the ball, which Georgia Tech scored another touchdown on its succeeding possession. Wofford kicked the ball off, which led to Huie running the ball down to the 2-yard line and then a run over the center for a touchdown. The Blacksmiths scored another touchdown a few minutes later. At halftime, Tech led 22 to 0. In the second half, Wofford lost the ball on a fumble on its first possession. Georgia Tech scored on its next drive and then scored another touchdown ten minutes later. The game ended with Georgia Tech winning 33 to 0, Tech's third win in a row. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 2; text-align:center; nocollapse #fff #eee Georgia Tech Blacksmiths (3–0–0) at Furman Baptists (0–1–0) Saturday, October 26, 1901 3:00 p.m. Georgia Tech 5 0 FurmanFurman's scoring in each half is not known. 5 0 Unknown Field • Greenville, South Carolina A large crowd Unknown Source: Georgia Tech had shutout Furman in Atlanta 17–0 earlier in the season. Georgia Tech played Wofford the day before in Spartanburg; a game that the Furman coach attended. Entering the game, Georgia Tech was quite banged up from its game against Wofford the day before. The game was a hard-fought contest with both teams playing very well. Georgia Tech had the ball first and in the first two minutes, Huie scored a touchdown, but failed to kick the point after. Tech's left end, Wharton, was injured and had to leave the game. Hope Hudson, Tech's captain, Brinson, and Waddell also played well for the Blacksmiths. Furman scored a touchdown as well and the game ended in a tie game, 5–5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 2; text-align:center; nocollapse #fff #eee South Carolina Gamecocks (2–2–0) at Georgia Tech Blacksmiths (3–0–1) Saturday, November 9, 1901 3:00 p.m. South Carolina 0 0 Georgia Tech 6 7 Piedmont Park • Atlanta, Georgia 300 Reynolds Tichenor Source: November 10, 1901 Superior and Swifter The State Columbia, South Carolina November 11, 1901 Tech Beat South Carolina Easily by Better Playing The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia Georgia Tech and South Carolina were considered evenly matched coming into the game, their first ever meeting. South Carolina had won two games, including a 12–0 victory over Furman, and two close losses to Georgia and Davidson. In the lead-up to the game, Coach McKee altered the line-up to replace Wayne Holman, Tech's star right tackle who graduated and was no longer able to play. The game was originally slated to be played at Brisbine Park, but the team decided to move the match to Piedmont Park. November 6, 1901 Will Line Up Saturday at Piedmont Park The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia For the most part, the first half was an even match with both teams trading the ball. Georgia Tech won the toss and received the ball but immediately fumbled it away. South Carolina then lost the ball on a foul interference. Both teams followed with a series of punts and fumbles until about one minute to go in the first half. South Carolina fumbled the ball on its own 12-yard line. After a series of runs, Don Towers scored a 5-yard touchdown through the center of the line, and Wharton kicked the extra point. On the ensuing kickoff, the Blacksmiths lost the ball on its own 20-yard line on a foul interference call, but the time was then called. At halftime, Georgia Tech led 6 to 0. In the second half, the teams continued to trade the ball without gaining much momentum. At one point, South Carolina's quarterback, Lee, punted the ball from its 5-yard line, but the ball went back over his head into the endzone. Georgia Tech attempted to recover it for a touchdown but fumbled to South Carolina who downed it for a safety. The teams then punted the ball back and forth several more times until Cannon scored a 65-yard touchdown around the right end with two minutes to go in the game. Georgia Tech won 13 to 0. Players Georgia Tech Techs 1901 game starters Gordon Furman Wofford October 24, 1901 Tech Team Leaves Today to Play Furman and Wofford The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia Furman October 26, 1901 A Hot Football Game The Greenville News Greenville, South Carolina South Carolina November 8, 1901 Tech and South Carolina to Play at Piedmont Park The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia Left End Roy Wharton Roy Wharton Roy Wharton Roy Wharton Roy Wharton Left Tackle Don Towers Don Towers Don Towers Don Towers Don Towers Left Guard Bully Young Bully Young Bully Young Bully Young Moore Center Hope Hudson (C) Hope Hudson (C) Hope Hudson (C) Hope Hudson (C) Hope Hudson (C) Right Guard Lucas Lucas Lucas Lucas Lucas Right Tackle Wayne Holman Wayne Holman Wayne Holman Wayne Holman Bully Young Right End Cannon Cannon Cannon Cannon Cannon Quarterback Paul Brinson Paul Brinson Paul Brinson Paul Brinson Paul Brinson Left Halfback Oliver Huie Oliver Huie Oliver Huie Oliver Huie Oliver Huie Right Halfback Caserley Caserley Caserley Caserley Caserley Fullback Waddell Waddell Waddell Waddell Waddell Substitutes left Frank Bell • Reddy McDaniel • George Merritt • Pendleton • Reynolds • Son Towers Notes References Georgia Tech Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Georgia Tech football Category:1900s in Atlanta