1918 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1918 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football 18gatech.jpg 285 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association SIAA 6–1 3–0 John Heisman 15th Jump shift Bill Fincher Grant Field SIAA champion The 1918 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football teamnote Although Georgia Tech's teams are officially known as the "Yellow Jackets", northern writers called the team the "Golden Tornado" in 1917; the name was commonly used until 1928 and for many years afterwards as an alternate nickname.Van Brimmer Rice 2011 147 represented the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1918 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. The Tornado was coached by John Heisman in his 15th year as head coach, compiling a record of 6–1 (3–0 SIAA) and outscoring opponents 466 to 32. Georgia Tech played its home games at Grant Field. Tech eclipsed 100 points three different times. Its only road game was its only loss to national champion Pittsburgh at Forbes Field. Pittsburgh was the only team to score on Tech during the 1918 season. The defeat ended Georgia Tech's 33-game winning streak. Center Bum Day was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American. He was a first-team selection by Walter Camp; the first Southerner to be chosen for Camp's All-America first team. Bill Fincher and Joe Guyon also made consensus All-America. Fincher and Buck Flowers made Camp's second-team. Before the season thumb|left|110px|Bill Fincher Because of America's entry into World War I in April 1917 and the ongoing war effort, several SIAA schools did not field football teams in 1918.Woodruff 1928 70 Coming off the South's first national championship in 1917, Tech lost several players to the war effort and was heavily reliant on freshmen. With captain-elect Everett Strupper lost to the war effort, tackle and placekicker Bill Fincher was left as captain. Fincher had a glass eye which he would covertly pull out after feigning an injury, turn to his opponents and say: "So that's how you want to play!"https://books.google.com/books?id=cm1TZA6jCSgC&q=bill+fincher+glass+eye&pg=PA28 SEC Football: 75 Years of Pride and Passion Richard Scott 28 978-1-61673-133-5 2008-09-15 Coach John Heisman used the pre-snap movement of his "jump shift" offense.https://archive.org/details/footballimmortal00weya registration Football immortals Macmillan 91 Alexander M. Weyand 1962 Former end and Notre Dame alumnus Fay Wood assisted Heisman as line coach. Buck Flowers was in his first year on the team. He was a small back who had transferred from Davidson, where last year he starred in the game against Tech. Flowers had grown to weigh 150 pounds and was a backup until Heisman discovered his ability as an open-field runner on punt returns. "Heisman's eyes bulged. And bulged again. On the first punt, Buck ran through the entire first team. Same thing again ... and again. Heisman had uncovered one of the greatest broken-field runners."Buck Flowers: He Could Do It All — Well Daily Item Sumter, S.C. October 15, 1969 B2 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1979&dat=19691015&id=fXMiAAAAIBAJ&pg=1126,1790436 Schedule thumb|260px|Undetermined home game. Almost everyone in the crowd is wearing masks due to the Spanish flu pandemic. October 5 w Clemson Grant Field Atlanta, GA rivalry 28–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-georgia-tech-beats-c/148577367/ The Birmingham News Georgia Tech beats Clemson 28 to 0 October 6, 1918 June 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 12 w Furman Grant Field Atlanta, GA 118–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-tech-walloped-furman/148577555/ The Greenville News Tech walloped Furman 118 to 0 October 13, 1918 June 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 19 w y Georgia Eleventh Cavalry Grant Field Atlanta, GA 123–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-eleventh-cavalry-get/148578026/ The Atlanta Journal Eleventh Cavalry gets a taste of front trenches; Ga. Tech wins 123 to 0 October 20, 1918 June 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 26 w y Camp Gordon Grant Field Atlanta, GA 28–0 12,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-yellow-jackets/148578280/ The Atlanta Constitution Yellow Jackets defeat Camp Gordon October 27, 1918 June 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 9 w y NC State Grant Field Atlanta, GA 128–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-nc-state-colleg/148578555/ The Charlotte Observer N.C. State College is defeated by Ga. Tech November 10, 1918 June 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 23 l y y Pittsburgh Forbes Field Pittsburgh, PA 0–32 30,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-georgia-tech-mee/148578976/ Richmond Times-Dispatch Georgia Tech meets first defeat in years November 24, 1918 June 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 28 w Auburn Grant Field Atlanta, GA rivalry 41–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-post-georgia-tech-romped-on/148579154/ The Houston Post Georgia Tech romped on Alabama Polys November 29, 1918 June 2, 2024 Newspapers.com Game summaries Clemson Clemson at Georgia Tech Clemson Ga. Tech 0 0 0 0 0 14 7 7 October 5 Grant FieldAtlanta, GA Lieut. Messer Sources: The season opened with a 28–0 defeat of Clemson. During the game, Red Barron hurdled tacklers for a 40-yard gain. The last score came on a 55-yard run by Joe Guyon.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5157735/the_charlotte_observer/ The Charlotte Observer Georgia Tech Defeats Clemson College Team 16 October 6, 1918 May 4, 2016 Newspapers.com Other scores came from Pug Allen and Wally Smith. Former captain Everett Strupper cheered from the sidelines. The starting lineup was: Fincher (left end), Doyal (left tackle), Nesbit (left guard), Davis (center), Dowling (right guard), Vandegrift (right tackle), Staton (right end), Barron (quarterback), Ferst (left halfback), Guyon (right halfback), and Allen (fullback).https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5174256/the_atlanta_constitution/ The Atlanta Constitution Jackets Defeat Tigers In Typical Opening Game 3 Dick Jemison October 6, 1918 May 6, 2016 Newspapers.com Furman Furman at Georgia Tech Furman Ga. Tech 0 0 0 0 14 35 28 41 October 12 Grant FieldAtlanta, GA Lewis (Virginia) Sources: Buck Flowers starred in the 118–0 victory over Furman. Joe Guyon played in the line and did well. Tech made 34 first downs.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5157616/the_atlanta_constitution/ Dick Jemison Dick Jemison Yellow Jackets Top Century Mark In Points Scored Atlanta Constitution 3 October 13, 1918 May 4, 2016 Newspapers.com For one score, in the fourth quarter, Flowers hit Red Barron on a 72-yard touchdown pass that went 42 yards in the air. The scoring breakdown: Barron got 4 touchdowns, Allen 3, Adams 2, Ferst 2, Guyon, Fincher, Flowers, Smith, Cobb, and Doyal one each. Fincher made 14 straight extra points. Flowers made the other two. The starting lineup was: Fincher (left end), Doyal (left tackle), Rogers (left guard), Davis (center), Huffines (right guard), Guyon (right tackle), Staton (right end), Barron (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Ferst (right halfback), and Allen (fullback). Georgia Eleventh Cavalry Tech beat the Georgia Eleventh Cavalry, 123–0. The game was called after the start of the third quarter.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5157935/pittsburgh_postgazette/ The Gazette Times Pittsburgh Georgia Tech 123, 11 U. S. Cavalry 0 sec. 3, p. 4 May 4, 2016 October 20, 1918 The scoring breakdown: Flowers got 5 touchdowns, Barron 4, Ferst, Allen, and Staton 2 each, Smith, Fincher, and Cobb one each. Camp Gordon Georgia Tech beat Camp Gordon 28–0. Frank Ferst and Red Barron each scored two touchdowns. "Barron had the game of his life" said the yearbook. The game was nip and tuck until Everett Strupper, former Tech star playing for Gordon, fumbled, and Ferst recovered, racing 30 yards for a touchdown. In the third quarter, Red Barron had a 28-yard touchdown.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5157909/the_tennessean/ The Tennessean Georgia Tech Defeats Camp Gordon Eleven October 27, 1918 24 May 4, 2016 Newspapers.com NC State NC State at Georgia Tech NCST Ga. Tech 0 0 0 0 33 42 32 21 November 9 Grant FieldAtlanta, GA Moriarty Sources: Two days before the Armistice, Tech beat 1918 NC State Aggies football team 128–0. State's only highlight came in the third quarter, when John Ripple recovered a teammate's fumble and returned the ball 75 yards for a touchdown. However, it was called back due to an offsides penalty. Walter Camp attended the game. Ripple became the first football player from North Carolina ever to make an All-America team when he was selected second-team All-American by Camp.http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081108aac.html The First Football All-American Tim Peeler February 21, 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150221193044/http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081108aac.html February 21, 2015Camp's All American: Football Dean Names Three Teams from Last Season's Records The New York Times December 31, 1918 https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1918/12/31/97058136.pdf Five minutes into the fourth quarter, the game was called.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5162173/the_atlanta_constitution/ The Atlanta Constitution November 10, 1918 3 Carolina Signs Armistice Before Game Is Concluded Dick Jemison Dick Jemison May 4, 2016 Newspapers.com The scoring breakdown: Barron and Ferst got 4 touchdowns each, Smith 3, Allen 3, Staton 2, Cobb 2, and Adams 1. The starting lineup was: Fincher (left end), Doyal (left tackle), Nesbit (left guard), Day (center), Rogers (right guard), Webb (right tackle), Staton (right end), Barron (quarterback), Ferst (left halfback), Adams (right halfback), and Allen (fullback). Pittsburgh Georgia Tech at Pittsburgh Ga. Tech Pitt 0 0 0 0 7 7 12 6 November 23 Forbes FieldPittsburgh, PA 30,000 Tufts (Brown) Sources: After declining the challenge the previous year, Pop Warner's Pittsburgh team was set to play Georgia Tech. In a high-profile game played as a War Charities benefit Pitt dismantled Georgia Tech 32–0, ending Tech's 33-game streak without a loss. Keck Harry Navy Reserves Steal Game From Pitt Pittsburgh Sunday Post November 30, 1918 33 Athlon Sports Communications Nashville, TN 1-878839-04-7. Republished in The Greatest Moments in Pitt Football History (1994).https://books.google.com/books?id=4LD1S47AQbcC&pg=PA3 50 Great Moments in Pittsburgh Sports: From the Flying Dutchman to Sid the Kid David Shribman September 2012 9781623680640 Pittsburgh was the 1918 national champion. Borghetti E.J. Nestor Mendy Welsh Celeste 2008 Pitt Football Media Guide University of Pittsburgh 2008 Pittsburgh, PA 156 http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pitt/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2008FBMediaGuide.pdf 2010-07-07 2011-05-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20110523130245/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pitt/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2008FBMediaGuide.pdf dead Warner historian Francis Powers wrote: At Forbes Field, the dressing rooms of the two teams were separated only by a thin wall. As the Panthers were sitting around, awaiting Warner's pre-game talk, Heisman began to orate in the adjoining room. In his charge to the Tech squad, Heisman became flowery and fiery. He brought the heroes of ancient Greece and the soldier dead in his armor among the ruins of Pompeii. It was terrific and the Panthers sat, spellbound. When Heisman had finished, Warner chortled and quietly said to his players: 'Okay, boys. There's the speech. Now go out and knock them off.'Powers 1969 42 thumb|260px|Pitt's Tom Davies runs against Tech. Tech's play was early hindered by fumbles. One source relates "Guyon and Flowers were very clever at intercepting forward passes, which in a measure made up for the fumbling in an early part of the game." Guyon also starred on defense. Pitt's first score came on a pass from Tom Davies to Katy Easterday. The next score came soon after the start of the second quarter, when Davies returned a punt back 50 yards for a touchdown. A double pass got the next score. The fourth touchdown was a 6-yard touchdown by George McLaren. A 55-yard touchdown run by Davies was the final score.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5161961/the_tennessean/ The Tennessean November 24, 1918 24 Panthers, With Open Attack Defeat Tech by 32 to 0 Score May 4, 2016 Newspapers.com thumb|left|160px|Joe Guyon Pitt lost its only game to the Cleveland Naval Reserves. On the Naval team was former Tech star Judy Harlan. Harlan stated: "I intercepted a pass and returned it to midfield in the fourth quarter. I felt I at least had evened up some of the losses we had at Tech."https://archive.org/details/creatingbiggamej00umph registration Creating the Big Game: John W. Heisman and the Invention of American Football Greenwood Publishing Group Wiley Lee Umphlett 148 1992 The starting lineup was: Fincher (left end), Doyal (left tackle), Mathes (left guard), Day (center), Huffines (right guard), Webb (right tackle), Staton (right end), Barron (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Guyon (right halfback), and Allen (fullback). Auburn Auburn at Georgia Tech Auburn Ga. Tech 0 0 0 0 14 14 6 7 November 28 Grant FieldAtlanta, GA Lambert (Ohio State) Sources: Tech beat Auburn 41–0 on a muddy field. Substitute quarterback B. Adams returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. The other five touchdowns were achieved by plodding through the mud.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4033359/the_tennessean/ Georgia Tech Using Forward Pass Often, Swamps Auburn, 41-0 The Tennessean November 29, 1918 10 January 13, 2016 Newspapers.com The first was on a pass from Buck Flowers to Joe Guyon. Flowers ran in the second, and Guyon ran in the third. Wally Smith made one, and Red Barron the last.BluePrint, 1919 The starting lineup: was Fincher (left end), Doyal (left tackle), Webb (left guard), Day (center), Mathes (right guard), Huffines (right tackle), Staton (right end), Barron (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Ferst (right halfback), and Guyon (fullback). Penn Georgia Tech had a scheduled game with Penn in Philadelphia canceled when the Spanish flu swept through the city.Fitzpatrick Frank March 11, 2020 In 1918, it was Spanish influenza that afflicted Philadelphia sports https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/philadelphia-1918-spanish-influenza-penn-quakers-football-20200311.html Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania March 11, 2020 Postseason Awards and honors thumb|200px|Bum Day Center Bum Day was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American. He was a first-team selection by Walter Camp. 2013 Georgia Tech Football Information Guide, Georgia Tech Athletic Association, Atlanta, Georgia, pp. 170, 178, 180 (2013). Retrieved August 20, 2014.2014 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, pp. 2, 4, 14 (2014). Retrieved August 20, 2014. Day's selection by Camp as a first-team All-American was a historic first; he was the first Southerner to be chosen for Camp's annual All-America first team, which had been historically loaded with college players from Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and other Northeastern colleges.Joe Williams, "Joe Williams Says," El Paso Herald-Post, p. 10 (November 12, 1935). Retrieved August 20, 2014. Captain Bill Fincher was also a consensus All-American, as well as Joe Guyon. Fincher and halfback Buck Flowers made Camp's second-team All-American. Championships Tech won its fourth straight SIAA title.Woodruff 1928 71 Personnel Depth chart The following chart provides a visual depiction of Tech's lineup during the 1918 season with games started at the position reflected in parentheses. The chart mimics the offense after the jump shift has taken place. LE Bill Fincher (6)       LT LG C RG RT Shorty Doyal (5)M. M. Nesbit (2) Bum Day (3) R. D. Huffines (2) B. P. Webb (2) W. T. Mathis (1)Oscar Davis (2) Ham Dowling (1)Joe Guyon (1) J. C. Rogers (1) W. T. Mathis (1)R. D. Huffines (1) B. P. Webb (1) J. C. Rogers (1) Vandegrift (1) RE Albert Staton (6)       QB Red Barron (7) B. Adams (0) RHB Frank Ferst (3)Joe Guyon (2) B. Adams (1) F. R. Cobb (0) FB Pug Allen (5) Joe Guyon (1) LHB Buck Flowers (4)Frank Ferst (3)Dewey Scarboro (0) Wally Smith (0) Varsity letterwinners Line Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Player Position Gamesstarted Hometown Prep school Height Weight AgeOscar DavisCenter, guard 2Atlanta, Georgia 6'1"173 18Bum DayCenter3 Barnesville, Georgia Porter Military Academy 5'11" 191 20Shorty DoyalTackle 5Atlanta, Georgia Tech High School 6'3" 183 20Bill FincherEnd, tackle6 Atlanta, GeorgiaTech High School6'1"18221R. D. HuffinesTackle3 Texas 5'8" 184 20W. T. MathisGuard 2Jonesboro, Georgia M. M. NesbitGuard2 Atlanta, Georgia 5'9"18621J. C. RogersGuard2 Albert StatonEnd 6Atlanta, Georgia Boys High School 6'2"174 18B. P. WebbGuard 3 Backfield Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Number Player Position Gamesstarted Hometown Prep school Height Weight AgeBrainard AdamsQuarterback, halfback 1Atlanta, Georgia Boys High School5'10"151 20 H. T. "Pug" AllenFullback 5Charleston, South Carolina 6'1" 176 19 Red BarronQuarterback7 Monroe, Georgia 5'11"166 18 F. R. CobbHalfback 0Texas 6'0"155 19 Verne DavisHalfback0 Commerce, Georgia Commerce High School 5'7" 146 20 Frank FerstHalfback 6Savannah, Georgia 5'9" 159 19 Buck FlowersHalfback4Sumter, South CarolinaSumter High School5'7"1501927Joe GuyonFullback4 Magdalena, New Mexico Carlisle Indian 5'11" 18424 Dewey ScarboroHalfback 0Moultrie, GeorgiaMoultrie High School 5'6" 145 19 Wally SmithHalfback0 Atlanta, Georgia 5'6"15421 Unlisted L. M. Lamar https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3553262/the_atlanta_constitution/ Atlanta Constitution Georgia Tech's 1918 Team; The Dope at a Glance October 13, 1918 5 May 4, 2016 Newspapers.com http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/geot/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/lettermen01.pdf Letterwinners Georgia Institute of Technology August 24, 2016 October 9, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161009182654/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/geot/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/lettermen01.pdf dead Scoring leaders The following is an incomplete list of statistics and scores, largely dependent on newspaper summaries. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Player Touchdowns Extra points PointsRed Barron15 90Bill Fincher256 68Pug Allen10 60Frank Ferst10 60Buck Flowers72 44Wally Smith7 42B. Adams4 24F. R. Cobb4 24Joe Guyon4 24Albert Staton4 24Shorty Doyal1 6 Total6858466 Notes note Endnotes References Powers Francis J. 1969 Life Story of Glen S. (Pop) Warner, Gridiron's Greatest Strategist Chicago, IL The Athletic Institute https://books.google.com/books?id=tfMjFXHLfZwC&pg=PT147 100 Things Yellow Jackets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die Van Brimmer Adam Rice Homer 2011 Chicago Triumph Books 978-1-61749-703-2 A History of Southern Football 1890–1928 Woodruff Fuzzy 2 1928 Georgia Tech Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football seasons Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football