1926 VPI Gobblers football team

The 1926 VPI Gobblers football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the 1926 college football season. The team was led by their head coach Andy Gustafson and finished with a record of five wins, three losses and one tie (5–3–1). This was the first season played in Miles Stadium.

1926 VPI Gobblers football
Conference	Southern Conference
Record	5–3–1 (3–2–1 SoCon)
Head coach	Andy Gustafson (1st season)
Captain	Vernon Edward Miles Joseph Henry Moran
Home stadium	Miles Stadium
Seasons ← 1925 1927 →

1926 Southern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 7 Alabama $	8	–	0	–	0			9	–	0	–	1
Tennessee	5	–	1	–	0			8	–	1	–	0
Vanderbilt	4	–	1	–	0			8	–	1	–	0
South Carolina	4	–	2	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Georgia	4	–	2	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Virginia	4	–	2	–	1			6	–	2	–	2
VPI	3	–	2	–	1			5	–	3	–	1
Washington and Lee	3	–	2	–	1			4	–	3	–	2
Georgia Tech	4	–	3	–	0			4	–	5	–	0
North Carolina	3	–	3	–	0			4	–	5	–	0
Auburn	3	–	3	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
LSU	3	–	3	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Ole Miss	2	–	2	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Mississippi A&M	2	–	3	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
VMI	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Tulane	2	–	4	–	0			3	–	5	–	1
Maryland	1	–	3	–	1			5	–	4	–	1
Clemson	1	–	3	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Florida	1	–	4	–	1			2	–	6	–	2
Kentucky	1	–	4	–	1			2	–	6	–	1
NC State	0	–	4	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
Sewanee	0	–	5	–	0			2	–	6	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from Dickinson System

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 25		Roanoke*	Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA	W 47–0		[1][2]
October 2		Hampden–Sydney*	Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA	W 30–0		[3]
October 9		at Dartmouth*	Memorial Field Hanover, NH	L 0–21		[4]
October 16		vs. Maryland	League Park Norfolk, VA	W 24–8	11,000	[5][6]
October 23		Virginia	Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA (rivalry)	W 6–0	7,000	[7]
October 30	2:00 p.m.	at Kentucky	McLean Stadium Lexington, KY	T 13–13	5,000	[8][9]
November 6		vs. South Carolina	Tate Field Richmond, VA	L 0–19		[10][11][12]
November 13	2:30 p.m.	vs. Washington and Lee	Municipal Stadium Lynchburg, VA	L 0–13	8,000-10,000	[13][14][15]
November 25		vs. VMI	Maher Field Roanoke, VA (rivalry)	W 14–7	15,000	[16][17]
*Non-conference game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Roanoke

See also: 1926 Roanoke Maroons football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Nutter (left end), Moss (left tackle), Jones (left guard), Moran (center), Miles (right guard), Bailey (right tackle), Petty (right end), MacArthur (quarterback), Peake (left halfback), Tomko (right halfback), McEver (fullback). The substitutes were: Brown, Erickson, Esleeck, Fussell, Gray, Hotchkiss, Hudgins, Jacobs, Looney and Rice.

The starting lineup for Roanoke was: Charles Wilson (left end), George Marsh (left tackle), Maurice Givens (left guard), Harold Nank (center), Claudius Mitchell (right guard), Roland Sturdevant (right tackle), Milton Etris (right end), John Dietrich (quarterback), Merrill Jones (left halfback), John Miller (right halfback), Lloyd Seay (fullback). The substitutes were: W. T. "Ted" Fix, Raymond Haislip, William Logan, James Shannon and G. E. Sheppard.

Hampden–Sydney

Hampden–Sydney vs. VPI

1 2 3 4 Total HS 0 0 0 0 0 • VPI 9 7 7 7 30 Date: October 2, 1926 Location: Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA Referee: Richard Carrington (UVA)

See also: 1926 Hampden–Sydney Tigers football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Nutter (left end), Moss (left tackle), Jones (left guard), Moran (center), Miles (right guard), Bailey (right tackle), Petty (right end), MacArthur (quarterback), Peake (left halfback), Esleeck (right halfback), McEver (fullback). The substitutes were: Mattox and Rice.

The starting lineup for Hampden–Sydney was: Charles Turley (left end), Stuart Worden (left tackle), Robert Nance (left guard), Alfred Dudley (center), Hugh Blanton (right guard), Harry Myles (right tackle), Roberts (right end), John Brinser (quarterback), Ward Palmer (left halfback), Alfred Adkins (right halfback), William Richardson (fullback).

Dartmouth

VPI at Dartmouth

1 2 3 4 Total VPI 0 0 0 0 0 • Dartmouth 0 14 0 7 21 Date: October 9, 1926 Location: Memorial Field Hanover, NH Referee: W. R. Crowley (Bowdoin)

See also: 1926 Dartmouth Indians football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Petty (left end), Moss (left tackle), Miles (left guard), Moran (center), Jones (right guard), Bailey (right tackle), Nutter (right end), MacArthur (quarterback), Esleeck (left halfback), Peake (right halfback), McEver (fullback).

The starting lineup for Dartmouth was: Jim Picken (left end), Hardy (left tackle), Phillips (left guard), Davis (center), Rubin (right guard), Langdell (right tackle), Cole (right end), Edwin B. Dooley (quarterback), Myles Lane (left halfback), MacPhail (right halfback), Horton (fullback). The substitutes were: Black, Breihut and John C. McAvoy.

Maryland

Maryland vs. VPI

1 2 3 4 Total Maryland 2 0 0 6 8 • VPI 7 10 7 0 24 Date: October 16, 1926 Location: League Park Norfolk, VA Game attendance: 11,000 Referee: Ernest C. Quigley

See also: 1926 Maryland Aggies football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Petty (left end), Brown (left tackle), Miles (left guard), Moran (center), Jones (right guard), Bailey (right tackle), Nutter (right end), MacArthur (quarterback), Esleeck (left halfback), Peake (right halfback), McEver (fullback). The substitutes were: Anderson, Handy, Jacobs, Looney, Mattox, Moss and Rice.

The starting lineup for Maryland was: Donald Adams (left end), Earl Zulick (left tackle), Arthur Wondrack (left guard), Harold Bafford (center), Omar D. Crothers Jr. (right guard), John Leatherman (right tackle), Jack Keenan (right end), Gordon Kessler (quarterback), Fred Linkous (left halfback), Myron Stevens (right halfback), Lewis "Knocky" Thomas (fullback). The substitutes were: Arthur Boyd, Gil Dent, Frederick Herzog, John Parson, Pugh, Edwin Rothgeb, Floyd Schrader, Gerald Snyder and Winterberg.

Virginia

Virginia vs. VPI

1 2 3 4 Total UVA 0 0 0 0 0 • VPI 6 0 0 0 6 Date: October 23, 1926 Location: Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA Game attendance: 7,000

See also: 1926 Virginia Cavaliers football team

Kentucky

VPI at Kentucky

1 2 3 4 Total VPI 0 7 6 0 13 Kentucky 7 0 0 6 13 Date: October 30, 1926 Location: McLean Stadium Lexington, KY Game start: 2:00 p.m. Game attendance: 5,000 Game weather: Drizzling rain Referee: Fonsa "F.A." Lambert

See also: 1926 Kentucky Wildcats football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Nutter (left end), Miles (left tackle), Jones (left guard), Moran (center), Bailey (right guard), Brown (right tackle), Petty (right end), MacArthur (quarterback), Peake (left halfback), Esleeck (right halfback), Looney (fullback). The substitutes were: Handy, Jacobs, Mahaney, Mattox, Moss and Rice.

The starting lineup for Kentucky was: Gilb (left end), Phipps (left tackle), Belt (left guard), Pence (center), Charles Wert (right guard), Henry Portwood (right tackle), Schulte (right end), Jenkins (quarterback), Frank Smith (left halfback), Ellis (right halfback), Ross (fullback). The substitutes were: Ted Creech, Denver DeHaven, Edwards, Franklin, James Kirkendall and Mohney.

South Carolina

South Carolina vs. VPI

1 2 3 4 Total South Carolina 0 0 0 0 0 • VPI 0 13 0 6 19 Date: November 6, 1926 Location: Tate Field Richmond, VA Game weather: "Balmy" Referee: Foster (Hampden-Sydney)

See also: 1926 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Petty (left end), Brown (left tackle), Miles (left guard), Moran (center), Jones (right guard), Bailey (right tackle), Nutter (right end), MacArthur (quarterback), Peake (left halfback), Esleeck (right halfback), Looney (fullback). The substitutes were: Handy, Jeffries, Mahaney, Mattox and Rice.

The starting lineup for South Carolina was: Samuel Burke (left end), E. Power Rogers (left tackle), Ralph Guarino (left guard), William Boyd (center), W. R. Price (right guard), Floyd Thomas (right tackle), George Keels (right end), Bill Rogers (quarterback), J. F. Cooper (left halfback), Eli Wingfield (right halfback), Robert Wimberly (fullback). The substitutes were: W. W. "Red" Swink, James Verner, Mike Windus and Harry Wolf.

Washington and Lee

Washington & Lee vs. VPI

1 2 3 4 Total • W&L 0 6 0 7 13 VPI 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 13, 1926 Location: Municipal Stadium Lynchburg, VA Game start: 2:30 p.m. Game attendance: 8,000-10,000

See also: 1926 Washington and Lee Generals football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Nutter (left end), Miles (left tackle), Jones (left guard), Moran (center), Bailey (right guard), Brown (right tackle), Petty (right end), MacArthur (quarterback), Esleeck (left halfback), Peake (right halfback), Looney (fullback). The substitutes were: Handy, Hotchkiss, Jeffries, Mattox and McEver.

The starting lineup for Washington and Lee was: J. E. Bailey (left end), Robert Holt (left tackle), Burnell Tips (left guard), Ira Rector (center), Henry Groop (right guard), Earl Fitzpatrick (right tackle), John Towill (right end), Eugene White (quarterback), Perry Whitlock (left halfback), William Palmer (right halfback), Ty Rauber (fullback). The substitutes were: Charles Eigelbach.

VMI

VMI vs. VPI

1 2 3 4 Total VMI 7 0 0 0 7 • VPI 14 0 0 0 14 Date: November 25, 1926 Location: Maher Field Roanoke, VA Game attendance: 15,000 Game weather: "steady downpour" Referee: Ed Thorpe (De LaSalle)

See also: 1926 VMI Keydets football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Nutter (left end), Miles (left tackle), Jones (left guard), Moran (center), Handy (right guard), Bailey (right tackle), Petty (right end), McEver (quarterback), Peake (left halfback), Mattox (right halfback), Looney (fullback). The substitutes were: Brown, Esleeck, Jeffries and MacArthur.

The starting lineup for VMI was: John Fain (left end), Herman Kulp (left tackle), Ralph Smith (left guard), Joseph Mondy (center), Luther Hewlett (right guard), J. C. Smith (right tackle), Luther Thornhill (right end), Al Barnes (quarterback), Frank Harner (left halfback), Frank Nabers (right halfback), Carlton Walker (fullback). The substitutes were: Ferdinand Harrington, Theodric Moor, Claude Moorman, Karlyle O'Berry and Kenneth Rugh.

Players

VPI 1926 roster
	George Claiborne "Speck" Anderson Albert Ewell Bailey Joseph Murray Brown Karl Esleeck Fussell John Gray Edward Malvern Handy Philip Smith Hotchkiss William Coles Hudgins J. R. Jacobs John Mercer Jeffries J. B. Jones John Ote Looney Scotty MacArthur		Arthur Randolph Mahaney Cloy Mattox Herbert McEver Vernon Edward Miles (Capt.) Joseph Henry Moran (Capt.) Jack Wellford Moss Lloyd Broderick Nutter Frank Peake Douglas Cooper Petty J. H. Rice Spear Cyril Method "Tommy" Tomko Von Erickson

Coaching and training staff

• Head coach: Andy Gustafson
• Assistant coaches
  • Line coach: Zeke Wissinger
• Manager: S. M. Martin
• Freshman head coach: Henry Redd
• Freshman Manager: J. E. Tankard

References

1. "V. P. I. Displays Form in Trimming Roanoke". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. September 26, 1926. p. 71. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
2. "Gobblers Score Win Over Maroonmen in Season's First Game". Brackety-ack. Roanoke College. September 30, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
3. "Hampden–Sydney loses to V.P.I." The Bristol Herald Courier. October 3, 1926. Retrieved December 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Dartmouth Pushed to Conquer V. P. I." The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 10, 1926. p. 80. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
5. "Old Liners Assist V.P.I. To Win, 24-8". The Diamondback. University of Maryland, College Park. October 19, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
6. "Old-Liners Are Beaten By Virginia Poly, 24-8". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 17, 1926. p. 87. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
7. Wranek, William (October 25, 1926). "Virginia Plays Great Game". The Daily Progress. University of Virginia. p. 5. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
8. "Wildcats Tie With Gobbler Outfit, 13 All". The Kentucky Kernel. University of Kentucky. November 5, 1926. p. 7. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
9. "V. P. I. and Kentucky Play Tie, 13 To 13". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 31, 1926. p. 93. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
10. "South Carolinians down V. P. I., 19–0, in Gridiron Season's Biggest Upset". Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 7, 1926. Retrieved November 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Carolina Overwhelms V.P.I." The Gamecock. University of South Carolina. November 12, 1926. p. 6. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
12. "V. P. I. Given A Jolt By South Carolina". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. November 7, 1926. p. 85. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
13. "Generals Beat V.P.I." (PDF). The Ring-tum Phi. Washington and Lee University. November 13, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
14. "Washington and Lee Defeats V. P. I., 13-0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. November 14, 1926. p. 103. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
15. "Washington and Lee Wins Great Victory over Virginia Polytechnic Institute". Rockbridge County News. Library of Virginia. November 18, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
16. "Gobblers Defeat V. M. I. 14–7". The Cadet. Virginia Military Institute. November 29, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
17. "V. M. I. Loses to V. P. I. 14 to 7 in Turkey Day Game at Roanoke". Rockbridge County News. Library of Virginia. December 2, 1926. p. 2. Retrieved December 3, 2022.