1909 VPI football team

The 1909 VPI football team represented the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute in the 1909 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Branch Bocock, the team went 6–1 and claims a Southern championship.^[1][2] Tech outscored its opponents 148 to 27. The starting lineup averaged 172 pounds.^[3] This is the first season the team was referred to in print as the "Gobblers", and it became the official nickname in 1912.^[2][4]

1909 VPI football
Southern champion
Conference	Independent
Record	6–1
Head coach	Branch Bocock (1st season)
Captain	Hoss Hodgson
Home stadium	Miles Field
Seasons ← 1908 1910 →

1909 South Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
VPI +	4	–	0	–	0			6	–	1	–	0
Virginia +	3	–	0	–	0			7	–	1	–	0
George Washington	1	–	1	–	0			1	–	3	–	0
William & Mary	1	–	1	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Georgetown	1	–	2	–	0			3	–	2	–	0
Richmond	1	–	4	–	0			3	–	5	–	2
Davidson	0	–	1	–	0			3	–	4	–	2
+ – Conference co-champions

Rules

The rules for American football in 1909 were significantly different than the ones of a century later, as many of the present conventions (100 yard field, four downs to gain ten yards, and the 6-point touchdown) would not be adopted until 1912.^[5]

Beginning in 1909, the worth of a field goal dropped from 4 points to 3 points. Touchdowns remained at 5 points. "This has come about gradually," noted one report, "owing to the feeling of players and spectators that two field kick goals should not be reckoned of greater value that a touchdown from which a goal is scored. As it is now, a touchdown if a goal results, counts six points, and two field goals count but six in the aggregate." ^[6] For the first time, ineligible receivers were identified.^[7]

The rules in 1909 were:

• Field 110 yards in length
• Kickoff made from midfield
• Three downs to gain ten yards
• Touchdown worth 5 points
• Field goal worth 3 points
• Game time based on agreement of the teams, not to exceed two 45 minute halves
• Forward pass legal, but subject to penalties

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
October 2		Clemson	Miles Field Blacksburg, VA	W 6–0		[8]
October 13		at Princeton	University Field Princeton, NJ	L 6–8		[9]
October 23		at Richmond	Broad Street Park Richmond, VA	W 52–0	1,500	[10]
October 30		vs. Washington and Lee	Lynchburg, VA	W 34–6	2,200	[11][12]
November 6	3:30 p.m.	vs. North Carolina	Broad Street Park Richmond, VA	W 15–0	2,000	[13][14][15]
November 12		at George Washington	American League Park Washington, DC	W 17–8		[16][17][18]
November 25	2:30 p.m.	vs. North Carolina A&M	Athletic Park Norfolk, VA	W 18–5	10,000	[19][20]
All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Clemson

Clemson at VPI

1 2 Total Clemson 0 0 0 • VPI 6 0 6 Date: October 6 Location: Miles Field Blacksburg, VA Referee: Frank Shaughnessy

See also: 1909 Clemson Tigers football team

VPI opened its season with the Clemson Tigers, winning 6–0. "Hughes, playing quarter for the first time, starred for V. P. I."^[8] Hughes got the touchdown when he picked up a fumble.^[8]

The starting lineup for VPI was: Sharpe (left end), Jones (left tackle), H. Hodgson (left guard), Gibbs (center), Burruss (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Luttrell (right halfback), Legge (fullback).^[8]

The starting lineup for Clemson was: J. A. Bates (left end), Handy (left tackle), J. T. Cochran (left guard), F. V. Gilmer (center), Onan Hydrick (right guard), David Britt (right tackle), W. H. Hanckle (right end), W. R. Connelly (quarterback), Walter White (left halfback), R. H. Walker (right halfback), Charles Robbs (fullback).^[8]

Princeton

VPI at Princeton

1 2 Total VPI 6 0 6 • Princeton 5 3 8 Date: October 13 Location: University Field Princeton, NJ Game weather: Frigid Referee: Joe Pendleton (Bowdoin)

See also: 1909 Princeton Tigers football team

VPI's strongest showing came in the close loss to Ivy League powerhouse Princeton. In a game plagued by frigid weather conditions,^[21] each side scored due to a fumble by the opposition.^[22] Princeton's Logan Cunningham scored a touchdown (worth five points in 1909) in the first two minutes of play after VPI fumbled the ball away on its own 10-yard line. Princeton missed the extra point attempt.^[23] Later in the contest, a snap from center went over the Princeton quarterback's head, and Tech’s Hoss Hodgson returned the lost fumble 50 yards for a touchdown.^[24] Hodgson then made his own extra point. After VPI led 6 to 5 for some time, and with only minutes left to play, Princeton's Cunningham made 30-yard drop kick to secure the 8 to 6 victory.^[9]

The starting lineup for VPI was: Luttrell (left end), Burruss (left tackle), Jones (left guard), Gibbs (center), H. Hodgson (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Billups (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback).^[9]

The starting lineup for Princeton was: R. R. Meigs (left end), Rudolph Siegling (left tackle), I. M. Woehr (left guard), F. C. Bamman (center), P. E. Waller (right guard), John McCrohan (right tackle), H. E. Gill (right end), P. P. Chrystie (quarterback), Logan Cunningham (left halfback), W. R. Sparks (right halfback), Fred Dawson (fullback). The substitutes were: G. H. Garrett, P. M. King, A. McGregor, J. C. Musser, E. Norman and H. M. Sawyer.

Richmond

VPI at Richmond

1 2 Total • VPI 29 23 52 Richmond 0 0 0 Date: October 23 Location: Broad Street Park Richmond, VA Game attendance: 1,500 Referee: Hammond Johnson Sources:[10]

See also: 1909 Richmond Spiders football team

VPI rolled up the season's largest score on the Richmond Spiders, winning 52–0 and playing well on both sides of the ball, especially the offense.^[10] The backfield starred in a game of conventional football.^[10]

The starting lineup for VPI was: A. Hodgson (left end), Burruss (left tackle), Pitts (left guard), Gibbs (center), H. Hodgson (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Billups (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback). The substitutes were: Austin, Cleaton, Jeffries, Legge and Luttrell.^[10]

The starting lineup for Richmond was: Taylor (left end), Albert Hazlett (left tackle), George Sadler (left guard), Ewing Stringfellow (center), Jones (right guard), Johnson (right tackle), Albert Ransone (right end), Smith (quarterback), Edward McFarland (left halfback), S. Sutherland (right halfback), Algienon Meredith (fullback). The substitutes were: Terry Durrum and Miller.

Washington and Lee

VPI at Washington and Lee

1 2 Total • VPI 11 23 34 W&L 0 6 6 Date: October 30 Location: Lynchburg, VA Game attendance: 2,200 Referee: Pat Barry (Georgetown) Sources:[11]

See also: 1909 Washington and Lee Generals football team

VPI "buried" the Washington and Lee Generals by a 34–6 score. Hughes' 65-yard touchdown run and Hoss Hodgson's punting and kicking featured.^[11] Fullback Anderson starred for the Generals.^[11] The big win was surprising.^[11]

The starting lineup for VPI was: Luttrell (left end), Burruss (left tackle), Pitts (left guard), Gibbs (center), H. Hodgson (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Billups (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback). The substitutes were: A. Hodgson, Jones and Legge.^[11]

The starting lineup for Washington and Lee was: I. R. Simms (left end), L. O'Quin (left tackle), J. W. Bruce (left guard), Joseph Blackburn (center), William Pipes (right guard), Cleon Osbourn (right tackle), Henry Smartt (right end), John Izard (quarterback), William Barnard (left halfback), Edward Brown (right halfback), Edwin Alderson (fullback). The substitutes were: E. F. Burk, Hamilton Derr, Efird, Donaldson Earwood, Richard Morales and L. W. Wilson.

North Carolina

North Carolina at VPI

1 2 Total UNC 0 0 0 • VPI 6 9 15 Date: November 6 Location: Broad Street Park Richmond, VA Game start: 3:30 p. m. Game attendance: 2,000 Referee: Pat Barry (Georgetown) Sources:[13][14]

See also: 1909 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

Hodgson starred in a closely contested game between VPI and the Tar Heels, making a field goal in the second half to lead VPI to a 15–0 win.^[14]

The starting lineup for VPI was: Luttrell (left end), Burruss (left tackle), Jones (left guard), Gibbs (center), H. Hodgson (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Legge (left halfback), A. Hodgson (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback).^[13]

The starting lineup for North Carolina was: Bob Winston (left end), Cecil Garrett (left tackle), Robert McLean (left guard), Levi Brown (center), Earl Thompson (right guard), Harry Hedgepath (right tackle), Richard Williams (right end), John Tillett (quarterback), Andrew Porter (left halfback), Louis Belden (right halfback), Elder (fullback).

George Washington

VPI at George Washington

1 2 Total • VPI 11 6 17 GW 3 5 8 Date: November 12 Location: Washington, D. C. Referee: Jack Gass Sources:[25]

See also: 1909 George Washington Hatchetites football team

VPI won over the defending Southern champion George Washington Hatchetites in Washington, D. C. 17–8. Hodgson's punting again featured.^[25] The weather was much better than last year.^[16]

The starting lineup for VPI was: Luttrell (left end), Burruss (left tackle), H. Hodgson (left guard), Gibbs (center), Jones (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Billups (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback). The substitutes were: Graveley, Legge and Massie.^[25]

The starting lineup for George Washington was: Powell (left end), Wayne Hart (left tackle), Robert Fowler (left guard), M. W. Brandt (center), Theodore Eickhoff (right guard), George Bullough (right tackle), R. E. Whiting (right end), Irwin Porter (quarterback), Bayliss (left halfback), H. Ellis (right halfback), Matthew Farmer (fullback). The substitutes were: Royal Alston, Frederick Crafts, Bryan Morse and Herbert White.

North Carolina A&M

North Carolina A&M at VPI

1 2 Total N.C. A&M 0 5 5 • VPI 12 6 18 Date: November 25 Location: Athletic Park Norfolk, VA Game start: 2:30 p. m. Game attendance: 10,000 Referee: Myers (Harvard) Sources:[20]

See also: 1909 North Carolina A&M Aggies football team

VPI defeated the North Carolina Aggies, (now known as N.C. State) 18–5. Despite the 18–5 score, VPI had to play aggressively throughout.^[20] The first score came twelve minutes into the first half, Vivian Hodgson going over.^[20] Later, on a fake kick, Luttrell ran 30 yards around left end. The A&M squad followed Hoss Hodgson's helmet, which he tossed as if it were a kicked ball.^[20]

The last touchdown came on a new trick play from coach Bocock, apparently similar to a statue of liberty play.^[20] Vivian Hodgson prepared to pass, and Hughes took it out of his suspended hand and ran 75 yards for a touchdown.^[20] North Carolina's Aggies showed fight in the second half.^[20]

The starting lineup for VPI was: Luttrell (left end), Burruss (left tackle), Massie (left guard), Gibbs (center), H. Hodgson (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), A. Hodgson (left halfback), Billups (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback). The substitutes were: Cleaton, Davis and Legge.^[20]

The starting lineup for North Carolina A&M was: Tal Stafford (left end), J. L. Von Glahn (left tackle), Harry Mott (left guard), John Bray (center), D. B. Floyd (right guard), James Dunn (right tackle), David Seifert (right end), Samuel Stephens (quarterback), G. C. Glenn (left halfback), Harry Hartsell (right halfback), Ralph Long (fullback). The substitutes were: Mark Lassiter.

Postseason

VPI claimed a Southern championship at year's end.^[2]

Players

The following players were members of the 1909 football team according to the roster published in the 1910 edition of The Bugle, the Virginia Tech yearbook.^[26]

VPI 1909 roster
	Quarterback John Lepburn Hughes Guards Hoss Hodgson (Capt.) Harry Guilford Jones Tackles William Henry Burruss Edward Raymond Norris Center Aubrey Gravatt Gibbs		Ends Thomas Paret Hicks Joseph Talmage Luttrell Halfbacks Henry Evans Billups Asbury Nathaniel Hodgson Fullback Vivian Burnett Hodgson		Substitutes Winston Bozel Davis Frederick Hughes Legge Caesar Pancratius Massei

Coaching and training staff

• Head coach: Branch Bocock
• Manager: F. C. Stoneburner

References

1. e. g. "VPI Southern Champions". Archived from the original on June 23, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
2. "University Archives in Special Collections and University Archives". Virginia Tech Special Collections University Libraries.
3. "Sidelines".
4. "What is a Hokie?". University Relations, Virginia Tech. 2006. Archived from the original on December 11, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
5. Danzig, Allison (1956). The History of American Football: Its Great Teams, Players, and Coaches. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. pp. 70–71.
6. Syracuse Herald, 9/26/09
7. Specifically, an end "who is more than one foot back of the line and still not a yard back" could not receive a pass; Ibid.
8. "Clemson Loses To Virginia Techs". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Congress. October 3, 1909. p. 51. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
9. "V. P. I. Team Gives Princeton A Scare". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Congress. October 14, 1909. p. 7. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
10. "Techs Pile Up Score of 52-0 Against Spiders". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Congress. October 24, 1909. p. 5. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
11. "Virginia Tech Buries W. & L. By Large Score". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Congress. October 31, 1909. p. 11. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
12. "Techs Roll It Over 'Varsity in Fast Play" (PDF). The Ring-tum Phi. Washington and Lee University. November 3, 1909. p. 4. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
13. "Techs and Carolina Are Anxious for Game To-Day". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Congress. November 6, 1909. p. 3. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
14. "V.P.I. Beats Carolina in Fiercely Fought Game". Daily Press. Library of Congress. November 7, 1909. p. 6. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
15. "Hodgson 15-Carolina 0". The Tar Heel. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. November 10, 1909. p. 1. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
16. "Techs Off to Play George Washington". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Congress. November 12, 1909. p. 5. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
17. "V.P.I. plays well, defeats us 17 to 8". The University Hatchet. November 18, 1909. Retrieved February 13, 2021 – via Internet Archive.
18. "V.P.I. gets revenge". The Washington Post. November 13, 1909. Retrieved February 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "V.P.I. -- A. & M. Game in Norfolk To-Day". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Congress. November 25, 1909. p. 5. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
20. "V.P.I. Wins From A. & M. In Great Struggle". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Congress. November 26, 1909. p. 5. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
21. "Football". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 14, 1909. p. 9. Retrieved December 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
22. "Drop-Kick Wins Again". Daily Princetonian. Vol. 34, no. 97. October 14, 1909.
23. Associated Press (October 14, 1909). "V. P. I. Football Team Gives Princeton A Scare". Daily Press. Vol. 14, no. 23.
24. "Princeton 8; Blacksburg 6". The Evening News. Vol. 20, no. 97. October 14, 1909.
25. "V.P.I. Gets Revenge". The Washington Post. November 13, 1909. p. 8. Retrieved May 25, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
26. "The Bugle 1910" (PDF). Virginia Tech Bugle. 1910. p. 167. Retrieved November 18, 2015.