1933 VPI Gobblers football team

The 1933 VPI Gobblers football team represented Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute, now known as  Virginia Tech the 1933 college football season. The team was led by their head coach Henry Redd and finished with a record of four wins, three losses and three ties (4–3–3).

1933 VPI Gobblers football
Conference	Southern Conference
Record	4–3–3 (1–1–3 SoCon)
Head coach	Henry Redd (2nd season)
Captain	William Breckenridge Porterfield
Home stadium	Miles Stadium
Seasons ← 1932 1934 →

1933 Southern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Duke $	4	–	0	–	0			9	–	1	–	0
South Carolina	3	–	0	–	0			6	–	3	–	1
North Carolina	2	–	1	–	0			4	–	5	–	0
VMI	2	–	1	–	1			2	–	7	–	1
Washington and Lee	1	–	1	–	1			4	–	4	–	2
Clemson	1	–	1	–	0			3	–	6	–	2
VPI	1	–	1	–	3			4	–	3	–	3
Virginia	1	–	3	–	1			2	–	6	–	2
Maryland	1	–	4	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
NC State	0	–	4	–	0			1	–	5	–	3
$ – Conference champion

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23		Roanoke*	Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA	W 7–0		[1][2]
September 30		at Tennessee*	Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN	L 0–27	15,000	[3][4]
October 7		vs. Maryland	Bain Field Norfolk, VA	W 14–0		[5][6][7]
October 14		vs. William & Mary*	City Stadium Richmond, VA	W 13–7	9,000	[8][9]
October 21	3:00 p.m.	at Richmond*	City Stadium Richmond, VA	W 7–0		[10][11][12]
October 28		South Carolina	Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA	L 0–12	10,000	[13][14][15]
November 4		Washington and Lee	Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA	T 7–7	3,500	[16][17][18][19][20]
November 11		at Alabama*	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	L 0–27	10,000	[21][22]
November 18		at Virginia	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA (rivalry)	T 6–6	5,000	[23][24]
November 30		vs. VMI	Maher Field Roanoke, VA (rivalry)	T 0–0	11,000-13,000	[25][26][27]
*Non-conference game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Roanoke

Roanoke vs. VPI

1 2 3 4 Total Roanoke 0 0 0 0 0 • VPI 0 7 0 0 7 Date: September 23, 1933 Location: Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA Referee: Parrish (VPI)

See also: 1933 Roanoke Maroons football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Negri (left end), Copenhaver (left tackle), English (left guard), Porterfield (center), Murphy (right guard), Hoenstine (right tackle), McIntire (right end), Holsclaw (quarterback), Casey (left halfback), Smith (right halfback), Robison (fullback). The substitutes were: Cunningham, Huffman, Lindsay, Morgan, Ochs, Simmons, Smith, Stevens and Stump.

The starting lineup for Roanoke was: Lex Holyfield (left end), Gene Barnett (left tackle), Earl Fisher (left guard), Norman Wermick (center), Lawrence Fisher (right guard), Harry Suttner (right tackle), Charles Engers (right end), Charles Patrone (quarterback), Ward Akers (left halfback), Harrison Weeks (right halfback), Bud Miley (fullback). The substitutes were: Roy Ringstaff and Thomas West.

Tennessee

VPI at Tennessee

1 2 3 4 Total VPI 0 0 0 0 0 • Tennessee 7 13 7 0 27 Date: September 30, 1933 Location: Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN Game attendance: 15,000 Game weather: "sun-scorched" Referee: Everett Strupper

See also: 1933 Tennessee Volunteers football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Negri (left end), Hoenstine (left tackle), Murphy (left guard), Portfield (center), English (right guard), Copenhaver (right tackle), McIntire (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Mills (left halfback), Casey (right halfback), Smith (fullback).

The starting lineup for Tennessee was: Al Mark (left end), Milton Frank (left tackle), Howard Stewart (left guard), Talmadge Maples (center), J. B. Ellis (right guard), Howard Bailey (right tackle), Murray Warmath (right end), Deke Brackett (quarterback), Leo Petruzze (left halfback), Beattie Feathers (right halfback), Herman Wynn (fullback). The substitutes were: Richard Dorsey, Fred Moses, Edwin Palmer and Spruill.

Maryland

Maryland vs. VPI

1 2 3 4 Total Maryland 0 0 0 0 0 • VPI 0 0 7 7 14 Date: October 7, 1933 Location: Bain Field Norfolk, VA Referee: Paul Magoffin

See also: 1933 Maryland Terrapins football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Thomas (left end), Negri (left tackle), Murray (left guard), Porterfield (center), English (right guard), Huffman (right tackle), McIntire (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Casey (left halfback), Holsclaw (right halfback), Smith (fullback). The substitutes were: Hoenstine, Howard, Lindsay, Mills, Ochs, Ottaway and Stump.

The starting lineup for Maryland was: Louis Ennis (left end), Tom McLaughlin (left tackle), Walter Bradley (left guard), Thomas Webb (center), John Simpson (right guard), Charles Callahan (right tackle), Carl Stalfort (right end), Dick Nelson (quarterback), Charles Yaeger (left halfback), Earl Widmyer (right halfback), George Sachs (fullback). The substitutes were: Willis Benner, Joseph Coulehan, Joseph Crecca, William Garrott, Luther Goldman, John Mayhew and Robert Snyder.

William & Mary

William & Mary vs. VPI

1 2 3 4 Total W&M 0 0 0 7 7 • VPI 6 7 0 0 13 Date: October 14, 1933 Location: City Stadium Richmond, VA Game attendance: 9,000 Referee: Paul Magoffin

See also: 1933 William & Mary Indians football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Thomas (left end), Negri (left tackle), Murphy (left guard), Porterfield (center), English (right guard), Hoenstine (right tackle), McIntire (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Casey (left halfback), Holsclaw (right halfback), Smith (fullback). The substitutes were: Andrews, Copenhaver, Howard, Huffman, Lindsay, Ochs, Robison, Simmons, Spruill and Tyler.

The starting lineup for William & Mary was: Murray (left end), Waddy Stewart (left tackle), Ned LeGrande (left guard), Joseph Bridgers (center), I. Upson (right guard), Gerald Quirk (right tackle), Felix Troyano (right end), Bill Chalko (quarterback), William Yerkes (left halfback), Melville Bryant (right halfback), David Young (fullback). The substitutes were: C. Franklin, Bob Henderson, Junie Smith, C. Sorenson, Harry Spack and Dale Worrall.

Richmond

VPI at Richmond

1 2 3 4 Total • VPI 0 0 7 0 7 Richmond 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 21, 1933 Location: City Stadium Richmond, VA Game start: 3:00 p.m. Referee: Bagley (W&L)

See also: 1933 Richmond Spiders football team

South Carolina

South Carolina vs. VPI

1 2 3 4 Total • South Carolina 0 6 0 6 12 VPI 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 28, 1933 Location: Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA Game attendance: 10,000 Referee: Boyd Chambers

See also: 1933 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Thomas (left end), Huffman (left tackle), Murphy (left guard), Copenhaver (center), English (right guard), Hoenstine (right tackle), Negri (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Casey (left halfback), Groth (right halfback), Smith (fullback). The substitutes were: Lindsay, Mills, Ochs, Reynolds, Robison, Simmons, Spruill, B. Stump and Tyler.

The starting lineup for South Carolina was: John Epps (left end), Joe Johnson (left tackle), Nelson Fortson (left guard), Joe Shinn (center), Buddy Morehead (right guard), Freeman Huskey (right tackle), Tom Craig (right end), Harold Mauney (quarterback), Fred Hambright (left halfback), Ed Clary (right halfback), Allie McDougall (fullback). The substitutes were: Wilburn Clary, Fred Craft, William McCrady, Henry McManus, Roy Stroud, Henry Willard, Wolfe and Walker Yonce.

Washington and Lee

Washington and Lee vs. VPI

1 2 3 4 Total W&L 0 7 0 0 7 VPI 7 0 0 0 7 Date: November 4, 1933 Location: Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA Game attendance: 3,500 Game weather: "cold drizzle" Referee: Richard Carrington (UVA)

See also: 1933 Washington and Lee Generals football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Thomas (left end), Huffman (left tackle), Murphy (left guard), Copenhaver (center), English (right guard), Hoenstine (right tackle), Negri (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Casey (left halfback), Mills (right halfback), Smith (fullback).

The starting lineup for Washington and Lee was: Charles Smith (left end), Clarence Carman (left tackle), Thomasson Boland (left guard), George Glynn (center), Amos Bolen (right guard), William Dyer (right tackle), John Hanley (right end), William Seaton (quarterback), Joseph Sawyers (left halfback), Samuel Mattox (right halfback), Jack Bailey (fullback). The substitutes were: Joseph Arnold, William Ellis and Samuel Todd.

Alabama

VPI at Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total VPI 0 0 0 0 0 • Alabama 6 12 9 0 27 Date: November 11, 1933 Location: Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL Game attendance: 10,000 Source:[21]

See also: 1933 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Against the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama, VPI lost 27-0 in front 10,000 spectators at Denny Stadium.^[21] Alabama took a 6–0 first quarter lead after Riley Smith scored on a five-yard touchdown run.^[21] They extended their lead to 18–0 at halftime on touchdown runs of one-yard by Joe Demyanovich and ten-yards by James Angelich in the second quarter.^[21] Alabama then closed the game with a 16-yard Dixie Howell touchdown run and a tackle of the Gobblers' Ray Mills for a safety in the third for the 27–0 win.^[21]

Alabama's assistant coach was former VPI player Hank Crisp.

The starting lineup for VPI was: Negri (left end), Huffman (left tackle), Murphy (left guard), Copenhaver (center), English (right guard), Hoenstine (right tackle), B. Stump (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Casey (left halfback), Mills (right halfback), Smith (fullback). The substitutes were: Andrews, Botnick, Cunningham, Howard, Lindsay, McIntire, Ottaway, Russell, Simmons and A. Stump.

The starting lineup for Alabama was: Thomas McMillian (left end), Jim Whatley (left tackle), Charles Marr (left guard), Joseph Dildy (center), Bob Ed Morrow (right guard), Arthur MacGahey (right tackle), Bear Bryant (right end), Tilden Campbell (quarterback), James McDanal (left halfback), Charles Stapp (right halfback), Riley Smith (fullback). The substitutes were: James Angelich, Ben Baswell, Angelo Danelutti, Joseph Demyanovich, James Dildy, Ralph Gandy, Raymond Glass, Dixie Howell, Larry Hughes, John Hundertmark, Thomas Hupke, Don Hutson, B'Ho Kirkland, Foy Leach, Bill Lee, Frank Moseley, Lee Rogers, Hilman Walker and Jimmy Walker.

Virginia

VPI at Virginia

1 2 3 4 Total VPI 0 0 0 6 6 UVA 0 6 0 0 6 Date: November 18, 1933 Location: Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA Game attendance: 5,000 Referee: Frank Lane

See also: 1933 Virginia Cavaliers football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Thomas (left end), Huffman (left tackle), Murphy (left guard), Porterfield (center), English (right guard), Negri (right tackle), B. Stump (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Casey (left halfback), Robison (right halfback), Smith (fullback). The substitutes were: Ottaway.

The starting lineup for Virginia was: John Leys (left end), George Coles (left tackle), Horace Hallett (left guard), Gene Wager (center), John Dial (right guard), Ray Burger (right tackle), Kenneth Morton (right end), Thomas Johnson (quarterback), Gene Munger (left halfback), Bucky Harris (right halfback), Spencer Berger (fullback). The substitutes were: Philip Fryberger.

VMI

VMI vs. VPI

1 2 3 4 Total VMI 0 0 0 0 0 VPI 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 30, 1933 Location: Maher Field Roanoke, VA Game attendance: 11,000-13,000 Referee: Elberts (Catholic)

See also: 1933 VMI Keydets football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: B. Stump (left end), Huffman (left tackle), Murphy (left guard), Copenhaver (center), English (right guard), Negri (right tackle), Thomas (right end), Morgan (quarterback), Casey (left halfback), Robison (right halfback), Smith (fullback). The substitutes were: Holsclaw.

The starting lineup for VMI was: Phil Rutschow (left end), Samuel Lowe (left tackle), John Burgess (left guard), James Nimmo (center), Charles Straub (right guard), Russ Coleman (right tackle), Gil Minor (right end), Billy Smith (quarterback), Merideth Urick (left halfback), Tucker Watkins (right halfback), Dick Dodson (fullback). The substitutes were: Ed Law.

Players

Roster

VPI 1933 roster
	Quarterbacks Duncan Holsclaw Charles Morgan Guards Red Andrews Benjamin Botnick Edward "Red" English Ken "Hank" Lindsay John Murphy Norman Ochs Tackles G. W. Hoenstine Harry Worden Howard Richard "Tris" Huffman Leon Dalmain Simmons		Centers Jim Copenhaver Bill Porterfield (Capt.) Ends John McIntire Warren "Red" Negri Bob Stump Dave Thomas Halfbacks Al Casey Martin Cunningham Ray Mills James Edward Ottaway Fullbacks Carl Robison Joseph Decatur Russell George Smith		Substitutes George Vanderslice Beamon Jack A. "Buck" Carpenter Ike Cessna Nick Dillon Jack Elder Charles Alexander "Heinie" Groth Tom Hutcheson Richard Whitmore Neale Ernie Pritchard Ted Pugh Frank Rankin Lawrence Samuel "Buck" Reynolds Rummy Robinette Henry Russa Marvin Sifford Howard Arnold "Hank" Spruill Al Stevens Arthur Everett Stump Daniel Reiser Thoma Buck Tyler James VanDyck Dick Wray John Lester Yorke

Varsity letter winners

Eighteen players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1933 VPI team.^[28]

Player	Hometown	Notes
Alfred Layden Casey	Portsmouth, Virginia
James Henry Copenhaver
Edward Ralph "Red" English	Altavista, Virginia	World War II veteran (Army).
Garland Woodrow Hoenstine
William Duncan Holsclaw
Richard "Tris" Huffman
Kenneth Thomas "Hank" Lindsay	Cumberland, Maryland
John A. McIntire
Ray Mills
Charles Emmett Ashburn Morgan
John Marshall Murphy
Warren Anthony "Red" Negri	Danbury, Connecticut
John Norman Ochs
William Breckenridge Porterfield (Capt.)
Carl Francis Robison	Watertown, New York	World War II veteran (Lieutenant Commander, Navy). Awarded the Navy Cross.
George Maxie Smith
Robert McClanahan Stump	Bristol, Tennessee
David Thomas

Coaching and training staff

• Head coach: Henry Redd
• Assistant coaches
  • William L. Younger
  • Sumner D. Tilson
• Manager: Abie Urquhart
• Freshman coaches
  • Freshman head coach: Herbert McEver
  • Assistant freshman coach: Sumner D. Tilson
  • Assistant freshman coach: Bill Grinus
• Freshman Manager: J. V. D. Moore

References

1. "V. P.I. is Pressed to Down Roanoke". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. September 24, 1933. p. 57. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
2. "Stubborn Maroon Defense Holds Tech, 7-0". Brackety-ack. Roanoke College. September 27, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
3. "Vols use regulars 10 minutes, beat stage-frightened V.P.I., 27–0". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 1, 1933. Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Tennessee Trims V. P.I. By 27 To 0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 1, 1933. p. 69. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
5. "Gobblers triumph over Maryland in hard-fought game". Daily Press. October 8, 1933. Retrieved December 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Virginia Poly Takes Norfolk Tilt From Terrapins, 14-0, Following Hard Battle; Coaches Satisfied". The Diamondback. University of Maryland, College Park. October 9, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
7. "V. P.I. Scores Over Maryland, 14 to 0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 8, 1933. p. 54. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
8. "Indians Defeated By V.P.I., 13–7, in Thrilling Game". The Flat Hat. College of William & Mary. October 17, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
9. "Casey on Rampage in Gobbler Victory". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 15, 1933. p. 65. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
10. "Chaltain-Casey Conflict Seen as Big Drawing Card". The Richmond Collegian. University of Richmond. October 20, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
11. "Richmond Loses to Tech, 7-0". The Richmond Collegian. University of Richmond. October 27, 1933. p. 3. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
12. "Virginia Tech by Penalty Aid Beats Stubborn Richmond, 7-0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 22, 1933. p. 49. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
13. "Gamecocks Down Tech's Gobblers by Margin of 12–0". Daily Press. October 29, 1933. Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Gamecocks Win Over Gobblers". The Gamecock. University of South Carolina. November 3, 1933. p. 6. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
15. "Gamecocks Upset Virginia Tech, 12-0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 29, 1933. p. 51. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
16. "Generals and V.P.I. in tie". Nashville Banner. November 5, 1933. Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Gobblers Hold W. & L. To 7-7 Tie Saturday" (PDF). The Ring-tum Phi. Washington and Lee University. November 7, 1933. p. 3. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
18. "Generals Played To 7-7 Tie By V. P. I." The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. November 5, 1933. p. 48. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
19. "V. P. I.-W. & L. Fight 7 to 7 Battle Saturday". The Lexington Gazette. Library of Virginia. November 8, 1933. p. 5. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
20. "Washington and Lee and V. P. I. in Tie Game". Rockbridge County News. Library of Virginia. November 9, 1933. p. 2. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
21. "Tide Tames Gobblers 27 to 0". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. November 12, 1933. p. 8. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
22. "Alabama Beats V. P. I., 27 to 0, Losers Not Making First Down". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. November 12, 1933. p. 55. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
23. "V. P. I.'s Last-Minute Marker Gains Tie With Virginia, 6-6". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. November 19, 1933. p. 51. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
24. "Virginia and V.P.I. Struggle To Tie". The Roanoke Times. Newspapers.com. November 19, 1933. p. 15. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
25. "VMI, VPI Tie 0–0 In Gridiron Classic". The V.M.I. Cadet. Virginia Military Institute. December 4, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
26. "V. M. I. And V. P. I. Play Scoreless Tie". The Lexington Gazette. Library of Virginia. December 6, 1933. p. 7. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
27. "V. M. I. Outplayed V. P. I. in Scoreless Tie". Rockbridge County News. Library of Virginia. December 7, 1933. p. 2. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
28. "1933 VPI Letterwinners". Virginia Tech. Retrieved January 7, 2023.