1923 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team

American college football season

1923 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football

Conference| Southern Conference
Record| 3–2–4 (0–0–4 SoCon)
Head coach|

* William Alexander (4th season)

Offensive scheme| Jump shift
Captain| John McIntyre
Home stadium| Grant Field

Uniform

Seasons

<- 1922

1924 ->

1923 Southern Conference football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

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Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
Washington & Lee \+  | 4  | - | 0  | - | 1 |  |  | 6  | - | 3  | - | 1
Vanderbilt * +  | 3  | - | 0  | - | 1 |  |  | 5  | - | 2  | - | 1
VPI | 4  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 3  | - | 0
Alabama | 4  | - | 1  | - | 1 |  |  | 7  | - | 2  | - | 1
Maryland | 2  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 2  | - | 1
Florida | 1  | - | 0  | - | 2 |  |  | 6  | - | 1  | - | 2
North Carolina | 2  | - | 1  | - | 1 |  |  | 5  | - | 3  | - | 1
Georgia | 3  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 3  | - | 1
Mississippi A&M | 2  | - | 1  | - | 2 |  |  | 5  | - | 2  | - | 2
Tennessee | 4  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 4  | - | 1
Tulane | 2  | - | 2  | - | 1 |  |  | 6  | - | 3  | - | 1
Clemson | 1  | - | 1  | - | 1 |  |  | 5  | - | 2  | - | 1
Georgia Tech | 0  | - | 0  | - | 4 |  |  | 3  | - | 2  | - | 4
NC State | 1  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 7  | - | 0
Auburn | 0  | - | 1  | - | 3 |  |  | 3  | - | 3  | - | 3
Kentucky | 0  | - | 2  | - | 2 |  |  | 4  | - | 3  | - | 2
Virginia | 0  | - | 3  | - | 1 |  |  | 3  | - | 5  | - | 1
LSU | 0  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 5  | - | 1
Ole Miss | 0  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 6  | - | 0
South Carolina | 0  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 6  | - | 0

* \+ - Conference co-champions
* * co-member of SIAA

The 1923 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team[note 1] represented the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado of the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1923 college football season. Tech had ties in every one of its conference games.

## Before the season[edit]

Tech used a starting backfield, including sophomore Doug Wycoff, and a "pony backfield" full of smaller, fast substitutes such as Jerry Albright and Frank Harris.

## Schedule[edit]

Date| Opponent| Site| Result| Attendance| Source

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September 29| Oglethorpe*|

* Grant Field
* Atlanta, GA

| W 28–13| | [3]
October 6| VMI*|

* Grant Field
* Atlanta, GA

| W 10–7| | [4]
October 13| Florida|

* Grant Field
* Atlanta, GA

| T 7–7| 12,000| [5]
October 20| Georgetown*|

* Grant Field
* Atlanta, GA

| W 20–10| 10,000| [6]
October 27| at Notre Dame*|

* Cartier Field
* South Bend, IN (rivalry)

| L 7–35| 20,000| [7]
November 3| Alabama|

* Grant Field
* Atlanta, GA (rivalry)

| T 0–0| 10,000| [8]
November 10| at Penn State*|

* New Beaver Field
* State College, PA

| L 0–7| 10,000| [9]
November 17| Kentucky|

* Grant Field
* Atlanta, GA

| T 3–3| | [10]
November 29| Auburn|

* Grant Field
* Atlanta, GA (rivalry)

| T 0–0| 25,000| [11]

* *Non-conference game

[12]

## Game summaries[edit]

### Week 1: Oglethorpe[edit]

Week 1: Oglethorpe at Georgia Tech |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Oglethorpe | 7 | 6| 0| 0 | 13
• Ga. Tech | 7 | 0| 14| 7 | 28

* Date: October 13
* Location: Grant Field
Atlanta, GA

Oglethorpe led at the half on Tech, but Tech came back to win 28-13.[13]

The starting lineup was: Staton (left end), Carpenter (left tackle), McIntyre (left guard), Frye (center), McConnell (right guard), Usry (right tackle), Gardner (right end), Carter (quarterback), Hunt (left halfback), Reeves (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).[14]

### Week 2: VMI[edit]

Tech beat VMI 10-7\. Both teams touchdowns came on interceptions. The starting lineup was: Staton (left end), Merkle (left tackle), McConnell (left guard), Frye (center), McIntyre (right guard), Usry (right tackle), Gardner (right end), I. Williams (quarterback), Hunt (left halfback), Reeves (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).[15]

### Week 3: Florida[edit]

Week 3: Florida at Georgia Tech |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Florida | 7 | 0| 0| 0 | 7
Ga. Tech | 0 | 0| 0| 7 | 7

* Date: October 13
* Location: Grant Field
Atlanta, GA
* Game attendance: 12,000

The game with the Florida Gators brought considerable interest.[16] In front of 12,000 at Grant Field, the Gators were up 7 to 0 until a rush of substitutes in the fourth quarter got the Yellow Jackets the tying score.

The starting lineup was: Staton (left end), Merkle (left tackle), McIntyre (left guard), Frye (center), McConnell (right guard), Usry (right tackle), Gardner (right end), Carter (quarterback), Hunt (left halfback), Farnsworth (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).[17]

### Week 4: Georgetown[edit]

Week 4: Georgetown at Georgia Tech |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Georgetown | 7 | 3| 0| 0 | 10
• Ga. Tech | 0 | 0| 14| 6 | 20

* Date: October 20
* Location: Grant Field
Atlanta, GA

Georgetown led 10-0 at the half, but Tech won 20-10.[18] The starting lineup was: Staton (left end), Merkle (left tackle), McIntyre (left guard), Frye (center), McConnell (right guard), Huffines (right tackle), Gardner (right end), Hunt (quarterback), Williams (left halfback), Reeves (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).[18]

### Week 5: at Notre Dame[edit]

Week 5: Georgia Tech at Notre Dame |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Ga. Tech | 0 | 0| 7| 0 | 7
• Notre Dame | 7 | 7| 14| 7 | 35

* Location: South Bend, IN
* Game attendance: 20,000+

Rockne's Notre Dame Fighting Irish subs ran up a 35–7 score.[19] Over 20,000 fans were in attendance.[20] The starting lineup was: Staton (left end), Merrin (left tackle), McIntyre (left guard), Frye (center), McConnell (right guard), Huffines (right tackle), Gardner (right end), Hunt (quarterback), Albright (left halfback), Reeves (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).[21]

### Week 6: Alabama[edit]

Week 6: Alabama at Georgia Tech |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Alabama | 0 | 0| 0| 0 | 0
Ga. Tech | 0 | 0| 0| 0 | 0

* Location: Grant Field
Atlanta, GA
* Game attendance: 10,000

In a driving rain, Tech and Alabama under first year coach Wallace Wade played to a scoreless tie.[22]

### Week 7: at Penn State[edit]

Week 7: Georgia Tech at Penn State |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Ga. Tech | 0 | 0| 0| 0 | 0
• Penn State | 7 | 0| 0| 0 | 7

* Date: November 10
* Location: State College, PA
* Game start: 2:30 p. m.

Penn State beat Georgia Tech 7-0.[23] The Atlanta Constitution's Paul Warwick protested "these eastern and western invasions."[24]

The starting lineup was: Staton (left end), Usry (left tackle), McIntyre (left guard), Frye (center), McConnell (right guard), Huffines (right tackle), Gardner (right end), Davis (quarterback), Williams (left halfback), Reeves (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).[25]

### Week 8: Kentucky[edit]

Doug Wycoff punting in the game against Kentucky

Tech used every backfield man in a 3-3 tie to Kentucky.[26]

### Week 9: Auburn[edit]

Week 9: Auburn at Georgia Tech |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Auburn | 0 | 0| 0| 0 | 0
Ga. Tech | 0 | 0| 0| 0 | 0

* Location: Grant Field
Atlanta, GA

In awfully muddy conditions, Auburn and Tech fought to a scoreless tie.[27]

## Postseason[edit]

Tech had its worst season in years.[28]

## Personnel[edit]

### Depth chart[edit]

The following chart provides a visual depiction of Tech's lineup during the 1923 season with games started at the position reflected in parentheses. The chart mimics the offense after the jump shift has taken place.

|  | LE

John Staton (6)
| LT | LG | C | RG | RT

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Gus Merkle (3) | John McIntyre (5) | Claire Frye (6) | F. McConnell (5) | Usry (3)
Merrin (1) | F. McConnell (1) |  | John McIntyre (1) | Huffines(3)
Six Carpenter (1)
Usry (1) |  |  |  |
| RE

Gardner (6)
|  | QB

Pinkey Hunt (2)
Carter (2)
Davis (1)
Ike Williams (1)
|  | RHB

Reeves (5)
Bip Farnsworth (1)
|  | FB

Doug Wycoff (6)
|  | LHB

Pinkey Hunt (3)
Ike Williams (2)
Jerry Albright (1)

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ 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.[1] It may have been coined by Morgan Blake.[2]

## Endnotes[edit]

1. ^ Van Brimmer & Rice 2011, p. 147
2. ^ "Golden Tornadoes". Archived from the original on April 30, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
3. ^ "Oglethorpe gives Tech great scare". The Birmingham News. September 30, 1923. Retrieved December 15, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ "V.M.I. team loses to Georgia Tech". The Baltimore Sun. October 7, 1923. Retrieved December 15, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ "Florida fights Golden Tornado on even terms". The Montgomery Advertiser. October 14, 1923. Retrieved December 15, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ "Yellow Jackets beat Georgetown". The Birmingham News. October 21, 1923. Retrieved December 15, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "Tech defeated by long runs of Notre Dame". The Chattanooga Daily Times. October 28, 1923. Retrieved December 15, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "Georgia Tech and Alabama to tie". The Virginian-Pilot. November 4, 1923. Retrieved December 15, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Penn State conquers Georgia Tech, 7 to 0". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. November 11, 1923. Retrieved December 15, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Kentucky weathers Tornado". The Owensboro Inquirer. November 18, 1923. Retrieved December 15, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ "Fighting Tigers hold Tech to tie in annual classic". The Macon News. November 30, 1923. Retrieved December 15, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ "1923 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Schedule and Results". Archived from the original on December 11, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
13. ^ Woodruff 1928, pp. 232–233
14. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 234
15. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 238
16. ^ Lawrence Perry (October 12, 1934). "Game's For The Sake". Harrisburg Telegraph. p. 19\. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2015 - via Newspapers.com.
17. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 243
18. ^ a b Woodruff 1928, pp. 246–247
19. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2016.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
20. ^ Heisler, Karen Croake (January 1, 2006). Fighting Irish: Legends, Lists, and Lore. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 66 - via Internet Archive.
21. ^ "How the Irish Whipped the South". The Fort Wayne Sentinel. October 29, 1923. p. 10\. Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2017 - via Newspapers.com.
22. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2016.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
23. ^ "1923-11-10 – Georgia Tech at Penn State - Georgia Tech Ticket Stubs". Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
24. ^ Oriard, Michael (December 15, 2005). King Football: Sport and Spectacle in the Golden Age of Radio and Newsreels, Movies and Magazines, the Weekly and the Daily Press. Univ of North Carolina Press. ISBN 9780807864036 - via Google Books.
25. ^ "Penn State Grid Teams Wins Over Georgia, 7 to 0". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. November 11, 1923. p. 44\. Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2017 - via Newspapers.com.
26. ^ Woodruff 1928, pp. 266–267
27. ^ "1923-11-29 – Georgia Tech vs. Auburn - Georgia Tech Ticket Stubs". Archived from the original on June 9, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
28. ^ "Georgia Tech Suffers Worst Season In Years". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. December 3, 1923. p. 7\. Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2017 - via Newspapers.com.

## References[edit]

* Van Brimmer, Adam; Rice, Homer (2011). 100 Things Yellow Jackets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die. Chicago: Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-61749-703-2.
* Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. Vol. 2.

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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football

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* Piedmont Park (1892–1893, 1898–1901, 1903–1904)
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*[Conf]: Conference record
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*[T]: Ties