1920 Georgia Bulldogs football team

1920 Georgia Bulldogs football
National champion (QPRS) SIAA co-champion
Conference	Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1920 record	8–0–1 (8–0 SIAA)
Head coach	Herman Stegeman
Assistant coach	James DeHart
Captain	Bum Day
Home stadium	Sanford Field

1920 SIAA football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Georgia +	8	–	0	–	0			8	–	0	–	1
Georgia Tech +	5	–	0	–	0			8	–	1	–	0
Tulane +	4	–	0	–	0			6	–	2	–	1
Alabama	6	–	1	–	0			10	–	1	–	0
Furman	4	–	1	–	0			9	–	1	–	0
Centre	4	–	1	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
South Carolina	3	–	1	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Auburn	4	–	2	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Tennessee	4	–	2	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Mississippi A&M	3	–	2	–	0			5	–	3	–	0
Vanderbilt	3	–	3	–	0			4	–	3	–	1
Sewanee	2	–	3	–	1			4	–	3	–	1
Transylvania	1	–	2	–	0			1	–	2	–	0
Chattanooga	1	–	3	–	1			3	–	4	–	1
Florida	1	–	3	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
LSU	1	–	3	–	0			5	–	3	–	1
Clemson	2	–	6	–	0			4	–	6	–	1
Mississippi College	1	–	4	–	0			3	–	5	–	0
Howard	1	–	5	–	0			3	–	5	–	1
The Citadel	1	–	5	–	0			2	–	6	–	0
Kentucky	0	–	3	–	1			3	–	4	–	1
Millsaps	0	–	2	–	0			0	–	2	–	0
Ole Miss	0	–	2	–	0			4	–	3	–	0
Georgetown	0	–	2	–	0			0	–	3	–	0
Mercer	0	–	4	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Wofford	0	–	5	–	0			0	–	8	–	1
+ – Conference co-champions

The 1920 Georgia Bulldogs football team represented the Georgia Bulldogs of the University of Georgia during the 1920 college football season. The Bulldogs had an 8–0–1 record,^[1] outscored opponents 247–17, and were also co-champion of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Georgia gave Speedy Speer led Furman the team's only loss, and did the same to Alabama in the year's biggest win.^[2] In-state rival Georgia Tech as well as Tulane were also undefeated in conference play. This was the Georgia Bulldogs' first season under the guidance of head coach Herman Stegeman and the team's second undefeated season in its history (first since 1896 under Pop Warner).

Georgia was known for its line during this era, which featured All-Southerns in end and captain-elect Owen Reynolds, tackle Artie Pew, guard Hugh Whelchel and center and captain Bum Day. A young Joe Bennett was also on the team. In 1920, they also had a prominent backfield, led by Buck Cheves and known as the "Ten Second Backfield."^[3]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
October 2	The Citadel	Sanford Field • Athens, GA	W 40–0
October 9	at South Carolina	Columbia, SC	W 37–0
October 13	at Furman	Manly Field • Greenville, SC	W 7–0	2,500
October 23	at Oglethorpe	Atlanta, GA	W 23–3
October 30	vs. Auburn	McClung Stadium • Columbus, GA	W 7–0	7,000
November 6	at Virginia*	Lambeth Field • Charlottesville, VA	T 0–0	5,000
1920-11-13	Florida	Sanford Field • Athens	W 56–0
1920-11-20	Alabama	Ponce de Leon Park • Atlanta	W 21–14	11,000
1920-11-25	Clemson	Sanford Field • Athens	W 55–0	5,000
*Non-conference game. Homecoming.

Roster

1920 Georgia Bulldogs roster
Quarterbacks 19 Buck Cheves Halfbacks 5 Dave Collings 31 Sheldon Fitts 23 Dick Hartley Goat Tanner		Fullbacks 29 Roy Echols Ends 3 Owen Reynolds 13 Paige Bennett		Tackles Thurston Anthony 11 Joe Bennett 9 Artie Pew Jim Taylor Guards W. Mercer Murray 4 Nemo Vandiver 45 Hugh Whelchel		Centers 1 Bum Day Unlisted Paul Anderson Dan Bennett Joe Blackmon Bill Campbell

^[4][3]

Season summary

Week 1: The Citadel

The Bulldogs opened the season with a 40–0 defeat of The Citadel. Citadel made one first down.^[5]

Week 2: at South Carolina

Week 2: Georgia at South Carolina

1 2 3 4 Total • Georgia 10 13 14 0 37 S. Carolina 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 6 Location: Columbia, SC

In the second week of play, Georgia easily defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 37–0, "principally through the ability of Hartley and Cheves to advance the ball by long runs".^[6] Hartley returned the second-half kickoff back 95 yards for a touchdown, and had another 75-yard touchdown run two minutes later.^[6]

The starting lineup for the Bulldogs against South Carolina: Reynolds (left end), J. Bennett (left tackle), Anthony (left guard), Day (center), Murray (right guard), Pew (right tackle), Owens (right end), Cheves (quarterback), Echols (left halfback), Hartley (right halfback), Collings (fullback).^[6]

Week 3: at Furman

Week 3: Georgia at Furman

1 2 3 4 Total • Georgia 0 0 0 7 7 Furman 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 13 Location: Manly Field Greenville, SC Game attendance: 2,500

A close-fought game with coach Billy Laval's Furman Purple Hurricane brought the Bulldogs a 7–0 win and Furman's only loss on the year. Georgia scored thanks to a pass from Buck Cheves to Sheldon Fitts. A punting duel with Milton McManaway and Dave Collings featured throughout.^[7]

Week 4: at Oglethorpe

Georgia beat the Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels 23–3.^[8] Oglethorpe's captain Knox scored the season's first points on the Bulldogs.^[9]

Week 5: Auburn

Week 5: Auburn at Georgia

1 2 3 4 Total Auburn 0 0 0 0 0 • Georgia 7 0 0 0 7 Date: October 30 Location: McClung Stadium Columbus, GA Game attendance: 7,000 Referee: Jogger Elcock

The Bulldogs upset the Auburn Tigers 7–0, getting revenge for last year's loss. The only touchdown of the game was a 20-yard pass from Buck Cheves to Dick Hartley. Frank Stubbs starred for Auburn.^[10] Artie Pew was ejected for slugging, and thus missed his chance to go out with an Auburn victory.

The starting lineup for the Bulldogs against Auburn: Reynolds (left end), Pew (left tackle), Whelchel (left guard), Day (center), Vandiver (right guard), J. Bennett (right tackle), P. Bennett (right end), Cheves (quarterback), Hartley (left halfback), Collings (right halfback), Echols (fullback).^[10]

Week 6: at Virginia

Week 6: Georgia at Virginia

1 2 3 4 Total Georgia 0 0 0 0 0 Virginia 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 6 Location: Lambeth Field Charlottesville, VA Game attendance: 5,000

Virginia's aerial attack met a staunch Georgia defense as the two teams fought to a scoreless tie. Owen Reynolds and Paige Bennett starred for Georgia.^[11]

The starting lineup for the Bulldogs against Virginia: Reynolds (left end), Pew (left tackle), Whelchel (left guard), Day (center), Vandiver (right guard), Anthony (right tackle), P. Bennett (right end), Cheves (quarterback), Collins (left halfback), Hartley (right halfback), Tanner (fullback).^[11]

Week 7: Florida

Week 7: Florida at Georgia

1 2 3 4 Total Florida 0 0 0 0 0 • Georgia 7 28 14 7 56 Date: November 13 Location: Sanford Field Athens, GA Referee: W. R. Tichenor

Georgia rolled up a large 56–0 score on the Florida Gators. Florida put up a hard fight until Georgia got its first touchdown across, pouring it on from there. Quarterback Sheldon Fitts was the star of the contest.^[12][13] Fitts and Bohren scored two touchdowns. Paige Bennett, Hartley, Echols, and Collings had one each. Owen Reynolds starred again.^[14]

The starting lineup for the Bulldogs against Florida: Reynolds (left end), J. Bennett (left tackle), Whelchel (left guard), Day (center), Vandiver (right guard), Pew (right tackle), P. Bennett (right end), Pitts (quarterback), Collins (left halfback), Hartley (right halfback), Echols (fullback).^[12]

Week 8: Alabama

Week 8: Alabama at Georgia

1 2 3 4 Total Alabama 0 7 7 0 14 • Georgia 14 0 0 7 21 Date: November 20 Location: Poncey Atlanta, GA Game attendance: 11,000 Referee: W. R. Tichenor

The key win for the conference title was the 21–14 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide. None of Georgia's touchdowns were scored by the offense.^[15]

Photo from the Alabama game. Artie Pew is attempting to tackle Riggs Stephenson. Behind Pew is Puss Whelchel.

Paige Bennett recovered a Mullie Lenoir fumble and ran 40 yards for a touchdown. Artie Pew kicked goal. On the next possession, Hugh Whelchel blocked a Riggs Stephenson punt , and Pew picked up the ball running 24 yards to score, kicking his own goal. On the next drive, Lenoir scored. In the third quarter, Al Clemens caught a tipped ball, and ran down the sidelines with a wall of blockers for the tying score. Late in the final period, Georgia's O'Connor tried a drop kick which was blocked by Whelchel. Buck Cheves recovered the ball and ran 87 yards for the touchdown^[16] Again Pew converted goal.^[15] The recovery by Cheves ranked fourth in The 50 Greatest Plays In Georgia Bulldogs Football History.^[17]

The starting lineup for the Bulldogs against Alabama: Reynolds (left end), J. Bennett (left tackle), Vandiver (left guard), Day (center), Whelchel (right guard), Pew (right tackle), P. Bennett (Right end), Pitts (quarterback), Collins (left halfback), Hartley (right halfback), Echols (fullback).^[18]

Week 9: Clemson

Week 9: Clemson at Georgia

1 2 3 4 Total Clemson 0 0 0 0 0 • Georgia 14 6 21 14 55 Date: November 25 Location: Sanford Field Athens, GA Game attendance: 5,000

Cheves and Hartley starred again in a 55–0 romp over Clemson to end the season. Dave Collings shined brightest, scoring two touchdowns.^[19]

Post season

The Bulldogs claimed an SIAA title, and Owen Reynolds was elected captain for next year.^[20] The team was retroactively named the national champion for 1920 under the Berryman QPRS methodology.^[21]

See also

• 1920 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season
• 1920 College Football All-Southern Team

References

1. "1920 Georgia Bulldogs Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
2. "Great defense of Georgia is Alabama's end". The Ledger (NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers). November 21, 1920. p. 2.
3. "About Them Dawgs!".
4. "GEORGIADOGS.COM - University of University of Georgia Official Athletic Site - Football".
5. "Georgia Defeats Citadel". Atlanta Constitution. October 3, 1920. p. 2. Retrieved April 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Georgia Defeats Carolina". The Atlanta Constitution. October 10, 1920. p. 4. Retrieved March 21, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Ga. Barely Overcome Furman Crew". The Red and Black. October 22, 1920. p. 8.
8. John H. Mahoney (October 24, 1920). "Georgia Emerges Winner". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 3. Retrieved April 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Georgia University Wins From Oglethorpe". The Tennessean. October 24, 1920. p. 16. Retrieved April 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Gene Hinton (October 31, 1920). "Georgia Upsets Dope and Defeats Auburn By A Single Touchdown". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 2. Retrieved March 21, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Georgia and Virginia Battle To Scoreless Tie In Death Grapple". The Atlanta Constitution. November 7, 1920. Retrieved March 21, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "'Gators Lose To Georgia In One-Sided Bout". The Florida Alligator 9. November 19, 1920.
13. "'Gators Are Beaten By Red and Black In One-Sided Game". The Red and Black. November 19, 1920. p. 8.
14. John H. Mahoney (November 14, 1920). "Georgia Bulldogs Enjoys Feast Of Choice Florida 'Gator Meat, Winning Game By Great Margin". Atlanta Constitution. p. 3. Retrieved March 21, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
15. http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/20-m-footbl-recaps.pdf
16. "Longest Plays" (PDF). Retrieved January 30, 2015.
17. Patrick Garbin (August 5, 2008). The 50 Greatest Plays in Georgia Bulldogs Football History.
18. Cliff Wheatley (November 21, 1920). "Blocked Punt Enables Bulldog To Defeat Alabama In Final Five Minutes of Annual Game". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 3. Retrieved September 8, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
19. John Mahoney (November 26, 1920). "Georgia Bulldogs' Offensive Bowls Over Clemson Tiger, and Athenians Rull Up 55 Points On Carolinian". p. 14. Retrieved March 21, 2016 – via newspapers.com.
20. "Reynolds To Lead Bulldog". The Atlanta Constituton. November 28, 1920. p. 2. Retrieved March 21, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
21. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) (2015). "National Poll Rankings" (PDF). NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA. p. 108. Retrieved January 8, 2016.