1907 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

Schedule

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Game summaries

Week 1: Kentucky State College

Vanderbilt opened the season with a 40–0 defeat of Kentucky State College, boosting morale. 1,800 people attended the game.

The starting lineup against Kentucky State: V. Blake (left end), McLain (left tackle), Sherrill (left guard), Stone (center), King (right guard), Hasslock (right tackle), B. Blake (right end), Costen (quarterback), Campbell (left halfback), Craig (right halfback), Morton (fullback).

Week 2: at Navy

The Commodores held the Navy team to a 6–6 tie in one of the highlights of the season. McGugin proved prophetic; before the game he said "We have an even chance with the Navy." The Nashville papers said Vandy should've won, and Grantland Rice criticized the officiating, as did coach McGugin. Navy's captain Tootsie Douglas called the tie "the bitterest pill I have ever had to swallow."

The starting lineup against Navy: V. Blake (left end), McLain (left tackle), Sherrill (left guard), Stone (center), King (right guard), Hasslock (right tackle), B. Blake (right end), Costen (quarterback), Campbell (left halfback), Craig (right halfback), Morton (fullback).

Week 3: Rose Polytechnic

Vanderbilt smashed Rose Polytechnic 65–10. Rose had played Vanderbilt close in prior seasons, and so was a good warm-up act to Michigan.

Week 4: Michigan

Vanderbilt's only loss was the first home loss in three years, and only the third in the four years of Dan McGugin's coaching career at Vanderbilt —and all were to Michigan teams. The Commodores had a 26-game home win streak until Michigan stopped them on November 2. The Commodores lost to the Michigan Wolverines 8–0, in front of a crowd of 8,000 at Dudley Field in Nashville, snapping a 26-game home win streak. The crowd was the largest up to that date to see a football game south of the Mason–Dixon Line.

The game was played under clear skies and warm weather, the temperature being too warm "for the invaders' liking." "Octy" Graham scored all of Michigan's points, converting on two of three field goal attempts. The tide of the game was set when Vanderbilt's quarterback, Sam Costen, dropped six of the first punts he received.

The game most prominently featured a duel between star German centers. The Michigan Alumnus wrote: "'Germany' Schulz was far and away the star of the game. In his usual style he was in every play, tackling runners for loss, falling on the ball in fumbles, and opening wide holes in the line for Michigan gains. . . . [H]e showed conclusively that he has no equal in the keystone position." A Nashville source wrote "In the duel of centers, Stone of Vanderbilt, had the best of "Germany" Schulz. Michigan's massive center. Stone's play was spectacular all the way."

The starting lineup against Michigan: V. Blake (left end), McLain (left tackle), Sherrill (left guard), Stone (center), King (right guard), Hasslock (right tackle), B. Blake (right end), Costen (quarterback), Campbell (left halfback), Craig (right halfback), Morton (fullback).

Week 5: vs. Ole Miss

In a heavy rain, the Commodores defeated Ole Miss, 60–0. Vanderbilt had the substitutes in after ten minutes of play, and made ten touchdowns and ten goals.

The starting lineup against Mississippi: V. Blake (left end), McLain (left tackle), Sherrill (left guard), Stone (center), Hall (right guard), King (right tackle), B. Blake (right end), Costen (quarterback), Campbell (left halfback), Craig (right halfback), Morton (fullback).

Week 6: Georgia Tech

In the sixth week of play, Vanderbilt beat Georgia Tech by the largest margin in coach John Heisman's tenure, 54–0. "The rooters stridently called: "We want sixty! We want sixty!" According to sportswriter Grantland Rice, Heisman's team had a fine line but weak ends and backfield.

The highlight of the first half came on a triple pass. Sam Costen passed the ball to Honus Craig, Craig passed it to Morton and Morton passed it to Bob Blake, who ran to the side and passed it 25 yards back to Costen. Costen ran the remaining 20 yards for a touchdown.

Towards the end of the game, every regular with the exception of Stone was relieved with reserves.

The starting lineup against Georgia Tech: V. Blake (left end), McLain (left tackle), Sherrill (left guard), Stone (center), King (right guard), Hasslock (right tackle), B. Blake (right end), Costen (quarterback), Campbell (left halfback), Craig (right halfback), Morton (fullback).

Week 7: Sewanee

Vanderbilt faced one of Sewanee's greatest teams in its annual rivalry game which would decide the SIAA championship. Vanderbilt won a close game 17–12.

With the Commodores down 11–12, the game featured a 35-yard catch by Vanderbilt center Stein Stone, on a double-pass play then thrown near the end zone by Bob Blake that set up the 3-yard Honus Craig touchdown run to win at the very end. The double pass was cited by Grantland Rice as the greatest thrill he ever witnessed in his years of watching sports. McGugin in ''Spalding's Football Guide'''s summation of the season in the SIAA wrote "The standing. First, Vanderbilt; second, Sewanee, a mighty good second;" and that Sewanee back Aubrey Lanier "came near winning the Vanderbilt game by his brilliant dashes after receiving punts."

The starting lineup against Sewanee: V. Blake (left end), McLain (left tackle), Sherrill (left guard), Stone (center), King (right guard), Hasslock (right tackle), B. Blake (right end), Costen (quarterback), Campbell (left halfback), Craig (right halfback), Morton (fullback).

Postseason

End Bob Blake made Walter Camp's All-America Honorable Mention, as well as the first team All-American selection of Michigan coach Fielding Yost. Sam Costen was elected captain for next year. Vandy claimed the championship of the South.

Players

Depth chart

The following chart provides a visual depiction of Vanderbilt's lineup during the 1907 season with games started at the position reflected in parentheses. The chart mimics a short punt formation while on offense, with the quarterback under center.

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Varsity letter winners

"Wearers of the V."

Line

Backfield

Unlisted

• Pickens
• Pittman
• Souby
• Stewart
• Williams

Staff

• H. E. Palmer, manager

Notes

References

Bibliography

References

1. (October 6, 1907). "Kentucky State is slaughtered". The Atlanta Constitution.
2. (October 13, 1907). "Navy played to tie". New-York Tribune.
3. (October 27, 1907). "Rolls up huge score; Vanderbilt finds Rose team easy picking". The Detroit Free Press.
4. (November 3, 1907). "Michigan won hard game over Vanderbilt". The Daily Journal and Tribune.
5. (November 10, 1907). "Commodores win with great ease". The Birmingham Age-Herald.
6. (November 17, 1907). "Tech smothered by Vanderbilt". The Birmingham Age-Herald.
7. (November 29, 1907). "Close, exciting contest; Sewanee defeated by Vanderbilt". The Times-Democrat.
8. "Coaching Records Game by Game: Dan McGugin 1907". College Football Data Warehouse.
9. {{Harvnb. Vanderbilt University. 1908
10. . (October 6, 1907). ["Commodores Pile Up A Big Score"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109397605/the-tennessean/). *[[The Tennessean*.
11. . (October 6, 1907). ["Commodores Pile Up A Big Score (continued)"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109397662/the-tennessean/). *[[The Tennessean*.
12. (October 12, 1907). "Commodores Land At Annapolis". The Tennessean.
13. Wm. J. Ewing Jr.. (October 13, 1907). "Commodores Play Middies To A Standstill". The Tennessean.
14. Grantland Rice. (October 13, 1907). "Commodores and Navy Fight Drawn Battle". The Tennessean.
15. Grantland Rice. (October 13, 1907). "Vandy Holds Navy Eleven To Tie Game". The Atlanta Constitution.
16. (October 13, 1907). "The Navy's Captain". The Tennessean.
17. {{Harvnb. Vanderbilt University. 1908
18. "Michigan vs Vanderbilt". College Football Data Warehouse.
19. (November 3, 1907). "Michigan Downs Vanderbilt: Defeat by Score of 8 to 0 Spreads Woe in Dixie Land: Graham's Kicking tells; Chicagoan Scores Twice From Placement; 8,000 See the Game". Chicago Daily Tribune.
20. (December 1907). "Michigan, 8; Vanderbilt, 0". The Michigan Alumnus.
21. (November 3, 1907). "Vanderbilt Beaten By Yost's Men". The Washington Times.
22. (November 10, 1907). "Vanderbilt 60, Mississippi 0". The Courier-Journal.
23. Grantland Rice. (November 17, 1907). "Tech Beaten Down". The Tennessean.
24. {{Harvnb. Vanderbilt University. 1908
25. (February 19, 1911). "Brown Calls Vanderbilt '06 Best Eleven South Ever Had". Atlanta Constitution.
26. (April 27, 1924). "Grantland Rice Tells Of Greatest Thrill In Years Of Watching Sport". Boston Daily Globe.
27. "CHC: Stein Stone's Famous 1907 Catch - Vanderbilt Official Athletic Site".
28. Dan McGugin. (1907). "Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Foot Ball". National Collegiate Athletic Association.
29. (November 29, 1907). "Sewanee Gives Tough Battle". The Atlanta Constitution.
30. (December 7, 1907). "Costen Will Lead Vanderbilt On Football Field Next Fall". Detroit Free Press.
31. {{Harvnb. Vanderbilt University. 1908