1920 Georgia Bulldogs football team

Before the season

The Bulldogs were led by first-year head coach Herman Stegeman, who attended the University of Chicago and learned football from the legendary Amos Alonzo Stagg. During the end of World War I, the United States Army stationed Stegeman in Athens to create physical training courses for the UGA Reserve Officers' Training Corps program. Last season, Stegeman was hired by head coach Alex Cunningham as an assistant. Cunningham then went into the Army, and Stegeman was promoted to head coach. Stegeman was assisted by backfield coach and Warner disciple Jimmy DeHart.

Schedule

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Game summaries

Week 1: The Citadel

The Bulldogs opened the season with a 40–0 defeat of The Citadel. Citadel made one first down. The first score was a 60-yard run by Hartley.

Week 2: at South Carolina

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".

The starting lineup was: 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).

Week 3: at Furman

Greenville, SC A close-fought game with coach Billy Laval's Speedy Speer-led 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.

Week 4: at Oglethorpe

Georgia beat the Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels 27–3. Oglethorpe's captain Knox scored the season's first points on the Bulldogs.

Week 5: Auburn

Columbus, GA 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. Artie Pew was ejected for slugging, and thus missed his chance to go out with an Auburn victory.

The starting lineup was: 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).

Week 6: at Virginia

Charlottesville, VA The aerial attack of the Virginia Orange and Blue met a staunch Georgia defense as the two teams fought to a scoreless tie in Charlottesville. Owen Reynolds and Paige Bennett starred for Georgia.

The starting lineup was: 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).

Week 7: Florida

Athens, GA 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. Fitts and Bohren scored two touchdowns. Paige Bennett, Hartley, Echols, and Collings had one each. Owen Reynolds starred again.

The starting lineup was: 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).

Week 8: Alabama

Atlanta, GA 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.

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 Again Pew converted goal.

The starting lineup was: 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).

Week 9: Clemson

Athens, GA Cheves and Hartley starred again in a 55–0 romp over Clemson to end the season. Dave Collings was the star of the contest scoring two touchdowns. The starting lineup was Reynolds (left end), J. Bennett (left tackle), Whelchel (left guard), Day (center), Anthony (right guard), Pew (right tackle), P. Bennett (Right end), Cheves (quarterback), Hartley (left halfback), Collings (right halfback), Echols (fullback).

Post season

Owen Reynolds was elected captain for next year. Reynolds, Pew, and Day were all composite All-Southern selections. Whelchel also made several selections, and Joe Bennett made one.

Rooters on either side of Georgia were happy as both the Bulldogs and Georgia Tech claimed SIAA titles. The Bulldogs were retroactively named the national champion for 1920 under the Berryman QPRS methodology.

Personnel

Roster

Line

Backfield

Unlisted

Scoring leaders

The following is an incomplete list of statistics and scores, largely dependent on newspaper summaries.

Notes

References

Additional sources

References

1. "1920 Georgia Bulldogs Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC.
2. (July 2017). "2017 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records". The National Collegiate Athletic Association.
3. (November 11, 1913). "Advent has ten-second backfield". [[The Cincinnati Post]].
4. (November 21, 1920). "Great defense of Georgia is Alabama's end". NewsBank: America's Historical Newspapers.
5. (October 3, 1920). "Georgia Defeats Citadel". Atlanta Constitution.
6. (October 10, 1920). "Georgia Defeats Carolina". The Atlanta Constitution.
7. (October 22, 1920). "Ga. Barely Overcome Furman Crew". The Red and Black.
8. John H. Mahoney. (October 24, 1920). "Georgia Emerges Winner". The Atlanta Constitution.
9. (October 24, 1920). "Georgia University Wins From Oglethorpe". The Tennessean.
10. Gene Hinton. (October 31, 1920). "Georgia Upsets Dope and Defeats Auburn By A Single Touchdown". The Atlanta Constitution.
11. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
12. (November 7, 1920). "Georgia and Virginia Battle To Scoreless Tie In Death Grapple". The Atlanta Constitution.
13. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
14. (November 19, 1920). "'Gators Lose To Georgia In One-Sided Bout". The Florida Alligator.
15. (November 19, 1920). "'Gators Are Beaten By Red and Black In One-Sided Game". The Red and Black.
16. John H. Mahoney. (November 14, 1920). "Georgia Bulldogs Enjoys Feast Of Choice Florida 'Gator Meat, Winning Game By Great Margin". Atlanta Constitution.
17. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
18. "1920 Season".
19. "Longest Plays".
20. Patrick Garbin. (August 5, 2008). "The 50 Greatest Plays in Georgia Bulldogs Football History".
21. Cliff Wheatley. (November 21, 1920). "Blocked Punt Enables Bulldog To Defeat Alabama In Final Five Minutes of Annual Game". The Atlanta Constitution.
22. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
23. John Mahoney. (November 26, 1920). "Georgia Bulldogs' Offensive Bowls Over Clemson Tiger, and Athenians Rull Up 55 Points On Carolinian".
24. (November 28, 1920). "Reynolds To Lead Bulldog". The Atlanta Constitution.
25. (December 6, 1920). "All-Southern Grid Eleven Is Named".
26. "Conference Championships - Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association".
27. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). (2015). "National Poll Rankings". NCAA.
28. (2008). "About Them Dawgs!".
29. "GEORGIADOGS.COM - University of University of Georgia Official Athletic Site - Football".