1921 Georgia Bulldogs football team

Before the season

On the line with Whelchel were captain and end Owen Reynolds, tackles Artie Pew and Joe Bennett, and center Bum Day. According to Patrick Garbin, "Prior to the 1960s, Bennett is likely Georgia's most outstanding tackle."

Schedule

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Game summaries

Mercer

The season opened with a 28–0 defeat of Josh Cody's Mercer Baptists. The starting lineup was O. Reynolds (left end), Bennett (left tackle), Whelchel (left guard), Day (center), Anthony (right guard), Pew (right tackle), Murray (right end), Pierce (quarterback), Reynolds (left halfback), Spicer (right halfback), and Collings (fullback)

Furman

In the second week of play, Georgia beat Furman 27–7. Jim Tom Reynolds provided the feature play when he returned an interception 40 yards to set up a touchdown.

The starting lineup was Reynolds (left end), Bennett (left tackle), Whelchel (left guard), Day (center), Anthony (right guard), Pew (right tackle), Murray (right end), Randall (quarterback), Fletcher (left halfback), Spicer (right halfback), Tanner (fullback).

At Harvard

Boston, Massachusetts

• Sources:

The Bulldogs traveled north and were defeated by the eastern power Harvard Crimson 10–7. They were the first team all season to score on the Crimson. Harvard won by a blocked punt recovery and a drop kicked field goal. A triple pass from Collings to Jim Reynolds to Dick Hartley in the final period got Georgia's touchdown.

The starting lineup was O. Reynolds (left end), Bennett (left tackle), Whelchel (left guard), Day (center), Anthony (right guard), Pew (right tackle), Murray (right end), Randall (quarterback), Fletcher (left halfback), Hartley (right halfback), and Spicer (fullback).

Oglethorpe

Georgia easily defeated the in-state Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels 14–0. The starting lineup was Bennett (left end), Colley (left tackle), Whelchel (left guard), Boney (center), Vandiver (right guard), Williams (right tackle), Richardson (right end), Pearce (quarterback), Clark (left halfback), Thompson (right halfback), Tanner (fullback).

Auburn

• Sources: Georgia beat the heavily favored Auburn team 7–0 when Teany Randall scored in the final period.

The starting lineup was Reynolds (left end), Bennett (left tackle), Whelchel (left guard), Day (center), Anthony (right guard), Pew (right tackle), P. Bennett (right end), Randall (quarterback), Hartley (left halfback), Spicer (right halfback), Fletcher (fullback).

Virginia

The Bulldogs shutout the Virginia Orange and Blue 21–0. UVA presented Georgia with a memorial tablet to Richard Von Albade Gammon.

The starting lineup was Reynolds (left end), Bennett (left tackle), Whelchel (left guard), Day (center), Anthony (right guard), Pew (right tackle), Murray (right end), Collings (quarterback), Hartley (left halfback), J. Reynolds (right halfback), Tanner (fullback).

At Vanderbilt

Nashville, Tennessee

• Sources: In the seventh week of play, the Bulldogs faced the Vanderbilt Commodores at Curry Field. The game was the highlight of Vanderbilt's schedule this year, deciding the conference champion, and was described by The New York Times as an "important clash"; another source called it a "tooth and toe nail event." Birmingham News sports editor "Zipp" Newman wrote weeks before the game, "Stegeman has a powerful team and with all the regulars in the game, the team has a chance of going through the season undefeated unless it be Vanderbilt that stops her".

Vanderbilt's record against Georgia was 6–1; Georgia's only win was 4–0, in 1898, and the all-time score was 184–4 in favor of the Commodores. The Bulldogs were favored to win their first meeting since 1912. In the first quarter, both teams were evenly matched. The Commodores had their best chance to score when Thomas Ryan beat the defense, but he dropped Jess Neely's pass. Vanderbilt had another chance to score when a Georgia field goal was blocked by Lynn Bomar and picked up by Tot McCullough, who was caught from behind before he could score.

In the second quarter, Georgia outplayed Vanderbilt. The Commodores had two first downs in the first half, both because of Bulldog penalties. A Commodore punt was returned 15 yards by Georgia to the Vanderbilt 30-yard line, and the Bulldogs completed an 18-yard pass from Dick Hartley to halfback Jim Tom Reynolds on Vanderbilt's 12-yard line. After three short gains, Hartley advanced five yards and Vanderbilt was penalized for being offside. Jim Reynolds, gaining a yard or so, went over for the touchdown with a counter on the following series; the close call was disputed. At the end of the half, Georgia had gained 113 yards to Vanderbilt's nine.

The teams were as evenly matched in the third quarter as they had been in the first, with Vanderbilt gaining only two first downs. Soon after the start of the fourth quarter Neely intercepted a pass, weaving for a 25-yard return to Georgia's 40-yard line. Two long pass attempts failed, and Thomas Ryan lined up to punt. Rupert Smith sneaked in behind Ryan, rushing to recover the 25-yard onside kick from scrimmage. Smith jumped up to get the ball from a horde of Bulldogs after they let it bounce, and raced for a 15-yard touchdown. After he added an extra point, the game ended in a 7–7 tie.

Lynn Bomar's play as a linebacker was noted. According to Nashville Tennessean sportswriter Blinkey Horn, "Georgia would have trampled Vanderbilt to atoms but for Lynn Bomar ... [who] was the stellar performer of the game. In the first-half he made two-thirds of the tackles"; Bomar stopped five Georgia touchdowns that day. Tom Ryan's punting was also key to keeping the game close, despite the Bulldogs' 18 first downs. The starting lineup was O. Reynolds (left end), Bennett (left tackle), Whelchel (left guard), Day (center), Vandiver (right guard), Pew (right tackle), Murray (right end), J. Reynolds (quarterback), Randall (left halfback), Thompson (right halfback), and Collings (fullback).

Alabama

Atlanta

• Sources: On a muddy Ponce de Leon Park, Georgia handily defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 22–0. Jim Reynolds scored first for Georgia. After Whelchel blocked a Charles Bartlett punt, Bartlett fell on it for a safety. After another punt block, Day recovered the ball deep in Alabama territory, and eventually Spicer ran in a touchdown. In the fourt quarter, the Bulldogs had an 80-yard touchdown drive. Randall and Spicer made 20 yards on end runs, and pass from Hartley to Randall netted 30 yards, down to the 3-yard line, from where Randall scored.

The starting lineup was O. Reynolds (left end), Bennett (left tackle), Whelchel (left guard), Day (center), Anthony (right guard), Pew (right tackle), P. Bennett (right end), Fitts (quarterback), Thompson (left halfback), Spicer (right halfback), and Collings (fullback).

Clemson

Clemson was beaten 28–0. The starting lineup was O. Reynolds (left end), Bennett (left tackle), Whelchel (left guard), Day (center), Anthony (right guard), Pew (right tackle), P. Bennett (right end), Randall (quarterback), Hartley (left halfback), Spicer (right halfback), and Tanner (fullback).

Dartmouth

Atlanta

• Sources: Georgia was beaten by eastern power Dartmouth 7–0. Dartmouth scored on a 64-yard forward pass that went 44 in the air, from Jim Robertson to Lynch. Dick Hartley fumbled twice.

Postseason

Whelchel was elected captain for next year.

Players

Varsity letterwinners

Line

Backfield

Unlisted

Notes

References

Additional sources

References

1. "1921 Georgia Bulldogs Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC.
2. Fuzzy Woodruff. (November 13, 1921). "Onside Kick In Final Quarter Ties Struggle For Commodores". Atlanta Constitution.
3. [[Fred Russell]] and Maxwell Edward Benson. ''Fifty Years of Vanderbilt Football''. "1921-Wallace Wade Hired As Assistant". Nashville, Tennessee, 1938, p. 39
4. Camp, Walter, ed. [https://archive.org/details/officialnational07nation National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Rules: Official Intercollegiate Football Guide.] 45 Rose St, New York: American Sports, 1922. Print. Spalding's Athletic Library.
5. Patrick Garbin. (2008). "About Them Dawgs!: Georgia Football's Memorable Teams and Players". Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.
6. (October 9, 1921). "Georgians stop Furmanites, 27–7". The Macon Daily Telegraph.
7. (November 6, 1921). "Georgia Bulldogs defeat Virginians". The Birmingham News.
8. (November 25, 1921). "Clemson plays good football". The State.
9. Jerome Jones, Jr.. (October 2, 1921). "Stubborn Resistance of Baptists Holds Athenians To 28-0 Victory". The Atlanta Constitution.
10. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
11. Cliff Wheatley. (October 16, 1921). "Crimson Beats Red and Black By Lonely Goal". The Atlanta Constitution.
12. (October 16, 1921). "Harvard Trims Georgia". Reading Eagle.
13. (October 23, 1921). "Georgia Bulldog beats Oglethorpe". The Montgomery Advertiser.
14. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
15. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
16. Clark Howell, Jr.. (October 30, 1921). "Last Gasp Rally of Georgia Downs Plainsmen 7 to 0". The Atlanta Constitution.
17. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
18. (November 12, 1921). "Many Good Games On Schedule Today". New York Times.
19. C.E. Baker. (November 1, 1921). "Vanderbilt To Play Bama Eleven Saturday". Macon Telegraph.
20. Zipp Newman. (October 31, 1921). "Georgia Heeds Opportunity's Knock While Auburn Turns Deaf Ear Says Zipp Newman". The Columbus Enquirer Sun.
21. (November 10, 1921). "Georgia Beat Vandy in '98". Columbus Ledger.
22. (November 11, 1921). "Gridiron Gossip". Montgomery Advertiser.
23. (November 13, 1921). "Bulldog Eleven Is Held To Tie By The Commodores". The Macon Daily Telegraph.
24. (November 13, 1921). "Vanderbilt Holds Georgia To A Tie". Dallas Morning News.
25. {{Closed access}} [http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=D51E4BIEMTM3MTA3MzE2MS42NzQ4NDA6MToxMzoxMzIuMTk4LjUwLjEz&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=4&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=4&p_docnum=8&toc=true&p_docref=v2:10EEA3CFD727D370@EANX-1182187E376D6460@2423007-1182188470A195C0@60-118218DCAA1F9990@Vanderbilt%20Holds%20Georgia%20to%207-7 Vanderbilt Holds Georgia To 7-7 Tie] ''Fort Worth Star Telegram'' November 13, 1921
26. (November 13, 1921). "Vanderbilt Ties With Bulldogs". The State (Columbia, South Carolina).
27. (November 13, 1921}}{{Dead link). "Commodores Tie In Last Period". The Palm Beach Post.
28. (November 13, 1921). "Georgia and Vandy Battle to a Draw". The Columbus Enquirer.
29. (January 12, 2016). "The history and evolution of the onside kick".
30. (November 18, 1921). "Game With Vandy Is Tied As Novel Play Is Pulled Successful". The Red And Black.
31. (November 13, 1921). "Commodores Tied In Last". The Columbus Ledger.
32. Fuzzy Woodruff. (November 13, 1921). "Onside Kick In Final Quarter Ties Struggle For Commodores". Atlanta Constitution.
33. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
34. "Archived copy".
35. Fuzzy Woodruff. (November 20, 1921). "Bulldog Swamps Alabama 22-0 In Hard Battle Fought In Mud". The Atlanta Constitution.
36. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
37. {{Harvnb. Woodruff. 1928
38. (November 27, 1921). "Georgia-Dartmouth Detail". The Atlanta Constitution.
39. (August 2007). ""Then Vince Said to Herschel... ": The Best Georgia Football Stories Ever Told". Triumph Books.