1931 Georgia Bulldogs football team

Before the season

Georgia's team was led by a group of veterans in end Catfish Smith, fullback Jack "The Ripper" Roberts and captain and quarterback Austin Downes. Buster Mott was a promising sophomore.

Schedule

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Season summary

Yale

New Haven, Connecticut

For the third straight year, Georgia's Bulldogs triumphed over "superstar" Hall of Famer Albie Booth and Yale's Bulldogs 26–7. Yale once had the ball on its own 45-yard line. "Tommy Taylor dropped back to pass. Catfish Smith hit Taylor as he released the ball and the wobbly toss was grabbed by guard Red Leathers of Georgia, who proceeded to dash 40 yards to the touchdown." Before the first half was over, Homer Key ran for a 74-yard touchdown, starting through right and cutting back. "He was surrounded by blue-clad players. He shuttled in and out like a white needle in haystack of blue, and finally he shout out and streaked for the goal."

In the fourth quarter, after a short punt, Austin Downes connected with Key on a 27-yard touchdown pass. Later, Dickens intercepted Booth's pass at the 29-yard line, and Georgia drove it in with Gilmore finally going over to end the scoring.

The starting lineup was Crenshaw (left end), Townsend (left tackle), Patterson (left guard), Batchelder (center), Maddux (right guard), Cooper (right tackle), Wilson (right end), Downes (quarterback), Chandler (left halfback), Mott (right halfback) White (fullback).

Vanderbilt

Vernon Smith rushed Tommy Henderson, who always played without a helmet, and made him step out of bounds for a safety. In the third quarter it was still 2-0, and Georgia went for it on fourth down at the 8-yard line. Smith leaped above several Vanderbilt players to catch the touchdown.

Florida

The Bulldogs beat Charlie Bachman at Florida for the first time 33–6. Both Florida governor Doyle E. Carlton and Georgia governor Richard B. Russell attended the game. Florida scored when Scabby Phiel blocked a punt. Georgia scored in every period.

Tulane

Athens, Georgia Georgia lost to the eventual SIAA champion Tulane Green Wave 20–7. Tulane scored first on a 33-yard pass from Don Zimmerman to Vernon Haynes. Nollie Felts plunged in from the 1-yard line for the next touchdown. A pass from Georgia's Homey Key to Buster Mott netted 60 yards and a touchdown. After a botched punt, a double pass play led to Payne sprinting around left end for Tulane's final score.

USC

Georgia was beaten by the national champion USC Trojans 60–0.

References

References

1. "1931 Georgia Bulldogs Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC.
2. Schmidt, Ray. "The Georgia Armada".
3. (October 12, 1931). "Pack of Veterans Carry on Georgia's Grid Wars". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
4. (October 4, 1931). "Georgia smothers Virginia Poly, 40–0". The Bristol Herald Courier.
5. (October 11, 1931). "Yale Bows To Georgia By 26 To 7". The Hartford Courant.
6. (October 18, 1931). "Georgia routs Carolina". The Atlanta Constitution.
7. (October 25, 1931). "Georgia beats two Vanderbilt threats before smashing its way to 9–0 triumph". The Chattanooga Times.
8. (November 1, 1931). "Georgia thumps Florida Gators". Bluefield Daily Telegraph.
9. (November 8, 1931). "Georgia jinxes Violets". Daily News.
10. (November 15, 1931). "Tulane blasts Georgia hopes, 20–7". The Birmingham News.
11. (November 22, 1931). "Georgia licks game Auburn team, 12–6". The Charlotte Observer.
12. (November 29, 1931). "Georgia Bulldogs crush Tech under 35–6 avalanche". Tampa Sunday Tribune.
13. Braven Dyer. (December 13, 1931). "Thundering Herd slaughters Georgia, 60–0: Sheer power of Trojan attack stuns Bulldogs". The Los Angeles Times.
14. "1930's Football History".
15. Westbrook Pegler. (October 11, 1931). "70,000 Watch Georgia Eleven Beat Yale, 26-7". Chicago Tribune.
16. (November 1, 1931). "Georgia Thumps Florida Gators". Bluefield Daily Telegraph.