The 1916 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1916 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season.[1] John R. Bender served his first season as head coach of the Volunteers. Because of World War I, Tennessee did not field another varsity squad until 1919.
| 1916 Tennessee Volunteers football | |
|---|---|
SIAA co-champion | |
| Conference | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Record | 8–0–1 (6–0–1 SIAA) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive scheme | Short punt |
| Base defense | Multiple |
| Captain | Graham Vowell |
| Home stadium | Waite Field |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech + | 5 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee + | 6 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 4 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 3 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 1 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Citadel | 3 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | 2 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 2 | – | 1 | – | 2 | 4 | – | 1 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 2 | – | 2 | – | 2 | 5 | – | 2 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Centre | 1 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 1 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howard (AL) | 1 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgetown (KY) | 1 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi College | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wofford | 1 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisville | 1 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transylvania | 1 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Furman | 1 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chattanooga | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mercer | 0 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 0 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1916 Vols won eight games and lost none. The only blemish on Tennessee's record was a scoreless draw with Kentucky in the last game; and the Vols won a share of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association title for the second time in three years — sharing the title with Georgia Tech. This season also saw the first homecoming football game in Tennessee football history, hosting rival Vanderbilt, against which Tennessee achieved a then-rare victory..
The New York Herald ranked quarterback Buck Hatcher as the season's premier punter. Captain and end Graham Vowell was the season's only unanimous All-Southern selection, and was a third-team All-America selection by Walter Camp. Next to him on the line was his older brother, Morris Vowell. Next to him was Chink Lowe. At the other end was Lloyd Wolfe.
Before the season edit
Coach Bender came to Tennessee from Kansas State, effectively switching jobs with former Volunteers head coach Zora G. Clevenger. Bender ran a short punt system. In 1916, football used a one-platoon system in which players played both offense, defense, and special teams. Quarterback Buck Hatcher was a triple-threat.
Schedule edit
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30 | Tusculum* | W 33–0 | [2] | ||
| October 7 | Maryville (TN)* |
| W 32–0 | [3] | |
| October 14 | at Clemson | W 14–0 | [4] | ||
| October 21 | South Carolina |
| W 26–0 | [5] | |
| October 28 | at Florida | W 24–0 | [6] | ||
| November 4 | at Chattanooga | W 12–7 | [7] | ||
| November 11 | Vanderbilt |
| W 10–6 | [8] | |
| November 18 | vs. Sewanee |
| W 17–0 | 500 | [9] |
| November 30 | Kentucky |
| T 0–0 | [10] | |
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Game summaries edit
Tusculum edit
The season opened with a 33–0 defeat of Tusculum.
Maryville edit
In the second week of play, Tennessee beat the Maryville Scots 32–0.
Clemson edit
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Tennessee beat Clemson 14–0, the game remaining 0–0 well into the fourth quarter. Eventually in the fourth, Tennessee drove to the 1-yard line and lost the ball on downs.[11] After forcing Clemson to punt, Tennessee again found itself at the 1-yard line, and was penalized 5 yards. Clemson was also penalized 5 yards, and with the ball back at the 1-yard line the Volunteers scored the touchdown. The second touchdown came on an interception.[11]
The starting lineup was G. Vowell (left end), M. Vowell (left tackle), Shoulders (left guard), Robinson (center), Lowe (right guard), Henderson (right tackle), Wolfe (right end), Luck (quarterback), Emery (left halfback), Shelby (right halfback), A. Hatcher (fullback).[11]
South Carolina edit
The Volunteers defeated South Carolina 26–0.
Florida edit
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The Vols blanked the Florida Gators in Tampa 24–0 in the two rivals first-ever meeting. Hatcher's punts were the feature of the contest.[12]
The starting lineup was G. Vowell (left end), M. Vowell (left tackle), Lowe (left guard), Robinson (center), Shoulders (right guard), Hambaugh (right tackle), Wolfe (right end), A. Hatcher (quarterback), Shelby (left halfback), Emory (right halfback), Luck (fullback).[12]
Chattanooga edit
Tennessee beat Chattanooga 12–7, the most points scored on the Vols all season.
Vanderbilt edit
Tennessee upset the Vanderbilt Commodores 10–6. Vanderbilt's lone score came on a 70-yard run by Rabbit Curry. Graham Vowell scored the touchdown and Buck Hatcher kicked a field goal.[13] Hatcher regularly outpunted Tom Zerfoss. Both ends, Vowell and Lloyd Wolfe, helped stop Curry.[14]
The starting lineup was G. Vowell (left end), M. Vowell (left tackle), Lowe (left guard), Robinson (center), Henderson (right guard), Hambaugh (right tackle), Wolfe (right end), A. Hatcher (quarterback), Emory (left halfback), Twifford (right halfback), Ring (fullback).[15]
Sewanee edit
The Volunteers beat the Sewanee Tigers 17–0. Morris Vowell had a 99-yard interception return.
Kentucky edit
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The season closed with an upset tie by the Kentucky Wildcats, an account of which reads "Rodes and McIlvain, Kentucky's quarterback and fullback, played a magnificent game and had they received the proper support from their team, would have piled up a large score against Tennessee."[16]
The starting lineup was G. Vowell (left end), M. Vowell (left tackle), Lowe (left guard), Robinson (center), Henderson (right guard), Hambaugh (right tackle), Wolfe (right end), A. Hatcher (quarterback), Emory (left halfback), J. Luck (right halfback), Ring (fullback).[16]
Postseason edit
The New York Herald ranked quarterback Buck Hatcher as the season's premier punter.[17] Graham Vowell was the season's only unanimous All-Southern selection, and was a third-team All-America selection by Walter Camp.
Personnel edit
Depth chart edit
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References edit
- ^ "1916 Tennessee Football Schedule". August 23, 2014.
- ^ "Volunteers start well; Tusculum team unable to cope with Orange and White". The Commercial Appeal. October 1, 1916. Retrieved February 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Maryville beaten 32 to 6 but plays football all the route". The Journal and Tribune. October 8, 1916. Retrieved February 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tigers succumbed to Tennesseans". The Charlotte News. October 15, 1916. Retrieved February 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tennessee defeats Carolina in snappy exhibition, 26 to 0". The Journal and Tribune. October 22, 1916. Retrieved February 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tennessee eleven clearly outclasses that of Florida". The Montgomery Advertiser. October 29, 1916. Retrieved February 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Poor headwork lost for 'Nooga". The Atlanta Journal. November 5, 1916. Retrieved February 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Terrible jolt handed by Vols of old Tennessee". The Atlanta Journal. November 12, 1916. Retrieved February 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tennessee defeats Sewanee in riot of thrilling runs and pretty punting". The Chattanooga Daily Times. November 19, 1916. Retrieved December 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ ""Doc" Rodes comes to town, holds Tennessee to tie game and upset". The Knoxville Sentinel. December 1, 1916. Retrieved February 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "Tigers Outplayed and Defeated by Tennessee 14 to 0". The Greenville News. October 15, 1916. p. 9. Retrieved December 8, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Tennessee 24, Florida 0". Atlanta Constitution. October 29, 1916. p. 5. Retrieved May 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Defeat of Vandy Was Big Surprise". The Charlotte Observer. November 13, 1916. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Auburn Has Bulge In Weight And Experience Behind Line". The Tennessean. November 15, 1916. p. 12. Retrieved January 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 42
- ^ a b c "Kentucky State Outplays Tenn". Atlanta Constitution. December 1, 1916. p. 8. Retrieved April 23, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "[1]". The Record of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. 37: 150. 1917.
Additional sources edit
- Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. Vol. 2.