1909 VPI football team

The 1909 VPI football team represented the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute in the 1909 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Branch Bocock, the team went 6–1 and claims a Southern championship.[1][2] Tech outscored its opponents 148 to 27. The starting lineup averaged 172 pounds.[3] This is the first season the team was referred to in print as the "Gobblers", and it became the official nickname in 1912.[2][4]

1909 VPI football
Southern champion
Conference	Independent
1909 record	6–1
Head coach	Branch Bocock (1st season)
Captain	Hoss Hodgson
Home stadium	Miles Field

1909 South Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
VPI +	4	–	0	–	0			6	–	1	–	0
Virginia +	3	–	0	–	0			7	–	1	–	0
George Washington	1	–	1	–	0			1	–	3	–	0
William & Mary	1	–	1	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Georgetown	1	–	2	–	0			3	–	2	–	0
Richmond	1	–	4	–	0			3	–	5	–	2
Davidson	0	–	1	–	0			3	–	4	–	2
+ – Conference co-champions

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
October 2		Clemson	Miles Field Blacksburg, VA	W 6–0
October 13		at Princeton	University Field Princeton, NJ	L 6–8
October 23		at Richmond	Broad Street Park Richmond, VA	W 52–0	1,500[5]
October 30		vs. Washington and Lee	Lynchburg, VA	W 34–6	2,200[6]
November 6	3:30 p.m.[7]	vs. North Carolina	Broad Street Park[7] Richmond, VA	W 15–0	2,000[8]
November 12[9]		at George Washington	Washington, DC	W 17–8
November 25	2:30 p.m.[10]	vs. North Carolina A&M	Athletic Park[11] Norfolk, VA	W 18–5	10,000[11]
All times are in Eastern time

• Source: HokieSports.com: 1909 Virginia Tech football schedule[12]

Players

The following players were members of the 1909 football team according to the roster published in the 1910 edition of The Bugle, the Virginia Tech yearbook.[13]

VPI 1909 roster
	Quarterback John Lepburn Hughes Guards Hoss Hodgson (Capt.) Harry Guilford Jones Tackles William Henry Burruss Edward Raymond Norris Center Aubrey Gravatt Gibbs		Ends Thomas Paret Hicks Joseph Talmage Luttrell Halfbacks Henry Evans Billups Asbury Nathaniel Hodgson Fullback Vivian Burnett Hodgson		Substitutes Winston Bozel Davis Frederick Hughes Legge Caesar Pancratius Massei

Season summary

Clemson

Clemson at VPI

1 2 Total Clemson 0 0 0 • VPI 6 0 6 Date: October 6 Location: Miles Field Blacksburg, VA Referee: Shaughnessy

VPI opened its season with the Clemson Tigers, winning 6–0. "Hughes, playing quarter for the first time, starred for V. P. I."[14] Hughes got the touchdown when he picked up a fumble.[14]

VPI's starting lineup was: Sharpe (left end), Jones (left tackle), E. Hodgson (left guard), Gibbs (center), Burrass (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Luttrell (right halfback), Leggs (fullback).[14]

at Princeton

VPI at Princeton

1 2 Total VPI 6 0 6 • Princeton 5 3 8 Date: October 13 Location: University Field Princeton, NJ Game weather: Frigid Referee: Joe Pendleton (Bowdoin)

VPI's strongest showing came in the close loss to Ivy League powerhouse Princeton. In a game plagued by frigid weather conditions,[15] each side scored due to a fumble by the opposition.[16] Princeton's Logan Cunningham scored a touchdown (worth five points in 1909) in the first two minutes of play after VPI fumbled the ball away on its own 10-yard line. Princeton missed the extra point attempt.[17] Later in the contest, a snap from center went over the Princeton quarterback's head, and Tech’s Hoss Hodgson returned the lost fumble 50 yards for a touchdown.[18] Hodgson then made his own extra point. After VPI led 6 to 5 for some time, and with only minutes left to play, Princeton's Cunningham made 30-yard drop kick to secure the 8 to 6 victory.[19]

VPI's starting lineup was: Luttrell (left end), Burruss (left tackle), Jones (left guard), Gibbes (center), E. Hodgson (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Billups (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback).[19]

at Richmond

VPI at Richmond

1 2 Total • VPI 29 23 52 Richmond 0 0 0 Date: October 23 Location: Broad Street Park Richmond, VA Game attendance: 1,500 Referee: Hammond Johnson Sources:[5]

VPI rolled up the season's largest score on the Richmond Spiders, winning 52–0 and playing well on both sides of the ball, especially the offense.[5] The backfield starred in a game of conventional football.[5]

VPI's starting lineup was: A. Hodgson (left end), Burruss (left tackle), Pitts (left guard), Gibbes (center), E. Hodgson (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Billups (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback).[5]

Washington & Lee

VPI at Washington and Lee

1 2 Total • VPI 11 23 34 W&L 0 5 5 Date: October 30 Location: Lynchburg, VA Game attendance: 2,200 Referee: Barry (Georgetown) Sources:[6]

VPI "buried" the Washington and Lee Generals by a 34–5 score. Hughes' 65-yard touchdown run and Hoss Hodgson's punting and kicking featured.[6] Fullback Anderson starred for the Generals.[6] The big win was surprising.[6]

VPI's starting lineup was: Luttrell (left end), Burruss (left tackle), Pitts (left guard), Gibbs (center), E. Hodgson (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Billups (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback).[6]

North Carolina

North Carolina at VPI

1 2 Total UNC 0 0 0 • VPI 6 9 15 Date: November 6 Location: Broad Street Park Richmond, VA Game start: 3:30 p. m. Game attendance: 2,000 Referee: Pat Barry (Georgetown) Sources:[7][8]

Hodgson starred in a closely contested game between VPI and the Tar Heels, making a field goal in the second half to lead VPI to a 15–0 win.[8]

VPI's starting lineup was: Luttrell (left end), Burruss (left tackle), Jones (left guard), Gibbs (center), E. Hodgson (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Legge (left halfback), A. Hodgson (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback).[7]

George Washington

VPI at George Washington

1 2 Total • VPI 11 6 17 GW 3 5 8 Date: November 12 Location: Washington, D. C. Referee: Gass (Lehigh) Sources:[20]

VPI won over the defending Southern champion George Washington Hatchetites in Washington, D. C. 17–8. Hodgson's punting again featured.[20] The weather was much better than last year.[9]

VPI's starting lineup was: Luttrell (left end), Burruss (left tackle), E. Hodgson (left guard), Gibbs (center), Jones (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Billups (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback).[20]

North Carolina A&M (Now known as N.C. State)

North Carolina A&M at VPI

1 2 Total N.C. A&M 0 5 5 • VPI 12 6 18 Date: November 25 Location: Athletic Park Norfolk, VA Game start: 2:30 p. m. Game attendance: 10,000 Referee: Myers (Harvard) Sources:[11]

VPI defeated the North Carolina Aggies, (now known as N.C. State) 18–5. Despite the 18–5 score, VPI had to play aggressively throughout.[11] The first score came twelve minutes into the first half, Vivian Hodgson going over.[11] Later, on a fake kick, Luttrell ran 30 yards around left end. The A&M squad followed Hoss Hodgson's helmet, which he tossed as if it were a kicked ball.[11]

The last touchdown came on a new trick play from coach Bocock, apparently similar to a statue of liberty play.[11] Vivian Hodgson prepared to pass, and Hughes took it out of his suspended hand and ran 75 yards for a touchdown.[11] North Carolina's Aggies showed fight in the second half.[11]

VPI's starting lineup was: Luttrell (left end), Burruss (left tackle), Massie (left guard), Gibbs (center), E. Hodgson (right guard), Norris (right tackle), Hicks (right end), Hughes (quarterback), A. Hodgson (left halfback), Billups (right halfback), V. Hodgson (fullback).[11]

Postseason

VPI claimed a Southern championship at year's end.[2]

References

1. e. g. "VPI Southern Champions". Archived from the original on 2015-06-23. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
2. "Virginia Tech Historical Data Book".
3. "Sidelines".
4. "What is a Hokie?". University Relations, Virginia Tech. 2006. Archived from the original on 2015-12-11. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
5. "Techs Pile Up Score of 52-0 Against Spiders". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Virginia. October 24, 1909. p. E1. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
6. "Virginia Tech Buries W. & L. By Large Score". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Virginia. October 31, 1909. p. E1. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
7. "Techs and Carolina Are Anxious for Game To-Day". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Virginia. November 6, 1909. p. 3. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
8. "V.P.I. Beats Carolina in Fiercely Fought Game". Daily Press. Library of Virginia. November 7, 1909. p. 6. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
9. "Techs Off to Play George Washington". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Virginia. November 12, 1909. p. 5. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
10. "V.P.I. -- A. & M. Game in Norfolk To-Day". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Virginia. November 25, 1909. p. 5. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
11. "V.P.I. Wins From A. & M. In Great Struggle". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Virginia. November 26, 1909. p. 5. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
12. Virginia Tech Football Past Schedules "1909–1910". Virginia Tech Sports Information Department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed November 18, 2015.
13. "The Bugle 1910" (PDF). Virginia Tech Bugle. 1910. p. 167. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
14. "Clemson Loses To Virginia Techs". Times Dispatch. October 3, 1909.
15. "Football". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 14, 1909. p. 9. Retrieved December 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "Drop-Kick Wins Again". Daily Princetonian. 34 (97). October 14, 1909.
17. Associated Press (October 14, 1909). "V. P. I. Football Team Gives Princeton A Scare". Daily Press. 14 (23).
18. "Princeton 8; Blacksburg 6". The Evening News. 20 (97). October 14, 1909.
19. "V. P. I. Team Gives Princeton A Scare". Times Dispatch. October 14, 1909.
20. "V.P.I. Gets Revenge". The Washington Post. November 13, 1909. p. 8. Retrieved May 25, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.