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1937 VPI Gobblers football team

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1937 VPI Gobblers football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Record5–5 (2–4 SoCon)
Head coach
CaptainCarol Leo Shockey
Home stadiumMiles Stadium
Seasons
← 1936
1938 →
1937 Southern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Maryland $ 2 – 0 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
No. 19 North Carolina 4 – 0 – 1 7 – 1 – 1
Clemson 2 – 0 – 1 4 – 4 – 1
No. 20 Duke 5 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 1
VMI 4 – 2 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
NC State 4 – 2 – 1 5 – 3 – 1
South Carolina 2 – 2 – 1 5 – 6 – 1
Washington and Lee 2 – 3 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
The Citadel 2 – 3 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Richmond 2 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 1
Furman 1 – 2 – 2 4 – 3 – 2
VPI 2 – 4 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
William & Mary 1 – 3 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Wake Forest 1 – 4 – 0 3 – 6 – 0
Davidson 1 – 6 – 0 2 – 8 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1937 VPI Gobblers football team represented Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute in the 1937 college football season. The team was led by their head coach Henry Redd and finished with a record of five wins and five losses (5–5).

Schedule

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 18Roanoke*
W 27–74,000[1][2][3][4]
September 258:00 p.m.vs. Duke
L 0–2511,000–12,000[5][6][7]
October 2at Tennessee*
L 0–2710,000[8][9]
October 9vs. William & Mary
L 0–126,000[10]
October 168:00 p.m.at NC State
L 7–137,000[11][12]
October 23Washington and Leedagger
  • Miles Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
W 19–75,000[13][14][15][16]
October 30Hampden–Sydney*
  • Miles Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
W 31–03,000[17]
November 6at Richmond
  • City Stadium
  • Richmond, VA
L 7–12[18][19][20]
November 132:10 p.m.at Virginia*
W 14–77,000–7,500[21][22]
November 25vs. VMI
W 12–620,000[23][24]

Before the season

[edit]

The 1936 VPI Gobblers football team compiled a 5–5 record and were led by Henry Redd in his fifth season as head coach.

Game summaries

[edit]

Roanoke

[edit]
Roanoke at VPI
1 234Total
Roanoke 0 700 7
• VPI 7 767 27
  • Date: September 18, 1937
  • Location: Miles Stadium
    Blacksburg, VA
  • Game attendance: 4,000
  • Game weather: "Ideal"
  • Referee: Henry Gerard (Illinois)
See also: 1937 Roanoke Maroons football team

VPI's first game of the season was a victory over Roanoke at Miles Stadium.

The starting lineup for VPI was: Pierce (left end), Vecellio (left tackle), Devlin (left guard), Murray (center), Worthington (right guard), Robison (right tackle), Doxey (right end), Shockey (quarterback), Henry (left halfback), Miller (right halfback), Darnell (fullback). The substitutes were: Cregger.

The starting lineup for Roanoke was: Stanley Snidow (left end), Dexter Goodwin (left tackle), Anderson (left guard), Fred Coots (center), Larson (right guard), Cotter (right tackle), Moore (right end), Mongiello (quarterback), Crumley (left halfback), Bernard Pedneau (right halfback), Lester (fullback). The substitutes were: Larry Larson, Rip Patrone and Conley Snidow.

Duke

[edit]
Duke Vs. VPI
1 234Total
• Duke 7 666 25
VPI 0 000 0
See also: 1937 Duke Blue Devils football team

After their victory over Roanoke, VPI played Duke University at World War Memorial Stadium in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The starting lineup for VPI was: Pierce (left end), Robison (left tackle), Worthington (left guard), Murray (center), Devlin (right guard), Vecellio (right tackle), Doxey (right end), Shockey (quarterback), Henry (left halfback), Miller (right halfback), Darnell (fullback).

The starting lineup for Duke was: Herbert Hudgins (left end), Joe Brunansky (left tackle), Bolo Perdue (left guard), Dan Hill (center), Buckle Badgett (right guard), Woody Lipscomb (right tackle), Fred Edwards (right end), Elmore Hackney (quarterback), Robert Spangler (left halfback), Eric Tipton (right halfback), Bob O'Mara (fullback). The substitutes were: Blackie Baskerville, Frank Ribar and Hardwood Smith.

Tennessee

[edit]
VPI at Tennessee
1 234Total
VPI 0 000 0
• Tenn 7 1406 27
See also: 1937 Tennessee Volunteers football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Pierce (left end), Davis (left tackle), King (left guard), Murray (center), Devlin (right guard), Robison (right tackle), Doxey (right end), Powers (quarterback), DeMuro (left halfback), Henry (right halfback), Darnell (fullback). The substitutes were: Boswell, Cameron, Dunn, Ellison, Mast, Pitts, Shawhan, William and Worthington.

The starting lineup for Tennessee was: George Hunter (left end), Robert Fulton (left tackle), William Leffler (left guard), Joseph Little (center), Joe Black Hayes (right guard), Boyd Clay (right tackle), Ralph Eldred (right end), William McCarren (quarterback), Walter "Babe" Wood (left halfback), Cheek Duncan (right halfback), Marion Perkins (fullback). The substitutes were: Bacon, William F. Barnes, Sam Bartholomew, George Cafego, Leonard Coffman, Frank Crawford, Disspayne, Fields, Thomas "Red" Harp, Gerald Hendricks, Hereford, Melvin Herring, Bonnie Hodge, Carl Hubbuck, Van Kelley, Samuel Levine, Markey Luttrell, Allen Ramsey, Reno, Alvin Rice, Jim Rike, William Sanders, Robert Sneed, Alfred Thomas, Webber, Bob Woodruff and Bowden Wyatt.

William & Mary

[edit]
William & Mary vs. VPI
1 234Total
• W&M 6 006 12
VPI 0 000 0
See also: 1937 William & Mary Indians football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Pierce (left end), Davis (left tackle), Devlin (left guard), Murray (center), Worthington (right guard), Robison (right tackle), Doxey (right end), Mast (quarterback), Henry (left halfback), Shockey (right halfback), Darnell (fullback).

The starting lineup for William & Mary was: John Coiner (left end), Samuel Walker (left tackle), Hugh McGowan (left guard), Herbert Krueger (center), John Davidson (right guard), John Dillard (right tackle), Stan Kamen (right end), Otis Bunch (quarterback), Charles Hall (left halfback), Yeager (right halfback), Gus Twiddy (fullback).

NC State

[edit]
VPI at NC State
1 234Total
VPI 0 070 7
• NC State 7 060 13
See also: 1937 NC State Wolfpack football team

Washington and Lee

[edit]
Washington and Lee at VPI
1 234Total
W&L 0 700 7
• VPI 6 067 19
  • Date: October 23, 1937
  • Location: Miles Stadium
    Blacksburg, VA
  • Game attendance: 5,000
  • Game weather: "bitterly cold"
  • Referee: Henry Gerard (Illinois)
See also: 1937 Washington and Lee Generals football team

VPI's 1937 homecoming game was a victory over Washington and Lee.

The starting lineup for VPI was: Pierce (left end), Davis (left tackle), Devlin (left guard), Murray (center), Worthington (right guard), Vecellio (right tackle), Doxey (right end), Cregger (quarterback), Henry (left halfback), DeMuro (right halfback), Belcher (fullback). The substitutes were: Cameron, Darnell, Ellison, King and Robison.

The starting lineup for Washington and Lee was: Bob Spessard (left end), Richard "Dick" Boisseau (left tackle), J. D. Wilson (left guard), William Rogers (center), William Brown (right guard), Joseph Ochsie (right tackle), Charles Lykes (right end), Don Dunlap (quarterback), C. Harrison Hogan (left halfback), R. M. White (right halfback), L. E. Long (fullback). The substitutes were: Raymond Craft, Merton "Chubby" Howard, James Humphrey, R. Shack Parrish and Francis Sugrue.

Hampden–Sydney

[edit]
Hampden–Sydney at VPI
1 234Total
HS 0 700 7
• VPI 12 0631 49

The starting lineup for VPI was: Cameron (left end), Davis (left tackle), King (left guard), Murray (center), Worthington (right guard), Vecellio (right tackle), Craft (right end), Cregger (quarterback), Henry (left halfback), DeMuro (right halfback), Belcher (fullback). The substitutes were: Boswell, Darnell and Powers.

The starting lineup for Hampden–Sydney was: Robert Kincaid (left end), Johnson (left tackle), Sullivan (left guard), Walter "Jack" Pedigo (center), Albert Howard (right guard), Thomas Crume (right tackle), Wilson (right end), John Richardson (quarterback), Stuart Walden (left halfback), Williams (right halfback), Charles Spencer (fullback). The substitutes were: Albert Buchinsky, Frank Hyde and Harry Null.

Richmond

[edit]
VPI at Richmond
1 234Total
VPI 0 070 7
• Richmond 12 000 12
See also: 1937 Richmond Spiders football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Oliver (left end), Davis (left tackle), King (left guard), Murray (center), Worthington (right guard), Vecellio (right tackle), Doxey (right end), Cregger (quarterback), Henry (left halfback), DeMuro (right halfback), Belcher (fullback). The substitutes were: Darnell and Shockey.

The starting lineup for Richmond was: Joseph Straughan (left end), Charles Siddall (left tackle), Via (left guard), Faris (center), Forrest Norvell (right guard), William Morrison (right tackle), A. B. Marchant (right end), Len Kielpinski (quarterback), Stuart Hoskins (left halfback), Buddy Lawless (right halfback), Clyde Pendleton (fullback). The substitutes were: Ed Merrick and Ed Sinar.

Virginia

[edit]
VPI at Virginia
1 234Total
• VPI 0 707 14
UVA 7 000 7
See also: 1937 Virginia Cavaliers football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Pierce (left end), Davis (left tackle), King (left guard), Murray (center), Worthington (right guard), Vecellio (right tackle), Doxey (right end), DeMuro (quarterback), Darnell (left halfback), Henry (right halfback), Belcher (fullback). The substitutes were: Shockey.

The starting lineup for Virginia was: James Sargeant (left end), William Weeks (left tackle), Ray Schmidt (left guard), Keilman (center), John Acree (right guard), Arthur Bryant (right tackle), George (right end), Walter Smith (quarterback), Peter Nistad (left halfback), Jim Gillette (right halfback), Harry McClaugherty (fullback). The substitutes were: Harry Dinwiddie.

VMI

[edit]
VMI vs. VPI
1 234Total
VMI 0 006 6
• VPI 0 606 12
  • Date: November 25, 1937
  • Location: Maher Field
    Roanoke, VA
  • Game attendance: 20,000
See also: 1937 VMI Keydets football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Pierce (left end), Davis (left tackle), Robison (left guard), Murray (center), Devlin (right guard), Vecellio (right tackle), Doxey (right end), Cregger (quarterback), Henry (left halfback), DeMuro (right halfback), Shockey (fullback).

The starting lineup for VMI was: Ray Brittingham (left end), Richard Strickler (left tackle), Thomas Gray (left guard), Richard Irby (center), William "Red" Echols (right guard), Fieldler (right tackle), E. Ray Taylor (right end), Billy Roberson (quarterback), Vendel "Bud" Kovar (left halfback), Paul Shu (right halfback), Andy Trzeciak (fullback).

After the season

[edit]

In December 1937, the VPI players chose Frank Pierce as captain of the 1938 VPI Gobblers football team.[25]

Players

[edit]

Roster

[edit]
VPI 1937 roster
  • James Raymond Belcher
  • Stephen B. Bogese
  • Irving Ward Boswell
  • Billy Boyd
  • Graham S. Buchanan
  • Archie Cameron
  • Joe Carr
  • Martin Ricks Cobb
  • Pete Cregger
  • Weldon Darnell
  • Junior Davis
  • Phil DeMuro
  • W. H. Devlin
  • Lloyd Doxey
  • Samuel Bascom Dunn
  • Mathew Leslie Ellison
  • Leonard H. Futrell
  • James Anthony Gaugler
  • John Alfred Hamer
  • Mel Henry
  • Paul Higgins
  • Wade Hampton Hitt
  • Woodrow Kantner
  • E. S. King
  • Howard Mast
  • William McClelland
  • Al Miller
  • R. P. Murray
  • Frank Lovitt Oliver
  • Frank Pierce
  • David Marion Pitts
  • Stanley Covington "Sonny" Powers
  • Arthur Robison
  • Brick Rothrock
  • Rochelle Rountree
  • Daniel Green Shawhan
  • Carol Shockey (Capt.)
  • Chilton Shorter
  • Claude Simpson
  • George Thorpe
  • Leo Vecellio
  • Edgar Waugh
  • Boswell William
  • Louis Willson
  • Neil Saunders Wood
  • Robert Woolwine
  • Woodrum Woolwine
  • George Worthington
  • Thomas Wright
  • Walter E. Zilahy

Varsity letter winners

[edit]

Eighteen players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1937 VPI team.[26]

Player Hometown Notes
James Raymond Belcher
Archibald Branks Cameron Cranford, New Jersey World War II veteran (Army). Awarded the Silver Star Medal and Purple Heart.
Marvin Andrew "Pete" Cregger
Weldon Tolliver "Kinky" Darnell Winston-Salem, North Carolina
James Blackwell "Junior" Davis
Philip Galliano DeMuro
William Harper Devlin Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Lloyd Gibbs Doxey Halifax, North Carolina World War II veteran (Army). Awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.
Melvin Henry Cumberland, Maryland
Ernest Stuart King
Howard Dilworth Mast Lynnhaven, Virginia World War II veteran (Lieutenant (junior grade), Navy).
Albert Sanford Miller
Ruffner Page Murray
Frank Marion Pierce World War II veteran (Lieutenant Colonel, Army).
Arthur Stephen Robison Richmond, Virginia World War II veteran (Army).
Carol Leo Shockey (Capt.) Shockeysville, Virginia
Leo Arthur Vecellio Beckley, West Virginia World War II veteran (Army). Awarded the Legion of Merit.
George Yellott Worthington

Coaching and training staff

[edit]
  • Head coach: Henry Redd
  • Assistant coaches
  • Manager: W. B. Wine
  • Freshman coaches
    • Freshman head coach: C. E. Tilson
    • Assistant freshman coach and trainer: Thomas A. Slusser

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "V.P.I. again defeats Roanoke". The Roanoke Times. September 19, 1937. Retrieved March 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "V. P. I. Routs Roanoke". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. September 19, 1937. p. 30. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  3. ^ "Virginia Tech Takes Opening Tilt from Maroons, 27-7". Brackety-ack. Roanoke College. September 22, 1937. p. 4. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  4. ^ "Gobblers Win Over Roanoke College Maroons, 27 To 7". The Southwest Times. Library of Virginia. September 19, 1937. p. 6. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  5. ^ "Night Game to Usher in 1937 Grid Season For Blue Devil Eleven". The Duke Chronicle. Duke University. September 24, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Wademen Open Season With Win Over V.P.I." The Duke Chronicle. Duke University. September 28, 1937. p. 3. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  7. ^ "Duke Too Strong For V. P. I., 25-0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. September 26, 1937. p. 25. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  8. ^ "Tennessee Tramples Virginia Tech, 27 to 0". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 3, 1937. Retrieved October 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Long Vol Dashes Down V. P. I., 27-0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 3, 1937. p. 33. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  10. ^ "W. And M. Smashes V. P. I.'s Mastery". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 10, 1937. p. 35. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  11. ^ "State Defeats V.P.I. Gobblers By 13–7 Count". Technician. North Carolina State University. October 22, 1937. p. 3. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  12. ^ "N. C. State Is Victor". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 17, 1937. p. 31. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  13. ^ "W. & L.'s State Title Hopes Smashed by Tech, 19–7". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 24, 1937. Retrieved October 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Big Blue Downed 19-7 At Tech Homecoming" (PDF). The Ring-tum Phi. Washington and Lee University. October 26, 1937. p. 3. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  15. ^ "V. P. I. Ends Losses in W. and L. Tussle". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 24, 1937. p. 28. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  16. ^ "V. P. I. Trounces Generals, 19 to 7". Rockbridge County News. Library of Virginia. October 28, 1937. p. 7. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  17. ^ "Romp For V. P. I." The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 31, 1937. p. 27. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  18. ^ "Spiders Pull Upset; Break VPI Jinx, 12-7". The Richmond Collegian. University of Richmond. November 12, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  19. ^ "Richmond Finally Wins From V. P. I." The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. November 7, 1937. p. 28. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  20. ^ "Richmond Nips VPI". The Southwest Times. Library of Virginia. November 7, 1937. p. 6. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  21. ^ "Tar Heel Eleven Next Virginia Foe". The Daily Progress. University of Virginia. November 15, 1937. p. 8. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  22. ^ "Tie Jinx Is Ended As V.P.I. Triumphs". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. November 14, 1937. p. 36. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  23. ^ "Va. Tech Beats V.M.I., 12 to 6". The Baltimore Sun. November 26, 1937. Retrieved October 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "V. M. I. Defeated Thursday Before Large Crowd". Rockbridge County News. Library of Virginia. December 2, 1937. p. 7. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  25. ^ "Pierce Named Tech Captain". The Southwest Times. Library of Virginia. December 7, 1937. p. 6. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  26. ^ "1937 VPI Letterwinners". Virginia Tech. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
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