1927 Tennessee Volunteers football
SoCon co-champion
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Record8–0–1 (5–0–1 SoCon)
Head coach
Offensive schemeSingle-wing
CaptainJohn Barnhill
Home stadiumShields–Watkins Field
1927 Southern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Georgia Tech + 7 –0 –18 –1 –1
Tennessee + 5 –0 –18 –0 –1
NC State + 4 –0 –09 –1 –0
Vanderbilt 5 –0 –28 –1 –2
No. 8 Georgia 6 –1 –09 –1 –0
Florida 5 –2 –07 –3 –0
Ole Miss 3 –2 –05 –3 –1
Virginia 4 –4 –05 –4 –0
Clemson 2 –2 –05 –3 –1
Alabama 3 –4 –15 –4 –1
LSU 2 –3 –14 –4 –1
Mississippi A&M 2 –3 –05 –3 –0
Washington and Lee 2 –3 –04 –4 –1
VPI 2 –3 –05 –4 –0
Maryland 3 –5 –04 –7 –0
South Carolina 2 –4 –04 –5 –0
VMI 2 –4 –06 –4 –0
Tulane 2 –5 –12 –5 –1
North Carolina 2 –5 –04 –6 –0
Sewanee 1 –4 –02 –6 –0
Kentucky 1 –5 –03 –6 –1
Auburn 0 –6 –10 –7 –2
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from Dickinson System

The 1927 Tennessee Volunteers football team (variously "Tennessee", "UT" or the "Vols") represented the University of Tennessee in the 1927 Southern Conference football season. Playing as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon), the team was led by head coach Robert Neyland, in his second year, and played their home games at Shields–Watkins Field in Knoxville, Tennessee. The 1927 Vols won eight, lost zero and tied one game (8–0–1 overall, 5–0–1 in the SoCon). The only blemish on Tennessee's schedule was a tie with in-state rival, Vanderbilt. Playing seven home games, the 1927 Vols outscored their opponents 246 to 26 and posted seven shutouts.

Before the season

Robert Neyland was hired to coach Tennessee in 1926 by Nathan Dougherty with the explicit goal to "even the score with Vanderbilt", and had his first great team in 1927.[1]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
September 24Carson–Newman*
W 33–0[2]
October 1at North Carolina
W 26–0[3]
October 8Maryville (TN)*
  • Shields–Watkins Field
  • Knoxville, TN
W 7–0[4]
October 15Ole Miss
  • Shields–Watkins Field
  • Knoxville, TN (rivalry)
W 21–7[5]
October 22Transylvania*
  • Shields–Watkins Field
  • Knoxville, TN
W 57–0[6]
October 29Virginia
  • Shields–Watkins Field
  • Knoxville, TN
W 42–0[7]
November 5Sewanee
  • Shields–Watkins Field
  • Knoxville, TN
W 32–12[8]
November 12Vanderbiltdagger
  • Shields–Watkins Field
  • Knoxville, TN (rivalry)
T 7–7[9]
November 24at Kentucky
W 20–0[10]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

Game summaries

Carson–Newman

In the season opener, Tennessee beat in-state opponent Carson–Newman 33–0.

North Carolina

In the second week of play, Tennessee defeated UNC 26–0. The starting lineup was Lowe (left end), McArthur (left tackle), F. Johnson (left guard), Butcher (center), Burgers (right guard), Hundley (right tackle), Alley (right end), Elmore (quarterback), Derryberry (left halfback), Witt (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).[11]

Maryville

The Vols beat the Maryville Scots 7–0.

Ole Miss

Tennessee had an easy 21–7 victory over the Ole Miss Rebels, weakening in the last quarter for the first touchdown scored on the Vols. Passes from Witt and runs by Dodson got Tennessee's scores.[12]

The starting lineup was McKeen (left end), McArthur (left tackle), Barnhill (left guard), Butcher (center), Tripp (right guard), Elliott (right tackle), Alley (right end), Elmore (quarterback), Derryberry (left halfback), Witt (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).[13]

Transylvania

The season's fifth shutout, Tennessee beat Transylvania 42–0.

Virginia

The Volunteers beat the Virginia Cavaliers 42–0. The starting lineup was McKeen (left end), McArthur (left tackle), Barnhill (left guard), Butcher (center), Tripp (right guard), Elliott (right tackle), Alley (right end), Elmore (quarterback), Derryberry (left halfback), Witt (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).[14]

Sewanee

Tennessee beat Sewanee 32–12. The starting lineup was McKeen (left end), McArthur (left tackle), Barnhill (left guard), Butcher (center), Tripp (right guard), H. Johnson (right tackle), Alley (right end), Tudor (quarterback), Derryberry (left halfback), Witt (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).[15]

Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt at Tennessee
1 234Total
Vanderbilt 0 007 7
Tennessee 0 007 7

McGugin's Commodores led 7–0 until a late Dick Dodson run tied the score.[16] "After the game McGugin questioned each of his players as to his whereabouts during the run. Without exception the players claimed that two men had blocked them. McGugin shrugged. "Well, we'll just protest the play. It's perfectly obvious that Tennessee had twenty-two men on the field."[16]

Vanderbilt center Vernon Sharpe arguably had the better season, but was outperformed by Tennessee's Elvin Butcher.[17] The starting lineup was McKeen (left end), McArthur (left tackle), Barnhill (left guard), Butcher (center), Tripp (right guard), H. Johnson (right tackle), Alley (right end), Elmore (quarterback), Derryberry (left halfback), Witt (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).[18]

Kentucky

To close the season, the Volunteers shutout the Kentucky Wildcats 20–0. The starting lineup was McKeen (left end), McArthur (left tackle), Barnhill (left guard), Butcher (center), Tripp (right guard), H. Johnson (right tackle), Alley (right end), Elmore (quarterback), Witt (left halfback), Derryberry (right halfback), Dodson (fullback).[19]

Postseason

Coach Alexander of Tech wrote Neyland to accept a co-championship, and no Pickens Cup was awarded.[20]

Players

Line

Number Player Position Games
started		 Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
29George Abernathycenter
41Scott Aldenguard
25Herc Alleyend
24John BarnhillguardSavannah, Tennessee175
34Ed Burgessguard
23Elvin ButchercenterKnoxville, Tennessee184
32Joe Bybeeend
40Frank Elliotttackle
37Jim Finneycenter
53Ben Fullerguard
44Louis Greentackle
54Houston Herndonend
30Hobart Hooserguard
35Bo Hundleytackle
46Xen Hunttackle
20Farmer Johnsonguard
22Howard Johnsontackle
33Ted Loweend
18Dave McArthurtackle
26Allyn McKeenend
36Harry Meyerend
27Arthur Trippguard
43George Wiggscenter

Backfield

Number Player Position Games
started		 Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
15E. Derryberryhalfback
13Dick DodsonfullbackPeabody Academy180
52Jimmy Dykeshalfback
12Jimmy Elmorequarterback
16Amos Hornerfullback
51Clyde Keltnerhalfback
49Carl Reischlinghalfback
21Amos Trotterhalfback
19Vincent Tudorquarterback
14Roy Witthalfback
17Ed Younghalfback

References

  1. ↑ Robert Neyland at the College Football Hall of Fame
  2. ↑ "Tennessee gives Parsons 33 to 0 dubbing". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. September 25, 1927. Retrieved August 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Carolina loses to Tennessee's Vols". The News and Observer. October 2, 1927. Retrieved August 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Vols forwards fail to function against Maryville". The Knoxville Journal. October 9, 1927. Retrieved August 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Ole Miss scores on Tennessee squad". The Clarion-Ledger. October 16, 1927. Retrieved August 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Volunteers smother Transylvania by 57–0". The Courier-Journal. October 23, 1927. Retrieved August 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Virginia defeated by Tennessee, 42–0". Richmond Times Dispatch. October 30, 1927. Retrieved August 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Tennessee smashes Sewanee in last half, winning 32–12". Nashville Banner. November 6, 1927. Retrieved August 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Commodores and Vols battle to tie in thrilling game". Nashville Banner. November 13, 1927. Retrieved August 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Tennessee conquers Kentucky, 20 to 0". The Lexington Herald. November 25, 1927. Retrieved August 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Woodruff 1928, p. 207
  12. ↑ "Tennessee Takes Easy Victory Over Mississippi, 21-7". The Anniston Star. October 16, 1927. p. 8. Retrieved June 2, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  13. ↑ Woodruff 1928, p. 230
  14. ↑ Woodruff 1928, p. 242
  15. ↑ Woodruff 1928, p. 253
  16. 1 2 Edwin Pope. Football's Greatest Coaches. p. 340.
  17. ↑ "Four Georgia Grid Stars Voted Places On United Press Conference Team". Banner-Herald. November 23, 1917.
  18. ↑ Woodruff 1928, p. 266
  19. ↑ Woodruff 1928, p. 272
  20. ↑ Woodruff 1928, p. 277

Additional sources

  • Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. Vol. 3.
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