Wikipedia

1934 VPI Gobblers football team

The 1934 VPI Gobblers football team represented Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute in the 1934 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).

1934 VPI Gobblers football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Record5–5 (3–3 SoCon)
Head coach
CaptainLouis L. Fittro
George Maxie Smith
Home stadiumMiles Stadium
Seasons
← 1933
1935 →
1934 Southern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Washington and Lee $ 4 – 0 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
North Carolina 2 – 0 – 1 7 – 1 – 1
Duke 3 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Maryland 3 – 1 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
Clemson 2 – 1 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
VPI 3 – 3 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
South Carolina 2 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
NC State 1 – 3 – 1 2 – 6 – 1
Virginia 1 – 4 – 0 3 – 6 – 0
VMI 0 – 5 – 0 1 – 8 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 22Roanoke*
W 21–0[1][2]
September 29at Temple*
L 0–3412,000[3][4]
October 6Florida*
  • Miles Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
L 13–20[5][6]
October 13vs. William & Mary*
W 6–09,000[7][8]
October 202:30 p.m.vs. Maryland
L 9–14> 4,500[9][10][11]
October 2711:00 a.m.at Washington and Lee
L 7–138,000-10,000[12][13][14][15]
November 32:30 p.m.at South Carolina
L 0–20[16][17][18]
November 102:15 p.m.vs. NC State
W 7–67,000[19][20][21]
November 17Virginia 
  • Miles Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA (rivalry)
W 19–63,000[22][23]
November 29vs. VMI
W 13–010,000[24][25]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

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Roanoke

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Roanoke at VPI
1 234Total
Roanoke 0 000 0
• VPI 0 777 21
See also: 1934 Roanoke Maroons football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Reynolds (left end), Dodge (left tackle), Copenhaver (left guard), Jones (center), English (right guard), Banks (right tackle), Negri (right end), Smith (quarterback), Ottaway (left halfback), Russell (right halfback), Dickerson (fullback). The substitutes were: Botnick, Cunningham, Dailey, Fittro, Ingles, Ochs, Rankin, Sodaro, Spruill, Stowe, Thomas and Wagley.

The starting lineup for Roanoke was: Ward Akers (left end), George Pitzer (left tackle), Gus Quisito (left guard), Weldon Plank (center), Earl Fisher (right guard), Harry Suttner (right tackle), J. "Buss" Irvin (right end), Harrison Weeks (quarterback), Gregory Wroniewicz (left halfback), Herman Smith (right halfback), Bud Miley (fullback). The substitutes were: Carey Brewbaker, Edward Gough and John Pitzer.

Temple

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VPI at Temple
1 234Total
VPI 0 000 0
• Temple 7 0216 34
See also: 1934 Temple Owls football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Thomas (left end), Banks (left tackle), English (left guard), Jones (center), Copenhaver (right guard), Dodge (right tackle), Negri (right end), Smith (quarterback), Ottaway (left halfback), Russell (right halfback), Dickerson (fullback).

The starting lineup for Temple was: Wise (left end), J. Russell (left tackle), John Boyd (left guard), Peter P. Stevens (center), Schaefer (right guard), Zukas (right tackle), Zanin (right end), Glenn Frey (quarterback), John Stonik (left halfback), Daniel Testa (right halfback), David Smukler (fullback). The substitutes were: Hartman, Wilfred Longsderff and Horace Mowrey.

Florida

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Florida at VPI
1 234Total
• Florida 0 7013 20
VPI 0 0013 13
See also: 1934 Florida Gators football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Thomas (left end), Banks (left tackle), English (left guard), Wagley (center), Ochs (right guard), Dodge (right tackle), Negri (right end), Smith (quarterback), Holsclaw (left halfback), Carpenter (right halfback), Dickerson (fullback).

The starting lineup for Florida was: Chuck Rogers (left end), Hal Starbuck (left tackle), Bill Turner (left guard), Alton Brown (center), Carlisle Hughes (right guard), Bill Stark (right tackle), Robert Rickett (right end), Wally Brown (quarterback), Billy Chase (left halfback), Jack Beckwith (right halfback), Charlie Stoltz (fullback).

William & Mary

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William & Mary vs. VPI
1 234Total
W&M 0 000 0
• VPI 0 600 6
See also: 1934 William & Mary Indians football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Thomas (left end), Dodge (left tackle), English (left guard), Copenhaver (center), Ochs (right guard), Negri (right tackle), Fittro (right end), Smith (quarterback), Holsclaw (left halfback), Sodaro (right halfback), Dickerson (fullback). The substitutes were: Botnick, Cunningham, Huffman and Russell.

The starting lineup for William & Mary was: Albert Michaels (left end), Waddy Stewart (left tackle), Frank Livesay (left guard), Joseph Bridgers (center), Joseph Marino (right guard), Norman Murray (right tackle), Walter J. Zable (right end), Charles Shade (quarterback), Melville Bryant (left halfback), Arthur Woodward (right halfback), William Yerkes (fullback). The substitutes were: Marshall Brickell, Albert DeGutis, Preacher Franklyn, Hatke, Ned LeGrande, Reginald Pinch, Harry Spack and John Truehart.

Maryland

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Maryland vs. VPI
1 234Total
• Maryland 7 007 14
VPI 7 020 9
See also: 1934 Maryland Terrapins football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Fittro (left end), Huffman (left tackle), Ochs (left guard), Copenhaver (center), Botnick (right guard), Dodge (right tackle), Thomas (right end), Holsclaw (quarterback), Smith (left halfback), Sodaro (right halfback), Dickerson (fullback). The substitutes were: Daily, Negri, Ottaway, Reynolds, Russell and Stowe.

The starting lineup for Maryland was: Louis Ennis (left end), Ed Minion (left tackle), John Birkland (left guard), Bill Andorka (center), John Simpson (right guard), Carl Stalfort (right tackle), Victor G. Willis (right end), Norwood Sothoron (quarterback), Bill Guckeyson (left halfback), George Sachs (right halfback), Charles Yaeger (fullback). The substitutes were: Brooks Bradley, Bernie Buscher, Joseph Crecca, Edmond Daly, Charles F. Ellinger, Edward Fletcher, William Garrott, John Gormley, Harry Gretz, Coleman Headley, Charlie Keller, Stewart McCaw, Tom McLaughlin, Dick Nelson, Edward Quigley, Jack Stonebraker and Earl Widmyer.

Washington and Lee

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VPI at Washington and Lee
1 234Total
VPI 0 070 7
• W&L 0 0013 13
  • Date: October 27, 1934
  • Location: Wilson Field
    Lexington, VA
  • Game start: 11:00 a.m.
  • Game attendance: 8,000-10,000
See also: 1934 Washington and Lee Generals football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Fittro (left end), Negri (left tackle), Copenhaver (left guard), Jones (center), Banks (right guard), Dodge (right tackle), Thomas (right end), Holsclaw (quarterback), Carpenter (left halfback), Smith (right halfback), Dickerson (fullback).

The starting lineup for Washington and Lee was: William Ellis (left end), William Dyer (left tackle), Porter Berry (left guard), George Glynn (center), Hugo Bonino (right guard), Howard Owings (right tackle), Charles Smith (right end), William Seaton (quarterback), Samuel Mattox (left halfback), Alfred Moore (right halfback), Jack Bailey (fullback). The substitutes were: Joseph Arnold and Edward Seitz.

South Carolina

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VPI at South Carolina
1 234Total
VPI 0 000 0
• South Carolina 0 7013 20
See also: 1934 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Fittro (left end), Banks (left tackle), Copenhaver (left guard), Jones (center), Botnick (right guard), Dodge (right tackle), Thomas (right end), Smith (quarterback), Carpenter (left halfback), Ottaway (right halfback), Dickerson (fullback).

The starting lineup for South Carolina was: Tom Craig (left end), Paul Gaffney (left tackle), Donald Tomlin (left guard), Strod (center), Dean Fowble (right guard), Freeman Huskey (right tackle), John Rowland (right end), Harold Mauney (quarterback), Clay "Bud" Alexander (left halfback), Bob Robbins (right halfback), Allie McDougall (fullback). The substitutes were: William McCrady and Walker Yonce.

NC State

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NC State vs. VPI
1 234Total
NC State 0 006 6
• VPI 7 000 7
See also: 1934 NC State Wolfpack football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Thomas (left end), Banks (left tackle), Copenhaver (left guard), Jones (center), Botnick (right guard), Dodge (right tackle), Fittro (right end), Smith (quarterback), Russell (left halfback), Carpenter (right halfback), Dickerson (fullback). The substitutes were: Holsclaw, Ochs, Piland, Reynolds and Stump.

The starting lineup for NC State was: J. Kenneth Stephens (left end), C. T. Isaacs (left tackle), John Stanko (left guard), Steve Sabol (center), Barnes Worth (right guard), Cliff Daugherty (right tackle), Raymond Redding (right end), L. H. McCulley (quarterback), Jack Gattis (left halfback), Howard Bardes (right halfback), Ray Rex (fullback). The substitutes were: C. E. Bernhardt, Dom Cara, W. J. Dusty, A. J. Edwards, Vincent Farrar, N. H. Hayden, Herbert Kirschner, Roger Mass, Roscoe Roy and Joseph Ryneska.

Virginia

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Virginia vs. VPI
1 234Total
UVA 0 600 6
• VPI 0 766 19
See also: 1934 Virginia Cavaliers football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Fittro (left end), Banks (left tackle), Copenhaver (left guard), Jones (center), Ochs (right guard), Dodge (right tackle), Reynolds (right end), Holsclaw (quarterback), Carpenter (left halfback), Smith (right halfback), Dickerson (fullback). The substitutes were: Botnick, Daily, Howard, Ingles, Ottaway, Piland, Russell, Shafer, Sodaro, Spruill and Stowe.

The starting lineup for Virginia was: Wier Tucker (left end), Edward Andrews (left tackle), William Zimmer (left guard), Horace Hallett (center), Peyton Hoge (right guard), Leonard Trell (right tackle), Cullen Wilkin (right end), Thomas Johnson (quarterback), Vincent Cardwell (left halfback), Griffith Dodson (right halfback), Spencer Berger (fullback). The substitutes were: Andrew Conner, Philip Fryberger, Randolph Garnett, Sanford Haskell, Kenneth Morton, Willard Quarles, Gordon Regan and George Seibels.

VMI

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VMI vs. VPI
1 234Total
VMI 0 000 0
• VPI 0 760 13
  • Date: November 29, 1934
  • Location: Maher Field
    Roanoke, VA
  • Game attendance: 10,000
  • Game weather: "drizzling rain"
  • Referee: Buck Cheves
See also: 1934 VMI Keydets football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Reynolds (left end), Banks (left tackle), Copenhaver (left guard), Jones (center), Ochs (right guard), Dodge (right tackle), Fittro (right end), Smith (quarterback), Carpenter (left halfback), Russell (right halfback), Dickerson (fullback). The substitutes were: Botnick, Daily, Holsclaw, Howard, Ingles, Ottaway, Piland, Rankin, Shafer, Sodaro and Spruill.

The starting lineup for VMI was: Charles Hancock (left end), Russ Coleman (left tackle), John Burgess (left guard), Jack Zimmerman (center), James Farley (right guard), Harry Hightower (right tackle), Morris Haas (right end), Bo McMillin (quarterback), Wayt Clark (left halfback), Tucker Watkins (right halfback), Dick Dodson (fullback). The substitutes were: Maxie Bair, John Childress, David Kane, Bill Oglesby, John Penn and Archie Witt.

NFL draft selections

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NFL draft selections
Year Round Pick Overall Name Team Position
1937 7 3 63 Herman E. "Foots" Dickerson Chicago Cardinals End

Players

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Roster

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VPI 1934 roster
  • Mac Banks
  • Benny Botnick
  • Buck Carpenter
  • Jim Copenhaver
  • Cunningham
  • Dailey
  • Herman "Foots" Dickerson
  • Ben Dodge
  • Edward Ralph English
  • Louis Fittro (Capt.)
  • Duncan Holsclaw
  • Harry Howard
  • Richard "Tris" Huffman
  • Bud Ingles
  • Dave Jones
  • Mattox
  • Warren "Red" Negri
  • Norman Ochs
  • Jim Ottaway
  • Oscar "Flinky" Piland
  • Frank Rankin
  • Buck Reynolds
  • J. D. Russell
  • Shafer
  • George Smith (Capt.)
  • George Sodaro
  • Howard "Hank" Spruill
  • Stowe
  • Bob Stump
  • Dave Thomas
  • Wagley

Varsity letter winners

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Twenty players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1934 VPI team.[26]

Player Hometown Notes
F. M. "Mac" Banks
Benjamin Botnick Elmira, New York World War II veteran (Navy).
Jack A. "Buck" Carpenter
James Henry Copenhaver
Herman Edward "Foots" Dickerson Reidsville, North Carolina World War II veteran (Major, Army). First Virginia Tech player to be chosen in the NFL draft.
Benjamin Walter Dodge Norfolk, Virginia
Louis Leonard Fittro (Capt.)
William Duncan Holsclaw
Harry Worden Howard
Richard "Tris" Huffman
David Jones
John Norman Ochs
James Edward Ottaway Sherrill, New York World War II veteran (Lieutenant Commander, Navy).
Oscar Glazier "Flinky" Piland
Lawrence Samuel "Buck" Reynolds
Joseph Decatur Russell
George Maxie Smith (Capt.)
George Edward Sodaro
Howard Arnold "Hank" Spruill
David Thomas

Coaching and training staff

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References

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  1. ^ "Fast V. P.I. Team Defeats Roanoke". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. September 23, 1934. p. 28. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  2. ^ "Maroons Take 21-0 Trouncing From Va. Tech". Brackety-ack. Roanoke College. September 27, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  3. ^ "At Bay in First Half, Temple Speeds to Defeat V. P. I., 34-0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. September 30, 1934. p. 37. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  4. ^ "Temple Buries V. P. I. in Opener, 34-0". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 30, 1934. Retrieved November 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Saurians Stage Comeback To Trounce V.P.I. 20-13". The Alligator. University of Florida. October 7, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  6. ^ "Florida is Winner With Late Rally". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 7, 1934. p. 31. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  7. ^ "V.P.I. Scores on Pass to Beat Indians, 6–0". The Flat Hat. College of William & Mary. October 16, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  8. ^ "V. P. I. 6-0 Victor on Early Score". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 14, 1934. p. 30. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  9. ^ "Terps Add Second Victory, Downing Gobblers, 14 to 9". The Diamondback. University of Maryland, College Park. October 22, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  10. ^ "Maryland Halts Tech, 14-9". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 21, 1934. p. 15. Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Maryland Passes Topple V. P. I., 14-9". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 21, 1934. p. 25. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  12. ^ "Lagging Generals Strike Fast, Take Conference Lead" (PDF). The Ring-tum Phi. Washington and Lee University. October 30, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  13. ^ "Generals Beat V. P. I., 13-7". The Washington Times. Library of Congress. October 27, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  14. ^ "Generals Rally to Nip V. P. I., 13-7". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 28, 1934. p. 27. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  15. ^ "Saturday Was A Big Day In Lexington". Rockbridge County News. Library of Virginia. November 1, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  16. ^ "Gamecocks-Gobblers To Match Spurs". The Gamecock. University of South Carolina. November 2, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  17. ^ "Subs Aid in Gobbler Fall". The Gamecock. University of South Carolina. November 9, 1934. p. 6. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  18. ^ "Gamecocks Make Strong Comeback". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. November 4, 1934. p. 31. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  19. ^ "State Defeated 7-6 By Gobblers". The Technician. North Carolina State University. November 16, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  20. ^ "V.P.I. trips N.C. State, 7–6". Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 11, 1934. Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Gobblers Victors as Luck Switches". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. November 11, 1934. p. 25. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  22. ^ "Plucky Virginia Eleven Beaten". The Daily Progress. University of Virginia. November 19, 1934. p. 6. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  23. ^ "Gobblers Down Cavaliers, 19-6". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. November 18, 1934. p. 26. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  24. ^ "VPI Subdues Cadets On Muddy Field 13–0". The V.M.I. Cadet. Virginia Military Institute. December 3, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  25. ^ "V. M. I. Loses to V. P. I. Thanksgiving Game". Rockbridge County News. Library of Virginia. December 6, 1934. p. 6. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  26. ^ "1934 VPI Letterwinners". Virginia Tech. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
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