98 years ago- Georgia Tech 222, Cumberland 0

[Laker]

Neither team made a first down- and the second half was shortened. Tech was coached by John Heisman.

The title should read Cumberland 0- I don't know how to edit the title.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BzYDiMVCIAM10UT.jpg:large

[superman7515]

Yeah, but in their defense, Cumberland had dropped football before the season started and was forced into the game when Tech refused to let them out of their contract, so they picked up a bunch of kids off the street that had never played and drove them down just so they wouldn't be sued over the contract fees.

[Biff]

And now Cumberland is ranked 12th in the Nation in NAIA http://www.gocumberlandathletics.com/football/news/2014-15/3528/football-ranked-12th-in-latest-naia-coaches-top-25/

And led by Georgia Southern Alum and former football player, Donnie Suber … http://www.gocumberlandathletics.com/football/coaches/

Caught my eye. When I was dating my wife, she used to baby sit for Donnie's kids.

[JayJ79]

Neither team made a first down?
I thought that if you scored on any play longer than 10 yards (or I should say any series where it was not "1st and goal" at some point), it counted as a first down. am I mistaken in that?

Or did tech just return every kickoff/punt for TDs?

[AshevilleApp2]

Were they allowed to go for three back then?

[superman7515]

Neither team made a first down?
I thought that if you scored on any play longer than 10 yards (or I should say any series where it was not "1st and goal" at some point), it counted as a first down. am I mistaken in that?

Or did tech just return every kickoff/punt for TDs?

Yes, you are mistaken. If Team X scored on a 99-yard TD run, there was no 1st down gained. It's only if the runner/receiver is tackled and a new set of downs starts.

[tribe_pride]

I think someone may have missed 2 XPs in the 3rd quarter.

Play by Play is in this link

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/ot-georgia-tech-vs-cumberland-1916-222-0-play-by-play-20599.html

[Twentysix]

"McDonald punted 20 yards out of bounds on the Cumberland 35.

Shaver gained 25 yards at left end for Tech. Strupper hit the same spot for 10
yards and a touchdown. Preas converted. Now 28-0 Tech."


How is that not a first down?

[Beachdude]

I wonder if Tech covered the spread?

[superman7515]

"McDonald punted 20 yards out of bounds on the Cumberland 35.

Shaver gained 25 yards at left end for Tech. Strupper hit the same spot for 10
yards and a touchdown. Preas converted. Now 28-0 Tech."


How is that not a first down?

That does sound like a first down should have occurred, so I'm puzzled as well, but I think I may have found the answer...


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/07/sports/ncaafootball/07tech.html?_r=0


Heisman finally showed mercy, agreeing to cut the second half to 15 minutes, but it mattered little. The game ended with no first downs for either team. Georgia Tech scored every time on its first, second or third play. Cumberland’s only play of note was a 10-yard pass, little help since it came on fourth-and-22.

It says Georgia Tech scored every time on its first, second, or third play; perhaps people have misappropriated that over time to mean they didn't get any first downs between the 1st and 3rd plays, but it doesn't actually say that.

[Bisonoline]

That does sound like a first down should have occurred, so I'm puzzled as well, but I think I may have found the answer...


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/07/sports/ncaafootball/07tech.html?_r=0



It says Georgia Tech scored every time on its first, second, or third play; perhaps people have misappropriated that over time to mean they didn't get any first downs between the 1st and 3rd plays, but it doesn't actually say that.

If you score on the 1st-2cnd-3rd or 4th down its still not a first down. Its just a score.

[superman7515]

If you score on the 1st-2cnd-3rd or 4th down its still not a first down. Its just a score.

Reading is fundamental.

"Every time on its first, second, or third play" does not mean that there wasn't a first down on the first play and a touchdown on the second. Or a first down on the second play and a touchdown on the third. It just means that it never took more than three plays to score a touchdown.

[walliver]

Neither team made a first down- and the second half was shortened. Tech was coached by John Heisman.

The title should read Cumberland 0- I don't know how to edit the title.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BzYDiMVCIAM10UT.jpg:large

I would think that if Cumberland just ran the ball (or took a knee) on every play that they could eat up enough time to prevent GT from scoring 9 TD's in each of the first two quarters.

[superman7515]

I would think that if Cumberland just ran the ball (or took a knee) on every play that they could eat up enough time to prevent GT from scoring 9 TD's in each of the first two quarters.

Heck, they scored 96 points in the second half, and it was only 15 minutes long total (they agreed to shorten it to two 7:30 quarters), so the equivalent of one quarter of football.

[darell1976]

Was this game on ESPN3?:D

[ngineer]

When did the points for TD's change from 4 to 6 ??

[superman7515]

When did the points for TD's change from 4 to 6 ??

1912

[ngineer]

1912

Thanks. That was the year Jim Thorpe visited Lehigh's , then, Taylor Field in a battle of top 10 teams just before Carlisle had their epic game with Army. What I miss so much about Taylor--the history the oozed out of the grass.

[MTfan4life]

Interest comment from the forum with the play-by-play:


John Heisman, the Georgia Tech coach, made the Cumberland University team play. Heisman had been embarrassed by the CU baseball team the previous Spring. He lost 22-0. After hearing a rumor that the CU baseball team had used ringers, he guaranteed the football game would occur by suggesting and getting a $500 guarantee to the Bulldogs for playing the game and a $3,000 forfeiture settlement if they did not. So by agreeing to his terms, CU had to play or pay the fine.

[JayJ79]

Yes, you are mistaken. If Team X scored on a 99-yard TD run, there was no 1st down gained. It's only if the runner/receiver is tackled and a new set of downs starts.

actually, the NCAA statiticians rules do award a first down on any touchdown scored other than when it was "first and goal (or second and goal, etc.). At least this is the case today. No clue what it was 98 years ago.

2014 Football Statistician's Manual (http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/Stats_Manuals/Football/2014ez.pdf) - pg. 4 (under "Section 1 - First Downs")

Article 1. A first down shall be recorded whenever the yardsticks are ordered forward and/or when a touchdown is scored from scrimmage (rushing or passing) within a series of downs starting 10 yards or more from the goal line, or when a dead-ball foul results in an automatic first down

[TheRevSFA]

actually, the NCAA statiticians rules do award a first down on any touchdown scored other than when it was "first and goal (or second and goal, etc.). At least this is the case today. No clue what it was 98 years ago.

2014 Football Statistician's Manual (http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/Stats_Manuals/Football/2014ez.pdf) - pg. 4 (under "Section 1 - First Downs")

Wonder when that rule came about. Football was a different game then