| 1931Tulane Green Wave football | |
|---|---|
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SoCon champion | |
| Conference | Southern Conference |
| Record | 11–1 (8–0 SoCon) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive scheme | Single wing |
| Base defense | 6–3–2 |
| Captain | Jerry Dalrymple |
| Home stadium | Tulane Stadium |
Seasons | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 2Tulane $ | 8 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 3Tennessee | 6 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 9 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 6Georgia | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maryland | 4 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 4 | – | 2 | – | 2 | 5 | – | 2 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | 3 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duke | 3 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Carolina | 2 | – | 3 | – | 3 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington and Lee | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 2 | – | 4 | – | 2 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech | 2 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VMI | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NC State | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VPI | 1 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 4 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 6 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia | 0 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 0 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The1931 Tulane Green Wave football team was anAmerican football team that representedTulane University as a member of theSouthern Conference (SoCon) during the1931 Southern Conference football season. In its fifth and final season under head coachBernie Bierman, Tulane compiled an 11–1record (8–0 in conference games), won the SoCon championship, shut out seven of twelve opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 350 to 56. Tulane was undefeated in the regular season, but lost in theRose Bowl to national championUSC.[1][2]
EndJerry Dalrymple was the team captain. He was also Tulane's first consensus All-American, receiving unanimous first-team honors from theAssociated Press (AP),United Press (UP),Collier's Weekly (Grantland Rice), theNewspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), theInternational News Service (INS), and the All-American Board, among others.
HalfbackDon Zimmerman was selected as a first-team All-American by the INS and won second-team honors from the AP and NEA. He was atriple-threat man known for his skill as a ball-carrier, passer, kicker, blocker, and defensive player.[3] He set a Tulane school record with 1,459 yards oftotal offense.
In addition, seven Tulane players wonAll-Southern honors from the AP: Dalrymple, Zimmerman, and guardJohn Scafide were first team; quarterbackRed Dawson, fullbackNollie Felts, endVernon Haynes, and centerWinnie Lodrigues were second team.[4]
In December 1931, Bierman resigned as Tulane's head coach to accept the same position with theUniversity of Minnesota. Bierman compiled a 36–10–2 record in five years at Tulane. He led Minnesota to five national championships in the following 10 years.
The team played its home games atTulane Stadium inNew Orleans.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 26 | Ole Miss | W 31–0 | 12,000 | [5] | |
| October 3 | Texas A&M* |
| W 7–0 | [6] | |
| October 10 | Spring Hill* |
| W 40–0 | [7] | |
| October 17 | atVanderbilt | W 19–0 | [8] | ||
| October 24 | Georgia Tech |
| W 33–0 | 17,000 | [9] |
| October 31 | Mississippi A&M |
| W 59–7 | 4,000 | [10] |
| November 7 | vs.Auburn | W 27–0 | [11] | ||
| November 14 | atGeorgia | W 20–7 | 35,000 | [12] | |
| November 21 | Sewanee |
| W 40–0 | 8,000 | [13] |
| November 28 | LSU |
| W 34–7 | 30,000 | [14] |
| December 5 | Washington State* |
| W 28–14 | 20,000 | [15] |
| January 1, 1932 | vs.USC* | L 12–21 | 84,000 | [16] | |
| |||||
Tulane opened the season with a 31–0 victory over Ole Miss. The starting lineup was DeColigny (left end), Cunningham (left tackle), Calhoun (left guard), Lodrigues (center), Scafide (right guard), Upton (right tackle), Dalrymple (right end), Dawson (quarterback), Glover (left halfback), Zimmerman (right halfback), Felts (fullback).[18]
In the second week of play, Tulane defeated Texas A&M 7–0. The starting lineup was DeColigny (left end), Cunningham (left tackle), Calhoun (left guard), Lodrigues (center), Scafide (right guard), Upton (right tackle), Dalrymple (right end), Dawson (quarterback), Glover (left halfback), Zimmerman (right halfback), Felts (fullback).[19]
The Spring Hill College Badgers lost to Tulane 40–0 . Tulane played several substitute running backs.
Against Vanderbilt, Tulane won 19–0. Dalrymple though "socked and battered by the Commodore blockers", was the star of the game "with his keen diagnosis of plays" and his defense and punt coverage.[8]
Georgia Tech was beaten 33–0.
Mississippi A&M was beaten 59–7. The starting lineup was Haynes (left end), Bankston (left tackle), Scafide (left guard), Lodrigues (center), Calhoun (right guard), Upton (right tackle), Dalrymple (right end), Richardson (quarterback), Roberts (left halfback), Hodgins (right halfback), Lemmon (fullback).[20]
Don Zimmerman eclipsed 100 yards rushing in the 27–0 defeat ofAuburn. Felts scored three touchdowns.[21]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| •Tulane | 7 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Tulane defeated theGeorgia Bulldogs 20–7. Tulane scored first on a 33-yard pass from Zimmerman toVernon Haynes.[22]Nollie Felts plunged in from the 1-yard line for the next touchdown.[22] A pass from Georgia's Homey Key toBuster Mott netted 60 yards and a touchdown.[22] After a botched punt, a double pass play led to Payne sprinting around left end for Tulane's final score.[22]
Tulane shut out the Sewanee Tigers 40–0 .
Tulane defeated rival LSU 34–7. The starting lineup was Haynes (left end), DeColigny (left tackle), Scafide (left guard), Lodrigues (center), McCormick (right guard), Upton (right tackle), Dalrymple (right end), Dawson (quarterback), Zimmerman (left halfback), Glover (right halfback), Felts (fullback).[23]
Tulane had an intersectional victory to close the regular season, over Washington State 28–14 . Dahlen scored the first touchdown. After starting on the bench, Dalrymple rallied the team when he entered the game. A pass from Zimmerman to Haynes got the first touchdown, with Haynes tackled by Sander at the goal line.[24]
In the second quarter, Zimmerman connected with Dawson for a long pass, pushed out of bounds at the 6-yard line. Glover then got a touchdown on a double lateral pass play, scoring with two tacklers around his neck.[24] After a Zimmerman interception and 30-yard return, another Zimmerman to Haynes pass got another touchdown.[24]
After a blocked punt and then a fumble by Tulane on the next drive, Washington State was in scoring distance, with Schroeder scoring on a line plunge. At the start of the fourth quarter, Dalrymple caught 25-yard touchdown despite being covered.[24]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| •USC | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| Tulane | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
Tulane lost in theRose Bowl toSouthern California by a 21–12 score. The Trojans had sixAll-Americans in their lineup: tackle Ernie Smith, guards Johnny Baker andAaron "Rosy" Rosenberg, halfbackErny Pinckert and quarterbacksOrville Mohler andGaius Shaver.[25]
Down 21 to 0 in the third quarter, Zimmerman led a running attack which ended with a 6-yard pass to Haynes for the score. Tulane's other score was a run by "Wop" Glover set up by 11 and 15 yard passes from Zimmerman toJerry Dalrymple.[26] Tulane still managed a Rose Bowl record for yardage gained.[27]
One article which attempts to retroactively nameHeisman Trophy winners before 1936 named Dalrymple as the recipient for 1931.[28] He was the season's only unanimous All-American; and is still the only unanimous All-American in school history.
Felts was elected captain for 1932.[29]
| Light jersey number | Dark jersey number | Player | Position | Games started | Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 73 | Thomas Cunningham | tackle | Pine Bluff, Arkansas | 220 | ||||
| 33 | 55 | Jerry Dalrymple | end | Arkadelphia, Arkansas | Ouachita Junior College | 5'10" | 178 | ||
| 35 | 57 | Calvert DeColigny | end | New Orleans | 185 | ||||
| 24 | 40 | William Drawe | end | New Orleans | 170 | ||||
| 38 | 70 | William Featherngill | tackle | Independence, Kansas | 200 | ||||
| 19 | 62 | Vernon Haynes | end | Arkansas City, Arkansas | 170 | ||||
| 39 | 74 | Doyless Hill | center | Sand Springs, Oklahoma | 200 | ||||
| 30 | 54 | Winnie Lodrigues | center | Patterson | 180 | ||||
| 20 | 46 | Doyle Magee | end | Franklinton | 175 | ||||
| 34 | 53 | John McCormick | guard | Monroe | 171 | ||||
| 23 | 47 | William Penney | guard | Guatemala City, C. A. | 180 | ||||
| 36 | 59 | John Read | center | Picayune, Mississippi | 195 | ||||
| 42 | 72 | John Scafide | guard | Bay St. Louis, Mississippi | Saint Stanislaus College | 6'0" | 210 | ||
| 43 | 66 | Claggert Upton | tackle | New Orleans | 206 | ||||
| 31 | 64 | Sam Zemurray | tackle | New Orleans | 195 |
| Light jersey number | Dark jersey number | Player | Position | Games started | Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 43 | Red Dawson | quarterback | River Falls, Wisconsin | 165 | ||||
| 37 | 63 | Nollie Felts | fullback | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Southern Miss | 185 | |||
| 10 | 38 | Wop Glover | halfback | Bay St. Louis, Mississippi | Saint Stanislaus College | 165 | |||
| 12 | 39 | George Haik | halfback | Bogalusa | 165 | ||||
| 27 | 41 | James Hodgins | halfback | Shreveport | 165 | ||||
| 17 | 60 | Harold Lemmon | fullback | Patterson | 186 | ||||
| 29 | 52 | Francis Payne | fullback | Winterville, Mississippi | 175 | ||||
| 14 | 49 | Will Pat Richardson | quarterback | Ponchatoula | 165 | ||||
| 25 | 42 | Edward Tschirn | halfback | New Orleans | 165 | ||||
| 18 | 44 | Don Zimmerman | halfback | Lake Charles | 5'11" | 176 |