| 1920Tulane Green Wave football | |
|---|---|
 | |
SIAA co-champion | |
| Conference | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Record | 6–2–1 (5–0 SIAA) |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive scheme | Single wing |
| Captain | Johnny Wight |
| Home stadium | Second Tulane Stadium[1] |
Seasons | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia + | 7 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane + | 5 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech + | 4 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Centre | 4 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Furman | 3 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | 3 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 3 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transylvania | 2 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howard (AL) | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi College | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 1 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 1 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chattanooga | 1 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Citadel | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 0 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 0 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgetown (KY) | 0 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Millsaps | 0 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mercer | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wofford | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 8 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The1920 Tulane Green Wave football team was anAmerican football team that representedTulane University as a member of theSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) during the1920 SIAA football season. In its sixth year under head coachClark Shaughnessy, Tulane compiled a 6–2–1 record (5–0 in conference games), finished in a three-way tie for the SIAA championship, shut out seven of nine opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 181 to 28.[2]
The team's two losses came in nonconference games, losing toMichigan (0–21) inAnn Arbor andDetroit (0–7) inNew Orleans. The highlight of the season was a 21–0 victory overLSU on Thanksgiving Day. Hundreds of enthusiastic Tulane students and supporters were taken toBaton Rouge on a special train "said to be the longest ever assembled in the state."[3]
End Dick White was the only Tulane player to receive honors on the1920 All-Southern team. Right end Johnny Wight was the team captain.
The 1920 team was the first to be called the "Green Wave", named after a song titled "The Rolling Green Wave".[4]
The team played its home games at Tulane Stadium inNew Orleans.
In the prior year of1919, coachClark Shaughnessy guided Tulane to a then-school record of seven consecutive wins,[5] and had transformed Tulane into a competitor among Southern collegiate teams.[6]
Though he was famous for later using theT formation, at Tulane Shaughnessy employed thesingle wing. Shaughnessy also introduced to Tulane theMinnesota shift, an innovation created by his former coachHenry L. Williams.[7]
Germany Schulz was hired to take over duties as athletic director.[8]
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2 | Southwestern Louisiana* |
| W 79–0 | [9] | |
| October 9 | Mississippi College |
| W 29–0 | [10] | |
| October 16 | Rice* |
| T 0–0 | [11] | |
| October 23 | Ole Miss |
| W 32–0 | [12] | |
| October 30 | atMichigan* | L 21–0 | 13,000 | [13] | |
| November 6 | vs.Florida | W 14–0 | [14] | ||
| November 13 | Mississippi A&M |
| W 6–0 | [15] | |
| November 25 | atLSU | W 21–0 | [16] | ||
| December 4 | Detroit* |
| L 7–0 | [17] | |
| |||||
The season opened with a 79–0 victory over Southwestern Louisiana. One full quarter was played by the substitutes.[18]
TheMississippi College Choctaws andGoat Hale fell to Tulane 29–0.[18]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tulane | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sources:[18]
TheRice Owls fought Tulane to a scoreless tie in a game shifted toHeinemann Park.[18]
On Oct. 20, 1920, Earl Sparling, the editor of the Tulane Hullabaloo, wrote a football song which was printed in the newspaper. The song was titled "The Rolling Green Wave." Although the name was not immediately adopted, it began to receive acceptance.[19]
Tulane beatOle Miss, 32–0. Coach Shaughnessy introduced a new shift in the first half, and the players had trouble implementing it.[18] By the second period, Tulane played conventional football instead.[18]
The season's first loss was 21–0 to theMichigan Wolverines inAnn Arbor,[20] succumbing to the northern foes by the second half.[18][21]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| •Tulane | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sources:[22]
InTampa, Tulane beat theFlorida Gators 14–0.[18] Florida'sTootie Perry played one of the best games seen in Tampa.[22] Dwyer went over right tackle for the first touchdown. After B. Brown cut loose for a 30-yard run, Richcoon scored the last.[22]
The starting lineup was Beaulau (left end), Unsworth (left tackle), Fitz (left guard), Reed (center), Killinger (right guard), Payne (right tackle), Wight (right end), Richeson (quarterback), Dwyer (left halfback), Brown (right halfback), McGraw (fullback).[23]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miss. A&M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| •Tulane | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Sources:[24]
In what the yearbook called "the critical game of the season,"[18] Tulane won 6–0 over theMississippi Aggies. Both teams were previously unbeaten. The feature of the contest twas Johnny Wight's punt returns, which set up the game's only score.[24]
The starting lineup was Weigan (left end), Payne (left tackle), Fit (left guard), Reed (Center), Bellieu (left guard), Palermo (right tackle), Wight (right end), Richeson (quarterback), Dwyer (left halfback), Brown (right halfback), Smith (fullback).[24]
Tulane triumphed 21–0 over rivalLSU.[18] The starting lineup was Wiegand (left end), Payne (left tackle), Fitz (left guard), Reed (center), Unsworth (right guard), Beallieu (right tackle), Wight (right end), Richeson (quarterback), Dwyer (left halfback), Brown (right halfback), Smith (fullback).[25]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| •Detroit | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Tulane | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sources:[26]
On a muddy field, theDetroit Titans beat Tulane 7–0. Detroit opened up with passes early, leading to Lauer's off tackle touchdown.[26] The starting lineup was Smith (left end), Payne (left tackle), Unsworth (left guard), Reed (center), Palermo (right guard), Fitz (right tackle), Wight (right end), Richeson (quarterback), Brown (left halfback), Dwyer (right halfback), Beaullieu (fullback).[26]
| Player | Position | Games started | Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaston Beaullieu | end | ||||||
| Fits Fitz | guard | ||||||
| Killinger | guard | ||||||
| Palermo | tackle | ||||||
| Virgil Payne | tackle | ||||||
| Eddie Reed | center | New Orleans, Louisiana | Spring Hill College | ||||
| Bennie Smith | end and fullback | ||||||
| Johnny Unsworth | tackle | ||||||
| Bob Wiegand | end | ||||||
| Dicky Wight | end | ||||||
| Johnny Wight | right end |
| Player | Position | Games started | Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennie Brown | right halfback | ||||||
| Bill Dwyer | halfback | ||||||
| Paul Maloney | quarter and fullback | ||||||
| Forres McGraw | fullback | ||||||
| Pinkie Nagle | halfback | ||||||
| Harold Quinn | quarter and fullback | ||||||
| Lyle Richeson | quarterback |
