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

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).

Schedule

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 20vs. 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 10vs. NC State
W 7–6[19][20][21]
November 17Virginiadagger
  • Miles Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA (rivalry)
W 19–63,000[22][23]
November 29vs. VMI
W 13–010,000[24][25]

Game summaries

Roanoke

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.

Temple

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).

Florida

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).

William & Mary

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.

Maryland

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.

Washington and Lee

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).

South Carolina

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).

Virginia

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.

VMI

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.

NFL draft selections

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

Players

Roster

VPI 1934 roster
Quarterbacks
  • Duncan Holsclaw
  • Mattox

Guards

  • Benny Botnick
  • Jim Copenhaver
  • Edward Ralph English
  • Norman Ochs

Tackles

  • Mac Banks
  • Ben Dodge
  • Harry Howard
  • Richard "Tris" Huffman

Center

  • Dave Jones
 Ends
  • Louis Fittro (Capt.)
  • Warren "Red" Negri
  • Dave Thomas

Halfbacks

  • Buck Carpenter
  • Herman "Foots" Dickerson
  • Jim Ottaway
  • J. D. Russell
  • George Sodaro
  • Howard "Hank" Spruill

Fullback

  • George Smith (Capt.)

Substitutes

  • Oscar "Flinky" Piland
  • Buck Reynolds

Varsity letter winners

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

References

  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 November 2, 2022.
  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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