1936 VPI Gobblers football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Record5–5 (3–5 SoCon)
Head coach
Home stadiumMiles Stadium
Seasons
← 1935
1937 →
1936 Southern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 11 Duke $ 7 – 0 – 0 9 – 1 – 0
North Carolina 6 – 1 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
Furman 4 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
VMI 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 4 – 0
Maryland 3 – 2 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Clemson 3 – 3 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Davidson 4 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Washington and Lee 2 – 2 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Wake Forest 2 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
NC State 2 – 4 – 0 3 – 7 – 0
VPI 4 – 5 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
South Carolina 2 – 5 – 0 5 – 7 – 0
Richmond 1 – 3 – 0 4 – 4 – 2
Virginia 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 7 – 0
The Citadel 0 – 4 – 0 4 – 6 – 0
William & Mary 0 – 5 – 0 1 – 8 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1936 VPI Gobblers football team represented Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute, now known as Virginia Tech, in the 1936 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). It finished with a 3–5 record in the Southern Conference. The Gobblers were shut out in all five of the games they lost. The team was 3-0 on its home field, Miles Stadium. It won three of its last four games, finishing the year beating arch-rival Virginia 7–6 at home, and winning the annual Thanksgiving Day contest against VMI at Maher Field in Roanoke.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 19Roanoke*
W 16–7[1][2][3]
September 263:00 p.m.at Clemson
L 0–205,000–6,000[4][5][6]
October 3vs. Maryland
L 0–62,500[7][8]
October 10vs. William & Mary
W 14–08,000[9][10]
October 17at South Carolina
L 0–146,000[11][12]
October 242:30 p.m.at NC State
L 0–137,000–7,500[13][14][15]
October 31Richmond
  • Miles Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
W 20–7[16][17]
November 7at Washington and Lee
L 0–275,000[18][19][20]
November 14Virginia*
  • Miles Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA (rivalry)
W 7–6[21][22]
November 262:15 p.m.vs. VMI
W 6–017,000[23][24]

Game summaries

Roanoke

The starting lineup for VPI was: Shockey (left end), Vecellio (left tackle), Ingles (left guard), Murray (center), Piland (right guard), A. Robison (right tackle), Doxey (right end), Jones (quarterback), Henry (left halfback), Sodaro (right halfback), A. Miller (fullback). The substitutes were: Cregger and Dickerson.

The starting lineup for Roanoke was: Paul Miller (left end), George Pitzer (left tackle), Vic Cotter (left guard), Alex Schwartz (center), Larry Larson (right guard), Carey Brewbaker (right tackle), Conley Snidow (right end), John Pitzer (quarterback), Charles Myrtle (left halfback), Gregory Wroniewicz (right halfback), Bernard Pedneau (fullback). The substitutes were: Curry, Kenneth Moore and Stanley Snidow.

Clemson

See also: 1936 Clemson Tigers football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Shockey (left end), A. Robison (left tackle), Ingles (left guard), Murray (center), Piland (right guard), Vecellio (right tackle), Doxey (right end), Jones (quarterback), Brown (left halfback), Henry (right halfback), Miller (fullback). The substitutes were: Cregger and Dickerson.

The starting lineup for Clemson was: Donald Shufford (left end), Manuel Black (left tackle), William Bryant (left guard), Harold Lewis (center), Lawrence Buscher (right guard), Wyser (right tackle), Samuel McConnell (right end), Joseph Berry (quarterback), Al Sanders (left halfback), Rudy Orban (right halfback), Mac Folger (fullback). The substitutes were: Boland and Winston Lawton.

Maryland

See also: 1936 Maryland Terrapins football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Shockey (left end), Vecellio (left tackle), Worthington (left guard), Jones (center), Piland (right guard), A. Robison (right tackle), Pierce (right end), Brown (quarterback), Henry (left halfback), Cregger (right halfback), Dickerson (fullback). The substitutes were: Banks, Devlin and Ingles.

The starting lineup for Maryland was: Victor G. Willis (left end), Edward Fletcher (left tackle), Michael Surgent (left guard), John DeArmey (center), William Wolfe (right guard), John Birkland (right tackle), Blair Smith (right end), Charles F. Ellinger (quarterback), Jim Meade (left halfback), Coleman Headley (right halfback), John Gormley (fullback). The substitutes were: Nick Budkoff, Edmond Daly, John Page, Robert Walton, Charles Weidinger and Waverly Wheeler.

William & Mary

See also: 1936 William & Mary Indians football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Shockey (left end), Banks (left tackle), Piland (left guard), Jones (center), Worthington (right guard), A. Robison (right tackle), Doxey (right end), Brown (quarterback), Henry (left halfback), Cregger (right halfback), Dickerson (fullback). The substitutes were: Gaugler, Gee, Hearn, Ingles, Pierce and Sodaro.

South Carolina

See also: 1936 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Doxey (left end), Banks (left tackle), Ingles (left guard), Jones (center), Piland (right guard), A. Robison (right tackle), Shockey (right end), Brown (quarterback), Henry (left halfback), Sodaro (right halfback), Dickerson (fullback).

The starting lineup for South Carolina was: Glen Myers (left end), Osgood Bramlet (left tackle), Ashley "Pat" Tobias (left guard), Frank Kiss (center), George Mackovic (right guard), Paul Robelot (right tackle), Larry Craig (right end), Burl Durham (quarterback), Jerry Hughes (left halfback), Jack Lyons (right halfback), Arthur Urbanyi (fullback). The substitutes were: Ed Clary, Ralph Dearth, Bob Johnson and Frank Urban.

NC State

See also: 1936 NC State Wolfpack football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Pierce (left end), Vecellio (left tackle), Piland (left guard), Jones (center), Worthington (right guard), A. Robison (right tackle), Doxey (right end), Brown (quarterback), Henry (left halfback), Sodaro (right halfback), Dickerson (fullback).

The starting lineup for NC State was: Dom Cara (left end), Mason Bugg (left tackle), Alex Regdon (left guard), Lou Mark (center), Daniel Piloseno (right guard), George Fry (right tackle), Jess Tatum (right end), Charles Gadd (quarterback), Everett Robinson (left halfback), Edward Entwistle (right halfback), Joseph Ryneska (fullback). The substitutes were: Howard Bardes, Davis and Nick Hayden.

Richmond

See also: 1936 Richmond Spiders football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Shockey (left end), A. Robison (left tackle), Piland (left guard), Jones (center), Worthington (right guard), Vecellio (right tackle), Doxey (right end), Henry (quarterback), Sodaro (left halfback), Brown (right halfback), J. Robison (fullback). The substitutes were: Cregger.

The starting lineup for Richmond was: Gore (left end), Charles Siddall (left tackle), Mike West (left guard), Ed Schaaf (center), J. Cornelius Godsey (right guard), Ames Harrington (right tackle), Lawless (right end), Leonard Kielpinski (quarterback), George Spears (left halfback), William Robertson (right halfback), Clyde Pendleton (fullback). The substitutes were: Avalon Marchant and Chalmers Walton.

Washington and Lee

See also: 1936 Washington and Lee Generals football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Shockey (left end), A. Robison (left tackle), Piland (left guard), Murray (center), Worthington (right guard), Davis (right tackle), Doxey (right end), Sodaro (quarterback), Henry (left halfback), Cregger (right halfback), Brown (fullback). The substitutes were: Dickerson.

Virginia

See also: 1936 Virginia Cavaliers football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Pierce (left end), A. Robison (left tackle), Piland (left guard), Jones (center), Ingles (right guard), Banks (right tackle), Doxey (right end), Sodaro (quarterback), Henry (left halfback), Brown (right halfback), Dickerson (fullback). The substitutes were: Cregger, Gaugler, Murray and Vecellio.

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 1936 roster
  • Mac Banks
  • Wilson Brown
  • Pete Cregger
  • Junior Davis
  • Herman "Foots" Dickerson
  • Lloyd Doxey
  • Jim Gaugler
  • Gee
  • Mel Henry
  • Bud Ingles
  • Dave Jones
  • R. P. Murray
  • M. L. O'Neale
  • Frank Pierce
  • Oscar "Flinky" Piland
  • Arthur Robison
  • J. Robison
  • Carol Shockey
  • George Sodaro
  • Leo Vecellio
  • George Worthington

Varsity letter winners

Nineteen players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1936 VPI team.[25]

Player Hometown Notes
F. M. "Mac" Banks
Wilson Brown
Marvin Andrew "Pete" Cregger
James Blackwell "Junior" Davis
Herman Edward "Foots" Dickerson Reidsville, North Carolina World War II veteran (Major, Army). First Virginia Tech player to chosen in the NFL Draft.
Lloyd Gibbs Doxey Halifax, North Carolina World War II veteran (Army). Awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.
James Anthony Gaugler
Melvin Henry Cumberland, Maryland
Bud Ingles
David Jones
Ruffner Page Murray
M. L. O'Neale
Frank Marion Pierce World War II veteran (Lieutenant Colonel, Army).
Oscar Glazier "Flinky" Piland
Arthur Stephen Robison Richmond, Virginia World War II veteran (Army).
Carol Leo Shockey Shockeysville, Virginia
George Edward Sodaro
Leo Arthur Vecellio Beckley, West Virginia World War II veteran (Army). Awarded the Legion of Merit.
George Yellott Worthington

Coaching and training staff

References

  1. ^ "V. P. I. Looks Good During First Half". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. September 20, 1936. p. 29. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. ^ "Roanoke Bows to Powerful Techmen in Opener, 16-7". Brackety-ack. Roanoke College. September 24, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  3. ^ "VPI Defeats Roanoke Maroons, 16-7 In First Game". The Southwest Times. Library of Virginia. September 20, 1936. p. 6. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  4. ^ "V.P.I. Game Features Homecoming; Bengals Favored in Tech Game Saturday". The Tiger. Clemson University. September 24, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  5. ^ "Tigers Down Va. Tech". The Tiger. Clemson University. October 1, 1936. p. 7. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  6. ^ "Clemson Is Slow To Master V. P. I." The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. September 27, 1936. p. 23. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  7. ^ "Terrapins Snap, Gobblers Gobble; Liners Win, 6-0". The Diamondback. University of Maryland, College Park. October 5, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  8. ^ "Maryland Conquers V.P.I., 6-0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 4, 1936. p. 28. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  9. ^ "Tech Converts 'Breaks' To Whip Indians, 14–0". The Flat Hat. College of William & Mary. October 13, 1936. p. 3. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  10. ^ "Two Breaks Help V. P. I. To Triumph". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 11, 1936. p. 23. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  11. ^ "Gamecocks Take Gobblers Into Camp, 14–0". The Gamecock. University of South Carolina. October 21, 1936. p. 5. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  12. ^ "Gobblers Undone By Interceptions". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 18, 1936. p. 31. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  13. ^ "Homecoming Game Brings VPI Here as Opponent for State". The Technician. North Carolina State University. October 23, 1936. p. 3. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  14. ^ "Techs Lick VPI For Homecoming". Technician. North Carolina State University. October 30, 1936. p. 3. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  15. ^ "V. P. I. Outclassed By Wolfpack, 13-0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 25, 1936. p. 26. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  16. ^ "Tech Halts Spiders In Second Half". The Richmond Collegian. University of Richmond. November 6, 1936. p. 4. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  17. ^ "Va. Techmen Rally In Last Half to Beat Richmond U." Daily Press. November 1, 1936. Retrieved November 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "5000 See Generals Trounce VPI Gobblers, 27 to 0" (PDF). The Ring-tum Phi. Washington and Lee University. November 10, 1936. p. 3. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  19. ^ "Generals Mop Up Gobblers, 27 To 0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. November 8, 1936. p. 27. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  20. ^ "Washington & Lee Defeats V. P. I. 27 to 0 at Homecoming". Rockbridge County News. Library of Virginia. November 12, 1936. p. 7. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  21. ^ "Extra Point Puts Gobblers On Top". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. November 15, 1936. p. 33. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  22. ^ "Freak Touchdown Gives VPI 7 To 6 Edge Over Va. U." Daily Press. Newspapers.com. November 15, 1936. p. 19. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  23. ^ "Gobblers Defeat Squadron, 6 To 0". The V.M.I. Cadet. Virginia Military Institute. November 30, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  24. ^ "V. M. I. Loses Classic to V. P. I." Rockbridge County News. Library of Virginia. December 3, 1936. p. 7. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  25. ^ "1936 VPI Letterwinners". Virginia Tech. Retrieved January 6, 2023.


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