1939 VPI Gobblers football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Record4–5–1 (1–4–1 SoCon)
Head coach
CaptainDavid Marion Pitts
Home stadiumMiles Stadium
Seasons
← 1938
1940 →
1939 Southern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 8 Duke $ 5 – 0 – 0 8 – 1 – 0
No. 12 Clemson 4 – 0 – 0 9 – 1 – 0
William & Mary 2 – 0 – 1 6 – 2 – 1
North Carolina 5 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 1
VMI 3 – 1 – 1 6 – 3 – 1
Richmond 3 – 1 – 1 7 – 1 – 2
Furman 3 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Wake Forest 3 – 3 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
NC State 2 – 4 – 0 2 – 8 – 0
Washington and Lee 1 – 2 – 0 3 – 4 – 1
South Carolina 1 – 3 – 0 3 – 6 – 1
VPI 1 – 4 – 1 4 – 5 – 1
Davidson 1 – 7 – 0 2 – 7 – 0
Maryland 0 – 1 – 0 2 – 7 – 0
The Citadel 0 – 4 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1939 VPI Gobblers football team represented Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute in the 1939 college football season. The team was led by their head coach Henry Redd and finished with a record of four wins, five losses and one tie (4–5–1).

VPI was ranked at No. 110 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.[1]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23Randolph–Macon*
W 26–02,500[2][3]
September 30at Marshall*
L 0–20[4]
October 72:30 p.m.vs. North Carolina
L 6–1315,000[5][6][7]
October 142:30 p.m.vs. William & Mary
T 6–66,500[8][9]
October 21Centre*dagger
  • Miles Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
W 28–03,500-4,000[10][11]
October 282:30 p.m.vs. Washington and Lee
L 0–610,000-12,000[12][13][14][15]
November 42:30 p.m.Furman
  • Miles Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
W 20–72,500[16][17]
November 112:30 p.m.at Richmond
  • City Stadium
  • Richmond, VA
L 0–138,000[18][19][20]
November 18at Virginia*
W 13–08,000[21][22][23]
November 232:15 p.m.vs. VMI
L 7–1920,000[24][25][26]

Game summaries

Randolph-Macon

Randolph–Macon at VPI
1 234Total
RM 0 000 0
• VPI 6 776 26

During the trip to Blacksburg, the manager for the Randolph-Macon team had a ruptured ulcer and had to be taken to the hospital.[27]

The starting lineup for VPI was: Lawson (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), Willson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Hudson (fullback). The substitutes were: Clark, DeMuro and Rose.

The starting lineup for Randolph-Macon was: Robert Golubic (left end), Stuart Pugh (left tackle), R. Miller (left guard), George Chappell (center), Marshall Peterson (right guard), Dick Powell (right tackle), George Sawyer (right end), Billy Fox (quarterback), John Lovett (left halfback), Gordon Harrell (right halfback), Dick Irby (fullback).

Marshall

VPI at Marshall
1 234Total
VPI 0 000 0
• Marshall 0 0713 20

See also: 1939 Marshall Thundering Herd football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Willson (left end), Coleman (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Pitts (right tackle), Clark (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Ellison (left halfback), Thomas (right halfback), Warriner (fullback).

The starting lineup for Marshall was: Bob Adkins (left end), Ed Ulinski (left tackle), John Boyd (left guard), Roberts (center), Ray Truitt (right guard), Harold Cox (right tackle), Jack Mattiford (right end), Zach Kush (quarterback), Jackie Hunt (left halfback), Jack Morlock (right halfback), Ev Elkins (fullback).

North Carolina

North Carolina vs. VPI
1 234Total
• UNC 0 760 13
VPI 0 006 6
  • Date: October 7, 1939
  • Location: Foreman Field
    Norfolk, VA
  • Game start: 2:30 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 15,000
  • Game weather: "Mid-summer heat"

See also: 1939 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Clark (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Streiff (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), Willson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Warriner (fullback). The substitutes were: DeMuro, Willard Henderson, Hudson, Taylor, Woolwine and Zydiak.

The starting lineup for North Carolina was: Paul Severin (left end), Charles Slagle (left tackle), Abernethy (left guard), Robert Smith (center), James Leake Woodson (right guard), Claud Gates Kimball (right tackle), James Mallory (right end), Jim Lalanne (quarterback), George Radman (left halfback), Mike Bobbitt (right halfback), Sydney Sadoff (fullback). The substitutes were: Don Baker, Harry Dunkle, Bill Faircloth, Sweet James and Leo Slotnick.

William & Mary

William & Mary vs. VPI
1 234Total
W&M 6 000 6
VPI 0 060 6

See also: 1939 William & Mary Indians football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Clark (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), Willson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Warriner (fullback). The substitutes were: Rose.

The starting lineup for William & Mary was: Charles Gondak (left end), Hank Whitehouse (left tackle), Buster Ramsey (left guard), Rudolph Tucker (center), Brodka (right guard), John Dillard (right tackle), Alphonse Chestnut (right end), Simpson (quarterback), Lloyd Phillips (left halfback), Waldo Matthews (right halfback), Hollingsworth (fullback). The substitutes were: Burchfield, Jim Hickey and Jimmy Howard.

Washington and Lee

Washington and Lee vs. VPI
1 234Total
• W&L 6 000 6
VPI 0 000 0

See also: 1939 Washington and Lee Generals football team

The game against Washington & Lee on October 28 was the first game played at Lynchburg Municipal Stadium.[28][29][30][31]

The starting lineup for VPI was: Lawson (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), Willson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Warriner (fullback).

The starting lineup for Washington & Lee was: Howard Wesley Dobbins (left end), Richard Winfield "Dick" Boisseau (left tackle), Stephen Edward Hanasik (left guard), John Joseph "Jack" Mangan (center), James Edward Lindsey (right guard), Kelley Litteral (right tackle), Courtney Young Wadlington (right end), Dan Ray Justice (quarterback), Charles Peale Didier (left halfback), Preston Rice Brown (right halfback), Alfred Thomas "Junie" Bishop (fullback). The substitutes were: Francis Joseph Sugrue and Taylor Simmons Truehart.

Furman

Furman at VPI
1 234Total
Furman 0 007 7
• VPI 12 062 20
  • Date: November 4, 1939
  • Location: Miles Stadium
    Blacksburg, VA
  • Game start: 2:30 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 2,500
  • Game weather: "Snow-swept turf"

See also: 1939 Furman Purple Hurricane football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Lawson (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), John Henderson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), DeMuro (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Warriner (fullback). The substitutes were: Thomas.

The starting lineup for Furman was: Lloyd Coley (left end), Sam Fleming (left tackle), Hugh Wofford (left guard), Johnson Moore (center), Gates Barker (right guard), Hinson (right tackle), Ray Dorman (right end), C. V. Lipscomb (quarterback), Joe Jenkins (left halfback), Dan Martin (right halfback), Rhoten Shetley (fullback). The substitutes were: Brevil and Robert Fitzer.

Richmond

VPI at Richmond
1 234Total
VPI 0 000 0
• Richmond 0 706 13

See also: 1939 Richmond Spiders football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Clark (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), Willson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Warriner (fullback). The substitutes were: Hudson.

The starting lineup for Richmond was: Bill Burge (left end), Harold Thomas McVay (left tackle), Joseph Henry Mack (left guard), Ed Merrick (center), Bert William Milling (right guard), David Lauder Robertson (right tackle), Richard Humbert (right end), William Fitzhugh (quarterback), Art Jones (left halfback), Alec Moore (right halfback), Stuart Hoskins (fullback). The substitutes were: Gordon ReMine.

Virginia

VPI at Virginia
1 234Total
• VPI 6 007 13
UVA 0 000 0

See also: 1939 Virginia Cavaliers football team

The starting lineup for VPI was: Lawson (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Bill Tate (left guard), Streiff (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), John Henderson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Hudson (fullback). The substitutes were: Clark.

The starting lineup for Virginia was: White (left end), Lee McLaughlin (left tackle), Winokur (left guard), Murden (center), John G. Sauerbeck (right guard), Jones (right tackle), Nick Gianakos (right end), Cardozo (quarterback), Jim Gillette (left halfback), O'Grince (right halfback), Leroy Neustedter (fullback).

Players

Roster

VPI 1939 roster
Quarterbacks
  • Dick Kern
  • Samuel B. Rose, Jr.

Guards

  • Cecil Anderson
  • Roland M. Cocker
  • Woodrow Gosney
  • Preston Graves
  • Joseph Franklin Smith
  • Bill Tate
  • John Charles Wycoff

Tackles

  • Jim Coleman
  • Frank L. DeBord, Jr.
  • C. Thomas McCurdy
  • Dave Pitts (Capt.)
  • Benjamin C. Tate
  • Andrew Wellington Todd
  • Ralph Travis Unterzuber
 Centers
  • Graham Buchanan
  • Herbert Andrews Markle
  • Frank Streiff
  • Bill Zydiak

Ends

  • Gerald Clark
  • John Henderson
  • Lewis W. Kincaid
  • Bob Lawson
  • Dan Shawhan
  • Louis Willson
 Halfbacks
  • William T. Barnes
  • Phil DeMuro
  • Sonny Ellison
  • Willard Joseph Henderson
  • William W. James
  • Sherwood A. Roudabush
  • Herbert Joseph Thomas
  • Albert Crawford Traynham
  • Garrett Ernest Taylor
  • W. H. Trimble
  • James Walter Woolwine

Fullbacks

  • I. Ward Boswell
  • Rankin Hudson
  • George Warriner

Varsity letter winners

Twenty-two players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1939 VPI team.[32]

Player Hometown Notes
Cecil Van Anderson Andersonville, Virginia World War II veteran (Major, Army Air Corps).
Irving Ward Boswell, Jr. Arlington, Virginia
Graham Sullivan Buchanan, Jr. Saltville, Virginia
Gerald Harley Clark Bristol, Tennessee
James Emory Coleman Fayetteville, West Virginia
Philip Galliano DeMuro Passaic, New Jersey
Mathew Leslie "Sonny" Ellison Beckley, West Virginia
H. Woodrow Gosney Clarksburg, West Virginia
Robert Preston Graves Salem, Virginia World War II and Vietnam War veteran (Colonel, Army). Awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
John L. Henderson Sevierville, Tennessee
Rankin McGuire Hudson Sweetwater, Tennessee
Richard Davis Kern Winchester, Virginia
J. Robert "Bob" Lawson Cambria, Virginia
David Marion Pitts (Capt.) Manassas, Virginia
Daniel Green Shawhan Washington, D.C. World War II veteran (Lieutenant Colonel, Army).
Frank Arthur Streiff Savannah, Georgia World War II veteran (Lieutenant commander, Navy).
William Lee "Bill" Tate Pulaski, Virginia
Herbert Joseph Thomas South Charleston, West Virginia World War II veteran (Sergeant, Marines). Awarded the Medal of Honor.
W. H. Trimble
George Daniel Warriner Montgomery County, Virginia World War II veteran (Captain, Army). Awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.
Louis C. Willson Blacksburg, Virginia
William Daniel Zydiak Manville, New Jersey

Coaching and training staff

References

  1. ^ E. E. Litkenhous (December 31, 1939). "Vols Second In Final Litkenhous Grid Rankings; Southern California Tenth". Johnson City Sunday Press. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Virginia Tech Live Up to Promises in Routing Jackets". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. September 24, 1939. p. 51. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  3. ^ "Yellow Jackets Lose To V.P.I. By Score 26-0". The Yellow Jacket Weekly. Library of Virginia. September 29, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  4. ^ "Elkin's 95-Yard Run Spices Marshall's Win Over V. P. I." The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 1, 1939. p. 26. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  5. ^ "Varsity Takes On VPI Today at Norfolk". The Daily Tar Heel. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. October 7, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  6. ^ "Lalanne Leads Varsity To 13-6 Victory". The Daily Tar Heel. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. October 8, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  7. ^ "Lalanne's Two Drives For Carolina Top V. P. I., 13 to 6". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 8, 1939. p. 27. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  8. ^ "Stubborn Indians Hold Tech To 6-6 Tie". The Flat Hat. College of William & Mary. October 17, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  9. ^ "W.-M. Blocks Kick Behind Goal to Tie V. P. I. at 6 to 6". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 15, 1939. p. 35. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "Virginia Tech Smothers Centre Easily, 28-0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 22, 1939. p. 26. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  11. ^ "Tech Defeats Centre, 28-0". The Southwest Times. Library of Virginia. October 22, 1939. p. 6. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  12. ^ "Justice's touchdown gives Generals victory over Tech". The Daily News Leader. October 29, 1939. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Brilliant Defense Gives Generals 6-0 Victory of VPI" (PDF). The Ring-tum Phi. Washington and Lee University. October 31, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  14. ^ "Generals Trip V. P. I. As Justice Thrills His Homefolk". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 29, 1939. p. 33. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  15. ^ "Generals Beat Tech As Stadium Is Dedicated". Rockbridge County News. Library of Virginia. November 2, 1939. p. 7. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  16. ^ "Engineers Down McLeod's Team In Snow Fall". The Furman Hornet. Furman University. November 10, 1939. p. 5. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  17. ^ "Virginia Tech Snaps Jinx To Defeat Furman, 20 To 7". The Southwest Times. Library of Virginia. November 5, 1939. p. 6. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  18. ^ "Virginia Tech to Oppose Spiders at City Stadium". The Richmond Collegian. University of Richmond. November 10, 1939. p. 4. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  19. ^ "Undefeated Spiders Score Victory Over Gobblers, 13-0". The Richmond Collegian. University of Richmond. November 17, 1939. p. 5. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  20. ^ "Undefeated Richmond Adds Virginia Tech To Victims, 13-0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. November 12, 1939. p. 29. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  21. ^ "Cavaliers Downed By V.P.I., 13 To 0". The Daily Progress. University of Virginia. November 20, 1939. p. 8. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  22. ^ "Virginia Backs Bottled As V. P. I. Triumphs In Upset, 13 to 0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. November 19, 1939. p. 27. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  23. ^ "VPI Beats Virginia, 13-0". The Southwest Times. Library of Virginia. November 19, 1939. p. 6. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  24. ^ "The Bugle 1940". Virginia Tech Bugle. 1940. p. 237. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  25. ^ "Fighting Squadron Humbles Gobblers 19-to-7 And Win State Championship". The V.M.I. Cadet. Virginia Military Institute. November 28, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  26. ^ "Shu Stars For V. M. I. In Roanoke Game". Rockbridge County News. Library of Virginia. November 30, 1939. p. 7. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  27. ^ "Carter Richardson Stricken At Blacksburg; Reported Better". The Yellow Jacket Weekly. Library of Virginia. September 29, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  28. ^ "Lynchburg's New $250,000 Stadium Dedicated". The Highland Recorder. Library of Virginia. November 3, 1939. p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  29. ^ "Generals - Gobblers Dedicate New Lynchburg Football Stadium Oct. 28". The Farmville Herald. Library of Virginia. October 20, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  30. ^ "W. & L.-V. P. I. Game Dedicates Lynchburg Stadium Saturday". Rockbridge County News. Library of Virginia. October 19, 1939. p. 8. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  31. ^ "Where Washington and Lee Will Meet V. P. I. This Week-end". The Lexington Gazette. Library of Virginia. October 27, 1939. p. 6. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  32. ^ "1939 VPI Letterwinners". Virginia Tech. Retrieved January 3, 2023.


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