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1927 NC State Wolfpack football team

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1927 NC State Wolfpack football
SoCon co-champion
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Record9–1 (4–0 SoCon)
Head coach
CaptainNick Nicholson
Home stadiumRiddick Stadium
Uniform
Seasons
← 1926
1928 →
1927 Southern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Georgia Tech + 7 – 0 – 1 8 – 1 – 1
Tennessee + 5 – 0 – 1 8 – 0 – 1
NC State + 4 – 0 – 0 9 – 1 – 0
Vanderbilt 5 – 0 – 2 8 – 1 – 2
No. 8 Georgia 6 – 1 – 0 9 – 1 – 0
Florida 5 – 2 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
Ole Miss 3 – 2 – 0 5 – 3 – 1
Virginia 4 – 4 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Clemson 2 – 2 – 0 5 – 3 – 1
Alabama 3 – 4 – 1 5 – 4 – 1
LSU 2 – 3 – 1 4 – 4 – 1
Mississippi A&M 2 – 3 – 0 5 – 3 – 0
Washington and Lee 2 – 3 – 0 4 – 4 – 1
VPI 2 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Maryland 3 – 5 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
South Carolina 2 – 4 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
VMI 2 – 4 – 0 6 – 4 – 0
Tulane 2 – 5 – 1 2 – 5 – 1
North Carolina 2 – 5 – 0 4 – 6 – 0
Sewanee 1 – 4 – 0 2 – 6 – 0
Kentucky 1 – 5 – 0 3 – 6 – 1
Auburn 0 – 6 – 1 0 – 7 – 2
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from Dickinson System

The 1927 NC State Wolfpack football team represented North Carolina State University during the 1927 Southern Conference football season. They played their home games in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Wolfpack were coached by Gus Tebell in his third year as head coach, compiling a record of 9–1 and outscoring opponents 216 to 69.

NC State tied with Georgia Tech and Tennessee for the Southern Conference title, including the only unbeaten and untied conference record. Also in the conference were Bill Spears-led Vanderbilt (giving both Tech and Tennessee their ties) and Georgia's "dream and wonder team." NC State was led by All-Southern running back and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Jack McDowall.[1]

Schedule

[edit]
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23Elon*
W 39–0[2]
September 30at Furman*
L 0–203,000[3]
October 8Clemson
  • Riddick Stadium
  • Raleigh, NC (rivalry)
W 18–6[4]
October 13Wake Forest*
  • Riddick Stadium
  • Raleigh, NC (rivalry)
W 30–7[5]
October 22vs. Florida
W 12–67,000[6]
October 29North Carolina
  • Riddick Stadium
  • Raleigh, NC (rivalry)
W 19–618,000[7]
November 5vs. Davidson*
W 25–6[8]
November 11at Duke*
W 20–18[9]
November 24at South Carolina
W 34–04,500[10]
December 3Michigan State*
  • Riddick Stadium
  • Raleigh, NC
W 19–0[11]
  • *Non-conference game

[12]

Game summaries

[edit]

Week 1: Elon

[edit]

The Wolf Pack opened the season with a 39–0 victory over Elon.

Week 2: at Furman

[edit]

In the second week, NC State suffered the season's only loss on the road to the Furman Purple Hurricane 0–20. Furman quarterback Whitey Rawl scored three touchdowns.[13]

Week 3: Clemson

[edit]
Week 3: Clemson at North Carolina State
1 234Total
Clemson 0 060 6
• NC State 6 606 18

The Wolfpack beat the Clemson Tigers 18–6. Though Jack McDowall did not score any of the touchdowns his play resulted in all the scores, including passes to Childress and Goodwin.[14]

The starting lineup for the Wolfpack against Florida: Goodwin (left end), Evans (left tackle), Vaughan (left guard), Metts (center), Nicholson (right guard), Lepo (right tackle), Childress (right end), Adams (quarterback), Outen (left halfback), McDowall (right halfback), Warren (fullback). Herman Stegeman was umpire.[14][15]

Week 4: Wake Forest

[edit]

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons were defeated 30–7.[16] McDowall threw several passes, and returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown.[16]

Week 5: at Florida

[edit]
Week 5: North Carolina State at Florida
1 234Total
• NC State 0 0012 12
Florida 0 006 6

In the fifth week of play, the Wolfpack faced captain Jack McDowall's native Florida Gators in Tampa, winning 12–6. Neither team scored until the final period. Since McDowall had been turned down by the University of Florida, legend has it just afterwards he mailed coach Tom Sebring the game ball.[17]

A drive brought the Wolfpack to the 3-yard line, the feature play of which was a 30-yard pass from McDowall to Childress. A pass from McDowall to Frank Goodwin got the score.[18] The Gators then began passing desperately in an attempt to win. A pass bounced off the hands of a Florida back and into McDowall's, who returned the ball 75 yards for the deciding score.[19] On the ensuing kickoff, Gator back Tommy Owens ran it back for an 88-yard touchdown.[18][20]

The starting lineup for the Wolfpack against Florida: Goodwin (left end), Lepo (left tackle), Nicholson (left guard), Metts (center), Vaughan (right guard), Evans (right tackle), Childress (right end), Adams (quarterback), McDowall (left halfback), Cram (right halfback), Warren (fullback).[18]

Week 6: North Carolina

[edit]
Week 6: North Carolina at North Carolina State
1 234Total
N. Carolina 0 006 6
• NC State 7 606 19
  • Date: October 30
  • Location: Riddick Stadium
    Raleigh, NC
  • Game attendance: 18,000
  • Referee: Rip Major

NC State defeated the in-state rival North Carolina Tar Heels 19 to 6.[21]

The first score came after a 30-yard pass from Jack McDowall to Hunsucker set up a 9-yard end run from McDowall for touchdown. The third touchdown was a 4-yard touchdown pass the width of the field from McDowall to Hunsucker.[22]

The starting lineup for the Wolfpack against North Carolina: Goodwin (left end), Evans (left tackle), Vaughan (left guard), Metts (center), Nicholson (right guard), Lepo (right tackle), Childress (right end), Adams (quarterback), McDowall (left halfback), Hunsucker (right halfback), Lipscomb (fullback).[22][23]

Week 7: vs. Davidson

[edit]
Week 7: North Carolina State at Davidson
1 234Total
• NC State 6 6013 25
Davidson 0 060 6
  • Date: November 5, 1927
  • Location: Greensboro, NC
  • Referee: Gooch (Virginia)

The Wolf Pack beat the Davidson Wildcats 25–6. McDowall had a run of 65 yards.[24]

The starting lineup was: Goodwin (left end), Evans (left tackle), Vaughan (left guard), Metts (center), C. Nicholson (right guard), Lepo (right tackle), Childress (right end), Adams (quarterback), Hunsucker (left halfback), McDowall (right halfback), Warren (fullback).[24]

Week 8: at Duke

[edit]

NC State defeated Duke in Durham 20–18 "in one of the most thrilling football battles ever staged in N. C."[25][26] After the Blue Devils rushed out to an early 12–0 lead, McDowall's two drop kicks proved the difference.[25]

Week 9: at South Carolina

[edit]

The South Carolina Gamecocks were shutout 34–0.[27]

Week 10: Michigan State

[edit]
Week 10: Michigan State at North Carolina State
1 234Total
Mich. State 0 000 0
• NC State 6 076 19

In the season's final game, NC State hosted a northern opponent, the Michigan Aggies. On a muddy, waterlogged field,[29] the Wolfpack won 19 to 0.[30]

Captain Jack McDowall was cited as the best player in his final game, despite his only scoring play being a pass for an extra point.[28]

Awards and honors

[edit]

Players

[edit]

Line

[edit]
Player Position Games
started 		Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
Bob Evans tackle
Childress end
John Ford guard
Floyd tackle
Frank Goodwin end
Joseph Harden center
Jordan end
John Lepo tackle
Metts center
Nick Nicholson guard
Fred Vaughan guard Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina 196

Backfield

[edit]
Player Position Games
started 		Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
Sparky Adams quarterback
Fred Crum halfback
George Hunsucker halfback
Robert Jeffries fullback
Jack McDowall halfback Gainesville, Florida Rockingham High 6'1" 175 22
Bill "Chink" Outen halfback
Clarence Ridenhour quarterback
Bob Warren fullback

Coaching staff

[edit]
  • Head coach: Gus Tebell
  • Assistants: Butch Slaughter, Doc Sermon

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2014 NC State Athletic Hall of Fame Class Announced". April 16, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  2. ^ "Wolfpack tramples over Elon but not without struggle". Greensboro Daily News. September 24, 1927. Retrieved December 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Furman blanks Wolfpack team". The State. October 1, 1927. Retrieved December 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Wolfpack beats Clemson outfit". The Sunday Record. October 9, 1927. Retrieved December 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Wolfpack crushes Demon Deacons by 30–7". The Charlotte Observer. October 14, 1927. Retrieved December 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "McDowell, former Floridian, leads North Carolina State to victory over Gator, 12–6". Tampa Sunday Tribune. October 23, 1927. Retrieved December 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "N.C. State crushes Carolina's line to win, 19 to 6". The Sunday Citizen. October 30, 1927. Retrieved December 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Wolfpack flattens Wildcats". The Charlotte Observer. November 6, 1927. Retrieved September 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Wolfpack defeats Blue Devils, 20–18". The Virginian-Pilot. November 12, 1927. Retrieved December 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "N.C. State routs South Carolina". The News and Observer. November 25, 1927. Retrieved December 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Michigan State trampled in mud". Detroit Free Press. December 4, 1927. Retrieved December 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "1927 NC State Wolfpack Football Schedule". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  13. ^ "Furman Trounces North Carolina In Opening Game". Anniston Star. October 1, 1927. p. 6. Retrieved September 5, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  14. ^ a b "M'Dowall Passes, Punts, Runs Over Clemson Gridmen". October 9, 1927. p. 6. Retrieved September 5, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  15. ^ "'Pack Revenges Defeat of Last Year By 18-6" (PDF). The Technician. October 13, 1927. p. 3.
  16. ^ a b "State Wins From Wake Forest 30-8" (PDF). The Technician. Vol. 8, no. 4. October 15, 1927.
  17. ^ 2014 NC State Athletic Hall of Fame: Jack McDowall - YouTube
  18. ^ a b c T. A. Vernon (October 28, 1927). "State Wolves Invade Florida And Win 12-6". The Technician. Vol. 8, no. 6. p. 3.
  19. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 239
  20. ^ "Statistics Indicate Any Conference Team Able To Beat Leaders". The Bee. October 23, 1927. p. 9. Retrieved September 4, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  21. ^ T. A. Vernon (November 5, 1927). "Wolves Beat Carolina" (PDF). The Technician.
  22. ^ a b "N. C. State Gets Sweet Revenge In Tar Heel Game". The Index-Journal. October 30, 1927. p. 6. Retrieved September 5, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  23. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 243
  24. ^ a b "N. C. State Hits Davidson Severe Setback 23 to 6". the Index-Journal. November 6, 1927. p. 6. Retrieved January 13, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  25. ^ a b Henry Lenesne (November 12, 1927). "Wolfpack Captures N.C. Title By Winning From Duke In Thrilling Game". The Bee. p. 6. Retrieved April 15, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  26. ^ "Wolves Win State Title" (PDF). The Technician. Vol. 8, no. 8. November 12, 1927.
  27. ^ "Wolfpack slashes way to victory over South Carolina Gamecocks". Asheville Citizen-Times. November 25, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ a b "State Wins From Michigan Aggies" (PDF). The Technician. Vol. 8, no. 4. December 10, 1927. p. 7.
  29. ^ "Waterlogged Field Faces Elevens In North Carolina". The Index-Journal. December 3, 1927. p. 4. Retrieved August 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  30. ^ "WolfPack Wins Final Game 19 To 0" (PDF). The Technician. December 10, 1927. p. 7.

Sources

[edit]
  • Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. Vol. 2.
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