1919 Centre Praying Colonels football team

1919 Centre Praying Colonels football
Centre players after the defeat of West Virginia
National champion (Sagarin)
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record9–0 (1–0 SIAA)
Head coach
Offensive schemeSingle-wing
CaptainBo McMillin
Home stadiumCheek Field
Uniform
1919 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Auburn $ 5 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 0
Alabama 6 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 0
Centre 1 – 0 – 0 9 – 0 – 0
Kentucky 3 – 1 – 1 3 – 4 – 1
Georgia Tech 3 – 1 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
Tulane 3 – 1 – 1 6 – 2 – 1
Vanderbilt 3 – 1 – 2 5 – 1 – 2
Furman 2 – 1 – 1 6 – 2 – 1
Mississippi A&M 5 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
Georgia 4 – 2 – 2 4 – 2 – 3
LSU 3 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
Clemson 3 – 2 – 2 6 – 2 – 2
Florida 2 – 2 – 0 5 – 3 – 0
Wofford 1 – 1 – 0 3 – 2 – 1
Transylvania 1 – 1 – 0 2 – 4 – 0
Ole Miss 1 – 4 – 0 4 – 4 – 0
The Citadel 1 – 4 – 0 4 – 4 – 1
Sewanee 1 – 4 – 0 3 – 6 – 0
Georgetown (KY) 0 – 0 – 0 0 – 2 – 0
Tennessee 0 – 3 – 2 3 – 3 – 3
South Carolina 0 – 4 – 1 1 – 7 – 1
Mercer 0 – 1 – 0 0 – 2 – 0
Mississippi College 0 – 4 – 0 3 – 5 – 1
Howard (AL) 0 – 4 – 0 3 – 5 – 2
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1919 Centre Praying Colonels football team represented Centre College in the 1919 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season.[1] The Praying Colonels scored 485 points, leading the nation, while allowing 23 points and finishing their season with a perfect record of 9–0.[2][3] The team was retroactively selected by Jeff Sagarin as national champion for the 1919 season.[4]

Quarterback Bo McMillin and center James "Red" Weaver were named to Walter Camp's first-team 1919 College Football All-America Team. Just the year before, Georgia's Bum Day had been the first player from the South ever selected to Camp's first team– and Centre thus became the first Southern school with two. Fullback and end James "Red" Roberts was named to Camp's third team.

The highlight of the season was the win over West Virginia. McMillin had the team pray before it, forever giving the Centre College Colonels its alternate moniker of "Praying Colonels."[5]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResult
September 27Hanover*
W 95–0
October 4at Indiana*
W 12–3
October 18St. Xavier*
  • Cheek Field
  • Danville, KY
W 57–0
October 25at TransylvaniaLexington, KYW 69–0
November 1at Virginia*
W 49–7
November 8at West Virginia*Charleston, WVW 14–6
November 15Kentucky
W 56–0
November 22vs. DePauw*Louisville, KYW 56–0
November 27at Georgetown (KY)Georgetown, KYW 77–7
  • *Non-conference game

[6]

A game with Maryville was scheduled for October 11 but never played due to Maryville injuries.

Before the season

Five Centre regulars were natives of Fort Worth, Texas, namely captain and quarterback Bo McMillin, and linemen Bill James, Sully Montgomery, Matty Bell, and Red Weaver.[7] They were accused of being professionals, but the charges were rebuked by season's end.[8] According to one author, "Without Bo it would not be a Centre team."[9] Centre's linemen were known as the "Seven Mustangs".[10]

Former Centre player and North Side High School head coach Robert L. Myers was to bring McMillin, Weaver, and the above teammates to Centre. However, McMillin and Weaver did not have sufficient credits to enter college, and thus entered Somerset High School for the 1916-17 year, playing with Red Roberts.[11]

Game summaries

Week 1: Hanover

Hanover at Centre
Team 1 234Total
Hanover 0 000 0
• Centre 26 202128 95
  • Date: September 27
  • Location: Cheek Field
    Danville, KY
  • Referee: Dexheimer (Chattanooga)

On opening day, Centre swamped Hanover, 95–0. Eight different players scored. Roberts was shifted from fullback to tackle, and played well.[13]

The starting lineup was King (left end), Roberts (left tackle), Montgomery (left guard), Bell (center), Van Antwerp (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), Whitnell (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Murphy (left halfback), Davis (right halfback), Diddle (fullback).[13]

Week 2: at Indiana

Centre at Indiana
Team 1 234Total
• Centre 0 0012 12
Indiana 3 000 3
  • Date: October 4
  • Location: Jordan Field
    Bloomington, IN
  • Referee: Gardner (Cornell)

Centre beat Indiana, 12–3. Indiana was up 3–0 with 2:20 left in the game, when Centre started its comeback victory.[12] McMillin and Roberts worked it towards the goal, Roberts going over. Indiana was then desperate to even the score, and McMillin intercepted a pass, and returned it for a touchdown, dodging and straight arming the entire Indiana eleven.[12] Indiana's three points came early in the first period, when its quarterback, Mathys, made a 35-yard drop kick.[12]

The starting lineup was Whitnell (left end), Montgomery (left tackle), Van Antwerp (left guard), Garrett (center), Coleman (right guard), James (right tackle), McCullom (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Bittle (left halfback), Davis (right halfback), Roberts (fullback).[12]

Week 3: St. Xavier

St. Xavier at Centre
Team 1 234Total
St. Xavier 0 000 0
• Centre 13 121319 57

The Colonels beat St. Xavier, 57–0. The field was in poor condition due to heavy rains from the past week. Xavier never crossed Centre's 30-yard line.[14] McMillin twice connected with Armstrong for 80-yard forward passes. McMillin also had four runs of greater than 50 yards. Roberts's punts averaged 60 yards in the second half.[14]

The starting lineup was Bell (left end), Montgomery (left tackle), Van Antwerp (left guard), Weaver (center), Ford (right guard), James (right tackle), King (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Armstrong (left halfback), Davis (right halfback), Roberts (fullback).[14]

Week 4: at Transylvania

Centre at Transylvania
Team 1 234Total
• Centre 20 131323 69
Transylvania 0 000 0
  • Date: October 25
  • Location: Lexington, KY
  • Referee: Marty (Cincinnati)

In the fourth week of play, the Colonels beat Transylvania, 69–0. Transylvania's Milton broken several bones in his foot the week previous.[16] Davis and McMillin each scored three touchdowns.[15]

The starting lineup was King (left end), Montgomery (left tackle), Van Antwerp (left guard), Weaver (center), Cregor (right guard), James (right tackle), Bell (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Armstrong (left halfback), Davis (right halfback), Roberts (fullback).[15]

Week 5: at Virginia

Centre at Virginia
Team 1 234Total
• Centre 14 14147 49
Virginia 0 700 7

Centre's backfield starred and smashed the Virginia Orange and Blue, 49–7 in the mud. Joe Murphy had a 75-yard touchdown run.[17] Soon after, McMillin went 70 yards for a touchdown.[17] Kuyk scored Virginia's points.[17]

The starting lineup was Bell (left end), Montgomery (left tackle), Van Antwerp (left guard), Weaver (center), Cregor (right guard), James (right tackle), Snoddy (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Armstrong (left halfback), Davis (right halfback), Roberts (fullback).[17]

Week 6: at West Virginia

Centre at West Virginia
Team 1 234Total
• Centre 0 077 14
West Virginia 6 000 6

The sixth week of play brought the highlight of the season — a 14–6 comeback win over West Virginia, a team which beaten Eastern power Princeton the week before, and had the nation's leading scorer Ira Rodgers. McMillin had the team pray before the game, forever giving the Centre College Colonels its alternate moniker of "Praying Colonels."[5][19][20]

Rodgers came out passing and West Virginia scores first early when he bucked it over. Later, a 25-yard pass from McMillin to Terry Snoddy brought the ball near the goal. Roberts eventually scored. Centre had another touchdown drive in the last quarter, ending in McMillin sidestepping for a touchdown.[18] Murphy was in a flimsy track suit and track shoes.[21]

The starting lineup was Bell (left end), Montgomery (left tackle), Van Antwerp (left guard), Weaver (center), Cregor (right guard), Jones (right tackle), Snoddy (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Armstrong (right halfback), Roberts (fullback).[18]

Week 7: Kentucky

Kentucky at Centre
Team 1 234Total
Kentucky 0 000 0
• Centre 14 7728 56
  • Date: November 15
  • Location: Cheek Field
    Danville, KY
  • Referee: Marty (Kenyon)

With a large crowd at home on Cheek Field, the Colonels beat rival Kentucky, 56–0, giving the Wildcats their worst loss on the season. Roberts had three touchdowns.[22]

The starting lineup was Bell (left end), Montgomery (left tackle), Van Antwerp (left guard), Weaver (center), Cregor (right guard), James (right tackle), Snoddy (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Armstrong (right halfback), Roberts (fullback).[22]

Week 8: vs. DePauw

DePauw vs. Centre
Team 1 234Total
DePauw 0 000 0
• Centre 7 142114 56

The Colonels defeated the DePauw in Louisville 56–0. McMillin's passes "aroused the wonderment of the crowd."[23] The first touchdown came on an 18-yard pass to Army Armstrong.[23]

The starting lineup was Bell (left end), Montgomery (left tackle), Van Antwerp (left guard), Weaver (center), Cregor (right guard), James (right tackle), Snoddy (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Armstrong (left halfback), Davis (right halfback), Roberts (fullback).[23]

Week 9: at Georgetown

Centre at Georgetown
Team 1 234Total
• Centre 14 212814 77
Georgetown 0 070 7

Centre rolled up a 77–7 score on the Georgetown Tigers. Georgetown's one score came off a 65-yard fumble return.[24] Weaver made 11 straight extra points.

The starting lineup was Bell (left end), Montgomery (left tackle), Van Antwerp (left guard), Weaver (center), Cregor (right guard), James (right tackle), Snoddy (right end), McMillin (quarterback), Davis (left halfback), Armstrong (right halfback), Roberts (fullback).[24]

After the season

Legacy

Red Weaver reportedly scored 46 extra point field goals in a row,[25] though it was in fact 43, and held the NCAA record with a reported 99 consecutive points after touchdowns in the 1919 and 1920 seasons.[26][27] Weaver was put at the placekicker position on an Associated Press Southeast Area All-Time football team 1869-1919 era.[28]

The season brought national attention to the small town of Danville.[29]

Awards and honors

Due to the dispute over professionalism, most writers picked Auburn as SIAA champion. The team was retroactively selected by Jeff Sagarin as the national champion for the 1919 season.[4]

McMillin and Weaver were named to Walter Camp's first-team 1919 College Football All-America Team. Just the year before Bum Day was the first Southern player ever selected to Camp's first team – and Centre became the first school with two. Fullback and end Red Roberts was named to Camp's third team.

Players

Depth chart

The following chart provides a visual depiction of Centre's lineup during the 1919 season with games started at the position reflected in parentheses. The chart mimics a single wing on offense.

Starters

Line

Jersey number Player Position Games
started 		Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
1 Matty Bell End 7 Fort Worth, TX North Side H. S. 163 20
4 Ben Cregor Guard 6 Springfield, KY Springfield H. S. 5'11" 175 20
5 Bill James Tackle 8 Fort Worth, TX North Side H. S. 169 21
2 Sully Montgomery Tackle 9 Fort Worth, TX North Side H. S. 6'3" 210 18
6 Terry Snoddy End 5 Owensboro, KY Owensboro H. S. 5'10" 173 19
3 Howard Van Antwerp Guard 8 Mt. Sterling, KY Mt. Sterling H. S. 173 20
11 Red Weaver Center 7 Fort Worth, TX North Side H. S. 5'10" 158 21

Backfield

Jersey number Player Position Games
started 		Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
9 Norris Armstrong Halfback 7 Fort Smith, AR Fort Smith H. S. 5'10" 154 21
8 Allen Davis Halfback 9 Danville, KY Danville H. S. 148 20
7 Bo McMillin Quarterback 9 Fort Worth, TX North Side H. S. 5'9" 175 21
12 Red Roberts Fullback 9 Somerset, KY Somerset H. S. 6'2" 193 19

Subs

Line

Jersey number Player Position Games
started 		Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
Coleman Tackle 2
17 Clayton Ford Guard 1 Danville, KY 190 20
18 William Garrett Center 1 Columbus, OH West H. S. 155 21
16 Gus King End 3 Oak Cliff, TX 155 20
13 McCullom End 1 155
Edwin "Lefty" Whitnell End 2 Fulton, KY Fulton H. S. 160 19

Backfield

Jersey number Player Position Games
started 		Hometown Prep school Height Weight Age
15 Edgar Diddle Halfback 1 Gradyville, KY Castle Heights 166 21
10 Joe "Chick" Murphy Halfback 1 Columbus, OH East H. S. 130 20

[30]

Scoring leaders

The following is a list of statistics and scores, largely dependent on newspaper summaries.

Player Touchdowns Extra points Field Goals Safeties Points
Bo McMillin 16 7 103
Red Roberts 15 4 94
Terry Snoddy 9 54
Allen Davis 8 2 50
Red Weaver 1 43 49
Norris Armstrong 7 42
Joe Murphy 7 42
Edwin Whitnel 3 18
Matty Bell 2 12
Hump Tanner 2 12
Edgar Diddle 1 6
Safety v. Transy 1 2
Howard Van Antwerp 1 1
Total 71 57 1 485

[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Boston Daily Globe Newspaper Archives, Dec 20, 1919, p. 21". December 20, 1919.
  2. ^ 1919 Centre football scores Archived 2000-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ John Y. Brown, The Legend of the Praying Colonels, J. Marvin Gray & Associates, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky
  4. ^ a b National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) (2015). "National Poll Rankings" (PDF). NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA. p. 108. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Fuller, Henry Starkey (1919). "Centre College of Kentucky". School. 31: 428.
  6. ^ "Centre College Football Record (1910-1919)". Centre College. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  7. ^ Fred Turbyville (November 21, 1919). "Centre College Prays and Crys, Then Goes Out And Wins". New Castle Herald. p. 14. Retrieved May 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Charges Against Centre Men Are Considered Ridiculous". The Courier-Journal. December 9, 1919. p. 10. Retrieved May 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Charles A. Reinhart (October 26, 1919). "Sport Review". The Courier-Journal. p. 50. Retrieved February 8, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Whitney Martin (November 25, 1943). "Sarazen Loses Squire Title Sells Property". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  11. ^ "Red Weaver". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  12. ^ a b c d e f "Centre Downs Indiana In Last Two Minutes of Play". The Courier-Journal. October 5, 1919. p. 42. Retrieved May 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b "Centre Swamps Hanover". The Indianapolis Star. September 28, 1919. p. 25. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b c d "M'Millan and Co. win easily". The Lexington Herald. October 19, 1919 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b c "Backfield of Centre Eleven Shows Class". The Lexington Herald. October 26, 1919. p. 14.
  16. ^ "History of Football At Transylvania College" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Centre College Smashed Vaunted Virginia Eleven". The Courier-Journal. November 2, 1919. p. 47. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b c "Centre College Victorious Over West Virginia Team". The Courier-Journal. November 9, 1919. p. 43. Retrieved May 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Frank G. Weaver (1919). "Come On, You Praying Kentuckians". Association Men. 45: 416.
  20. ^ a b "Kentucky Colonels Have Phenomenal Record; Always Pray Before Battle". Arizona Daily Star. November 28, 1919. p. 7. Retrieved May 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "It Really Happened In Football". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. November 17, 1937.
  22. ^ a b c Sam H. McMeekin (November 16, 1919). "Colonels Are Triumphant In Big Game At Danville". The Courier-Journal. p. 53. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ a b c d Sam H. McMeekin (November 23, 1919). "Centre College Overwhelms Depauw Football Eleven". The Courier-Journal. p. 44. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ a b c "Colonels Romp Over Georgetown". The Courier-Journal. November 28, 1919. p. 8. Retrieved May 30, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "How About This?". The Atlanta Constitution. November 28, 1919. p. 18. Retrieved May 30, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Detail Story of Stadium Game". Boston Post. October 24, 1920. p. 56. Retrieved March 16, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Kicks 90 Goals, "Red Weaver's Toe Stuff May Be Useless Next Year". The Wichita Beacon. December 24, 1920. p. 4. Retrieved March 16, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "All-Time Football Team Lists Greats Of Past, Present". Gadsden Times. July 27, 1969.
  29. ^ "Kentucky School Wins". The Dekaly Daily Chronicle. Vol. 21, no. 1. December 1, 1919.
  30. ^ "The Centre College Football Squad". The Gazette Times. Pittsburgh. December 3, 1919. p. 13. Retrieved May 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
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