1919 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

The 1919 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the 1919 college football season. The 1919 season was Dan McGugin's 15th year as head coach. McGugin was returning from his stent in the Army during World War I where he was relieved by interim head coach Ray Morrison. Josh Cody was selected third-team All-America by Walter Camp, for the second time.

Before the season

After World War I, Josh Cody returned to Vanderbilt for his senior year. He was elected captain.

Game summaries

Union (TN)

The season opened with a 41–0 victory over the Union Bulldogs.

Tennessee

A steady rain hindered the Tennessee game which ended a 3–3 tie. Josh Cody scored on a 30-yard drop kick, while Buck Hatcher made a 25-yard drop kick.

At Georgia Tech

Vanderbilt fell to Georgia Tech in the mud 20–0. Buck Flowers and fullback Gaiver starred.
The starting lineup was Adams, Cody, Bailey, Early, Buckner, Lipscomb, Goar, Sherman, Floyd, Berryhill, Hendrix.

Auburn

Sources:

SIAA champion Auburn suffered its only loss to Vanderbilt, 7–6. Josh Cody returned a fumble 15 yards for a touchdown and made the winning extra point. A bit after, Ed Sherling ran in from the 1-yard line, but Pete Bonner missed goal.
Tom Lipscomb and Frank Goar were sent in on Auburn's last drive. Goar had been sick and Lipscomb was suffering from an injured ankle. The two spurned the team to victory in what the Vanderbilt yearbook called "the greatest defensive stand ever staged by any Vanderbilt team."
The starting lineup was Zerfoss, Cody, Buckner, Early Holmes, Bailey, Adams, Latham, Berryhill, Floyd, Wiggs.

Kentucky

On Stoll Field in Lexington, the Kentucky Wildcats fought the Commodores to a scoreless tie.

Alabama

Source:

On a muddy field, the Commodores beat the Alabama Crimson Tide 16–12, giving the Tide their only loss of the season.
On its first drive of the game, Alabama took the ball to the Vanderbilt 2-yard line, but then fumbled the ball that was recovered by Josh Cody of the Commodores to end the scoring threat. The second Alabama fumble resulted in the first touchdown of the game. Early in the second quarter, Riggs Stephenson fumbled the ball that was recovered by Tommy Zerfoss and returned 35-yards for a 7–0 Vanderbilt lead. They further extended their lead to 13–0 at halftime on a 20-yard Grailey Berryhill touchdown run.
Alabama rallied in the second half with a pair of two-yards Stephenson touchdown runs in the third and fourth quarter that made the score 13–12. Cody then provided for the final margin in the 16–12 Commodores' victory with his 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
The starting lineup was Adams, Cody, Hendrix, Early, Bailey, Lipscomb, Westgate, Latham, Richardson, Zerfoss, Wiggs.

At Virginia

Vanderbilt met the Virginia Orange and Blue on Lambeth Field and won 10–6. The starting lineup was Zerfoss, Cody, Hendrix, Early Bailey, Lipscomb, Adams, Latham, Berryhill, Wade, Wiggs.

Sewanee

On a field wet from previous rains, the Sewanee Tigers put up a game fight as Vanderbilt won 33–21. The starting lineup was Zerfoss, Cody, Hendrix, Early, Basley, Lipscomb, Adams, Latham, Richardson, Floyd, Wade.

Postseason

Fuzzy Woodruff recalls "Auburn claimed it. "We defeated Tech" said Auburn. "Yes, but we defeated you" said Vanderbilt. "Yes", said Alabama, "but Tech, Tulane, and Tennessee took your measure. We defeated Georgia Tech, who tied Tulane, so we are champions...The newspapers, however, more or less generally supported the claim of Auburn..."