# 1923 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team

The 1923 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team represented the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado of the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1923 college football season. Tech had ties in every one of its conference games, and had its worst season in years.

## Before the season

Tech used a starting backfield, including sophomore Doug Wycoff, and a "pony backfield" full of smaller, fast substitutes such as Jerry Albright and Frank Harris.

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 29 | Oglethorpe* | Grant FieldAtlanta, GA | W 28–13 | |
| October 6 | VMI* | Grant FieldAtlanta, GA | W 10–7 | |
| October 13 | Florida | Grant FieldAtlanta, GA | T 7–7 | 12,000 |
| October 20 | Georgetown* | Grant FieldAtlanta, GA | W 20–10 | 10,000 |
| October 27 | at Notre Dame* | Cartier FieldSouth Bend, IN (rivalry) | L 7–35 | 20,000 |
| November 3 | Alabama | Grant FieldAtlanta, GA (rivalry) | T 0–0 | 10,000 |
| November 10 | at Penn State* | New Beaver FieldState College, PA | L 0–7 | 10,000 |
| November 17 | Kentucky | Grant FieldAtlanta, GA | T 3–3 | |
| November 29 | Auburn | Grant FieldAtlanta, GA (rivalry) | T 0–0 | 25,000 |
| *Non-conference game ||||||

## Game summaries
### Week 1: Oglethorpe

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Oglethorpe | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| • Ga. Tech | 7 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
Oglethorpe led at the half on Tech, but Tech came back to win 28–13.
The starting lineup was: Staton (left end), Carpenter (left tackle), McIntyre (left guard), Frye (center), McConnell (right guard), Usry (right tackle), Gardner (right end), Carter (quarterback), Hunt (left halfback), Reeves (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).

### Week 2: VMI

Tech beat VMI 10–7. Both teams touchdowns came on interceptions. The starting lineup was: Staton (left end), Merkle (left tackle), McConnell (left guard), Frye (center), McIntyre (right guard), Usry (right tackle), Gardner (right end), I. Williams (quarterback), Hunt (left halfback), Reeves (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).

### Week 3: Florida

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Florida | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Ga. Tech | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
The game with the Florida Gators brought considerable interest. In front of 12,000 at Grant Field, the Gators were up 7 to 0 until a rush of substitutes in the fourth quarter got the Yellow Jackets the tying score.
The starting lineup was: Staton (left end), Merkle (left tackle), McIntyre (left guard), Frye (center), McConnell (right guard), Usry (right tackle), Gardner (right end), Carter (quarterback), Hunt (left halfback), Farnsworth (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).

### Week 4: Georgetown

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Georgetown | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| • Ga. Tech | 0 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 20 |
Georgetown led 10–0 at the half, but Tech won 20–10. The starting lineup was: Staton (left end), Merkle (left tackle), McIntyre (left guard), Frye (center), McConnell (right guard), Huffines (right tackle), Gardner (right end), Hunt (quarterback), Williams (left halfback), Reeves (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).

### Week 5: at Notre Dame

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ga. Tech | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| • Notre Dame | 7 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
Rockne's Notre Dame Fighting Irish subs ran up a 35–7 score. Over 20,000 fans were in attendance. The starting lineup was: Staton (left end), Merrin (left tackle), McIntyre (left guard), Frye (center), McConnell (right guard), Huffines (right tackle), Gardner (right end), Hunt (quarterback), Albright (left halfback), Reeves (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).

### Week 6: Alabama

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ga. Tech | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
In a driving rain, Tech and Alabama under first year coach Wallace Wade played to a scoreless tie.

### Week 7: at Penn State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ga. Tech | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • Penn State | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Penn State beat Georgia Tech 7–0. The Atlanta Constitution's Paul Warwick protested "these eastern and western invasions."
The starting lineup was: Staton (left end), Usry (left tackle), McIntyre (left guard), Frye (center), McConnell (right guard), Huffines (right tackle), Gardner (right end), Davis (quarterback), Williams (left halfback), Reeves (right halfback), Wycoff (fullback).

### Week 8: Kentucky

Tech used every backfield man in a 3–3 tie to Kentucky.

### Week 9: Auburn

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Auburn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ga. Tech | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
In awfully muddy conditions, Auburn and Tech fought to a scoreless tie.

## Personnel
### Depth chart

The following chart provides a visual depiction of Tech's lineup during the 1923 season with games started at the position reflected in parentheses. The chart mimics the offense after the jump shift has taken place.
* LE
* John Staton (6)
| LT | LG | C | RG | RT |
| Gus Merkle (3) | John McIntyre (5) | Claire Frye (6) | F. McConnell (5) | Usry (3) |
| Merrin (1) | F. McConnell (1) | | John McIntyre (1) | Huffines(3) |
| Six Carpenter (1) |
| Usry (1) | | | | |
* RE
* Gardner (6)
* QB
* Pinkey Hunt (2)
* Carter (2)
* Davis (1)
* Ike Williams (1)
* RHB
* Reeves (5)
* Bip Farnsworth (1)
* FB
* Doug Wycoff (6)
* LHB
* Pinkey Hunt (3)
* Ike Williams (2)
* Jerry Albright (1)