Vanderbilt University - Commodore Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

Page 15 text:

.-Uv: ,, , Q.- Mow, M. VANDY VS. MICHIGAN, 1908, SHOWVING SRIALL CROWVD V l That Glorious Michigan Tie Not before our three score years and ten are passed and Father Time has beckoned us to come and go with him to parts unknown do we ever expect to witness such a glorious and stupendous spectacle as that which took place on October 14, 1922, before close to twenty thousand cheering, raving fans assembled in the new Dudley Memorial Stadium for its dedication, when those untried Commodores fought to a standstill the mighty Wolverine hosts, the pride and the terror of the Western Conference. No man, woman or child who saw that struggle will ever forget it. It was one of the greatest triumphs any lighter, weaker foe ever ac- complished against such overwhelming oddsg one of the greatest exhibitions of purc nerve and fighting spirit compelling a team to rise as one to a great occasion and accomplish the impossible, ever seen on anybody's gridiron. Bornar had the honor of making the first kickoff on the new Held. Michigan returned it a considerable distance. Then with a series 'of tricks, bucks, and for- ward passes they swept down the field toward what looked like a certain touchdown. A fake punt play planted the ball in the shadow of the goal posts, and twenty thousand fans gulped in anticipation of defeat. f'But that line that had been described as weak sud- denly stiifened. It had shrunk to earth, and then, Antaeus like, renewed by Contact with Mother Earth, it rose in its new might and hurled the foe backward. 'From then on ensued a kicking game on Vanderbilt's part, that left the ball, on each exchange of punts, ever closer to the Michigan goal. Scotty Neil far outdis- tanced his opponent, and through all the game kept the ball in Michigan territory by his mighty foot. Rare strategy it was. Michigan fumbled repeatedly, and always there was a Vandy man there to down' the receiver. . .1-L VANDY VS. BTICHIGAN, IQ22, SHONVING STADIUNI CROWDED

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Dudley Field--The Old and the New ga' 5,1 T is especially fitting that the name Dudley Field be given the new Stadium, and that the historic field on the campus be known as Curry Field, which names were adopted Q91-3 Mg,-j recently by the Athletic Association of Vanderbilt University. The great influence of Dr. Dudley as a teacher and as founder of the athletic system K ' of the South, and the glory of Irby R. Curry as athlete and soldier, are so Well known to Vanderbilt men that we shall not take occasion to review their careers. The formal statement of the Board of Control of the Athletic Association will express the sentiment of all. It is as follows: The name of the stadium will be Dudley Field and the old field on the campus will hereafter be known as Curry Field. It has from the beginning been the wish of Vanderbilt men that the new and permanent athletic field, now under construction, should continue to perpetuate the memory of Dr. William L. Dudley, the founder of college athletics in the South and the president, during his lifetime, of the Vanderbilt Athletic Association. To give his name merely to the practice fields outside of the stadium would rather diminish than enhance the honor paid him heretofore, so that it has been the general wish that his name should be given to the splendid new playing field. The name of Dudley Field has been preferred to Dudley Stadium so as more closely to link its history and traditions with those of the old field on the campus and because the title Dudley Field is regarded as less pretentious and more modest than Dudley Stadium, and as the name that would, therefore, be more acceptable to Dr. Dudley if he were living today. So the stadium at Penn is called Franklin Field, and that at Harvard Soldiers' Field. The official name, therefore, of the new Vanderbilt ath- letic field is Dudley Field. The members of the Athletic Association felt that they could not better reflect the wishes of Vanderbilt men than to call the old field on the campus after Irby R. Curry, who con- tributed so much to its many glorious memories. 'Rabbit' i Curry, as he was better known, was not only a great football player, but one of the most popular and best beloved of Van- derbilt men. He volunteered as an aviator and met his death in France. The love and admiration that Vanderbilt men had for him give abundant assurance that, if at some time in the future Curry Field should be required by the University for other purposes, Rabbit Curry's name and memory will be perpetuated at Vanderbilt in an even more enduring form. RABBIT CURRY VVILLIAM L. DUDLEY

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' THE MIGHTY VVOLVERINES And so the game seesawed for hfty more thrilling minutes. Once Tot McCullough caught a long, long pass, and brought Vanderbilt to the point nearest to the coveted line. But Michiganls line could not be penetrated con- sistently, no more than could Vanderbilt's, and by the end of the first half, there was a feeling that no one would score. Once, late in the game, Michigan made a desperate threat by a place kick, but the ball went wide, and again Scotty Neil booted out of danger. . Time after time'Gil Reece caught punts, and shifting from side to side in a most elusive fashion, would run almost through the Michigan team, by a hair's breadth, escaping each hand outstretched to seize him. He resembled old Lewis Hardage, who had taught him that shifty trick. Lynn Bomar tore through the Wolverine line con- stantly, and always emerged after a play on the far side , of the 'secondary gdefense. Every man- inlthe lineup deserved a crown of glory that day, but the hero of heroes, the creme de la' creme, was Captain Jess Neely. Fragile, in- jured, bruised, exhausted he was, but down after down, almost the whole game through, he hurled himself into,the midst of each- play, and did more than any other man to send Michigan home with the nearest thing to a licking Vanderbilt ever gave her. I Whence came that irresistible spirit that shattered the 'Michigan plays no one knows. Every man on the squad possessed it. It was the re-enactment of more than one chapter in the record of Vanderbilt's past. . There never was a greater reversal in the history of athletics than that that day. The dwarf stood like a Titan ,foot to foot and breast to breast with the grim Michiganlgiant, and disarmed him. MCGUGIN Hams BALL T0 Yosr