1931 Georgia Bulldogs football team

Georgia's team was led by a group of veterans in end Catfish Smith, fullback Jack "The Ripper" Roberts and captain and quarterback Austin Downes. Buster Mott was a promising sophomore.{{cite news |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=October 12, 1931 |title=Pack of Veterans Carry on Georgia's Grid Wars |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1787&dat=19311012&id=JeAcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JGQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3012,4218410}}

{{CFB schedule

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 3

| w/l = w

| opponent = VPI

| site_stadium = Sanford Stadium

| site_cityst = Athens, GA

| score = 40–0

| attend =

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103182764/georgia-smothers-virginia-poly-400/|work=The Bristol Herald Courier|title=Georgia smothers Virginia Poly, 40–0|date=October 4, 1931|accessdate=June 5, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 10

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Yale

| site_stadium = Yale Bowl

| site_cityst = New Haven, CT

| score = 26–7

| attend = 70,000

| source = {{cite news|title=Yale Bows To Georgia By 26 To 7|newspaper=The Hartford Courant|date=October 11, 1931|pages=I-1, IV-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16342016/yale_bows_to_georgia_by_26_to_7/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 17

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = North Carolina

| site_stadium = Kenan Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Chapel Hill, NC

| score = 32–7

| attend = 17,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103198059/georgia-routs-carolina/|work=The Atlanta Constitution|title=Georgia routs Carolina|date=October 18, 1931|accessdate=June 5, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 24

| w/l = w

| homecoming = y

| opponent = Vanderbilt

| gamename = rivalry

| site_stadium = Sanford Stadium

| site_cityst = Athens, GA

| score = 9–0

| attend =

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103198694/georgia-beats-two-vanderbilt-threats-bef/|work=The Chattanooga Times|title=Georgia beats two Vanderbilt threats before smashing its way to 9–0 triumph|date=October 25, 1931|accessdate=June 5, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 31

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Florida

| gamename = rivalry

| site_stadium = Florida Field

| site_cityst = Gainesville, FL

| score = 33–6

| attend = 20,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6032301/bluefield_daily_telegraph/|title=Georgia thumps Florida Gators|date=November 1, 1931|work=Bluefield Daily Telegraph|accessdate=June 5, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 7

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = NYU

| site_stadium = Yankee Stadium

| site_cityst = Bronx, NY

| score = 7–6

| attend = 65,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69371930/georgia-jinxes-violets/|work=Daily News|title=Georgia jinxes Violets|date=November 8, 1931|accessdate=June 5, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 14

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Tulane

| site_stadium = Sanford Stadium

| site_cityst = Athens, GA

| score = 7–20

| attend = 35,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103201582/tulane-blasts-georgia-hopes-207/|work=The Birmingham News|title=Tulane blasts Georgia hopes, 20–7|date=November 15, 1931|accessdate=June 5, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 21

| w/l = w

| neutral = y

| opponent = Auburn

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Columbus, GA

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 12–6

| attend =

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103199273/georgia-licks-game-auburn-team-126/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Georgia licks game Auburn team, 12–6|date=November 22, 1931|accessdate=June 5, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 28

| w/l = w

| opponent = Georgia Tech

| site_stadium = Sanford Stadium

| site_cityst = Athens, GA

| score = 35–6

| gamename = rivalry

| attend =

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103195332/georgia-bulldogs-crush-tech-under-356-a/|work=Tampa Sunday Tribune|title=Georgia Bulldogs crush Tech under 35–6 avalanche|date=November 29, 1931|accessdate=June 5, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 12

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = USC

| site_stadium = Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA

| score = 0–60

| attend = 75,000

| source = {{cite news|title=Thundering Herd slaughters Georgia, 60–0: Sheer power of Trojan attack stuns Bulldogs|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|author=Braven Dyer|date=December 13, 1931|page=VI-a-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99163592/thundering-herd-slaughters-georgia/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}

{{AFB game box start

| Title = Georgia at Yale

| Visitor =Georgia

| Host = Yale

| V1 = 0| V2 = 13| V3 = 0| V4 =13

| H1 = 0| H2 = 0| H3 = 7| H4 =0

| Date =October 10

| Location = Yale Bowl
New Haven, Connecticut

| StartTime =

| ElapsedTime =

| Attendance =70,000

| Weather =

| Referee =Halloran (Providence)

}}

{{AFB game box end}}

For the third straight year, Georgia's Bulldogs triumphed over "superstar" Hall of Famer Albie Booth and Yale's Bulldogs 26–7.{{cite web |url=http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072407aaf.html |title=1930's Football History |website=www.georgiadogs.com |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610161831/http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072407aaf.html |archive-date=10 June 2016 |url-status=dead}} Yale once had the ball on its own 45-yard line. "Tommy Taylor dropped back to pass. Catfish Smith hit Taylor as he released the ball and the wobbly toss was grabbed by guard Red Leathers of Georgia, who proceeded to dash 40 yards to the touchdown." Before the first half was over, Homer Key ran for a 74-yard touchdown, starting through right and cutting back. "He was surrounded by blue-clad players. He shuttled in and out like a white needle in haystack of blue, and finally he shout out and streaked for the goal."

In the fourth quarter, after a short punt, Austin Downes connected with Key on a 27-yard touchdown pass. Later, Dickens intercepted Booth's pass at the 29-yard line,{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1931/10/11/page/29/article/70-000-watch-georgia-eleven-beat-yale-26-7/index.html|work=Chicago Tribune|title=70,000 Watch Georgia Eleven Beat Yale, 26-7|author=Westbrook Pegler|date=October 11, 1931}} and Georgia drove it in with Gilmore finally going over to end the scoring.

The starting lineup was Crenshaw (left end), Townsend (left tackle), Patterson (left guard), Batchelder (center), Maddux (right guard), Cooper (right tackle), Wilson (right end), Downes (quarterback), Chandler (left halfback), Mott (right halfback) White (fullback).

Vernon Smith rushed Tommy Henderson, who always played without a helmet, and made him step out of bounds for a safety. In the third quarter it was still 2-0, and Georgia went for it on fourth down at the 8-yard line. Smith leaped above several Vanderbilt players to catch the touchdown.

The Bulldogs beat Charlie Bachman at Florida for the first time 33–6. Both Florida governor Doyle E. Carlton and Georgia governor Richard B. Russell attended the game.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6032301/bluefield_daily_telegraph/|page=11|title=Georgia Thumps Florida Gators|date=November 1, 1931|work=Bluefield Daily Telegraph|access-date=July 28, 2016|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} Florida scored when Scabby Phiel blocked a punt. Georgia scored in every period.

{{AFB game box start

| Title = Tulane at Georgia

| Visitor =Tulane

| Host = Georgia

| V1 = 7| V2 = 6| V3 = 7| V4 =0

| H1 = 0| H2 = 0| H3 = 7| H4 =0

| Date =November 14

| Location = Sanford Stadium
Athens, Georgia

| StartTime =

| ElapsedTime =

| Attendance =

| Weather =

| Referee =

}}

{{AFB game box end}}

Georgia lost to the eventual SIAA champion Tulane Green Wave 20–7. Tulane scored first on a 33-yard pass from Don Zimmerman to Vernon Haynes. Nollie Felts plunged in from the 1-yard line for the next touchdown. A pass from Georgia's Homey Key to Buster Mott netted 60 yards and a touchdown. After a botched punt, a double pass play led to Payne sprinting around left end for Tulane's final score.

Georgia was beaten by the national champion USC Trojans 60–0.

{{Reflist}}

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