1921 Mississippi College Choctaws football team

The 1921 Mississippi College Choctaws football team represented Mississippi College as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) during the 1921 college football season. The team was led by second-year head coach Stanley L. Robinson and College Football Hall of Famer, halfback Goat Hale. "Ten other players are on Hale's teams, but they are there merely to conform with gridiron rules."^[1] Hale scored 161 points and gained 2,160 yards as he was selected All-Southern.^[2] The team's stadium is today named Robinson-Hale stadium, for coach Robinson and Goat Hale.

1921 Mississippi College Choctaws football
Conference	Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record	7–2–1 (3–1–1 SIAA)
Head coach	Stanley L. Robinson (2nd season)
Seasons ← 1920 1922 →

1921 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Centre +	5	–	0	–	0			10	–	1	–	0
Georgia +	6	–	0	–	1			7	–	2	–	1
Georgia Tech +	5	–	0	–	0			8	–	1	–	0
Vanderbilt +	5	–	0	–	1			7	–	0	–	1
Tennessee	4	–	1	–	1			6	–	2	–	1
Florida	4	–	1	–	2			6	–	3	–	2
Mississippi College	3	–	1	–	1			7	–	2	–	1
Sewanee	4	–	2	–	0			6	–	2	–	0
Transylvania	2	–	1	–	0			4	–	4	–	0
LSU	2	–	1	–	1			6	–	1	–	1
South Carolina	2	–	1	–	1			5	–	1	–	2
Furman	4	–	2	–	1			7	–	2	–	1
Auburn	3	–	2	–	0			5	–	3	–	0
Mississippi A&M	2	–	3	–	1			4	–	4	–	1
Tulane	3	–	4	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
Alabama	2	–	4	–	2			5	–	4	–	2
Oglethorpe	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Chattanooga	2	–	4	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
The Citadel	1	–	2	–	1			3	–	3	–	2
Kentucky	1	–	3	–	1			4	–	3	–	1
Ole Miss	1	–	4	–	0			3	–	6	–	0
Howard (AL)	1	–	4	–	0			3	–	6	–	0
Mercer	1	–	5	–	0			3	–	6	–	0
Louisville	0	–	1	–	0			2	–	2	–	1
Wofford	0	–	2	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Georgetown (KY)	0	–	3	–	0			2	–	6	–	0
Millsaps	0	–	3	–	0			1	–	5	–	1
Clemson	0	–	5	–	2			1	–	6	–	2
+ – Conference co-champions

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Source
October 1	at Tulane	Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA	W 14–0	^[3]
October 8	Louisiana College*	Clinton, MS	W 68–0	^[4]
October 14	vs. Mississippi A&M	State Fairgrounds Jackson, MS	L 13–14	^[5]
October 22	Union (TN)*	Clinton, MS	W 35–0	^[6]
October 29	at Birmingham–Southern*	Rickwood Field Birmingham, AL	W 27–6	^[7]
November 5	vs. Ole Miss	Vicksburg Fairgrounds Vicksburg, MS	W 27–7	^[8]
November 11	vs. Millsaps	State Fairgrounds Jackson, MS (Rivalry)	W 56–0	^[9]
November 18	at Florida	Fleming Field Gainesville, FL	T 7–7	^[10]
November 24	at Spring Hill*	Monroe Park Mobile, AL	W 28–7	^[11]
December 3	vs. Baylor*	Gardner Park Dallas, TX	L 0–24	^[12]
*Non-conference game

• Schedule sources:^[13]

Season summary

Tulane

Mississippi College at Tulane

1 2 3 4 Total • Mississippi 0 14 0 0 14 Tulane 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 3 Location: New Orleans

Goat Hale nearly single-handedly defeated Tulane 14–0. Hale scored first on a 25-yard run around right end, and the second touchdown came on a run of 80 yards.^[14] Soon after, he signed a large baseball contract.^[15]

Louisiana College

In the second week of play the Choctaws beat Louisiana College 68–0.

Mississippi A&M

The season's only SIAA loss came in the third week against in-state rival Mississippi A&M by a single point, 14–13.

Union

The Union Bulldogs were defeated 35–0.

Birmingham–Southern

Mississippi College at Birmingham-Southern

1 2 3 4 Total • Mississippi 14 6 0 7 27 Birmingham 0 0 6 0 6 Date: October 29 Location: Birmingham

Hale scored three touchdowns in a 27–6 victory over Birmingham–Southern. The first was a 60-yard punt return. The Panthers scored in the third quarter on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Gandy to Griffin.^[16]

 

Goat Hale

The starting lineup was Simmons (left end), Hudson (left tackle), Everett (left guard), Sheffield (center), Fortenberry (right guard), Stuart (right tackle), Austin (right end), Lambright (quarterback), Hale (left halfback), Tyler (right halfback), Keith (fullback).

Ole Miss

The Choctaws defeated the Mississippi team 27–7 at a game in Vicksburg.

Millsaps

Nearby rival Millsaps was beaten 56–0.

Florida

Mississippi College at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total Mississippi 0 7 0 0 7 Florida 0 0 0 7 7 Date: November 18 Location: Gainesville, Florida

The Choctaws battled coach William G. Kline's Florida Gators to a 7–7 tie.^[17] Florida had the greater weight and Mississippi College the greater speed.^[18]

 

Florida's Ark Newton (pictured) had a 92-yard punt against the Choctaws.

Led by Hale, the Choctaws controlled the first half. In the middle of the fourth quarter, Florida led a comeback with a series of forward passes, scoring its touchdown.^[19] Ark Newton had a 92-yard punt in this game.^[20]

Spring Hill

On Thanksgiving Day, Mississippi College beat the Spring Hill Badgers of Mobile 28–7. Hale ran for four touchdowns. Spring Hill's Frank Bogue picked up a fumble and, with no one in front of him and most players down, raced towards the goal. Hale chased him down from behind, saving a touchdown. "It was a sensational run, and probably the fastest ever seen in Mobile."^[21]

Baylor

The final game of the season was a 24–0 loss to Baylor in Dallas.

References

1. Cliff Wheatley (November 14, 1921). "Some Fine Battles Still on Boards". Atlanta Constitution. p. 8. Retrieved August 23, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
2. . Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
3. "Captain "Goat" Hale wins for Miss. College". The Atlanta Constitution. October 2, 1921. Retrieved July 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "M.C. Choctaws swamp La. Col". The Birmingham News. October 9, 1921. Retrieved July 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "In hard-fought, thrilling gridiron duel, Aggie "11" beats Choctaws by point". Jackson Daily News. October 15, 1921. Retrieved July 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Mississippi College in easy victory over Union U. 35–0". The Commercial Appeal. October 23, 1921. Retrieved July 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Choctaws triumph over Brown's Panthers, 27–6". The Birmingham News. October 30, 1921. Retrieved September 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Clinton smothers "Ole Miss' 27 to 7". The Vicksburg Evening Post. November 7, 1921. Retrieved July 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Eight touchdowns is Choctaw strength against Majors". Jackson Daily News. November 12, 1921. Retrieved July 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Florida ties Mississippi". St. Petersburg Times. November 19, 1921. Retrieved July 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Hale's brilliant work features battle at Mobile". Jackson Daily News. November 26, 1921. Retrieved July 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Bradshaw and Tanner tear Choctaw line to ribbons". The Waco News-Tribune. December 4, 1921. Retrieved July 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "1921 Mississippi College Choctaws". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
14. "Captain "Goat" Hale Wins For Miss. College". The Atlanta Constitution. October 2, 1921. p. 4. Retrieved June 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
15. ""Goat" Hale Signs Giant Contract". The Atlanta Constitution. October 4, 1921. p. 12. Retrieved June 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
16. "Mississippi College Trims Southern, 27-6". The Tennessean. October 30, 1921. p. 13. Retrieved June 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
17. "'Goat' Hale Ties Florida". Atlanta Constitution. November 19, 1921. p. 10. Retrieved August 31, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
18. "'Gators Will Lock Horns With Miss.. This Afternoon". November 18, 1921.
19. "Florida University Shows Aerial Play". The Charlotte News. November 19, 1921. p. 3. Retrieved August 31, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
20. . Archived from the original on January 6, 2016.
21. "Hale's Brilliant Work Features Battle at Mobile". Jackson (Miss.) Daily News. November 26, 1921. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.