September-October,
1947
THE GEORGIA TECH A L U M N U S
17
New West Stands Dedicated With Opening of 1947 Football Season
Progress photo of September 1 1 , 1 9 4 7 , showing new West Stands, on Grant
FOOTBALL PRACTICE ASSURES GOOD SEASON It was Labor Day, literally speaking, for the 80-odd football candidates sweating out opening day at Rose Bowl Field. Full uniform was in order for opening day, and observers felt that the rough work would not be long getting started. The squad looked in very good condition, with excellent "Esprit de Corps" to match. Coach Bobby Dodd, starting his third year as head coach at Tech, issued invitations to a squad topheavy with backfield candidates (41 on list) and which he calls one of the best balanced in years. Competition at all positions will be hot and heavy with no positions assured last year's regulars. Billy Healy, regular guard last year, was elected Captain of the team. Healy made the All Southestern Conference second team last year and will be in the thick of it for All American recognition this year. Another guard, Rollo Phillips, was elected Alternate Captain. Both men are veterans. There are 20-odd lettermen returning from the 1946 squad and 3 lettermen returning from the 1945 squad. Leading end candidates are George Broadnax, Bill Busbin, Jimmy Castleberry, and Robert Jordan. Tackle positions will be amply filled by Bob Davis, last year's Captain, Ralph Slaton, Dan Bradach, Clay Mathews, Dean Gaines, Jack Glenn, and Tom Coleman. At guards will be Bill Healy, Rollo Phillips, Ewell Pope, and Hayes McKinney. Center position will be shared by Shorty Doyal, Lewis Hook, Raymond Smith, and Bob Bossons. Quarterback is a big question mark. The answer may be found in Jack Still, Jack Bills, Joe Brown, or Jimmy Southard. Bills and Still are experienced. At halfback are George Mathews, Jimmy Jordan, Billy Queen, J i m m y Petit, Billy Williams, and Jack Peek. Four Freshmen will be pushing these men hard if they live up to advance notices: They are, Bob McCoy and Buster Humphries from Chattanooga, James Patton from Bessemer, Ala., and Bobby North from Tech High in Atlanta. Fullback spot is filled by hard running Dinky Bowen, Morris Harrison, and Frank Ziegler. Alumni of Georgia Tech can be assured of seeing a clean living, highly intelligent, hard fighting team on the field this year. Competition among Tech players will be tough and you may be sure it will be rough going for the opposition.
Field at Georgia Tech, shortly before completion.
FOOTBALL ROSTER ENDS Bill Busbin, Jack Griffin, George Broadnax, Jimmy Castleberry, Robert Jordan, Jim Nolan, Dale Lupton, Henry Schoening, J. C. Anderson, C. H. Peterson, S. E. Williams, Traylor Thiesen, Charlie Whitt. TACKLES Bob Davis, Ralph Slaten, Dan Bradach, Tom Coleman, Clay Mathews, David Spriggs, Dean Gaines, J. Glenn, George Barrett, Billy Camp. GUARDS Ewell Pope, Bill Healey, R. Phillips, L. Bowen, Hayes McKinney, Billy Mahon, Derwood Flanagan, L. Bethea, Bob Harley, Carlo Kingrey, M. Kruger. CENTERS Lewis Hook, R. L. Doyal, R. Smith, R. R. Bossons, Charley Brown, R. Rhodes, E. Frizzell. BACKS Billy Queen, Jack Bills, John O'Neill, J i m m y Southard, J i m m y Petit, F r a n k Ziegler, Billy Williams, M. Harrison, Bob McCoy, Bobby North, Joe Brown, Rusmey Taylor, Jack Peek, Don Ferguson, Jimmy Jordan, J. Still, A. C. Bowen, James Patton, Al Lansing, George Matthews, Paul Conner, Charles Brembs. Mack Kelley, Tom Fancher, Bubba Sykes, E. E. Salley, Ed Swanson, C. Hudson, C. Woodard, Melvin Dold, Sid Garrett, W. Jerkins, Bill Scharfschwerdt, George Gilbreath, Jack Kaley, B. Humphries, Bob Lusk, Dick Steel, Dickie Ray, Joe Cobb, R. Trotter. BOB DAVIS NAMED STANDOUT CADET Gridiron Star Bobby Davis, of Georgia Tech, had another laurel added to his list on August 8, but it wasn't related to his activities on the football field. Davis was named the outstanding cadet at the Fort Sheridan ROTC camp and received the Chicago HeraldAmerican Trophy. Davis, a native of Columbus, was captain of Georgia Tech's football squad. He was named to the All-Southeastern first team in 1945 and 1946. He holds the rank of cadet colonel in the ROTC, the highest cadet rating.