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The 1905 VPI football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the 1905 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Sally Miles, the team went 9–1 and claims a Southern championship. The team had the most wins in a Virginia Tech season for many years to come, and defeated rival Virginia for the first time. Tech outscored its opponents 305 to 24. Hunter Carpenter scored 82 of those points.

Before the season

The team reported for practice on September 1. "Never in the history of the school have prospects for a winning team been so bright."

Scoring

The scoring in 1905 was:

• Touchdown worth 5 points
• Field goal worth 4 points
• Conversion (kick) worth 1 point
• Safety worth 2 points

Schedule

Game summaries

Roanoke

The season opened with an 86–0 defeat of Roanoke.

The starting lineup for VPI was: Shuey (left end), Stickling (left tackle), Cunningham (left guard), Johnson (center), Walker (right guard), Lewis (right tackle), Squires (right end), Harris (quarterback), Treadwell (left halfback), Connor (right halfback), Harlan (fullback). The substitutes were: Adams, Branch, Cahill, Diffendal, Furstein, Grant, Hanvey, Hildebrand, Noland, Rogers, Sanfort, Stiles and Varner.

The starting lineup for Roanoke was: Moss (left end), Shannon (left tackle), Link (left guard), Obenshain (center), Engleby (right guard), Cale (right tackle), Kelley (right end), Darnall (quarterback), F. H. Hansbarger (left halfback), Steele (right halfback), Groves (fullback). The substitutes were: W. H. Cline.

Cumberland

In the second week of play, VPI beat Cumberland 12–0.

Army

The upset of the week was VPI's 16–6 win over Army. Carpenter was the star of the game, and made a kick from placement.

The starting lineup for VPI was: Webber (left end), Willson (left tackle), Diffendal (left guard), Stiles (center), Strickling (right guard), Hines (right tackle), Lewis (right end), Nutter (quarterback), Treadwell (left halfback), Carpenter (right halfback), Harlan (fullback). The substitutes were: Harris.

The starting lineup for Army was: Ellis (left end), Wallace Philoon (left tackle), Moss (left guard), Clyde Abraham (center), William Christy (right guard), Charles Mettler (right tackle), Alexander Garfield Gillespie (right end), Enoch Garey (quarterback), Edwin Greble (left halfback), Hill (right halfback), Henry Torney (fullback). The substitutes were: Martyn Shute.

Gallaudet

VPI "had no trouble" in beating Gallaudet 56–0.

The starting lineup for VPI was: Webber (left end), Wilson (left tackle), Cunningham (left guard), Stiles (center), Stickling (right guard), Hynes (right tackle), Lewis (right end), Harris (quarterback), Nutter (left halfback), Carpenter (right halfback), Hollan (fullback). The substitutes were: Branch, Cox, Diffendal, Grant, Hanvey, Johnson, Shuey, Squires, Varner and Walker.

The starting lineup for Gallaudet was: Dan Reichard (left end), Sharp (left tackle), Odie Underhill (left guard), Busch (center), John Chandler (right guard), Frank Mikesell (right tackle), Russell (right end), Arthur Hinch (quarterback), Frank Horton (left halfback), Majure (right halfback), John McCandless (fullback). The substitutes were: Philip Caldwell, Early Elder, Chester Erwin and Alvin Kutzleb.

North Carolina

VPI defeated North Carolina 35–6. Carpenter made "several sensational runs." During the second half VPI "scored almost at will."

The starting lineup for VPI was: Webber (left end), Wilson (left tackle), Cunningham (left guard), Stiles (center), Stickling (right guard), Hynes (right tackle), Lewis (right end), Harris (quarterback), Nutter (left halfback), Carpenter (right halfback), Harlan (fullback).

The starting lineup for North Carolina was: Newman Townsend (left end), Meadows (left tackle), Williams (left guard), Edgar Snipes (center), Perry Seagle (right guard), Romy Story (right tackle), Ferdinand Whitaker (right end), Foy Roberson (quarterback), Harvey Snipes (left halfback), Robert Reynolds (right halfback), LeRoy Abernethy (fullback). The substitutes were: Lucius Dunlap, Wiley Pittman, Thompson, John Winborne and Wright.

Virginia

Hunter Carpenter had returned to VPI in 1905 for a last shot at beating Virginia in his eighth year of college football. Going into the game, UVA was 8–0 against VPI by a cumulative score of 170–5. The Cavalier Daily ran a story outlining Carpenter's motives and move from VPI to UNC and back to VPI over the preceding eight years. Virginia accused Carpenter of being a professional player, as he had played college football already for nearly a decade. Carpenter signed an affidavit that he had not received payment to play against UVA and played against a backdrop of recrimination.

Virginia fumbled at midfield, and as a result Carpenter eventually got away for a 30-yard gain around left end. Virginia held VPI on downs at the 3-yard line. Virginia's punt had to go high and short to avoid hitting the goal post. Carpenter called a fair catch in order for a free kick, but was tackled anyway, and the penalty brought the ball back to Virginia's 3-yard line. On third down, Murray Harlan skirted end for a touchdown, and Carpenter added the extra point.

"The second half was even more hotly contested than the first." Carpenter "finally" got off a long punt, down to Virginia's 5-yard line. VPI blocked Virginia's ensuing punt, and on third down Carpenter dashed through left tackle for the final score. Carpenter was later ejected for throwing the ball at the face of a Virginia defender, but stayed on the sidelines to watch as neither team was able to score against each other. Carpenter left immediately after the game and moved to Middleton, New York, never to return to the Commonwealth. Carpenter retired 1–7 against UVA, but Virginia still refused to play VPI again until 1923.

The starting lineup for VPI was: Webber (left end), Willson (left tackle), Cunningham (left guard), Stiles (center), Stickling (right guard), Hynes (right tackle), Lewis (right end), Nutter (quarterback), Treadwell (left halfback), Carpenter (right halfback), Harlan (fullback).

The starting lineup for Virginia was: Edward Dodson (left end), Charles Haskell (left tackle), Alexander Garnett (left guard), George Kite (center), Terrence Murphy (right guard), Merritt Cooke Jr. (right tackle), James E. Barry (right end), Oscar Randolph (quarterback), Joseph Waples (left halfback), Edward Johnson (right halfback), Henry Maddux (fullback).

Washington and Lee

South Carolina

VPI beat South Carolina 34–0. Captain Lewis asked for the game to be called after eight minutes' play in the second half, as the crowd surged on the field and play was impossible. South Carolina did not earn a single first down. Carpenter had one run of 68 yards.

The starting lineup for VPI was: Webber (left end), Willson (left tackle), Cunningham (left guard), Tomson (center), Stickling (right guard), Hynes (right tackle), Lewis (right end), Harris (quarterback), Nutter (left halfback), Carpenter (right halfback), Hanvey (fullback). The substitutes were: Cox, Fuenstein, Hildebrand, Varner

The starting lineup for South Carolina was: Ralph Foster (left end), S. H. Wilds (left tackle), Paul Moore (left guard), William Fendley (center), Thomas Sligh (right guard), Edward Croft (right tackle), Douglas McKay (right end), Homer Holmes (quarterback), Gene Oliver (left halfback), John Wilds (right halfback), Tristam Hyde (fullback).

Navy

VPI suffered its sole loss of the season against Navy, getting revenge for when Carpenter and VPI won in 1903. VPI scored when Carpenter returned the second-half kickoff 95 yards, after a hand-off from Murray Harlan who caught the kick.

The starting lineup for VPI was: Webber (left end), Willson (left tackle), Cunningham (left guard), Stiles (center), Stickling (right guard), Hynes (right tackle), Lewis (right end), Harris (quarterback), Nutter (left halfback), Carpenter (right halfback), Harlan (fullback).

The starting lineup for Navy was: Douglas Howard (left end), Percy Northcroft (left tackle), Joseph O'Brien (left guard), Lewis Causey (center), John Shafroth (right guard), Ronan Grady (right tackle), Edwin Woodworth (right end), Walter Decker (quarterback), Herbert Spencer (left halfback), Stephen Doherty (right halfback), Robert Ghormley (fullback). The substitutes were: A. H. Douglas, Homer Norton and Leo Welch.

VMI

The season closed with a 34–0 win over old rival VMI. "The story of the contest may be summed up in the statement that the Lexington boys were outclassed." The crowd did not exceed 5,000 due to the cold weather. Byrd, Fraser, Harlan, and Beckner were all injured. Nutter, Cox, Harvey, and Harlan starred.

The starting lineup for VPI was: Webber (left end), Diffendal (left tackle), Cunningham (left guard), Stiles (center), Stickling (right guard), Hynes (right tackle), Lewis (right end), Nutter (quarterback), Cox (left halfback), Hanvey (right halfback), Harlan (fullback).

The starting lineup for VMI was: Alexander Fraser (left end), Oscar Thraves (left tackle), William Montgomery (left guard), Edward Hancock (center), Alphonse Stude (right guard), William Riley (right tackle), William Poague (right end), Byrd (quarterback), Mahlon Caffee (left halfback), William Beckner (right halfback), Robert Massie (fullback).

Postseason

Six players made W&L coach R. R. Brown's All-Southern team.

Players

The following players were members of the 1905 football team according to the roster published in the 1906 edition of The Bugle, the Virginia Tech yearbook.

Coaching and training staff

• Head coach: Sally Miles
• Manager: A. D. Williams
• Assistant manager: E. S. Sheppard

References

1. "Football in the South". New York Times. December 24, 1905.
2. "Football - History of Virginia Tech". Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
3. ^ "Hunter Carpenter". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
4. "V. P. I. Football Outlook Good". The Washington Times. August 27, 1905. p. 34. Retrieved February 29, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Scoreboard result of V.P.I vs. Roanoke". Virginian-Pilot. October 1, 1905. p. 6. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
6. "College paper says Virginia Polytechnic Team slugged, robbed, cursed and played dirty tricks". Nashville Banner. October 18, 1905. p. 10. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
7. "West Point beaten: VP scored 16 in the first half, starting with a goal from the field". The Boston Globe. October 15, 1905. p. 2. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
8. "Army team is anxious: Shows poor form in preparation for VP game". The Minneapolis Journal. October 14, 1905. p. 8. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
9. "V. P. I. to meet West Point". The Roanoke Times. October 14, 1905. p. 3. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
10. "V. P. I. 56 Gallaudet 0: Cadets had no trouble in defeating the sign-makers". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 22, 1905. p. 2. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
11. "Gridiron Game will be Furious". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Virginia. October 28, 1905. p. 10. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
12. ^ "V.P.I. and V.M.I. Win". Daily Press. Library of Virginia. October 29, 1905. p. 4. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
13. "Carpenter Was Right There". The Tar Heel. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. November 2, 1905. p. 1. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
14. "V.P.I. defeats Carolina team: Tar Heels are beaten in vicious contest pulled off in Richmond:". The Atlanta Journal. October 29, 1905. p. 7. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
15. "Carolina loses a rough house game: Plucky youngsters from VPI win by score 35 to 6". News and Record. October 29, 1905. p. 2. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
16. "Keen interest in coming fight: Contest between "Techs" and Carolina next Saturday will be fierce". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 23, 1905. p. 6. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
17. ^ "Virginia Shut Out By V.P.I. Cadets". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Congress. November 5, 1905. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
18. "V. P. I. 11 Virginia 0". The Cavalier Daily. November 8, 1905. p. 1. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
19. "Protest against player: Carpenter, star half back for V.P.I, accused of professionalism". The Washington Post. October 29, 1905. p. 95. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
20. "V.P.I. 15 W. & L. 0" (PDF). The Ring-tum Phi. Washington and Lee University. November 18, 1905. p. 1. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
21. "V.P.I. defeats W.&L. University: The varsity men play an elegant defensive game". Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 12, 1905. p. 19. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
22. ^ "V.P.I. Victorious". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Congress. November 19, 1905. p. 1. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
23. "South Carolina Defeated". The Roanoke Times. Library of Virginia. November 19, 1905. p. 1. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
24. "Annapolis beats V.P.I. 12 to 6:". Daily Press. November 26, 1905. p. 1. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
25. "Cadets lost Thanksgiving game in Richmond". Lexington Gazette. December 6, 1905. p. 3. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
26. "V.P.I., 86; Roanoke, 0". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Library of Virginia. October 1, 1905. p. 2. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
27. "College Elevens Have Easy Games". New York Times. October 15, 1905. p. 13. Retrieved January 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
28. ^ "VA. Techs Vs. West Point". The Morning Post. October 15, 1905. p. 10. Retrieved January 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
29. "V. P. I. 56; Gallaudet, 0". The Times Dispatch. October 22, 1905. p. 2. Retrieved November 21, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
30. ^ Brady, Erik (November 22, 2007). "Virginia allegiances driven by rivalry on football field". College Football Update. USA Today.
31. "Virginia Poly's Big Score". The Washington Post. November 19, 1905. p. 39. Retrieved January 23, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
32. ^ "Middies Beat V. P. I." The Washington Post. November 26, 1905. p. 1. Retrieved January 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
33. ^ "V. M. I. Beaten By Blacksburg". The Atlanta Constitution. December 1, 1905. p. 7. Retrieved February 29, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
34. "Virginia Polytechnic Wins". The New York Tribune. December 1, 1905. p. 10. Retrieved February 29, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
35. "Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Football". The Washington Post. February 18, 1906. p. 13. Retrieved March 3, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
36. "The Bugle 1906" (PDF). Virginia Tech Bugle. 1906. p. 131. Retrieved November 12, 2015.

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