The 1927 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team represented the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado of the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1927 Southern Conference football season. A member of the Southern Conference (SoCon), Georgia Tech was coached by William Alexander in his eighth year as head coach, compiling a record of 8–1–1 (7–0–1 SoCon) and outscoring opponents 125 to 39. Georgia Tech played its home games at Grant Field.

In what was considered the best Georgia Tech season since 1918, the Tornado shared the SoCon title with the Tennessee Volunteers and NC State Wolfpack. Tech clinched the SoCon in the season's final game: upsetting rival Georgia's previously undefeated "dream and wonder team" which was nonetheless picked as a national champion by some selectors.e. g. Coach Alexander notably instituted "The Plan" to beat the rival Bulldogs; for weeks saving his regulars for practice.

The Tornado also upset the Alabama Crimson Tide, handing the Tide their first loss in over two seasons. One researcher ranks Tech as the year's best Southern defense. Tech suffered its only loss to Notre Dame, and held Vanderbilt to a scoreless tie.

Before the season Tech was coming off the weakest season in coach William Alexander's tenure.

Schedule

Game summaries Week 1: VMI

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To open the season, Tech defeated VMI 7–0. The Cadets played strongly for two quarters, but were near collapse by game's end. Al Barnes starred for VMI and Stumpy Thomason starred for Tech. "The V. M. I. team tried every brand of football they knew. But it was useless against the Tech defense and offense." The lone score came from Warner Mizell.

The starting lineup was: Crowley (left end), Thrash (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Smith (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Horn (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).

Week 2: Tulane

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On a sloppy, wet field, the Tornado beat Tulane 13–6 despite many publications calling the game a "toss-up". Tech's first score came after a fumble recovery when Stumpy Thomason scored. In the second quarter, Bill Banker "zigzagged through the entire Tech defense" for an 80-yard touchdown. Rain fell at halftime and for the entire third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Thomason had another, 10-yard touchdown.

On the 11th, 15,000 gathered at Grant Field to pay tribute to Charles Lindbergh.

The starting lineup was: Crowley (left end), Watkins (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Rusk (center), Drennon (right guard), Speer (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).

Week 3: Alabama

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In the biggest upset of the young Southern Conference season, Georgia Tech defeated Wallace Wade's defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide 13–0. The loss snapped Alabama's 24-game unbeaten streak.

Alabama had the upper hand in the first quarter, advancing the ball steadily to Tech's 14-yard line before being stopped on downs. The Jackets tipped the scale with a drive in the second quarter, highlighted by a 30-yard touchdown run by Stumpy Thomason. After a scoreless, see-sawing second half, the last touchdown was scored by Warner Mizell in the final minute.

The starting lineup was: Crowley (left end), Thrash (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).

Week 4: North Carolina

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In the fourth week of play, Tech defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 13–0. Tech's defensive line had a stellar game, several times thwarting the Tar Heel as it approached the goal. The first touchdown came in the second quarter, after a drive using fullback Randolph on several line plunges. A lateral pass sent captain Ed Crowley over for the score. In the fourth quarter, Stumpy Thomason had a 75-yard touchdown.

The starting lineup was: Bullard (left end), Watkins (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Ruck (center), Martin (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Schulman (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Fitzgerald (right halfback), Devaughn (fullback).

Week 5: at Notre Dame

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At Carter Field, Knute Rockne's Notre Dame Fighting Irish easily defeated Georgia Tech 26–7 in one of the season's most important clashes. "Had Rockne willed it the score might have doubled;" and "only the able punting of Mizell...prevented a greater victory for the Irish."

Rockne started the game with substitutes, and sent in his regulars to start the second quarter. A 12-yard off-tackle run, a 25-yard pass, and an 11-yard gain on a double pass preceded a touchdown. The Irish led just 6–0 at the half. In the second half the Irish poured it on; the lone score from Tech was by Stumpy Thomason after a blocked Irish punt.

The starting lineup was: Crowley (left end), Hood (left tackle), Martin (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Watkins (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Thomason (left halfback), Mizell (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).

Week 6: at Vanderbilt

A wet field and a strong defense, ranked by one researcher as best in the South, helped Tech reassert itself and held the Vanderbilt Commodores to a scoreless tie, despite the Commodores having the upper hand in play.

With the recent loss to Notre Dame, Tech had been overshadowed before the game by rival Georgia and its national championship bid. A strong game had been predicted, showcasing each team's backfield stars in Stumpy Thomason of Tech and Bill Spears of Vanderbilt. The high-flying attack of quarterback Spears led one writer to say Vandy produced "almost certainly the legit top Heisman candidate in Spears, if there had been a Heisman Trophy to award in 1927."

The starting lineup was: Crowley (left end), Thrash (left tackle), Drennon (left guard), Pund (center), Martin (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).

Week 7: LSU

Starting the game with second-string men only to send them in later and add 20 points, Tech crushed coach Mike Donahue's LSU Tigers 23–0. "The game was devoid of thrills". The first touchdown came late in the third quarter, when Randolph scored behind right tackle.

The starting lineup was: Bullard (left end), Thrash (left tackle), Lillard (left guard), Rusk (center), Westbrook (right guard), Hood (right tackle), Holland (right end), Smith (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Horn (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).

Week 8: Oglethorpe The Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels led the Tornado through three quarters 7–6, threatening to upset Tech just as it had last year. Oglethorpe scored on a Stumpy Thomason fumble. Tech managed to survive the scare by pulling ahead 19–7 in the final quarter. Warner Mizell saved the day with two touchdowns.

Week 9: Auburn

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Tech easily beat the Auburn Tigers 18–0. Auburn did not win a game all year. Stumpy Thomason went over the line for the first score In the second half, Tech played its first string minus Thomason, and Tech scored two more touchdowns. Warner Mizell ran off tackle for 50 yards for the first, and had a 1-yard run for the second.

The starting lineup was: Bullard (left end), Hood (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Rusk (center), Lillard (right guard), Thrash (right tackle), Holland (right end), Smith (quarterback), Parham (left halfback), Thomason (right halfback), Oltz (fullback).

Week 10: Georgia

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Georgia Tech faced the undefeated and top-ranked in-state rival Georgia Bulldogs for the conference crown. The Bulldogs were known as the "Dream and Wonder team" and gave Yale its only loss. In the rain, Tech won 12–0. Georgia accused Tech of saturating their own field while Tech claimed a heavy rain storm rolled in the night before the game. For the first time this year, neither of Georgia's ends Tom Nash nor Shiver played particularly well.

Prior to the game, Coach Alexander instituted "The Plan," splitting his team into two squads and playing mostly reserves for four weeks. The regulars practiced for the upcoming Georgia contest. Grant Field was expected to be filled to capacity, the largest crowd ever in the south. One account read "And never in the history of athletics in the Southland has there been an occasion so momentous as this. The football championship of the South and as some may justifiably figure, the nation, will be decided on Saturday in the capital city and native sons will decide it."

Tech's first touchdown came on a pass from Warner Mizell to quarterback Bob Durant. The second one came shortly after Stumpy Thomason returned an interception 57 yards to Georgia's 22-yard line. Thomason scored on a 13-yard end run.

The starting lineup was: Crowley (left end), Watkins (left tackle), Westbrook (left guard), Pund (center), Drennon (right guard), Speer (right tackle), Waddey (right end), Durant (quarterback), Mizell (left halfback), Read (right halfback), Randolph (fullback).

Postseason The defeat of Georgia netted Tech the Southern title. Several Tech players received postseason honors. Tackle Frank Speer, Center Peter Pund, and Halfbacks Warner Mizell and Stumpy Thomason were all selected All-Southern.

Personnel Depth chart The following chart depicts Tech's lineup during the 1927 season with games started at the position shown in parentheses. The chart mimics the offense after the jump shift has taken place.

LE Ed Crowley (6) Bullard (3) Slick Keener (0) 

LT LG C RG RT Ken Thrash (4) Joe Westbrook (4) Peter Pund (5) Raleigh Drennon (5)Papa Hood (5) Coot Watkins (3) Firpo Martin (2)Seedy Rusk (4)Firpo Martin (2) Frank Speer (2) Papa Hood (2) Raleigh Drennon (1)Geo. Muse (0) Lillard (1)Ken Thrash (1) Lillard (1) Joe Westbrook (1)Coot Watkins (1)

RE Frank Waddey (7)Glenn Holland (2) P. Von Weller (0) 

QB Bob Durant (5)Shorty Smith (3) Izzy Schulman (1)

RHB Stumpy Thomason (4) Bob Horn (2) Fite Fitzgerald (1)Warner Mizell (1) Read (1) Russ Russell (0)

FB Bob Randolph (7) Devaughn (1)Oltz (1)

LHB Warner Mizell (4) Bob Parham (4) Stumpy Thomason (1) Sleepy Faisst (0) Jimmie Frink (0)

Roster Line 14 BullardEnd342 Ed CrowleyEnd 6Watkinsville, Georgia 6'1"1802151 Raleigh DrennonGuard 6Atlanta, Georgia 5'10"187209 Glenn HollandEnd 2Atlanta, Georgia 5'11"170192 Papa HoodTackle 7 220 49 Slick KeenerEnd0 Gadsden, Alabama 5'10"1812063 Joe KentGuard 0Moultrie, Georgia 5'10"1812036 LillardGuard266 Firpo MartinGuard2 50Geo MuseCenter 0Covington, Kentucky 5'10"1781871 Peter PundCenter5 Augusta, GeorgiaRichmond Academy 6'0"1822037 Seedy RuskCenter 4Atlanta, Georgia 6'0"1792017 Frank SpeerTackle2 Atlanta, Georgia 6'0"2041941 Ken ThrashTackle 5Orlando, Florida 5'10"1902133 Phil Von WellerEnd 0Albany, Georgia 6'0"17819 52 Frank WaddeyEnd 7Memphis, Tennessee 5'10"1842265 Coot WatkinsTackle 1Atlanta, Georgia 6'0"19919 61 Joe WestbrookGuard 5Moultrie, Georgia 5'11"18022

Backfield 40 DeVaughnFullback1 29 Bob DurantQuarterback 5Bluefield, West Virginia 5'9"1611928 Sleepy FaisstHalfback 0Little Rock, Arkansas 5'10"16019 25 Fite FitzgeraldHalfback1 Jackson, Tennessee 5'10"1641913 Jimmie FrinkHalfback 0Miami, Florida 5'10"16218 38 Bob HornHalfback 2Norfolk, Virginia 5'10"17820 72 Warner MizellHalfback 5Atlanta, Georgia Miami Senior High5'10"1701944 OltzFullback160 Bob ParhamHalfback4 Atlanta, Georgia 6'1"1762030 Bob RandolphFullback 7Atlanta, Georgia 5'10"1762011 ReadHalfback1 10 Russ RussellHalfback 0New York, New York 5'10"1601864 Izzy ShulmanQuarterback 1Jackson, Tennessee 5'8"15519 26 Shorty SmithHalfback 3Cartersville, Georgia 5'7"15320 35 Stumpy ThomasonHalfback5 Atlanta, Georgia 5'8"17419

Unlisted