FOOTBALL 'ON HIGH PLANE' IN THE SOUTH SAYS COACH McGUGIN
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 9, 1926, The Evening Star reports that Coach Dan McGugin* of Vanderbilt University in Nashville says that "football is on the highest plane it has ever known in the South."
Coach McGugin, athletic director and head of his Nashville law firm, was in the Nation's Capital on business.
It is Coach's opinion that the South is now only "a hair's breadth behind the best football in the whole country."
JFK+50 NOTE
As a graduate of the University of Tennessee (1970/1974), I must add that the Volunteers were not far behind Vanderbilt in 1926 thanks to the hiring of Robert R. Neyland (pronounced knee-land).
In his 1st year as Vol head coach, Neyland's team finished 8-1, 2nd place in the Southern Conference, their only loss (3-20) coming at the hands of Vanderbilt.
In fact, the West Point grad was hired specifically to beat Vandy. He would go on to an 18-3 overall record against the Commodores with an overall record of 173-31-12. He rose to the rank of General in the U.S. Army during WWII. Neyland Stadium in Knoxville is named in his honor.
*Daniel Earle McGugin (1879-1936) was born in Tingley, Iowa & was a star football player at Drake (B.S. 1901). DEM attended Michigan Law School & was head football coach at Vanderbilt 1904-1917 & 1919-1934. His career record was 197-55-19 & he entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.
SOURCE
"Football Has Made Great Strides in South, Say McGugin, Vandy coach," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., January 9, 1926, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
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