1919 record 7–3 (2–1 SIAA) | Home stadium Grant Field | |
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Head coach John Heisman (16th year) | ||
The 1919 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team represented the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado of the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1919 college football season. The Tornado was coached by John Heisman in his 15th year as head coach, compiling a record of 7–3 (2–1 SIAA) and outscoring opponents 257 to 33.
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Before the season
Jack McDonough started at quarterback as a true freshman when Marshall Guill was moved to end.
Vanderbilt
Tech beat Dan McGugin's Vanderbilt Commodores in the mud 20–0, giving the Commodores their only loss on the season. Buck Flowers and fullback Bill Gaiver starred.
The starting lineup was: Fincher (left end), Higgins (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Amis (center), Dowling (right guard), Huffines (right tackle), Staton (right end), Guill (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Barron (right halfback), Gavier (fullback).
Pittsburgh
Tech was beaten 16–6 by Pop Warner's Pittsburgh Panthers.
Davidson
Tech beat 33–0, Flowers running around his old teammates.
Washington & Lee
Quarterback Jim Mattox made the field goal to help Washington & Lee upset Tech. the first loss to a Southern team since 1914 for Tech.
The starting lineup was: Fincher (left end), Doyal (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Phillips (center), Dowling (right guard), Higgins (right tackle), Staton (right end), Guill (quarterback), Flowers (left halfback), Ferst (right halfback), Gavier (fullback).
Georgetown
Dewey Scarboro returned a kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown in the 27–0 win over Georgetown.
Auburn
The Auburn Tigers beat Tech 14–7, its first loss to an SIAA school in five years. Auburn's Fatty Warren "waddled" for a 40-yard touchdown off a blocked punt in the victory.
The starting lineup was Guill (left end), Fincher (left tackle), Lebey (left guard), Phillips (center), Dowling (right guard), Huffines (right tackle), Staton (right end), McDonough (quarterback), Barron (left halfback), Ferst (right halfback), Harlan (fullback).
Postseason
After a divorce in 1919, Heisman left Atlanta to prevent any social embarrassment to his former wife, who chose to remain in the city. He picked Bill Alexander as successor and went back to Penn for three seasons from 1920–1922.