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The 1939 VPI Gobblers football team represented Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute in the 1939 college football season. The team was led by their head coach Henry Redd and finished with a record of four wins, five losses and one tie (4–5–1).

VPI was ranked at No. 110 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.

Schedule

Game summaries

Randolph–Macon

VPI's first game of the season was a victory over Randolph–Macon at Miles Stadium.

During the trip to Blacksburg, the manager for the Randolph–Macon team had a ruptured ulcer and had to be taken to the hospital.

The starting lineup for VPI was: Lawson (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), Willson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Hudson (fullback). The substitutes were: Clark, DeMuro and Rose.

The starting lineup for Randolph–Macon was: Robert Golubic (left end), Stuart Pugh (left tackle), R. Miller (left guard), George Chappell (center), Marshall Peterson (right guard), Dick Powell (right tackle), George Sawyer (right end), Billy Fox (quarterback), John Lovett (left halfback), Gordon Harrell (right halfback), Dick Irby (fullback).

Marshall

The starting lineup for VPI was: Willson (left end), Coleman (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Pitts (right tackle), Clark (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Ellison (left halfback), Thomas (right halfback), Warriner (fullback).

The starting lineup for Marshall was: Bob Adkins (left end), Ed Ulinski (left tackle), John Boyd (left guard), Roberts (center), Ray Truitt (right guard), Harold Cox (right tackle), Jack Mattiford (right end), Zach Kush (quarterback), Jackie Hunt (left halfback), Jack Morlock (right halfback), Ev Elkins (fullback).

North Carolina

The starting lineup for VPI was: Clark (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Streiff (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), Willson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Warriner (fullback). The substitutes were: DeMuro, Willard Henderson, Hudson, Taylor, Woolwine and Zydiak.

The starting lineup for North Carolina was: Paul Severin (left end), Charles Slagle (left tackle), Leroy Abernethy (left guard), Robert Smith (center), James Woodson (right guard), Claud Kimball (right tackle), James Mallory (right end), Jim Lalanne (quarterback), George Radman (left halfback), Mike Bobbitt (right halfback), Sydney Sadoff (fullback). The substitutes were: Don Baker, Harry Dunkle, Bill Faircloth, Sweet James and Leo Slotnick.

William & Mary

The starting lineup for VPI was: Clark (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), Willson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Warriner (fullback). The substitutes were: Rose.

The starting lineup for William & Mary was: Charles Gondak (left end), Hank Whitehouse (left tackle), Buster Ramsey (left guard), Rudolph Tucker (center), John Brodka (right guard), John Dillard (right tackle), Alphonse Chestnut (right end), Mervyn Simpson (quarterback), Lloyd Phillips (left halfback), Waldo Matthews (right halfback), Hollingsworth (fullback). The substitutes were: Burchfield, Jim Hickey and Jimmy Howard.

Centre

Washington and Lee

The game against Washington & Lee on October 28 was the first game played at Lynchburg Municipal Stadium.

The starting lineup for VPI was: Lawson (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), Willson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Warriner (fullback).

The starting lineup for Washington & Lee was: Howard Dobbins (left end), Richard "Dick" Boisseau (left tackle), Stephen Hanasik (left guard), John "Jack" Mangan (center), James Lindsey (right guard), Kelley Litteral (right tackle), Courtney Wadlington (right end), Dan Justice (quarterback), Charles Didier (left halfback), Preston Brown (right halfback), Alfred "Junie" Bishop (fullback). The substitutes were: Francis Sugrue and Taylor Truehart.

Furman

The starting lineup for VPI was: Lawson (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), John Henderson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), DeMuro (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Warriner (fullback). The substitutes were: Thomas.

The starting lineup for Furman was: Lloyd Coley (left end), Sam Fleming (left tackle), Hugh Wofford (left guard), Johnson Moore (center), Gates Barker (right guard), Hinson (right tackle), Ray Dorman (right end), C. V. Lipscomb (quarterback), Joe Jenkins (left halfback), Dan Martin (right halfback), Rhoten Shetley (fullback). The substitutes were: Brevil and Robert Fitzer.

Richmond

The starting lineup for VPI was: Clark (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), Willson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Warriner (fullback). The substitutes were: Hudson.

The starting lineup for Richmond was: Bill Burge (left end), Harold McVay (left tackle), Joseph Mack (left guard), Ed Merrick (center), Bert Milling (right guard), David Robertson (right tackle), Dick Humbert (right end), William Fitzhugh (quarterback), Art Jones (left halfback), Alec Moore (right halfback), Stuart Hoskins (fullback). The substitutes were: Gordon ReMine.

Virginia

The starting lineup for VPI was: Lawson (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Bill Tate (left guard), Streiff (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), John Henderson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Hudson (fullback). The substitutes were: Clark.

The starting lineup for Virginia was: James White (left end), Lee McLaughlin (left tackle), Herbert Winokur (left guard), Raymond Murden (center), John Sauerbeck (right guard), R. Walter Jones (right tackle), Nick Gianakos (right end), Mosby Cardozo (quarterback), Jim Gillette (left halfback), Sylvester O'Grince (right halfback), Leroy Neustedter (fullback).

VMI

Players

Roster

Varsity letter winners

Twenty-two players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1939 VPI team.

Coaching and training staff

• Head coach: Henry Redd
• Assistant coaches
  • Backfield coach: Herbert McEver
  • Line coach: Sumner D. Tilson
• Manager: John Harrington
• Freshman coaches
  • Freshman head coach: Red Laird
  • Assistant freshman coach and trainer: Willard D. Altman
  • Assistant freshman coach and trainer: Thomas A. Slusser

References

1. E. E. Litkenhous (December 31, 1939). "Vols Second In Final Litkenhous Grid Rankings; Southern California Tenth". Johnson City Sunday Press. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Virginia Tech Live Up to Promises in Routing Jackets". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. September 24, 1939. p. 51. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
3. "Yellow Jackets Lose To V.P.I. By Score 26-0". The Yellow Jacket Weekly. Library of Virginia. September 29, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
4. "Elkin's 95-Yard Run Spices Marshall's Win Over V. P. I." The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 1, 1939. p. 26. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
5. "Varsity Takes On VPI Today at Norfolk". The Daily Tar Heel. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. October 7, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
6. "Lalanne Leads Varsity To 13-6 Victory". The Daily Tar Heel. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. October 8, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
7. "Lalanne's Two Drives For Carolina Top V. P. I., 13 to 6". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 8, 1939. p. 27. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
8. "Stubborn Indians Hold Tech To 6-6 Tie". The Flat Hat. College of William & Mary. October 17, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
9. "W.-M. Blocks Kick Behind Goal to Tie V. P. I. at 6 to 6". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 15, 1939. p. 35. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
10. "Virginia Tech Smothers Centre Easily, 28-0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 22, 1939. p. 26. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
11. "Tech Defeats Centre, 28-0". The Southwest Times. Library of Virginia. October 22, 1939. p. 6. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
12. "Justice's touchdown gives Generals victory over Tech". The Daily News Leader. October 29, 1939. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Brilliant Defense Gives Generals 6-0 Victory of VPI" (PDF). The Ring-tum Phi. Washington and Lee University. October 31, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
14. "Generals Trip V. P. I. As Justice Thrills His Homefolk". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. October 29, 1939. p. 33. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
15. "Generals Beat Tech As Stadium Is Dedicated". Rockbridge County News. Library of Virginia. November 2, 1939. p. 7. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
16. "Engineers Down McLeod's Team In Snow Fall". The Furman Hornet. Furman University. November 10, 1939. p. 5. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
17. "Virginia Tech Snaps Jinx To Defeat Furman, 20 To 7". The Southwest Times. Library of Virginia. November 5, 1939. p. 6. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
18. "Virginia Tech to Oppose Spiders at City Stadium". The Richmond Collegian. University of Richmond. November 10, 1939. p. 4. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
19. "Undefeated Spiders Score Victory Over Gobblers, 13-0". The Richmond Collegian. University of Richmond. November 17, 1939. p. 5. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
20. "Undefeated Richmond Adds Virginia Tech To Victims, 13-0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. November 12, 1939. p. 29. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
21. "Virginia Tech tops Virginia in 13–0 upset". The Baltimore Sun. November 19, 1939. Retrieved July 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
22. "Cavaliers Downed By V.P.I., 13 To 0". The Daily Progress. University of Virginia. November 20, 1939. p. 8. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
23. "Virginia Backs Bottled As V. P. I. Triumphs In Upset, 13 to 0". The Sunday Star. Library of Congress. November 19, 1939. p. 27. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
24. "VPI Beats Virginia, 13-0". The Southwest Times. Library of Virginia. November 19, 1939. p. 6. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
25. "The Bugle 1940". Virginia Tech Bugle. 1940. p. 237. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
26. "Fighting Squadron Humbles Gobblers 19-to-7 And Win State Championship". The V.M.I. Cadet. Virginia Military Institute. November 28, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
27. "Shu Stars For V. M. I. In Roanoke Game". Rockbridge County News. Library of Virginia. November 30, 1939. p. 7. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
28. "Carter Richardson Stricken At Blacksburg; Reported Better". The Yellow Jacket Weekly. Library of Virginia. September 29, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
29. "Lynchburg's New $250,000 Stadium Dedicated". The Highland Recorder. Library of Virginia. November 3, 1939. p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
30. "Generals - Gobblers Dedicate New Lynchburg Football Stadium Oct. 28". The Farmville Herald. Library of Virginia. October 20, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
31. "W. & L.-V. P. I. Game Dedicates Lynchburg Stadium Saturday". Rockbridge County News. Library of Virginia. October 19, 1939. p. 8. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
32. "Where Washington and Lee Will Meet V. P. I. This Week-end". The Lexington Gazette. Library of Virginia. October 27, 1939. p. 6. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
33. "1939 VPI Letterwinners". Virginia Tech. Retrieved January 3, 2023.

• 1939 Southern Conference football season
• Virginia Tech Hokies football seasons
• 1939 in sports in Virginia