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THE UNIVERSITY STUDENT
December, 1928.
THE FOOT BALL SEASON
OF 1928
I!y C. Randolph 'I’aylor
The foot ball sea.ioii of 1928 has come
and gone and now we have the job of
taking stock of the er.tire season.
Starting the season late in September
with some fifteen lettei men returning and
with one of the most dismal foot ball sea
sons in the history of Smith foot ball be
hind them the members of the 1928 edition
of the “Bull” came out with the spirit of
“WE” and Lindbergh, that being to con
quer and to place the fortunes of Smith
in the same category of the famous base
ball team of 1928.
The long and arduous task of condition
ing and the learning of fundamentals was
the order of the day. The men took hold
with a vigor and from chaos a semblance
of order and organization appeared which
gladdened the hearts of the coaches.
Still in the experimental stage the
“Bulls” journeyed to Durham to take on
the N. C. State “Eagles.” The old buga
boo, the forward pass sent them to their
lair in Charlotte a beaten team. The out
standing achievement of the game was a
field goal from the 32 yard line from the
clever toe of “Red” Williams which saved
the “Bulls” from a complete rout. N. C.
State emerged from the fray on the long
end of the score which was 1.3-3. The team
showed a good defensive potentiality; the
offensive was poor.
And now came the test to show
just what the “Bulls” would have to
offer by the way of a foot ball team for
1928. Bolstering up our line and straight
ening out this wrinkle here and there,
smoothing out the offense and working on
a forward pass defen.se and so the trek
to Washington to meet the violent Howard
Bisons began. On Thursday evening, Oc
tober 11, a determined group of twenty-two
wearers of the Gold and Blue embarked
amid a most wonderful student demon
stration for the Capital City. The Bisons
were all set for a slaughter of the “Bulls.”
But when it was all over the Bisons had
been completely tamed. Howard won, but
what a game! Eastern sport writers still
talk of the valiant battle that the “Bulls”
displayed in the Howard back yard. Bogle,
huge guard, stopped everything that How
ard had to offer. It was here that he made
his bid that landed him a berth on Bill Gib
son’s All-American team. Martin, Hall
and Foulkes spelled death to all the for
ward passes that Howard attempted.
The end play of little Charlie Harris was
beautiful to watch. Captain Steele was a
tower of strength in the line. The “Bulls’ ”
line completely outplayed the Howard for
wards. Jack Martin intercepted a How
ard pass and ran CyH yards for the lone
Smith tally. However, two blocked punts
turned the gold and blue back and Howard
won, score 19-G. It was here that a great
Smith team was born which was to mean
sure death to all that were to come.
The big “Bull,” licking his wounds, re
turned to its bailiwick determined to
avenge himself for the two setbacks that
he had received. The Shaw “Bears” were
the first to suffer. With the offense roll
ing for the first time smoothly the “Bulls”
rolled up three touchdowns and a safety to
send the “Bears” down in defeat. A hard
charging line opened holes so that the
backs could go through for sizeable gains.
A smooth working backfield consisting of
Martin, Hall, Foulkes and Williams reeled
off yard after yard. It appeared from this
game that the “Bulls” were going to have
a team. Score, 22-0.
State Normal visited us the next week
and went home a bitterly disappointed
team. The “Bulls” did everything. They
ran, they passed, they hit the line with
Randy Taylor
Foot Ball Coach and Physical Director
-tV"-
Left ot right: “Bigun” Steele, “Jack” Martin and “Bus” Hall.
a finesse seldom seen on the Smith grid
iron. State Normal was no match for the
stalwarts of Smith. The game ended with
the score, 47-6 with Smith on the long
end.
With two wins tucked under their belts
the “Bulls” packed their bags and entrained
for Orangeburg, S. C., to take on the for
midable South Carolina State aggregation.
The game resulted in one of the finest ex
hibitions of offense and defense ever seen
on the South Carolina gridiron. Neither
team could advance the ball. It was truly
a punting duel with the Smith punters,
Biggs and “Red” Williams having the edge.
The game was dead-locked up until the last
five minutes of play; then South Carolina
State scored. During the remaining five
minutes there was the most furious foot
ball that had ever been seen by the South
Carolinians. The “Bulls” were determined
to score. It was here that Smithh suffered
the first casualty of the season. Henry,
sterling tackle, was injured and his loss
was felt in the line. South Carolina State
maintained its advantage and the “Bulls”
dropped the game by the close score of
6-0.
Two new stars appeared for Smith as a
result of this game. Ellis and Baker, a
pair of men playing their first year at end
gave an exhibition of end-play that com
pared favorably with the best in the game.
Time and again these men saved the tot
tering “Bulls” from disaster.
With all the bad foot ball out of their
systems the “Bulls” pounced upon the
Paine College team and soundly trounced
them to the tune of 37-18. Ellis, Baker,
Biggs, Martin, Hall and Bogle were the
scintillating stars in this affray. The
mighty Morehouse Tigers were just around
the corner. The “Bulls” began to prep
for the game. With “Red” Williams, Hen
ry and Walker definitely out of the line-up,
the “Bulls” w'ere in a crippled condition.
The “Bulls” opened the game playing
inspired foot ball. They gored, they
fought, they trod all over the gallant Ti
gers. The game was tied at 13-13 until
three minutes of play when the Tigers
completed a most daring pass and this play
resulted in a score. The game ended with
Smith on the short end, 19-13.
And now for the battle of the gods. The
Annual game between Livingstone and
Smith on Turkey Day. Livingstone had
been playing good foot ball all season and
they were at the top of the heap in the
race for State Championship. It was two
determined elevens that clashed when they
met to decide the supremacy in the State.
Smith entered the game without the servic.
es of “Red” Williams, Baker or Henry. But
this did not stop the “Bulls.” They set
about in a systematic way to turn back
the Livingstone Horde and when the smoke
of battle cleared the Smith “Bulls” had
vanquished the Livingstone “Bears.” Hall,
half-back, was the outstanding hero of the
game. He reeled off yard after yard in his
scintillating runs through the line. . He
knocked down pass after pass. In fact he
was in every play of the game. Bogle jus
tified his claim to All-American by his
sterling line play. Summersett played the
line like a veteran. Biggs punted and
passed with the ease of a Benny Fried
man. The “Bulls” amassed the total of 19
points to 6 for Livingstone.
I would like to pay my personal tribute
to the following men: Captain Steele, Bogle,
Hall, Martin, Ellis, Baker, Jones, Foulkes,
Livingstone
Frank Bogle
All-American Guard
Biggs and Henry. It was the play of these
stalwarts that kept the “Bulls” in the
running and landed for them their first
North Carolina State Championship. Their
never-say-die spirit carried the Gold and
Blue to the top.
Bill Gibson of the Afro-American,
picked Big Bogle as a guard on his first
All-American team. Hall, Martin and
Captain Steele were given honorable men
tion.
Summarizing the assets of the season,
the “Bulls” have won the championship of
North Carolina. They scored 147 points
to their opponents’ 87. They won four
games and lost four. Losing only one man
next year the outlook for one of the best
teams of the year is Smith’s in the gridiron
campaign of next fall.
Final Standing of Team
Opponents
N. C. State
Howard
Shaw
State Normal
S. C. State -
Paine
Morehouse
Smith
13
19
0
6
. 6 .
18
19
.. 3
6
22
47
0
-.37
13
87
- 19
147
I*^inal
standing of
Individual
Scores
Hall .
. 7. - .
..... 0
-- 0 . ..
0
42
Martin
. 5
.. 1 ..
0 . .
0 ......
31
Williams
2 -
.. . 1 ...
- 1 .....
0
16
Foulkes -
- 2 -
.. . 0 .
0 .
. 0
-12
Jones
.2 -
..... 0 _
. 0
0
.12
Biggs -.
- 1 . -
.. 4.
. 0 .. ..
0
10
Ellis — -
- 1 -
... 4 . ...
.... 0
0.. ..
10
Baker
- 1 -- -
. 0
0 . .
0
6
Lyerly
- 1 ...
0 .
.... 0 .
0 ...
6
Steele - .
0
0
0
1
2
BULLS AND UVINGSTONE
TIED FOR TITLE
“Big Boy” Bogle Selected as All-American
—^.Martin, Steele and Hall Given Honor
able Mention—Ba.sketeers Drilling.
Johnson C. Smith’s Blue Horde trounced
Livingstone College’s Eleven in their own
back yard Thanksgiving Day by a score
of 19-16 to tie the Livingstonians for the
State title. It was a nerve racking game,
featured by Livingstone’s 78 yard march
down field in the first quarter, “Bus” Hall’s
spectacular runs and Somersett’s hard
tackling.
Captain Steele, who will graduate in
June, wore Smith’s colors on the gridiron
for his last time. This victory was a fif
ing climax to the glorious career of this
w'arrior. His work in this game was no
exception to the rest, playing hard sixty
minutes.
Bogle Wins All-American Berth.
“Big Boy” Bogle, stellar guard on Randy
Taylor’s fighting horde of ’28, was select
ed as All-American guard by Billy Gibson,
noted sport writer, of Baltimore.
Bogle’s playing all the season was out
standing. He was a bulwark of strength
on the defense. In the Howard-Smith
game Bogle made half of Smith’s tackles
and his defensive playing against More
house was also outstanding.
Boble was also a pow'er on the offensive.
His ’ability to dent a line and move the
opposition was marvelous. It was a big
year for this hefty guard and he will be
a terror to Smith’s opposition for the next
three years.
Captain Steele, Martin and Hall were
given honorable mention. These three
lads also played stellar ball throughout the
past season.
Basketeers Drilling
Twenty-one basket ball prospects are
di'illing six days each week in preparation
for the ’ 28-’29 season. Practices were
light up until last week when Coach Tay-
(Continued on page 3)