Dudley Field Sees the Light

Dudley Field Sees the Light

10/27/2005

by Bill Traughber

Vanderbilt played its first night football game at Dudley Field on September 25, 1954 against Baylor University. Evangelist Billy Graham, who held his crusade at the stadium earlier that year, donated the permanent lights.

It was reported that the lighting for nighttime football at Dudley Field was one of the best in the country. However, photographers tested their cameras the night before during a Baylor workout. They were not pleased with the darkness of their photographs. Obviously the equipment and film in those days were behind what advanced technology has brought today.

Quite a bit of comparison was made to the Nashville Vols baseball club that played its first night game at Sulphur Dell 23 years earlier. Night games came into existence hoping to draw a larger number of fans. During the past few years at this time, Vanderbilt’s football attendance had been slipping. The players also enjoyed the cooler temperatures at night.

Vanderbilt was playing in its season-opener with coach Art Guepe in his second year as the Commodore headman. Baylor came into the game as a three-touchdown favorite and was coming off a walloping win over Houston 53-13. The year before Baylor beat Vanderbilt 47-6 in Waco.

It was also reported that 25,000 “screaming” fans were in attendance as the 10th ranked Bears narrowly defeated the Commodores, 25-19. Vanderbilt was trailing at the end of the first half 19-12

The Commodores opened the scoring with their first possession of the game. The 82-yard drive was capped by halfback Charlie Horton’s four-yard blast. Horton had eight carries during that initial drive for 31 yards. Quarterback Jim Looney completed his two passing attempts to continue the drive. A 29-yard pitch to end Joe Stephenson set up the Horton TD at the Baylor four-yard line. Vanderbilt took an early 7-0 lead.

After a Baylor fumble was recovered by Commodore defensive tackle Buck Watson, Vanderbilt would score more points on an 18-yard field goal by kicker Bobby Goodall. Vanderbilt now led 10-0.

Baylor came storming back. Baylor running back L. G. Dupre took the Vandy kickoff 34 yards to the Bears 44-yard line. A few plays later Dupre plowed through the Commodore line for a nine-yard touchdown. The point after touchdown kick was wide. Vanderbilt held on to a 10-6 lead.

Early in the second quarter, Commodore quarterback Don Orr threw an interception to Baylor’s defensive back Delbert Shofner at the Baylor 46-yard line. Dupre later scored his second touchdown on a three-yard run. The conversion was good and Baylor took the lead 13-10 with 6:13 left in the first half.

Vanderbilt was held on its next possession. The Commodore punt sailed into the end zone, but Dupre attempted to run the ball instead of downing it. He was slammed to the ground at the Baylor six-yard line. Two plays later a Baylor pitchout was fumbled and Dupre was tackled in the end zone.

Vanderbilt end Terry Fails and tackle Jason Papuchis were credited with the Commodore safety. Vanderbilt closed the gap to 13-12. The Commodores were in good shape as they received the free kick. However, a Baylor interception gave the Bears a first down on their own 13-yard line.

Two running plays later, Baylor had the ball on the 34-yard line with 15 seconds remaining. A miracle pass from Baylor quarterback Bobby Jones to end Henry Gremminger covered the remaining 66 yards as time ran out. The kick was missed and Baylor went into the lockerroom with a 19-12-halftime lead.

Midway in the third quarter, Papuchis recovered a Bear fumble at the Baylor 27-yard line. It would take eight plays for Vanderbilt to score a touchdown on the short drive. Horton bulled his way into the end zone from the two-yard line. The conversion was good and the game was tied at 19-19.

Vanderbilt’s defense gave Baylor a heroic effort until just before the end of the game. Vanderbilt was forced to punt from its own end zone where Dupre called for a fair catch at the Commodore 41-yard line. Keeping the ball on the ground, Baylor drove the ball to the 12-yard line.

An offsides penalty against the Commodores placed the ball on the seven-yard line. Three plays later, Jones smashed his way into the end zone for the winning touchdown with 1:37 to play. The conversion failed. Baylor led, 25-19.

Vanderbilt tried to score in desperation, but was stopped and the game ended with Vanderbilt losing its first night game.

Baylor rushed for 312 yards to Vanderbilt’s 129. Dupre led the Bears with 92 yards in 20 carries. Shofner gained 88 yards in 12 attempts. Horton recorded 42 yards with 12 carries to lead Vanderbilt. Looney was 7-of-14 for 115 yards passing for the Commodores. The defensive leaders for Vanderbilt were Bobby Goodall, Watson and co-captain Pete Williams.

Vanderbilt finished the 1954 season with a record of 2-7 (SEC, 1-5). The Commodores only victories came in the last two games on the schedule with Villanova (34-19) and Tennessee (26-0).

The University of Tennessee didn’t play their first night game at Neyland Stadium until September 16, 1972. The Vols whipped Penn State 28-21.

Next week read about Steve Spurrier’s last game at Dudley Field as a player in 1966.

If you have any comments or suggestions you can contact Bill Traughber via e-mail WLTraughber@aol.com.