1921 COLLEGE FOOTBALL YEAR-IN-REVIEW

The two best teams in college football in 1921 looked a whole lot like the two best teams in 1920 - because they were the same two teams. Both Northern California (10-0-0) and Danville (11-0-0) went unbeaten again, and again with the AIAA not officially awarding a champion, there was debate on just which of these two stellar squads was the best in the land.

Danville had heard the grumbles in 1920 and beefed up their schedule, dominating less often, but winning every game once again. The Engineers' 1921 slate included victories over Dickson (13-7) and Opelika State (10-9). Danville's leader, senior QB Cornelius Hodge, had an outstanding season, earning an All-American nod for his dual-threat ability as a runner and passer. Though he was offered professional contracts by several clubs, he refused and went into coaching as an assistant before moving into the business world. Hodge's decision to forego pro football was fairly common - of the 11 First-Team All-Americans in 1921, only five would play professionally.

Northern California, clearly the class of the West, was largely untested, demolishing their opponents to a combined score of 373-27, with Redwood the only team to reach double-figures against them in a 37-12 defeat. Coastal California was drubbed 58-0, Portland Tech 42-6 and Golden Gate fell 38-0. The Miners were very, very good. Unsurprisingly, two Northern California players made the All-American team with End Abner Williams and Tackle Norm Hodge both getting a nod from Mott on his annual list of the game's best. 

Other top squads included Eastern Virginia, 9-0-0 and Clinton Christian which went 9-0-1 against uninspired competition. Noble Jones rose from several seasons of relative mediocrity to post a 9-1-0 campaign for Coach John Christian, Liberty College did likewise and St. Blane, a rising force in the sport, went 9-2-0. St. Blane featured star end Dee Flowers, an All-American senior who would go on to play professionally the next season and later become a successful collegiate coach in both football and basketball.

Mott's All-American Team for 1921:

1920 COLLEGE FOOTBALL YEAR-IN-REVIEW

There was a new power in college football in 1920 - one that seemingly came out of nowhere (and wouldn't last as a powerhouse): the Danville Engineers. The relatively unknown college in Danville, KY burst onto the scene in a big way. They won their first three contests against middling competition by a combined score of 169-3, with William Nathan's lone field goal in a 40-3 blowout the lone blemish on the whitewash. Their first real test came on October 23rd against Dickson - and they put them away with a late TD to win 23-17. Georgia Baptist, no shrinking violet and a school sporting an All-American end in Julian Chapman, was wiped out 34-7. The rest of the schedule was lighter, and Danville swept through to a 10-0-0 undefeated season. This was good enough for some - but not all - college football writers to consider them the national champions.

Danville did have some competition - Northern California and Alexandria both went 9-0-0. Brunswick went 8-0-0. Most college football historians now consider Northern Cal to be the champs, but the AIAA never officially awarded the crown so the debate remains. Northern California did play in the East-West Game on New Year's Day and was extremely impressive in a 61-7 drubbing of Central Ohio, the lone loss for the Aviators who went 6-1-1 overall. Danville was also invited to what were now becoming known as "Bowl Games" for the trophies awarded at the end. The East-West remained the premier event, as the original and oldest, but the new Texas Invitational brought Danville into Dallas to face Amarillo Methodist. The Engineers won 17-9, the tenth and final win of their stellar season.

Alexandria, like Danville, exploded onto the scene with an unbeaten season of its own. The school located in the city of the same name in Northern Virginia, played a schedule that was, like Danville's, somewhat thin by many standards, but did include victories over Pierpont (27-13), Eastern State (44-10) and North Carolina Tech (24-0). What made Alexandria special was halfback Tommy Beadle. The 5'8" 155 back was fast, elusive and tough. Though Mott placed him on his third-team All-American list, some felt he deserved better. He scored 210 of his team's 410 points and later research would uncover statistics that included an astounding 1723 yards rushing with seven runs of over fifty yards and a 48-yard TD pass as well. 

Mott's All-American Team for 1920: