The NCAA existed in 1912 but the six-year-old governing body did not have its current 220-page rule book that contained stringent rules on official team uniforms. Georgia took advantage of it and ran one of the greatest trick plays in sports history.
On Oct. 19, 1912, Georgia played Vanderbilt — the alma mater of third-year head coach W.A. Cunningham — in Atlanta. Georgia was hoping for revenge after Vandy handed them their only loss a year earlier. It didn’t happen. They were pounded, suffering the fourth straight shutout in the series, 46-0. While the loss was demoralizing for Cunningham and the team, it prompted him to concoct a brilliantly bizarre trick play in hopes of energizing his team.
A week later, Georgia faced Alabama in Columbus, Ga., the second of two all-time meetings on the state-line city about three from both Athens, Ga., and Tuscaloosa, Ala. Immediately after opening kickoff, Cunningham called the trick play, which involved tailback Alonzo Awtrey, street clothes and a bucket of water.
Here’s the story, as told by Patrick Garbin in his book “Then Vince Said to Herschel. . .”:
Prior to the game, Georgia’s Awtrey dressed out in a pair of white overalls rather than the standard football uniform. Only 10 players lined up to receive Alabama’s opening kickoff, while Georgia’s 11th man, Awtrey, stood on the sideline, disguised and holding a water bucket, creating the impression that he was the water boy.
After Georgia returned the opening kickoff, Awtrey casually remained on the sideline as the Red and Black lined up for its first play. When [quarterback Timon] Bowden dropped back to pass, Awtrey dropped his bucket and ran downfield. Bowden completed his toss to Awtrey around midfield where the “water boy” ran for an additional 35 yards.
The controversial play sparked on-field protests from the Alabama team and their fans. Georgia fans also entered the field and fights broke out. Cunningham admitted the trickeration shouldn’t be allowed and offered to return the ball to the line of scrimmage. The referees, however, deemed the play was legal because there was no rule stipulating what type of uniform a player must wear and awarded Georgia the completed pass. They fumbled on the next play.
Georgia won the game, 13-9, and didn’t lose a game the remainder of the season, giving them back-to-back one-loss campaigns.
