Hugh Whelchel

Hugh Whelchel
Whelchel c. 1921
"Puss"
Georgia Bulldogs – No. 45
PositionGuard
ClassGraduate
Personal information
Born:(1900-07-20)July 20, 1900
Dahlonega, Georgia, U.S.
Died:April 1, 1968(1968-04-01) (aged 67)
Sanford, Florida, U.S.
Weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career history
CollegeGeorgia (1919–1922)
Career highlights and awards

Hugh Calvin "Puss" Whelchel (July 20, 1900 – April 1, 1968) was an American college football player.

Early years

Hugh was born on July 20, 1900, in Dahlonega, Georgia, to Henry Cowan Whelchel and Clara Annabel Moore. Hugh was a first cousin of Georgia Tech football player Dan Whelchel.

University of Georgia

He was a prominent guard for the Georgia Bulldogs of the University of Georgia from 1919 to 1922. He was said to have blocked 19 kicks in his college football career.[1] Whelchel was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.[2] He was nominated though not selected for an Associated Press All-Time Southeast 1869-1919 era team.[3]

1920

His kick blocking featured in the 21–14 victory over Alabama in 1920.[4] Buck Cheves returned the block 87 yards for a touchdown and the win,[5] ranked fourth in The 50 Greatest Plays In Georgia Bulldogs Football History.[6] Georgia was 8–0–1 and SIAA champions in 1920, as well as the first team known as the "Bulldogs."

1921

He was selected as a third-team All-American by Walter Camp in 1921.

1922

Whelchel was unanimously elected captain of the 1922 team.[7] Camp gave him honorable mention.[8]

References

  1. ^ Patrick Garbin (2008). About Them Dawgs!: Georgia Football's Memorable Teams and Players. Scarecrow Press. p. 32. ISBN 9780810860407.
  2. ^ The Palm. Champaign, Ill., etc. 1921. p. 47.
  3. ^ "U-T Greats On All-Time Southeast Team". Kingsport Post. July 31, 1969.
  4. ^ "Whelchel's Blocking Of Kicks Led To Unusual Georgia Win". Reading Eagle. October 16, 1957.
  5. ^ "Longest Plays" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 30, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  6. ^ Patrick Garbin (August 5, 2008). The 50 Greatest Plays in Georgia Bulldogs Football History.
  7. ^ "Plans Are Being Finished For Big Celebration Here". Athens Daily Herald. November 15, 1922. p. 1.
  8. ^ "Camp's All America Stars Show Why They Are Winners; Have Brains, Power, Spirit". Harrisburg Telegraph. December 26, 1922. p. 15. Retrieved March 8, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon