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Tex Bradford

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Tex Bradford
Vanderbilt Commodores – No. 21
PositionTackle
Class1924
MajorMedicine
Personal information
Born:(1899-08-15)August 15, 1899
Mansfield, Texas, U.S.
Died:January 27, 1975(1975-01-27) (aged 75)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career history
CollegeTCU (1919)
Vanderbilt (1921–1922)
Career highlights and awards

Cecil Rhodes "Tex" Bradford (August 15, 1899 – January 27, 1975)[1] was a college football player and a medical doctor.

Early years

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Bradford was born on August 15, 1899, in Mansfield, Texas, to James Frederick Bradford and Susan Virginia Hobson.

College football

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Tex was a prominent tackle for the TCU Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University; and Dan McGugin's Vanderbilt Commodores of Vanderbilt University from 1921 to 1922, winning Southern championships both his years there. He graduated from Vanderbilt with an M. D. in 1924.

TCU

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Bradford first played for Texas Christian University, making All-Texas teams.[2]

Vanderbilt

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1921

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In his first game with the Commodores, Tex was forced to wear civilian shoes until Vanderbilt received its order for cleats big enough to fit his feet.[2] Vanderbilt later played a game against Texas at the Texas State Fair. Vandy would upset the powerful Longhorns eleven 20 to 0. The first score came on a third down at some point near the middle of the second quarter. Texas' Ivan Robertson, with the Commodores' Tom Ryan and Bradford running after him, threw a pass not near a single Longhorn; which was intercepted by Vanderbilt's captain Pink Wade. Wade returned the interception for 65 yards and the touchdown.[3]

1922

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Tex was a starter for the scoreless tie with the Michigan Wolverines at the dedication of Dudley Field in 1922. His defense that day received praise.[4] "Thousands of cheering Vanderbilt fans inspired the surge of center Alf Sharp, guard Gus Morrow, tackle Tex Bradford, and end Lynn Bomar, who stopped Michigan cold in four attempts."[5] He was elected to four All-Southern teams in 1922.[6]

To the woe of Commodore fans, on October 10, 1923, Bradford was ruled ineligible on grounds of having already played four years of college athletics.[7] His loss was lamented so near the eve of the Michigan game, for his line work against them was "materially responsible" for the 0 to 0 tie the year before.[7][4]

References

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  1. ^ Dates confirmed via U.S. Social Security Death Index Number: xxx-xx-5920; Issue State: Tennessee; Issue Date: Before 1951; and Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006
  2. ^ a b Closed access icon "Texans Bolster Vandy Eleven". Dallas Morning News. October 2, 1921.
  3. ^ Closed access icon "Commodores Defeat Texas Longhorns before Crowded Stadium, 20 to 0". Dallas Morning News. October 23, 1921.
  4. ^ a b Closed access icon "Powerful Wolverine Eleven Held To Scoreless Tie By Commodores." Augusta Chronicle 1922 Oct. 15
  5. ^ Tom Perrin (1987). Football: a college history. p. 113. ISBN 9780899502946.
  6. ^ e. g. Closed access icon "Evans' All-Southern Honor Roll". Miami District Daily News. December 10, 1922.
  7. ^ a b "Vandy's Tackle Ruled Ineligible". Times-Picayune. October 11, 1923.