| Cody was an
All-Southern honoree in three of those four seasons. He came to Vandy
in 1914 when the Vandy program hit a low with just two victories in
eight games. Then Vandy caught fire, posting 9-1-0 and 7-1-1 records
over the next two campaigns and establishing its program as one of the
best. The only losses came at the hands of Virginia, in 1915, and
Tennessee, in 1916. World War I interrupted Cody's collegiate football
career, but he returned to capture All-Southem laurels once again in
1919 when the Commodores finished 5-1-2. During his four varsity
seasons, Cody lifted Vandy to 23 victories in 35 games. Cody was named
to All-America teams in 1915 and 1919. Following graduation, Cody
entered coaching and directed teams at Clemson, Mercer, Vanderbilt,
Florida and Temple before retiring in 1961 at the age of 67.
A teammate of Cody's once said, "He was a farm boy and he had no
polish, but he was very honest and sincere. He didn't have a
scholarship--we had none in those days--but he had a real job. He
literally cleaned the gymnasium every day, cleaned up the locker rooms
and the showers, and tended to the coal furnace, after practice."
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Cody is remembered in legendary style. Teammates
remember that he didn't like to wear pads, so he cut up an old quilt
and sewed it into the shoulders of his jersey. His players remember
his team spirit. Cody often said to his team, "If our team can't go
together, we won't go." They went together. Others remember his
legendary appetite. He once challenged the Georgia coach to a chicken
eating contest and beat him by 11 chickens. An onlooker said, "He
wasn't satisfied just to win. He just went on to a decisive victory."
Friends of Cody would agree that statement applied to everything the
champion attempted.
Cody died June 19, 1961 in Mt. Laurel, N.J.
He was inducted into |
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