Irby "Rabbit" Curry

Irby "Rabbit" Curry was one of the Southern (now Southeastern) Conference's most dynamic football players. Curry was born in Marlin, Texas on August 4, 1894. He was a graduate of Marlin High School, where he played football and track. In track he was the Texas state champion in the pole vault and the one mile relay. After his graduation Curry moved to Nashville, Tennessee and enrolled at Vanderbilt University. He became the quarterback and kicker for the legendary Dan McGugin. Curry was dubbed "Rabbit," because of his elusive speed. It was reported that he only needed "the suspicion of an opening to wriggle through, and once into the open, zip, flash, and a touchdown." In addition to his role on the football team, he also played on Vanderbilt's baseball and track teams. His football heroics made him legendary. Curry did not play in the 1914 season, but in 1915, he had a season that would rival that of any Heisman Trophy winner. The 1915 season was a good one for the Commodores. Curry led them to a 9-1 record. Curry and the Commodores scored a total of 514 points in 510 minutes. Curry averaged three touchdowns a game, and most of his touchdowns were greater then 50 yards. In their sole loss to Virginia, Curry kept the Commodores in the game with an 85 yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter. In that season's game against Ole Miss Curry scored six touchdowns, in the Commodores 91-0 win over the Rebels. Rumor has it that he had an entire bushel of apples on the train ride to the game. At the end of the season, the Commodores were conference champions, and Curry was selected to the conference's first team. At the start of the 1916 season, Curry was elected team captain. He led the Commodores to a 7-1-1 record. He continued to put up video game like numbers. In 1917, Curry decided to forgo that years football season, and enlist in the military. He joined the 95th Aero Squadron as a pilot. On August 10, 1918 Curry was killed in aerial combat with the Germans, while on protection patrol. Accounts state that he was sent into a spiral, and could not recover his plane. When word got back to Nashville, Vanderbilt football coach Dan McGugin released this statement:
"During the four years of my intimate association with Irby Curry, I never heard him utter a word his mother might not hear and approve. A game sportsman and scholar, truly he was gentle as a dove. He had a lion's heart, and now a hero's death. Poor Little Rabbit! How he pulls at the heart-strings of all of us who knew him and therefore honored and loved him tenderly."
Curry's remains were sent back to his family in Texas, where he was entombed in his hometown of Marlin County. McGugin honored Curry by placing his picture in his office, alongside pictures of Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee. In 1921, when his Commodores went on the road to play the University of Texas, the team stopped at Curry's grave. The Commodores were an underdog, in their game, but McGugin gave them this speech:
"They are betting Texas will beat you 20 to 0, they say you are a bunch of cowards. 'Rabbit' Curry, whose father is sitting here with you, is looking down on you from his Eternal Home."
The Commodores responded to this speech by beating Texas 20-0. Rabbit Curry was one of the best players of his time. He was a hero to many on the field, but most importantly, he is a hero off the field. He unselfishly decided to forgo football and serve his country. That fact alone makes him a true hero.

Team picture of Vanderbilt's 1915 football team.

Rabbit Curry in uniform in France.

1915 Vanderbilt Commodore Football Results 

September 25: Middle Tennessee State (W 51-0)

October 2: Southwestern Presbyterian (W 47-0)

October 9: Georgetown University (W 75-0)

October 13: Cumberland University (W 60-0)

October 16: Henderson State University (W 100-0)

October 23: at University of Mississippi (W 91-0)

October 30: University of Tennessee (W 35-0)

November 5: at University of Virginia (L 10-35)

November 13: at Auburn University (W 20-3)

November 25: Sewanee University (W 27-3)

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