Wade won a total of ten Southern Conference football titles, four with Alabama and six with the Duke Blue Devils.

He coached in five Rose Bowls including the 1942 game, which was relocated from Pasadena, California to Durham, North Carolina after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

One of his teammates at Brown was Fritz Pollard, who went on to become the first African American coach in the National Football League.

Defending Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) champion Georgia was undefeated, having not allowed a score through its powerful line all year.

"Georgia would have trampled Vanderbilt to atoms but for Lynn Bomar", observed Nashville Tennessean sportswriter Blinkey Horn.

[10] The Commodores remained down 7–0 until late into the fourth quarter when Rupert Smith scored on an onside punt.

[11] Vanderbilt held Michigan to a scoreless tie in the inaugural game at the new Dudley Field, including a goal line stand.

One account reads "Thousands of cheering Vanderbilt fans inspired the surge of center Alf Sharpe, guard Gus Morrow, tackle Tex Bradford, and end Lynn Bomar, who stopped Michigan cold in four attempts.

On the hiring, the Athletic Council stated:Mr. Wade's experience as a football coach has been brilliant and successful.

He comes to us with the highest recommendation not only from Vanderbilt and Brown authorities, but also from many of the leading football experts of the South and indeed the entire country.

If we rely on expert testimony, the University is fortunate securing a man of Mr. Wade's character, experience, and achievements.

"[13]In 1923, Alabama was undefeated in Southern Conference play until upset by the Florida Gators 16–6 in the rain on Thanksgiving Day.

Alabama came from behind in the fourth to beat Mississippi State 13–7 but limped home with three straight losses to end the year at 5–4–1.

Wade was under fire after lackluster seasons in 1928 and 1929, which included narrow losses to Robert Neyland's Tennessee Volunteers.

"[15] Wade's last Alabama squad outscored their opponents 271–13 over the course of the season and completed a perfect (10-0) campaign with a 24–0 victory over Washington State in the Rose Bowl.

Though Wade refused to answer questions regarding his decision to leave Alabama for Duke until late in his life, he eventually told a sports historian he believed his philosophy regarding sports and athletics fit perfectly with the philosophy of the Duke administration and that he felt being at a private institution would allow him greater freedom.

[citation needed] Wade entered military service after the 1942 Rose Bowl loss and Eddie Cameron filled in for him as head football coach from 1942 to 1945.

[19] Playing in five games, Wade's team defeated the Chicago Cardinals and Detroit Lions,[20][21] but lost to the Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, and New York Giants.