The 1937 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1937 college football season. In its 14th season under head coach Jock Sutherland, the team compiled a 9–0–1 record, shut out six of its ten opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 203 to 34. The team played its home games at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh. The Panthers were crowned national champions by the final AP poll, which was released in late November, and by most NCAA-designated major selectors.
Pitt was also awarded the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy as the champion of the East. An invitation to the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day was declined.
Schedule
Preseason
The Panther faithful had little time to savor the 1936 (8–1–1) football season and Rose Bowl victory, due to a winter of discontent in the athletic department. On Monday February 22, Joe Williams of the New York World-Telegram broke a story about a rift between Coach Jock Sutherland, and Athletic Director Don Harrison that took place at the Rose Bowl. In essence, the coach wanted spending money for the team but the athletic director refused. Mr. Harrison's final statement was: "I made you, now I'm going to break you." Sutherland ended up giving the team money out of his own pocket. Coach Sutherland stated that he would resign "rather than embroil the University of Pittsburgh in a controversy which is neither dignified nor to the best interests of the institution." Mr. Harrison denied the story was factual, but on March 20 his resignation was accepted by the Athletic Council, much to the dismay of Chancellor Dr. John G. Bowman. Dr. Bowman sent three points of athletic policy to the Athletic Council. The third point made clear what the Chancellor thought of subsidizing athletes. "Much discussion of athletics centers around the subsidization of athletes. Much of this talk is nonsense. The University of Pittsburgh should join with other institutions to maintain high and right standards of amateur college athletics. I cannot express to you too strongly my desire that the University shall discourage the giving of special help to students who have nothing to recommend them but athletic ability. On the other hand, the University through the recommendations, chiefly of high school principals and of Senators of the Commonwealth, grants help to more than 2000 students. In these grants there should be no discrimination for or against a boy merely because he has athletic ability. In other words, you are charged with the responsibility to discourage any subsidies, from whatever source, to students merely because of athletic ability." On May 3 Dr. Bowman named James Hagan, a letterman halfback on Sutherland's 1925–27 teams, to the office of athletic director. Hagan had been Harrison's assistant for the previous 8 years, occupying the office of Graduate Manager of Athletics. He took office in July and immediately presented his nine-point policy to the Athletic Council. The infamous "Hagan Plan", which Sutherland claimed he had not seen until he read it in the newspaper in October, was accepted by the athletic council and lauded by Chancellor Bowman. It would be the downfall of Pitt football for decades. The major problems were the players would be subsidized, but they would have to work two hours a day to earn it and the schedule would be only eight games a season. Sutherland thought the schedule would not be against major powers but lesser competition to equal the talent that he would be recruiting. That would not be the case. The minor issues were that Sutherland could no longer write newspaper articles or do radio ads to make extra money; Sutherland had no control over the schedule; Camp Hamilton fall practice was abolished; and Sutherland could not recruit off campus.
After the Panthers successful season, Jock Sutherland's coaching staff got raided. Carnegie Tech hired Pitt assistant coach Bill Kern as their new head coach and he added Pitt backfield coach Dr. Edward Baker to his staff. Eddie Hirshberg accepted the end coach position at Dartmouth. Sutherland hired Pitt graduates – Alec Fox (assistant tackle coach), Harold Williams (assistant quarterback coach), and Edward Schultz (assistant end coach) – to fill the vacancies.
For the 1937 football season, Al Barr, a senior in the Business School, was appointed varsity manager and David Grossman, a senior in the college, was appointed freshman manager.
Trainer Dr. George "Bud" Moore moved home to Easton, Pennsylvania to start his own dental practice. He came to Pitt as trainer in 1928, graduated from the dental school in 1932 and worked at the practice of Dr. Harry Patton, another Pitt grad, when he was not busy with the football team. On August 19 James Hagan appointed Frank Altmar, health director at the Y.M.H.A., trainer for the football team.
Jock Sutherland's fourteenth spring practice as Pitt head coach started on March 22 at Trees Field. 50 aspirants appeared for the opening week. Sutherland put out his "suits for everyone" plea for more bodies to take part in the six-week drills. On May 1, the sessions ended with a Varsity versus Alumni game. The Varsity routed the Alums 26–7. Reserve halfback John Urban scored three touchdowns to lead the way in front of the 400 spectators who "crashed the gate".
On May 8, Coach Sutherland and the squad put on a free Spectator Clinic in Pitt Stadium for more than 1000 fans to officially close the spring practice session. The fans were treated to "two hours of absorbing the inside of the gridiron sport."
On September 6, the Pitt coaching staff welcomed 60 Panthers, including 21 lettermen, for the start of their two weeks of two-a-day practices on Trees Field. Coach Sutherland housed the squad at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association and set up a training table in the school cafeteria. When school opened on September 20, practice was once a day until the home opener on September 25 against Ohio Wesleyan.
The Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph noted that: "Children under 12 years of age will be admitted to Pitt football games for 25 cents. Sections 23 and 24 are reserved for this group."
Coaching staff 1937 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff John B. "Jock" Sutherland – Head coach Charley Bowser – Assistant coach Alex Fox – tackle coach Harold Williams – quarterback coach Ralph Daugherty – center coach Michael Nicksick – backfield coach Edward Schultz – end coach Walter Milligan– Freshman coach Support staff Dr. H. A. Ralph Shanor – team physician Frank Altmar – team trainer Percy S. Browne – custodian of equipment James Hagan - director of athletics Frank Carver – publicity director Albert Barr – varsity student manager David Grossnan– freshmen student manager
Team photo
Roster
1937 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster Anthony Matisi*tackle102151938 Endicott H. S. Endicott, NY Dante Dalle Tezze*guard101901938Jeannette H. S.Jeannette, PA George Delich*tackle10 1921938Froebel H.S.Gary, IN Henry Adams*center81851938California H. S. California, PA Walter Raskowski*guard 101901939New Castle H. S. New Castle, PA Albin Lezouski*guard91851939Mahanoy City H. S. Mahanoy City, PA Donald Hensley*center101961938Huntington H. S.Huntington, WV Frank Souchak*end101981938Berwick H. S.Berwick., PA Frank Patrick*fullback101921938Roosevelt H. S. East Chicago, IN Marshall Goldberg*halfback91861939Elkins H. S. Elkins, WVA John Urban*halfback91651938 Larksville H. S.Larksville, PA Elmer Merkovsky*tackle 102041939Scott H. S. North Braddock. PA Harold Stebbins*halfback101851939Williamsport H. S. Williamsport, PA Ted Schmidt*tackle102001938Carrick H. S.Carrick, PA Paul Shaw*end101921938Bradford H. S.Bradford, PA Stephen Petro*guard91851939Johnstown H. S. Johnstown, PA John Michelosen*quarterback101901938Ambridge H. S.Ambridge, PA William Stapulis*halfback101851938California H. S.California, PA Fabian Hoffman*end8178193Central Catholic H. S. Pittsburgh, PA Robert Dannies*center82001939Westmont H. S. (PA) Wauwatosa, WI John Chickerneo*quarterback101971939Warren H. S.Warren, OH Richard Cassiano*halfback 9 1701940 Albany H. S. Albany, NY William Daddio*end81851939Meadville H. S.Meadville, PA Benjamin Kishquarterback71891940Tonawanda H. S.Tonowanda, NY Edward Spotovichend7 1871938South H. S. Pittsburgh, PA Lawrence Peace*halfback7 1801940 Bradford H. S. Bradford, PA Emil Narickquarterback51801940Benwood H. S.Benwood, WV Ralph Hafertackle5 1851940 Dormont H. S.Dormont, PA John Dickinsonend31821940Peabody H. S. Pittsburgh, PA William Farkasfullback 31781940 Windber H. S. Windber, PA Charles Flemingend11651939New Castle H. S.New Castle, PA Frank Kristufektackle0 1981940 McKeesport H. S. McKeesport, PA Luther Richardsguard11751938Kingston H. S.Kingston, PA Carmen Etzetackle1 2001940Mt. Pleasant H. S.Mt. Pleasant, PA George Yocosguard21751938Monessen H. S.Monessen, PA Ben Asavitchtackle3 2001939Wilkes-Barre Memorial H. S.Wilkes-Barre, PA Walter Millerend11781938Phillipsburg H. S.Phillipsburg, NJ Clement Cambalfullback21721939Springdale H. S.Springdale, PA Howard Jackmanhalfback11611939Peabody H. S. Pittsburgh, PA Richard Fullertoncenter 1 1701940 Madison H. S. Madison, NJ Joseph Morrowend11781938Mars H. S.Mars, PA George Musulintackle02201938Mt. Lebanon H.S.Mt. Lebanon, PA Albert Waltonguard31851938Beaver Falls H. S.Beaver Falls, PA Frank Goodellfullback 1 1751940Curtis H. S. Staten Island, NY Joseph Cambaltackle 2 2001940Kiskiminetas Springs H. S. Springdale, PA Alfred Bergertackle0 1851939Allegheny H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Leslie Holtend0 1701940Meadville H. S. Meadville, PA James Kosinskiquarterback 1 1601939Sheffield H. S. Pittsburgh, PA Harold Kleinguard 3 1761940Altoona H. S.Altoona, PA James Scarfpinguard31951938Altoona H. S. Martins Ferry, OH Arthur Coraceguard0 1771940Carrick H. S. Carrick, PA Fred Herlingerhalfback 0 1551940Mt. Lebanon H. S. Mt. Lebanon, PA John Kapurkaend 1 1651940 Pittsburgh, PA Willard Currycenter1 1851939 East McKeesport, PA Earl Shordfullback 0 1751940 Pittsburgh, PA Stephen Hortonend 0 1621940 Pittsburgh, PA Charles Sheahalfback1 1551939 Pittsburgh, PA George Sorokahalfback 1 1621940 Pittsburgh, PA David Grossman*freshman student manager 1938Turtle Creek Union, H. S.Turtle Creek, PA Albert Barr*varsity student manager 1938Central Catholic H. S.Pittsburgh, PA * Letterman
Game summaries
Ohio Wesleyan
For the second year in a row the Pitt Panthers welcomed the Ohio Wesleyan Bishops for their home opener. George Gauthier's eleven fell to the Panthers 53–0 in 1936, and were determined to make a better showing this time around. History shows that the Bishops were capable, as they upset Michigan, Syracuse and Michigan State in previous years.
Coach Sutherland had the luxury of eight returning starters and at least two lettermen vying for the three vacant spots in the lineup. Les Biederman of The Pittsburgh Press noted: "Dr. Jock Sutherland is far from pleased with the mental attitude of his gridders and would like them to catch a rude shock tomorrow afternoon, but not too rude."
In front of more than 19,000 fans, the veteran Panther squad routed the Bishops 59 to 0. On the first play from scrimmage Marshall Goldberg, Pitt's All-American halfback, intercepted a pass and raced 55-yards for the first score. Goldberg was replaced by sophomore Dick Cassiano, who responded with a 4-touchdown performance. Cassiano rushed for two scores, caught a touchdown pass, returned an interception for six points and he capped off his offensive dexterity by throwing a touchdown pass to fellow sophomore end, John Dickinson. Fullback Frank Patrick added two scores and Bill Stapulis one. Four placekickers (Bill Daddio, Elmer Merkovsky (2), William Farkas and Frank Souchak) converted five of nine extra points.
Ohio Wesleyan finished their season with a 2–7 record. The Panthers and Bishops would not meet on the gridiron again.