The 1928 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1928 college football season. In its fifth season under head coach Jock Sutherland, the team compiled a 6–2–1 record, shut out seven of its nine opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 177 to 15. The team played its eight home games at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh.
Schedule
Preseason
Numerous changes in the Athletic Department of the University of Pittsburgh occurred during the spring and summer of 1928. On March 8, 1928 the executive committee of the board of trustees appointed W. D. Harrison, dean of men at the University of Pittsburgh since 1923, to the office of director of athletics. He replaced Elmer F. Blakeslee, who held the job less than a year and resigned for business reasons. In May, Karl E. Davis, longtime graduate manager of athletics, resigned his position. His football scheduling duties had been usurped by the athletic director's office and he spent most of his time fulfilling his duties as the Alumni Secretary. The graduate manager position no longer existed. On July 28 Dr. Oliver R. Kendrick was named to replace his brother, Dr. Thomas R. Kendrick, as team physician. Thomas Kendrick, who died unexpectedly on April 17, was a former Pitt gridder, who earned his football letter in 1918 and also lettered in wrestling. Ollie De Victor, popular football trainer for 8 years, was replaced by George “Bud” Moore on September 1. Moore was Lafayette's trainer during Jock Sutherland's tenure. The Athletic Department appointed Dr. Zonar Wissinger and Dr. Roscoe "Skip" Gougler freshmen team coaches to replace H. Clifford Carlson.
David Chester Stewart, a member of the class of 1929 in the School of Business Administration, was selected to be the 1928 varsity student football manager. The selection was made by a committee of five, made up of the captain, the coach, the varsity football manager, the assistant athletic director and the graduate manager.
The lettermen elected guard Alex Fox captain for the 1928 season.
With the graduation of sixteen players from the 1927 Eastern Championship team, captain Fox and coach Sutherland had a tough assignment to get the Panthers to perform at the same level for the 1928 season. For this reason coach Sutherland wanted to open spring drills on March 19, but was delayed a week due to snow. Spring practice officially kicked off on March 26 with 87-100 aspiring lads vying for a spot on the team. Sutherland mused: "No coach has ever had a greener gang of candidates. The team as a whole, is lacking the fundamentals of the game, but the two months of spring practice will enable them to be drilled at least in those points." At the conclusion of the spring drills coach Sutherland expressed the opinion that his first string was capable but the reserves needed experience. Alex Fox was quoted: "We aren't the same squad we were last year or anything like it, but we are a fighting squad that should come through. Of course, we won't have a perfect record, but at least Pitt will not be ashamed of her team."
The fifteenth annual fall practice at Camp Hamilton commenced on September 2. Fifty-two Pitt Panther athletes, hoping to earn a spot on the roster, spent two weeks learning the Sutherland system during the twice a day practice sessions. On the final day of camp the varsity earned a 7 to 0 victory over the substitutes in the closing scrimmage game.
Coaching staff
1928 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff John B. "Jock" Sutherland – Head coach Charley Bowser – Assistant coach Paul Templeton – part-time assistant coach Alexander Stevenson – Assistant coach - scout Roscoe "Skip" Gougler – freshmen coach Zoner Wissinger – freshmen coach Support staff David Stewart– student football manager Dr. Ollie Kendrick – team physician George Moore – team trainer P. S. Browne – custodian of equipment W. D. Harrison - director of athletics F. W. Williams – assistant director of athletics
Roster 1928 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster Alexander Fox*guard95' 10"1741929B. Sci., Business Adm.New Castle H. S.New Castle, Pa. Mike Getto*tackle96' 2"1941929Business Adm.Jeannette H. S.Jeannette, Pa. Albert Guarino*end95' 8"1701929CollegeBellefonte AcademyGreensburg, Pa. Charles Edwards*quarterback95' 11"1681930Bachelor of Science Wyoming SeminaryMoundsville, W. Va. Octavius Uansa*halfback95' 9"1671930College McKees Rocks H. S.McKees Rocks, Pa. Joe Donchess*end96' 1661930Medical SchoolWyoming SeminaryYoungstown, O. Tom Parkinson*halfback75' 11"1911931 Dental SchoolCalifornia H. S.California, Pa. Ray Montgomery*guard96'1811930School of BusinessWarwood H. S.Wheeling, W. Va. Arthur L. Corson*tackle66' 1891930Business Adm.Wyoming SeminaryNew Albany, Pa. Markley Barnes*center56'1721929Business Adm.Broaddus AcademyWellsburg, W. Va. Albert DiMeolo*guard95' 11"1761930DentalBellefonte AcademyCoraopolis, Pa. Charles Tully*tackle9 1811931Business Adm. Wheeling, W. Va. Harold Williams*halfback9 1621931EducationMars H. S.Mars, Pa. Edward Baker*center7 1621931DentalNanticoke H. S.Nanticoke, Pa. James Rooney*quarterback65' 11"1701930DentalBellefonte AcademyPittsburgh, Pa. James A. Scanlon*end66' 1731929DentalThe Kiski SchoolPittsburgh, Pa. William Walinchus*halfback8 1691931DentalMahanoy City H. S.Mahanoy City, Pa. Ernest Lewisguard7 1851931DentalSteelton H. S.Steelton, Pa. William Loehrend6 1601931 Turtle Creek H. S.Turtle Creek, Pa. R. Felix Wilpshalfback55' 9"1581930Civil Engineering Norwin H. S.Irwin, Pa. Reginald Bowenhalfback56' 1541928Business Adm.Erie East H. S.Erie, Pa. Jesse Crissingerguard6 1801931 N. Cumberland, W. Va. Bucky Wagnerhalfback5 1601931Business Adm. Pittsburgh, Pa. Franklin Hoodhalfback4 1921931 Monaca H. S.Monaca, Pa. Philip Goldberg*end45' 9"1541929B. Sci., CollegeNew Kensington H. S.New Kensington, Pa. Paul Greenbergertackle3 1961931 Pittsburgh, Pa. Nevin Fawguard3 2001931DentalMonongahela H. S. Monongahela City, Pa. Al Cipertackle2 1801931 Glenwillard H. S.Glenwillard, Pa. Michael Uramfullback 1 1701931 Forrest Hills, Pa. Daniel Fugeguard1 1741931 Pittsburgh, Pa. Frank Fisherguard0 1701931DentalAllegheny H. S.Pittsburgh, Pa. Edward Schultzhalfback1 1621931CollegePittston H. S.West Pittston, Pa. Robert Grahamtackle0 1821931DentalSwissvale H. S.Wilkinsburg, Pa.Theodore Helsingend15' 11"1681930Civil EngineeringWilkinsburg H. S.Wilkinsburg, Pa. Edward Sherakoend06' 1691929Business Adm.Wyoming SeminaryPlymouth, Pa. John Jonesfullback0 1501931 Sutersville H. S.Sutersville, Pa. Raymond Andersontackle0 1761931 Coraopolis H. S.Coraopolis, Pa. Richard Calhounguard0 1811931 Pittsburgh, Pa. Raymond Brueckentackle0 1801931 Pittsburgh, Pa. M. J. Petroskyhalfback0 1571931 Braddock H. S. Braddock, Pa. David Stewart*manager 1929 Business Adm. Harrisburg Tech. H. S.Harrisburg, Pa. * Letterman
Game summaries
Thiel
Pitt beat Thiel all three previous times they played and out scored the Lutherans 106 to 0. Thiel coach Tommy Holleran, former Pitt star, had a veteran squad led by star quarterback Stan Berkman and reported his team to be 50 per cent stronger than last season.
The Post-Gazette noted: "The Pitt squad ended four weeks of intensive training work yesterday, and no Panther team ever was in better physical trim. Bronzed and toughened by two weeks of conditioning work at their mountain training camp, followed by another two weeks devoted to the perfection of plays and formations, Sutherland's players are ready for their initial test of the season."
Harry Keck of the Sun-Telegraph reported: "The University of Pittsburgh Panthers, making their first appearance of the 1928 gridiron campaign, before a crowd of about 7,000 students, alumni, youngsters and just fans, had to cut loose with everything they had to score a 20 to 0 victory over Dr. Tommy Holleran's valiant little band of football warriors from Thiel College, of Greenville, Pa, in the stadium Saturday."
Pitt had a golden opportunity to score in the first period as Thiel halfback Suscavitch fumbled on his 21-yard line and Pitt tackle Mike Getto recovered. The Pitt offense advanced the ball to the 7-yard line but a holding call moved it back to the 22-yard line and a fumble by halfback Harold Williams turned the ball over to Thiel on their 21-yard line. At the end of the quarter, Pitt gained possession on their 43-yard line and advanced the ball to the Thiel 7-yard line when time expired. Toby Uansa scored on the first play of the second stanza. Charles Edwards missed the point after and Pitt led at halftime 6 to 0. The Thiel offense threatened to score in the third stanza but Edward Baker intercepted a pass on the 3-yard line and ran it out to the 41-yard line to thwart the drive. Pitt punted early in the fourth period and Thiel was guilty of clipping which gave the Panthers possession on the Lutherans 44-yard line. A 19 yard pass play from Uansa to Edwards, a 16 yard run by Parkinson and an offside penalty by Thiel took the ball to the 3-yard line. "Uansa slid off tackle to within inches of the goal line. Parkinson tore through left guard for a touchdown...Edwards drop-kicked the extra point." Pitt led 13 to 0. Pitt regained possession when Thiel back Schilling fumbled on second down and Jesse Crissinger recovered for the Panthers on the Thiel 28-yard line. Uansa scored his second touchdown of the afternoon on an eleven yard scamper around left end. He added the point after and Pitt had a 20 to 0 victory. Thiel finished the season with a 1–6–2 record and the Panthers and Lutherans would not meet again on the gridiron.
The Pitt starting lineup for the opening game against Thiel was Joe Donchess (left end), Ray Montgomery (left tackle), Albert DiMeolo (left guard), Markley Barnes (center), Alex Fox (right guard), Mike Getto (right tackle), Albert Guarino (right end), Charles Edwards (quarterback), Toby Uansa (left halfback), Harold Williams (right halfback) and Tom Parkinson (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were James Scanlon, Charles Tully, Jesse Crissinger, Edward Baker, Ernest Lewis, William Loehr, Bucky Wagner, Felix Wilps, William Walinchus, Reginald Bowen, Philip Goldberg, and Al Ciper.
Bethany
The Panthers second non-major opponent was the Bethany College Bison from Bethany, West Virginia. The Panthers led the all-time series 5–0 and out-scored the Bisons 141 to 0 in the process. The teams last met in 1917 with Pitt winning by a 40–0 margin. Former W. & J. halfback Furman Nuss was in his fourth year as coach, and had the Bisons 1–1 on the season. His squad bested Broaddus College from Philippi, West Virginia, 24 to 7 in their opener, and then, held W. & J. scoreless for a half before succumbing to the Presidents 24 to 0.
The Post-Gazette was somewhat pessimistic: "Facing the strongest college team that has played in Pittsburgh in several seasons, Coach Jock Sutherland's Golden Pitt Panthers will meet their first hard test of the season this afternoon when they line up against a husky Bethany eleven. Captain Dale Fiers, Bethany's hard-hitting fullback, and Lund, a stellar punter, are expected to provide most of the visitor's punch."
Jess Carver of the Sun-Telegraph was a realist as the college teams in Pittsburgh played their second game of the season. "Pittsburgh games include the Pitt-Bethany affair at the stadium and the Tech-Ashland fracas at Forbes Field. It depends on who you are as to how you'll regard the tussles. If you are disinterested, you'll probably classify them as setups for Pitt and Tech. If you are a student at either school, you'll naturally call'em tough ones. If you're from Bethany or Ashland, you'll rate the boys a uniform and teach them a prayer."