The 1927 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1927 college football season. In its fourth season under head coach Jock Sutherland, the team compiled an 8–1–1 record, shut out seven of its ten opponents, suffered it sole loss to Stanford by a 7–6 score in the 1928 Rose Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 285 to 27. The team played its eight home games at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh. Pitt sports fans were treated to a superb 1927-28 athletic program as four Panther teams finished their seasons undefeated - football, basketball, track and swimming. The team was ranked No. 2 in the nation in the Dickinson System ratings released in December 1927.
Schedule
Preseason
At the annual postseason football banquet, the lettermen voted Gilbert "Gibby" Welch captain for the 1927 season by a 10–9 margin over Andrew Cutler.
William McKee, a junior in the School of Business Administration was appointed varsity football manager for the 1927 team by Karl E. Davis, Graduate Manager of Athletics.
Alfred Hamilton, "Father of Pitt stadium" and alumnus, who was prominent in all Pitt activities, especially sports, died on March 28, 1927. The Pittsburgh Press lamented his passing: "Pittsburgh lost one of its most prominent and best known sportsmen when A. R. Hamilton passed away this morning. He was especially interested in college athletics, having been an alumnus, trustee and member of the Athletic Council of the University of Pittsburgh. In fact many years ago, when Pitt, then the Western University of Pennsylvania, was struggling to gain an athletic foothold, it was Mr. Hamilton's influence and financial aid that smoothed the pathway. He was a great lover of football and never missed a game which the Panthers played. He was a prime mover in the erection of the Pitt stadium and served on the stadium committee."
E. F. Blakeslee was named Athletic Director and former Pitt player Harold Williams was named Assistant Athletic Director by Chancellor John G. Bowman on March 28, 1927. "Dr. Bowman's plan, it is said, is to have the new men work in conjunction with the office of Graduate Manager K. E. Davis, and the new regime will give Pitt an organization akin to those in vogue in the Western conference."
The athletic department sold 1927 football season ticket booklets to alumni, bondholders, faculty members and student family members for the first time. Children under 16 could join the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fair Play Club and get a 25 cent ticket that was good for a ride on the trolley to the game, entrance to the game and then a ride home on the trolley after the game.(see photo)
Charley Bowser, who coached Grove City to a 7–0 record in 1926, joined Jock Sutherland's staff as an assistant coach to replace Guy Williamson. Williamson resigned to devote more time to his private business. Coach Sutherland completed his staff by hiring two more former Panthers, Roscoe "Skip" Gougler and Zoner Wissinger, to assist with the freshmen team.
Coaches Sutherland, Bowser and Stevenson welcomed more than 60 eager lads to spring practice, held from March 28 to April 23. Drills were run late in the afternoon to not interfere with classes. The emphasis was on fundamentals with scrimmages occurring in the final days of the schedule. The usually stoic coach Sutherland commented to The Pitt Weekly: "I have never had a more aggressive and spirited bunch in training than this. I am more than satisfied that if the boys carry on like this next fall we'll all have reason to be proud of them at the end of the season."
Forty aspirants boarded the train to Windber, Pennsylvania on September 4 for a 14-day preseason training session at Camp Hamilton. "The fresh mountain air, the excellent food served up by the famous Alex Williams, and the complete athletic equipment of the camp all provided a real football atmosphere which aided the coaches in conditioning the fellows. Two snappy scrimmages, three hearty meals, one long restful sleep, and a rules quiz constituted the daily routine of the huskies." The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted: "The camp this year has been one of the most successful ever held. Coach Sutherland has his men in fine physical condition and intensive work has put the squad in an advanced stage of training."
Coaching staff
1927 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 H. Clifford Carlson – Freshman coach Roscoe "Skip" Gougler – assistant freshman coach Zoner Wissinger – assistant freshmen coach Support staff William McKee – student football manager Thomas R. Kendrick – team physician Ollie DeVictor – team trainer E. F. Blakeslee - director of athletics Karl E. Davis – graduate manager of athletics
Roster 1927 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster Gilbert L. Welch*halfback95' 10"1691928Business Adm.Bellefonte AcademyParkersburg, W. Va. Andrew J. Salata*tackle85' 11"1921928DentalWyoming SeminaryYoungstown, Pa. Philip Goldbergend25' 9"1541929CollegeNew Kensington H. S.New Kensington, Pa. Alexander Fox*tackle105' 10"1741929Business Adm.New Castle H. S.New Castle, Pa. Chester D. Doverspiketackle66'1931928Business Adm.New Bethlehem H. S.New Bethlehem, Pa. Allan A. Booth*fullback 95' 8"1801928DentalSharon H. S.Sharon, Pa. Chester H. Wasmuth*tackle105' 11"1901928DentalUnion H. S.Turtle Creek, Pa. Mike Getto*tackle86' 2"1941929Business Adm.Jeannette H. S.Jeannette, Pa. Richard Goldberg*center76'1871928DentalSlippery Rock NormalNew Kensington, Pa. Andrew A. Cutler*center96'1921928DentalBellefonte AcademyFredericktown, Pa. John A. Roberts*guard96' 2"1781928CollegeParkersburg H. S.Parkersburg, W. Va. Felix F. Demoise*end95' 9"1541928DentalGreensburg H. S.Greensburg, Pa. Reginald Bowenhalfback16' 1541928Business Adm.Erie East H. S.Erie, Pa. Philip Sargeant*end66' 1731928DentalNew Castle H. S.New Castle, Pa. William Kern*tackle96' 1781928Business Adm.Wyoming SeminaryKingston, Pa. Walter Hoban*halfback55' 9"1451928DentalSharpsville H. S.Sharpsville, Pa. Paul R. Fisher*guard76'1851928EnglishAvalon H. S.Ben Avon, Pa. Dwight W. Fyock*fullback55' 11"1661928Business Adm.Johnstown H. S.Johnstown, Pa. Albert Guarino*end95' 8"1701929CollegeBellefonte AcademyGreensburg, Pa. James Hagan*halfback95' 10"1671928Business Adm.Windber H. S.Windber, Pa. Edward Seifertguard26' 2101928Business Adm.Schenley H. S.Pittsburgh, Pa. Theodore Meiertackle05' 10"1931929Business Adm.East Erie H. S.Erie, Pa.Theodore Helsingend15' 11"1681930Civil EngineeringWilkinsburg H. S.Wilkinsburg, Pa. Edward Sherakoend26' 1691929Business Adm.Wyoming SeminaryPlymouth, Pa. Charles Edwards*halfback75' 11"1681930Bachelor of Science Wyoming SeminaryMoundsville, W. Va. Octavius Uansa*halfback55' 9"1671930College McKees Rocks H. S.McKees Rocks, Pa. Joe Donchess*end76' 1661930Medical SchoolWyoming SeminaryYoungstown, O. Tom Parkinson*halfback85' 11"1911931 Dental SchoolCalifornia H. S.California, Pa. Jack Shawcenter35' 11"1831930CollegeRayen H. S.Youngstown, O. Ray Montgomery*guard106'1811930School of BusinessWarwood H. S.Wheeling, W. Va. R. Felix Wilpshalfback35' 9"1581930Civil Engineering Norwin H. S.Irwin, Pa. Arthur L. Corsontackle16' 1891930Business Adm.Wyoming SeminaryNew Albany, Pa. Lester Cohenend26' 1801930Business Adm.Uniontown H. S.Uniontown, Pa. William McKee*manager 1928 Business Adm.Sisterville H. S.Sisterville, W. Va. * Letterman
Game summaries
Thiel
The Panthers opened the season against Thiel College from Greenville, PA. The teams last met in 1900 and 1901 when Pitt was the Western University of Pennsylvania. Pitt led the series 2–0 and had out-scored Thiel 64–0. Former Pitt quarterback, Tom Holleran, was in his fifth year at the helm of the Thiel eleven. Holleran led the team to a 3–6 record in 1926 and had an overall mark of 16–18–2.
The Pitt Weekly boasted: "Making Thiel's gridiron team look like a fly in the palm of the stadium saucer the Golden Jerseyed edition of Pitt football rang up its opening victory of the season last Saturday at the stadium when it walloped Tommy Holleran's warriors by the decisive score of 48–0. A crowd of nearly 5,000 witnessed the walkaway despite the fact that the Pirates drew over 25,000 sport fans to Forbes Field."
Pitt dominated offensively and defensively. Fullback Allan "Dick" Booth led the scoring with 3 touchdowns followed by captain Gilbert "Gibby" Welch with 2. James Hagan and Tom Parkinson each added one. Booth was successful on 4 of 5 placements and Charles Edwards drop-kicked both his attempts through the uprights to close out the scoring. Pitt amassed 407 rushing yards and another 100 yards through the air on 6 pass completions. Thiel registered a first down after two offensive plays but the Pitt defense stiffened and did not surrender another. Thiel finished the season with a 1–7–1 record.
Coach Sutherland was not pleased: "The play of the Panthers yesterday against Thiel was just fair. Coach Holleran has a green, but fighting team. I was confident of a victory yesterday, but I am rather disappointed in the performance of some of my men. Using straight football tactics as they were instructed before the game my offense functioned fairly well. The defensive work was rather disappointing, however, and I shall stress that phase of the game in practice this week. I thought I had given my men sufficient work on the fundamentals, but I was dissatisfied with the blocking yesterday. The interference was ragged most of the time. Another disappointing feature was the play of my reserves. They did not work satisfactorily, as a team or individually. On the whole, however, I suppose the showing of my team was satisfactory enough for the first game of the season. I am confident that I shall have just a good football team, a team that will play a steady ordinary brand of football."
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Thiel was Felix Demoise (left end), William Kern (left tackle), John Roberts (left guard), Andrew Cutler (center), Alex Fox (right guard), Chester Wasmuth (right tackle), Albert Guarino (right end), Paul Fisher (quarterback), Gibby Welch (left halfback), Jame Hagan (right halfback) and Dick Booth (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Charles Edwards, Walter Hoban, Tom Parkinson, Mike Getto, Richard Goldberg, Ray Montgomery, Andrew Salata, Philip Sargeant, Lester Cohen, Philip Goldberg, Chester Doverspike, Edward Seifert, Frank Shaw, Edward Sherako and Dwight Fyock.
Grove City
The Grove City eleven won the Tri-State district Class-B college championship in 1925 and 1926 under the tutelage of now Pitt assistant coach Charley Bowser. The Grovers replaced Bowser with Charlie Berry, a 1924 All-American end, who played for coach Jock Sutherland at Lafayette. Pitt had a commanding lead in the series at 7−2−1, with Grove City only scoring 7 points total in the past 8 meetings. This would be the final time that Pitt and Grove City would meet on the gridiron.
The Sunday Sun-Telegraph reported: "Under a torturing sun that robbed the atmosphere of anything suggesting football weather, the Pitt Panthers overwhelmed Grove City at the Pitt Stadium yesterday afternoon by the score of 33 to 0. Capt. Gibby Welsh of the Panthers, was on the sideline...While it was just a warm-up game, the Panthers looked far stronger than they did against Thiel a week ago...Conventional football with no tendency to open up, marked the Pitt attack...The story of the game was a succession of first downs, with Pitt always capable of making the necessary yardage."
Sutherland started the same linemen as the Thiel game but used Charles Edwards at quarterback, Walter Hoban at halfback and Tom Parkinson at fullback. By the time the gun sounded to end the game a total of twenty-five Panthers saw action.