The 1923 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1923 college football season. In its ninth and final season under head coach Pop Warner, the team compiled a 5–4 record and outscored opponents by a total of 83 to 45. The team played its home games at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.
Schedule
Preseason
The 1922 Pitt Panther football entourage returned from its victorious west coast trip and was feted at a gala banquet on January 10 with more than a thousand students and alumni in attendance. The lettermen received their "P" and All-American center Charles Bowser was elected captain for the 1923 season. On May 17 the Athletic Committee passed an amendment to the eligibility rules, "whereby an absolute three-year rule was made effective for all men in athletics at the local school. This ruling puts the Panthers on the highest possible plane of eligibility, all other sportsmanlike standards of play already being a part of the sports code of the local university." This rule prohibited Bowser, All-American guard Jack Sack and tackle Cullen Gourley from participating on the 1923 football squad. The lettermen called a special meeting and elected end Lloyd Jordan to be captain for the 1923 season. Lloyd also participated in basketball, baseball and track for the Panthers.
In December 1922 the University of Pittsburgh Athletic Council "appointed a committee to confer with Dr. John B. 'Jock' Sutherland, with a view to securing him as head coach when Glenn Warner leaves in 1924." On January 18 the Athletic Council of the University of Pittsburgh approved the contract with Dr. John B. Sutherland to coach the varsity football team for three years (1924-1926).
The Athletic Council announced in February that they secured property adjoining Trees Field for a probable stadium. In August they announced that they would erect a modern stadium seating at least 60,000. "The engineering plans are complete...The ordinance vacating unused portions of three streets was introduced in city council ...with expectation that it will be passed promptly, and it is now stated that immediately on receipt of this assurance from the city fathers the contract for grading will be awarded and work commenced. It is planned to complete all grading this year, so that the field will be in readiness for the erection of the huge steel and concrete stands as soon as the weather breaks next spring. 'The Pitt schedule for 1924 is being planned to be played in the new stadium.' declares Manager Davis."
Graduate Manager Karl E. Davis booked a nine game schedule for 1923 that Coach Warner described "the hardest any football team in the country had ever attempted." The 1923 schedule was similar to the 1922 slate except for Carnegie Tech and Grove City replacing Geneva and Cincinnati. The Syracuse game was scheduled to be played in the new Yankee Stadium in New York City on October 20.
Pat Herron, after a one year stint as Indiana head coach, returned to Warner's staff as an assistant and Reginald French Boulton was appointed student manager for the 1923 season.
Coach Warner's last session at Camp Hamilton began on September 5 and ended on September 21 with 40 Panthers vying for a position on the 1923 roster. Only halfback William Flanagan and end Carl Sauer remained from the starting lineup in the 1922 Penn State game. Thus, the camp schedule was much harder than normal, "because Coach Warner had so many places to fill and it was necessary for him to ascertain right off the reel just what each of the candidates possessed in the way of ability." He admitted that: "The boys have all shown the proper spirit, have been eager to learn, have gone about their work with a fine display of spirit, and have learned rapidly. A lot of them are still green and it will take some games to knock the rough spots off of them."
On September 3 "after twelve years of faithful service to the University, Charles S. Miller, Director of Athletics has resigned. The news of his resignation came as a sad blow to the athletes and students of Pitt. Charles S. Miller was the sponsor of the 'one-year residence', 'the 'Degree' and the 'Three-year' rules, which have gone so far to give Pitt recognized standing throughout the country and have been adopted by the larger eastern schools."
Coaching staff
1923 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff Pop Warner – Head coach Floyd Rose – Assistant coach Alexander Stevenson – Assistant coach Pat Herron – Assistant coach H. Clifford Carlson – Freshman coach Support staff R. French Boulton– student football manager J. Hubert Wagner – team physician Ollie DeVictor – team trainer Karl E. Davis – graduate manager of athletics
Roster 1923 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster Lloyd Jordan*end95' 10"1781924Punxutawney H. S.Punxutawney PA Harold Akins*tackle55' 10"1981925Bellefonte AcademyAlliance, Ohio William Ashbaugh*center55' 10"1701925Bellefonte AcademyWashington, PA Frank J. Benedictcenter05' 11"1631926Midland H. S.Midland, PA Kenneth Biddleguard05' 10"1961924Crafton H. S.Crafton, PA Karl Bohren*halfback85' 8"1571925Reynoldsville H. S.Reynoldsville, PA James N. Breencenter05' 7"1681925New Brighton H. S.New Brighton, PA Jesse J. Brown*halfback75' 10"1701926Nichols H. S.Buffalo, NY Franklin E. Byers*halfback75' 11"1551924Turtle Creek H. S.Turtle Creek, PA Ralph Chase*tackle86' 3"2021926Wyoming SeminaryWilkes Barre, PA Nicolas Colonna*fullback85' 8"1671924Woodlawn H. S.Woodlawn, PA John W. Evanshalfback15' 6"1551925Duquesne H. S.Duquesne, PA Ralph M. Evanshalfback05' 11"1491926McKees Rocks H. S.McKees Rocks, PA William Flanagan*halfback86'1601925Buckhannon H. S.Buckhannon, WV Noble L. Frank*tackle96'1771925Harrisburg Central H. S.Harrisburg, PA Andrew C. Gustafson*fullback76'1891926West Aurora H. S.Aurora, IL Milo Gwosden*end96'1761925Indiana NormalWoodlawn, PA William Hainesend26'1601924Crafton H. S.Crafton, PA Ulhardt Hangartnerguard05' 11"1861925Schenley H. S.Pittsburgh, PA John J. Hardinghalfback25' 9"1541926Wyoming SeminaryWyoming, PA Robert Irwinhalfback15' 11"1561926Bellefonte H. S.Bellefonte, PA Marsh Johnson*fullback86' 2"1801925Bellefonte AcademyJamestown, NY Ben Jonesend05' 10"1641926Schenley H. S.Pittsburgh, PA John J. Kifercenter05' 11"1631926Irwin H. S.Norwin, PA Alvar T. Leithtackle06' 1" 1791926South Hills H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Karl McCutcheonhalfback05' 9"148 1926East Liverpool H. S.East Liverpool, OH John D. Moffatttackle06' 2"1711926Allegheny H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Thomas Murdoch*tackle65' 11"1831925Schenley H.S.Pittsburgh PA Carl Sauer*end65' 11"1661925West Central H. S.Cleveland, OH Harry Seidelson*guard86' 1"1841924Fifth Avenue H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Nick Shuler*quarterback95' 11"1781924Elwood City H. S.Elwood City, PA John B. Shumakertackle05' 11"1721925Rochester H. S.Huntingdon, PA Wendell Steeletackle06' 2"1831926South Hills H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Paul S. Templeton*tackle86'1971926Greenville H. S.Transfer, PA Charles Williams*halfback25' 7"1671924Wellsburg H. S.Wellsburg, WVA Zoner A. Wissinger*tackle96'1831926Greenville H. S.Greenville, PA Reginald French Boulton*manager 1924 Beaver H. S.Beaver, PA * Letterman
Game summaries
At Bucknell
The Pitt Panther eleven ventured to Lewisburg, PA, for the first time ever, to open the 1923 football season against Bucknell led by fifth year coach Pete Reynolds. The Panthers and Bucknell would not meet again on the gridiron until 1945, which would be the final game in the series.
Coach Warner wrote in his column for The Pittsburgh Press: "This year I think Pitt will be very fortunate if she wins over half her games. There are nine games on the list, and I firmly believe we will be lucky if we do not lose more than four of them....All that has been done is to build an entirely new line with the exception of one end and an entirely new backfield with the exception of one halfback. Pitt is up against a real team in Bucknell. The Panthers were fortunate to win this game last season by the margin of a touchdown....Playing the game on Bucknell's field is to her advantage...If Pitt can get by this game without a licking, I will feel greatly relieved. Pitt's team is untried, inexperienced and green."
The Lewisburg Journal reported: "The Bucknell football team, after outplaying and holding to a scoreless tie the heavier, more experienced University of Pittsburgh team during the first half of Saturday's gridiron battle, succumbed during the two closing periods to the Pitt aerial attack and Gustafson's terrific line plunging, and finished on the short end of a 21 to 0 score."
Bucknell outfought the Panthers in the first half. Bucknell advanced the ball deep into Pitt territory to the 23-yard line and lost the ball on a fumble as the Pitt defense stiffened. Later Bucknell drove the ball to the Pitt 13-yard line and lost the ball on downs. In the second quarter, Henning came in at quarterback and had his 35 yard field goal try blocked, but he recovered for Bucknell. Bucknell fumbled on the next play and Pitt had possession on their 25-yard line. Bucknell garnered 8 first downs to Pitt's 6, but the halftime score read 0–0.
The second half belonged to Pitt. Pitt kicked off and Bucknell was forced to punt. Pitt gained possession on their 25-yard line. A pass from Karl Bohren to William Flanagan moved the ball to the 40-yard line. Two plays later a pass from Flanagan to Shuler advanced the ball 52 yards to the Bucknell 4-yard line. Andy Gustafson "brushed off right tackle for the first touchdown of the game." Milo Gwosden converted the goal after and Pitt led 7 to 0. Late in the third quarter Bucknell advanced the ball to the Pitt 27-yard line. The Panther defense held and gained possession on their 20-yard line. The Pitt offense moved the ball into Bucknell territory. The drive culminated with a pass from Karl Bohren to Nick Shuler for another Pitt touchdown. Flanagan kicked the goal and Pitt led 14 to 0. Coach Warner made numerous substitutions. Pitt kicked off and Bucknell tried to pass but John Harding intercepted and Pitt regained possession on the Bucknell 26-yard line. Pitt advanced the ball to the 6-yard line and on fourth down Gustafson bulled his way over the goal for the third Pitt score. Harding was good on the goal after and the final score read Pitt 21 to Bucknell 0.
The Pitt lineup for the game against Bucknell was Lloyd Jordan (left end), Ralph Chase (left tackle), Paul Templeton (left guard), William Ashbaugh (center), Harry Seidelson (right guard), Zoner Wissinger (right tackle), Carl Sauer (right end), Nick Shuler (quarterback), William Flanagan (left halfback), Karl Bohren (right halfback) and Nick Colonna (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Thomas Murdoch, Milo Gwosden, Andy Gustafson, Noble Frank, Marsh Johnson, William Haines, John Harding, James Brown and Ralph Evans. The game was played in 15-minute quarters.
Lafayette
For the second year in a row the Panthers hosted the Lafayette Leopards for the home opener. Lafayette, led by soon to be Pitt coach "Jock" Sutherland, was on a two game win streak over the Panthers. The Leopards opened their season the previous week with a 20–0 win over Muhlenberg College. The Lafayette line boasted two All-America candidates – tackle Art Deibel and end Charlie Berry. "Sutherland expects to have every man in prime condition for the battle here, and it bids fair to prove one of the most interesting combats of the season in Pittsburgh." "'Jock' feels that he must instill confidence into the fans that will watch his handiwork next season, and he knows that the best way to do that is to make it three in a row."
Coach Warner wrote that the past two games against Lafayette were determined by fortunate breaks (Pitt fumbles) and this game may well go the same way. He felt that Lafayette was the more mature team and Pitt would be "mighty lucky" to win.