The 1935 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1935 college football season. In its 12th season under head coach Jock Sutherland, the team compiled a 7–1–2 record, shut out six of its ten opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 135 to 28. The team played its home games at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh.
Schedule
Preseason
On March 18, Coach Sutherland and his assistants welcomed 63 football players for spring practice. After losing 14 seniors to graduation, Sutherland needed plenty of able-bodied replacements for his two-deep rotation. After five weeks of drills, Coach Sutherland invited Christie Flanagan and his Duquesne team to a scrimmage on Trees Field. It was a fun afternoon for both coaches and players. The game was run in regulation style, but the quarters were 10 minutes in length, players could substitute at will, coaches roamed the field and no touchdowns were scored. That exercise was a warm-up for the May 4 Varsity versus Alumni scrimmage to close the spring practice session. The varsity prevailed 10 to 0 on the strength of Leon Shedlosky's 62-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter. Frank Patrick converted the extra point and followed that up with a 25-yard field goal to end the scoring. The Alumni made a last gasp attempt to score but were stopped at the two-yard line as time ran out.
On May 11, Jock Sutherland held his Fourth Annual Football Clinic at Pitt Stadium for 1500 high school coaches and players. He was aided by head coaches Andy Kerr of Colgate and Dick Harlow of Harvard, in addition to his Pitt assistants and varsity team. The all-day affair consisted of a morning session with demonstrations and exhibitions of offensive and defensive tactics on the field, lunch with lectures by the visiting coaches, and an afternoon session back on the field.
On September 8, Coach Sutherland began his twelfth season at Pitt by welcoming 52 potential squad members to the Camp Hamilton preseason training facility. Jess Carver of the Sun-Telegraph noted that Coach Sutherland "faces a fairly formidable schedule and the prospect of rebuilding, practically in its entirety his varsity riddled by the loss of outstanding stars from last year's powerful eleven. He needs to develop a new line and a new backfield, and when you've said that, you've covered the situation pretty well." After two weeks of two-a-day practices, the final day regulation game was won by the first team 14 to 0. Leon Shedlosky ran for two touchdowns and Frank Patrick added the extra points. The squad returned to campus for the start of classes and final preparation for the opening game versus Waynesburg.
The Pitt News reported: "Dr. John B. Sutherland, head football coach, Don Saunders, director of alumni publications, and a male quartet composed of University men, are on the air every Tuesday night in a 15-minute broadcast over radio station WCAE. Football. music and gridiron philosophy, as presented by Coach 'Jock' in informal interview chats with Saunders, will be presented in a 12-week series. Each week a flashback of heroic football play will be enacted. The series, sponsored by a food corporation, has already been acclaimed by Pittsburgh radio editors."
Coaching staff 1935 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff John B. "Jock" Sutherland – Head coach Bill Kern – Assistant coach Charley Bowser – Assistant coach Ralph N. Daugherty - center coach Edward Hirshberg – end coach Edward Baker – backfield coach Howard O'Dell – backfield coach Walter Milligan– Freshman coach Support staff Dr. Ralph Shanor – team physician George Moore – team trainer Percy S. Browne – custodian of equipment W. D. Harrison - director of athletics James Hagan – graduate manager of athletics Frank Carver – publicity director Stewart McAwley – co-varsity student manager Joseph Rodgers – co-varsity student manager
Roster
1935 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster Nicholas Kliskey*fullback105' 7"1861936Scott H. S.North Braddock, PA Vincent Sites*end106' 1"1891936St. John's H. S.Pittston, PA Robert LaRue*halfback105' 9"1601936Wyoming SeminaryGreensburg, PA Leon Shedlosky*halfback95' 9"1651936Nanticoke H. S. Nanticoke, PA Frank Souchak*end96'1881938Berwick H. S.Berwick., PA William Glassford*guard105' 9"1801936Lancaster H. S.Lancaster, Ohio Averell Daniell*tackle86' 1"1931937Mt. Lebanon H. S.Mt. Lebanon, PA Arthur Detzel*tackle10 5' 10"1891936 Erie East H. S. Erie, PA Leo Malarkey*halfback75' 10"1651937McDonald H. S.McDonald, PA Verne Baxterend 05' 10"1701936Oliver H. S. Joliet, IL Donald Hensley*center96' 1"1901938Huntington H. S.Huntington, WV Arnold Greene*quarterback86' 1"1951937Huntingdon H. S.Huntingdon, PA John Michelosen*quarterback106'1801938Ambridge H. S.Ambridge, PA James Scarfpinguard55' 10" 1801937Altoona H. S. Martins Ferry, OH Peter Avizienistackle16' 1"1931937Mt. Carmel H. S.Mt. Carmel, PA Leonard Rectorfullback45' 9"1751936Avella H. S.Avella, PA Arthur Leonardquarterback05' 10"1681938 Pittsburgh, PA John Dougertfullback55' 8"1601937Shenandoah H. S.Shenandoah, PA Earl McCueguard1 6' 1"1751936Wilkinsburg H. S.Wilkinsburg, PA John Woodhalfback 7 5' 10"1601937Magrotta H. S.New Martinsville, WV Frank Patrick*fullback106' 1921938Roosevelt H. S.East Chicago, IN Henry Adamscenter36' 1"1821938California H. S.California, PA Leon Wohlgemuthguard45' 10"1791937Bellaire H. S.Bellaire, OH Marwood Stark*guard65' 10"1691936Allentown H. S.Allentown, PA Anthony Matisi*tackle86' 2041938 Endicott H. S. Endicott, NY Arthur Schindelend 16'1741936Aurora H. S.Aurora, IL Bernard McNishend15' 11"1671937Elizabeth H. S. Elizabeth, PA Regis Flynnend15' 10"1561937McKeesport H. S.McKeesport, PA Hubert Randour*halfback105' 11"1681936McDonald H. S.McDonald, PA Robert McClurequarterback55' 8"1571937Greenville H. S.Greenville, PA Joseph Troglionehalfback05' 9"1641936Wilkinsburg H. S.Wilkinsburg, PA Charles Izzoquarterback05' 10"1671938Perkiomen Prep Bronx, NY Paul Shaw*end105' 11"1841938Bradford H. S.Bradford, PA Joseph Morrowend05' 10"1791938Mars H. S.Mars, PA Frank Hovanecend 05' 11"1751938Ambridge H. S.Ambridge, PA Gene Stoughtontackle05' 11"1801936Oil City H. S.Oil City, PA George Musulintackle 1 5' 11"2101938Mt. Lebanon H.S.Mt. Lebanon, PA Cleon Lindermancenter26'1771937Allegheny H. S.Allegheny, NY William Stapulis*halfback9 5' 10"1751938California H. S.California, PA Luther Richards*guard 10 5' 10"1821938Kingston H. S.Kingston, PA Walter Miller*end7 6'1841938Phillipsburg H. S.Phillipsburg, NJ John Urbanhalfback35' 11"1561938 Larksville H. S. Larksville, PA George Yocosguard35' 9"1751938Monessen H. S.Monessen, PA Albert Waltonguard36' 1771937Beaver Falls H. S.Beaver Falls, PA Paul Studthalfback05' 10"1581938 Pittsburgh, PA Richard Noblehalfback15' 10"1631938Freeport H. S. Freeport, PA Edward Quarantilloend25' 11"1771938Niagara Falls H. S.Niagara Falls, NY George Delich*tackle8 6'1901938Froebel H.S.Gary, IN Ted Schmidttackle 2 6'1971938Carrick H. S.Carrick, PA Robert Daufenbachtackle 0 6' 1"1721938 Pittsburgh, PA Dante Dalle Tezze*guard10 5' 11"1851938Jeannette H. S.Jeannette, PA Stewart McAwley*co-varsity student manager 1936Salina H. S.Salina, PA Joseph Rodgers*co-varsity student manager 1936Monessen H. S.Monessen, PA * Letterman
Game summaries
Waynesburg
The Panthers opened the season against the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets. In 1897 the Jackets defeated the Western University of Pennsylvania 14 to 5. Pitt won the next four meetings, outscoring the Jackets 230 to 0. The Pittsburgh Press reported that Waynesburg coach Frank Wolf "entertained no false hopes of winning from Pitt. He has indicated he will be satisfied if the Jackets show some defensive spunk and gain a little ground on their own."
For the first time Coach Sutherland played 11 players who had never started a game for Pitt. He told The Pittsburgh Press: "We've had experimental games before but in all my experience, I can't recall one quite like the one we face tomorrow. I will experiment with as many men as I dare. If I see a combination that clicks, whether for one touchdown or half a dozen, there's my first team for the rest of the football season."
The Pitt offense started strong and drove the ball 60 yards to the Jackets 1-yard line, but lost the ball on downs. Waynesburg punted out of trouble, and held the Panthers scoreless in the first period. At the start of the second quarter, Pitt gained possession on the Yellow Jackets 37-yard line. The second team offense scored in five plays. Bill Stapulis went over left guard for the score. Leonard Rector converted the placement and Pitt led 7 to 0 at halftime. After receiving the second half kick-off, the Pitt first stringers produced a 68-yard scoring drive. Sophomore fullback Frank Patrick scored the touchdown and converted the extra point. The Panthers' offense was unable to penetrate the Waynesburg 35-yard line the remainder of the game. The Waynesburg offense only managed to gain 3 first downs, but their defense and punting kept the Panthers from turning the game into a rout. Waynesburg finished the season with a 4–4–1 record. Pitt and Waynesburg would not meet again on the gridiron.
Coach Sutherland expressed his displeasure: "I'm not very much pleased with either the offensive or defensive work of our players. I didn't expect much in the opening game–and didn't get even that much. It was far from an auspicious opener and we will have to show a great deal of improvement if we expect to beat anybody–and there are plenty of strong opponents ahead of us...The visiting players fought hard and showed that they have been drilled in fundamentals by their coach."
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Waynesburg was Frank Souchak (left end), Averell Daniell (left tackle), William Glassford (left guard), Nick Kliskey (center), Dante Dalle Tezze (right guard), George Delich (right tackle), Edward Quarantillo (right end), Arnold Greene (quarterback), Hubert Randour (left halfback), Leon Shedlosky (right halfback) and Frank Patrick (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Paul Shaw, Vincent Sites, James Scarpfin, Arthur Detzel, Luther Richards, Leon Wohlgemuth, Hensley, John Michelosen, Bobby LaRue, John Wood, William Stapulis and Leonard Rector.
At Washington & Jefferson
The thirty-third and final gridiron game between the Pitt Panthers and Washington & Jefferson Presidents took place on October 5 at College Field in Washington, PA. The Western University of Pennsylvania played the first five games of the series (1890 – 1895) on W. & J. soil. When the series was renewed in 1905, the next 27 games were played in Pittsburgh. The Panthers led the series 17–13–2. Claire Burcky of The Pittsburgh Press noted: "A football season unique in the history of Washington and Jefferson College athletics was to begin this afternoon at College Field, where the deflated, de-emphasized, perhaps demoralized Presidents were to meet the Pitt Panthers. From the well-subsidized national championship eleven of 1921 which outplayed a California team of giants in the Rose Bowl, Wash-Jeff gradually has pared grid expenses to the point where today she claims a simon-pure amateur group of boys who give rather than receive for their playing privileges." Coach Hank Day had a squad of 35 players, which contained 13 lettermen ready for the opener.
Coach Sutherland made minor lineup changes for the game. He inserted end Vincent Sites and halfback Bobby LaRue, both of whom recovered from their preseason injuries, into the starting lineup. Art Detzel replaced the injured George Delich at right tackle and John Michelosen replaced Arnold Greene at quarterback.