The 1939 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1939 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Charley Bowser, the Panthers compiled a record of 5–4.
Pittsburgh was not ranked in the final AP poll, but it was ranked at No. 24 in the 1939 Williamson System ratings, and at No. 35 in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.
The team played home games at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh.
Schedule
Rankings
Preseason
Coach Sutherland attempted to give his assistants a raise, but his request was turned down by the athletic department. Harold Williams, Eddie Schultz, Mike Milligan and Alex Fox resigned. Williams and Milligan accepted coaching positions with the University of Florida. Eddie Schultz concentrated on his law practice and Alex Fox went into business full-time with the Lehigh Portland Cement Co.
In February, the athletic department agreed that the university would be a non-participating member of the Western Conference (Big Ten) and be under the jurisdiction of their Commissioner, Major John L. Griffith. He would supposedly monitor the implementation of the Code Bowman and advise the athletic department of any problems. This was set up without any input from Coach Sutherland.
In late February the athletic department posted the athletic eligibility list and most of the freshmen football players were no longer in school.
By early March, Jock Sutherland and Chancellor Bowman could not come to an agreement about de-emphasizing the schedule to balance the loss of talent brought about by the stringent athletic code. On March 4, Sutherland sent a letter of resignation to the Chancellor and ended his coaching career at Pitt. Author Harry Scott wrote that Sutherland confided to one of his closest friends: "I would be there today–as far as I am concerned– coaching whatever material I had, regardless of the size or ability, provided–and this is important–(1) that I had been treated with just ordinary courtesy and decency in a spirit of friendly co-operation, (2) that the schedules had been adjusted to the quality of the material."
On March 20, the Board of Trustees approved the selection of Charles Bowser as the head coach of the Pitt varsity football team. He was tendered a three-year contract for $7,500 per year. Bowser was a Pitt man, having both played for Pop Warner (1919–1922) and coached twice on Jock Sutherland's staff (1927–1929, 1935–1937). The Pitt News noted that Bowser would be in a most difficult position for the 1939 season. "With a squad that has been wrecked by graduation, perforated by the Code Bowman, and demoralized by continual football squabbling, Bowser faces a terrific schedule."
By Tuesday March 28, Bowser had completed his coaching staff. He hired six former Panthers as assistants – Mike Nicksik (backfield), Dr. Arnold Greene (fullback), Bob Hoel (tackle), Albin Lezouski (guard), Nick Kliskey (center) and Bill Daddio (end). Nick Kliskey was hired full-time and given the additional duty of personnel manager. Bill Daddio was hired as a student coach to retain his amateur golf status. The other four were hired on a part-time basis. During fall practice Al Lezouski took a job at East Orange High School in New Jersey. Walt Raskowski, in medical school at Pitt, replaced him as guard coach.
Spring practice opened on March 31 and concluded on May 6, with an intra-squad game won by the Blues over the Whites 20 to 6.
As per Code Bowman, fall practice began on September 9 (three weeks prior to first game), and one week prior to the opening of school. Coach Bowser's Panthers only had one week of two-a-days and 20 total practices before their first game. The 58 candidates included only 12 lettermen.
Coaching staff 1939 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff Charley Bowser – Head coach Walter Raskowski – guard coach – freshman team coach Michael Nicksick – backfield coach Dr. Arnold Greene – assistant backfield coach Nicholas Kliskey – center coach Robert Hoel – tackle coach Bill Daddio – end coach Charles Shea – assistant freshman team coach Support staff Dr. H. A. Ralph Shanor – team physician Elwin Dees – team trainer Harold Whitson – varsity equipment manager James Hagan - director of athletics Frank Carver – publicity director Robert Frost – varsity student manager
Roster
1939 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster Ralph Fife*guard95' 10"1791942Canton McKinley H. S. Canton, OH John Benz*tackle8 6' 2" 2061941 Peabody H. S. Pittsburgh, PA Richard Fullerton*center56' 1" 1831940 Peabody H. S. Madison, NJ George Allhousecenter05' 10"1951942Duquesne H. S.Duquesne, PA Thomas Murphyquarterback 45' 11"1751942 Pittsburgh. PA Joseph Rettinger*end 9 5' 11"1841941Ashland H. S.Ashland, PA William Benghousertackle26'2081942Central Catholic H. S. Pittsburgh, PA William Frickcenter 0 6'1901941Taylor Allderdice H. S. Pittsburgh, PA Stanley Gervelis*end96' 1"1901942Charleroi H. S.Charleroi, PA Melvin Andrewsguard 06' 1901942Etna H. S. Etna, PA Edgar Jones*halfback55' 9"1761942Scranton H. S. Scranton, PA Albert Gurczenskitackle 4 6' 1"1951941Jeannette H. S.Jeannette, PA Harris Hawkins*center 7 5' 10"1661941New Martinsville H. S. New Martinsville, WV Michael Sekela*fullback 7 6' 2001941 Windber H. S. Windber, PA Robert Thurbon*halfback 9 5' 10"1701941 Erie H. S.Erie, PA Ben Kish*fullback86'2001940Tonawanda H. S.Tonowanda, NY William Fitchkoend06' 1671942Gary H. S.Gary, WV Fred Noahguard05' 8"1761942 Pittsburgh, PA Raymond Rabinekguard05' 9"1781942 Pittsburgh, PA Emil Narick*quarterback96'1841940Union H. S.Benwood, WV Ted Konetsky*tackle56' 1"1931941German Township H. S.German Township, PA John Dickinson*end76' 1851940Peabody H. S.Pittsburgh, PA John Stahlend25' 10"1851942Tarentum H. S.Tarentum, PA Stephen Sinco*center95' 11"2051942Canonsburg H. S.Canonsburg, PA John Greggend25' 11" 1711942Mt. Lebanon H. S.Mt. Lebanon, PA Frank Kristufek*tackle96' 2001940 McKeesport H. S.McKeesport, PA Paul Foleyguard15' 10"1891941Swissvale H. S.Swissvale, PA Louis Sleberhalfback15' 9"1701941Sewickley Township H. S.Herminie, PA Ernest Bonelli*fullback85' 9"1851941 Aspinwall H. S. Aspinwall, PA Ralph Hafer*tackle96' 1"1961940 Dormont H. S.Dormont, PA Jack Goodridge*end85' 11"1751941Washington H. S.Washington, PA Richard Cassiano*halfback95' 10" 1731940 Albany H. S. Albany, NY George Mitchellguard36'1921942Ellsworth H. S.Ellsworth, PA Robert Crissmantackle06' 1"1941942Butler H. S.Butler, PA Walter Fridleyquarterback05' 10"1751941 Kane H. S. Kane, PA John Rossfullback15' 10"1841942Ellsworth H. S.Ellsworth, PA George Kracum*halfback76'1781941Hazelton H. S.Hazelton, PA Rudolph Gradisek*guard95' 11"1931941 Sewickley Township H. S. Herminie, PA Harry Kindelbergertackle36' 1"2021942 Oil City H. S. Oil City, PA John Kapurkaend1 5' 10"1801941 Pittsburgh, PA Frank Goodell*fullback75' 10"1861940Curtis H. S. Staten Island, NY Joe Cambaltackle26' 1"2031940Kiskiminetas Springs H. S.Springdale, PA Bud Kincaidguard05' 10"1871942 Peru H. S.Peru, IN Robert Stodgellguard05' 11"1851942Peru H. S. Peru, IN Albert Kunkelcenter06' 1851942 Pittsburgh, PA Harold Klein*guard9 5' 10"1851940Altoona H. S.Altoona, PA John Sylvesterhalfback 0 5' 9"1551941 Bentleyville H. S.Bentleyville, PA Allen Gartnertackle06' 1" 2301942 Carrick H. S. Carrick, PA Frank Franchinitackle06' 1" 2091939 Dormont H. S. Dormont, PA Earl Presselhalfback06'1801941Hollidaysburg H. S. Hollidaysburg, PA Arthur Corace*guard95' 11"1901940Carrick H. S. Carrick, PA William Wilsonend 0 6' 1801942 Canonsburg H. S. Canonsburg, PA Val Foltzguard 0 6' 2001942Greensburg H. S. Greensburg, PA Joseph Connell*fullback 5 5' 11"1921942 Charleroi H. S. Charleroi, PA Carl Sardiend 0 5' 10"1701941Clarion H. S. Clarion, PA Robert Frost*varsity student manager 1940 Pittsburgh, PA * Letterman
Game summaries
At Washington
On September 30, 1939, the Pitt Panthers opened their season against the Washington Huskies. This was their second meeting as the Panthers beat the Huskies in the 1937 Rose Bowl. But "the Huskies are eagerly hoping for revenge for that 21-to-0 whipping." Coach Jim Phelan was in his tenth-year and his Huskies were coming off a 3–5–1 record. Coach Phelan told the Sun-Telegraph: "We are ready to give the Panthers all we've got."
Pitt was the first team to travel across the country by air for a football game. The initial plan had scheduled stops in Minneapolis, MN, Bismark, ND, Billings, MT, and Spokane, WA. On Tuesday September 26 at 5:00 pm, Charley Bowser's Panthers boarded two 21-passenger airplanes for the 2,300 mile trip west to Seattle, WA. The team arrived in Minneapolis at 9:30 pm and spent the night. Wednesday they ate lunch in Billings and then encountered weather problems that forced them to land in Helena, MT. Due to the delay, the team flew directly into Seattle on Thursday afternoon. Coach Bowser held practice on the Husky Stadium turf on Thursday evening and again on Friday afternoon. Bowser told the Sun-Telegraph: "Washington has a good team. We've come a long way. I am not definitely set on my starting backfield. But we'll have 11 men on the field and be ready to go."
The one to four touchdown underdog Panthers surprised the odds makers with a 27 to 6 decision over the Huskies. Pitt scored in the first five minutes on a 70-yard drive that ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Emil Narick to Joe Rettinger. Rettinger added the extra point and Pitt led 7 to 0. Dick Cassiano ran in from 3 yards out in the second stanza to make the score 13 to 0 at halftime. In the third period, after the Huskies offense drove 46 yards in 12 plays, Washington halfback Don Jones plunged over center from the 1-yard line. Jones was wide on the point after and Pitt led 13–6. Pitt added two touchdowns in the final period. One was set up on a blocked punt by John Dickinson that Ted Konetsky recovered on the Huskies 3-yard line. The second followed an interception by Richard Fullerton that he returned 57 yards to the Huskies 9-yard line.
Coach Phelan told the press: "Pittsburgh has a great ball club. attack is sound and was beautifully executed this afternoon and Cassiano showed me that he is one of the best forward passers Washington has ever faced." The Huskies finished the season with a 4–5 record.
Due to bad weather, the Panther entourage had to take the southern route home over Los Angeles, CA, Albuquerque, NM and Kansas City, MO. Yet, when they arrived home on Tuesday, they were ready to fly to all their away games.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Washington was Joe Rettinger (left end), Frank Kristufek (left tackle), Rudy Gradisek (left guard), Richard Fullerton (center), Harold Klein (right guard), Ted Konetsky (right tackle), John Dickinson (right end), Ben Kish (quarterback), Dick Cassiano (left halfback), Emil Narick (right halfback) and Ernest Bonelli (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Stanley Gervelis, John Kapurka, Ralph Hafer, Harry Kindelberger, Arthur Corace, Paul Foley, Stephen Sinco, Harris Hawkins, Ralph Fife, George Mitchell, John Benz, Joe Cambal, Jack Goodridge, John Gregg, Mike Sekela, Thomas Murphy, George Kracum, Edgar Jones, Robert Thurbon, Louis Sleber, Frank Goodell and John Ross.
West Virginia