The 1936 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1936 college football season. In its 13th season under head coach Jock Sutherland, the team compiled a 8–1–1 record, shut out five of its ten opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 214 to 34. The team played its home games at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh. The Panthers won the Rose Bowl and were selected national champion by the contemporary Boand and Houlgate math systems and retroactively years later by the Football Researchers poll.
Schedule
Preseason
On March 10, the athletic committee named John Bailey (Dentistry 1937), William Blair (Business Administration 1937) and William Housel (College 1937) varsity football managers for the 1936 season. Unfortunately, Mr. Housel, who was voted Outstanding Junior on Campus, died from peritonitis while attending ROTC summer camp at Point Marion, Virginia. The Panther nation was also saddened when Peter Aviziensis, a junior substitute tackle, died after being operated on for a brain tumor.
With the early arrival of suitable weather, Coach Sutherland decided to start his spring training on March 16. He encouraged anyone who wanted to play to try out: "Not only do we want those boys who have played football in high school, but we also welcome those who have never played football. There are suits for everyone." Fifty prospective varsity Panthers attended the drills. Coach Sutherland spent two weeks in the hospital with a sore back, but he was ably replaced by assistant coach Bill Kern. After two weeks of individual instruction, scrimmages were held on Saturdays pitting the first team versus the second team. The first team won four games and the fifth was a scoreless tie. On May 9 the session came to end with an Alumni versus Varsity game at the Stadium in conjunction with the Pitt – Penn State track meet. The Varsity had no trouble with the Alumni, cruising to a 47–6 victory. The Alumni scored first, but the Varsity went ahead 7–6 before halftime. The second half was all Varsity, as they totaled 6 touchdowns over the last two periods. The Panther varsity track team earlier beat Penn State 70–65. The freshman team lost 76–59, but John Woodruff, Pitt freshman, won both the 880-yard dash and the mile. He then went on to win the Olympic gold medal on August 4, 1936 in Berlin with a time of 1:52.9.
Coach Sutherland held his Fifth Annual Football Clinic on May 23 at Pitt Stadium. Jock Sutherland, Fritz Crisler (Princeton) and Wallace Wade (Duke) explained the intricacies of playing football with lectures and on-field demonstrations to 1,000 eager coaches and players.
On September 7, Coach Sutherland welcomed more than fifty Panthers for his thirteenth preseason training camp at Pitt. Since Camp Hamilton was damaged by floods in March, the Panthers trained at Trees Field on the Pitt campus. The team was housed in the Webster Hall Hotel. Coach Sutherland had to replace three starters, but he had five senior lettermen, nineteen juniors (10 of whom earned letters) and more than twenty sophomores vying for positions. His outlook for the season was cautious: "The schedule is tougher than anything we've ever attempted...Then again, the fact that we won't have camp this fall is going to hurt us. That camp has meant a great deal to us in the past. The boys ate, slept, played and thought football all day long at Camp Hamilton.This fall we won't have them together as much as we like. But don't forget, we'll show up for all the games."
Coaching staff 1936 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff John B. "Jock" Sutherland – head coach Bill Kern – assistant coach Charley Bowser – assistant coach Edward Baker – backfield coach Ralph Daugherty – center coach Mike Nicksick – backfield coach Edward Hirshberg – end coach Walter Milligan– freshman coach Support staff Dr. H. A. Ralph Shanor – team physician Dr. George (Bud) 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 William Blair – co-varsity student manager John Bailey– co-varsity student manager
Roster
1936 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster Bill Glassford*guard85' 9"1921937Lancaster H. S.Lancaster, Ohio Tony Matisi*tackle106' 2101938 Endicott H. S. Endicott, NY Dante Dalle Tezze*guard105' 11"1881938Jeannette H. S.Jeannette, PA George Delich*tackle7 6'1951938Froebel H.S.Gary, IN Henry Adams*center106'1"1851938California H. S. California, PA Ave Daniell*tackle106'1"1981937Mt. Lebanon H. S.Mt. Lebanon, PA Walter Raskowski*guard 95' 11" 1901939New Castle H. S. New Castle, PA Albin Lezouski*guard96' 1851939Mahanoy City H. S. Mahanoy City, PA Robert LaRue*halfback95' 9"1631937Wyoming SeminaryGreensburg, PA Donald Hensley*center96' 1"1941938Huntington H. S.Huntington, WV Frank Souchak*end96'1921938Berwick H. S.Berwick., PA Frank Patrick*fullback106' 1931938Roosevelt H. S.East Chicago, IN Marshall Goldberg*halfback106' 1751939Elkins H. S. Elkins, WVA John Urbanhalfback75' 11"1601938 Larksville H. S.Larksville, PA Leo Malarkey*halfback55' 10"1601937McDonald H. S.McDonald, PA Arnold Greene*quarterback96' 1"2101937Huntingdon H. S.Huntingdon, PA John Michelosen*quarterback96'1871938Ambridge H. S.Ambridge, PA William Stapulis*halfback75' 10"1751938California H. S.California, PA Fabian Hoffman*end96'1701939Central Catholic H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Robert Danniescenter55' 11"1901939Westmont H. S.Wauwatosa, WI Robert McClure*quarterback65' 8"1801937Greenville H. S.Greenville, PA John Chickerneo*quarterback96'1951939Warren H. S.Warren, OH Bill Daddio*end105' 11"1751939Meadville H. S.Meadville, PA John Dougert*fullback55' 8"1701937Shenandoah H. S.Shenandoah, PA John Wood*halfback 95' 10"1651937Magrotta H. S.New Martinsville, WV Charles Fleming*end65' 8" 1601939New Castle H. S.New Castle, PA Elmer Merkovsky*tackle96' 1"2051939Scott H. S.North Braddock. PA Harold Stebbins*halfback96' 1"1851939Williamsport H. S.Williamsport, PA Steve Petro*guard75' 10"1851939Johnstown H. S.Johnstown, PA Luther Richardsguard45' 10"1851938Kingston H. S.Kingston, PA Cleon Lindermancenter46'1751937Allegheny H. S.Allegheny, NY George Yocosguard25' 9"1751938Monessen H. S.Monessen, PA Ben Asavitchtackle36' 2"1851939Wilkes-Barre Memorial H. S.Wilkes-Barre, PA Walter Millerend36'1871938Phillipsburg H. S.Phillipsburg, NJ Charles Sheahalfback35' 10"1551939 Pittsburgh, PA Clement Cambalfullback15' 10"1751939Springdale H. S.Springdale, PA Howard Jackmanquarterback3 1501939Peabody H. S. Pittsburgh, PA Joseph Morrowend25' 10"1701938Mars H. S.Mars, PA George Musulintackle35' 11"2201938Mt. Lebanon H.S.Mt. Lebanon, PA Albert Waltonguard36'1801937Beaver Falls H. S.Beaver Falls, PA Willard Currycenter25' 11"1701939 East McKeesport, PA Ted Schmitttackle46'2051938Carrick H. S.Carrick, PA Robert Daufenbachtackle26' 1"1751938 Pittsburgh, PA Alfred Bergertackle36'1851939Allegheny H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Peter Menskyhalfback1 1651939 Jermyn, PA James Kosinskiquarterback15' 9"1551939Sheffield H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Benjamin Kopecend 3 1651939Academy H. S.Erie, PA Frank Hovanecend 15' 11"1701938Ambridge H. S.Ambridge, PA Joseph Troglionehalfback45' 9"1601937Wilkinsburg H. S.Wilkinsburg, PA Bernard McNishend35' 11"1801937Elizabeth H. S.Elizabeth, PA Paul Shawend05' 11"1841938Bradford H. S.Bradford, PA Ira Paulfullback0 1851939Johnstown H. S.Johnstown, PA Edward Spotovichend4 1851938South H. S.Pittsburgh, PA James Scarfpinguard15' 10" 1951937Altoona H. S. Martins Ferry, OH John Bailey*co-varsity student manager 1937Ford City, H. S.Ford City, PA William Blair*co-varsity student manager 1937Mt. Lebanon H. S.Mt. Lebanon, PA * Letterman
Game summaries
Ohio Wesleyan
Pitt and the Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops from Delaware, Ohio met on the gridiron for the first time on September 26. Ohio Wesleyan was coached by George E. Gauthier, former Michigan Agricultural College quarterback, who was in his fifteenth year at the helm of the Bishops. The Bishops were coming off a 5–3–1 season and a second place finish in the Buckeye Athletic Association. The Pitt News reported: "Ohio Wesleyan will send to Pittsburgh an ideal team for an opening day game as the Battling Bishops are just rugged enough to test the Pitt strength and put the Panther machine into gear for the journey ahead."
After 18 days of practice, the veteran-laden Panther squad was healthy and still competing for starting positions. For the opener Sutherland started two sophomores – halfback, Marshall Goldberg and end, Bill Daddio; seven juniors – tackles, Tony Matisi and George Delich, center, Don Hensley, guard, Dante Dalle Tezze, end, Frank Souchak, quarterback, John Michelosen and fullback, Bill Stapulis; and two seniors – guard, Bill Glassford and halfback Bobby LaRue.
On game day, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported: "Children under 12 years of age will be admitted to the Pitt-Ohio Wesleyan game today at Pitt Stadium for 25 ents[sic]. They will use Gate 14 and tickets will be sold from the booth directly opposite this entrance."
A large opening day crowd of 19,000 saw the Panthers score 8 touchdowns and rout the Bishops 53 to 0. Forty-eight Panthers received some playing time. The Panther assault was led by halfbacks Marshall Goldberg and John Wood. Sophomore halfback Goldberg tallied two touchdowns in the first period and gained 208 yards on 15 carries in one half of play. Wood, a senior, scored two touchdowns in the second quarter. Harold Stebbins, Bobby LaRue, Frank Patrick and Leo Malarkey each added one touchdown in the second half. The Panther offense gained 601 yards and earned 18 first downs, while the defense gave up 44 yards and 2 first downs to the Bishops. After 14 straight winning seasons, Ohio Wesleyan finished their schedule with a 1–6–2 record.
Substitutes appearing in the game for the Panthers were Charles Fleming, Frank Hovanec, Ben Kopec, Elmer Merkovsky, Ben Asavitch, Alfred Berger, Walter Raskowski, Robert Dannies, Henry Adams, Cleon Linderman, Albin Lezouski, Luther Richards, Averill Daniell, Ted Schmidt, Fabian Hoffman, Walter Miller, Arnold Greene, John Chickerneo, Howard Jackman, Leo Malarkey, John Urban, Joseph Troglione, Charles Shea, Harold Stebbins, John Wood, Frank Patrick, John Dougert, Robert McClure, Edward Spotovich, Steve Petro, George Yocos, James Scarfpin, Peter Mensky, Clement Cambal, George Musulin, Joe Morrow and Bernard McNish.
West Virginia
On October 3, Charles "Trusty" Talman brought his West Virginia Mountaineers to Pitt Stadium for the annual gridiron duel with the Panthers. West Virginia was 2–0 on the season, besting both Waynesburg (7–0) at home and Cincinnati(40–0) on the road. Coach Talman was in his third year and had an 11–8–2 record. After last year's Pitt victory, the all-time series, dating back to 1895, stood at 22–8–1 in favor of Pittsburgh.
Coach Talman's squad hoped their passing game would give Pitt trouble. Mountaineer halfback Kelly Moran and end Babe Barna connected for three touchdown passes in the Cincinnati game. However, West Virginia was inexperienced, with five sophomores in the starting lineup.
Coach Sutherland was happy since four veteran starters from 1935 regained their positions with a good week of practice – Henry Adams at center, Arnold Greene at quarterback, Averell Daniell at tackle and Frank Patrick at fullback. Jock wrote in his weekly article for The Pittsburgh Press: "West Virginia comes to Pittsburgh, and we expect the usual game with the Mountaineers. Trusty Tallman's outfit battles every inch of the way and, should his passing attack click, is likely to cause us several headaches. We should prevail by a comfortable margin, however."