The 1929 Pittsburgh Panthers football team, coached by Jock Sutherland, represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 1929 college football season. The Panthers finished the regular season undefeated and were considered the champions of the East, and by some, a national championship team. The Panthers concluded the season by traveling by train to California, losing to USC in the Rose Bowl. According to a 1967 Sports Illustrated article, football pioneer Parke H. Davis, whose “outstanding nationwide team” selections for 1869 to 1933 (all made in 1933) are recognized as "major" in the official NCAA football records book, named Pitt that season's national champion. The article contained a "list of college football's mythical champions as selected by every recognized authority since 1924," which has served as the basis of the university's historical national championship claims, with Davis being the only selector of Pitt in 1929. The team is also recognized as a co-national champion in 1929 by College Football Data Warehouse, along with Notre Dame, the pick of nine major selectors.
Schedule
Preseason
After five years as coach of the Panthers, Coach Sutherland's record was 32–9–5. The Athletic Council approved raising the player stipend from $500 to $650 a year, plus tuition and books, so he could continue to recruit top-notch talent.
Pitt and Carnegie Tech shared the use of Pitt Stadium from the 1929 season through the 1943 season. For $18.00 one could purchase a season ticket for all nine games scheduled at the stadium.
James Hagan, former Pitt halfback, was appointed Assistant Director of Athletics and assumed his duties on February 4, 1929.
Dr. H. A. R. Shanor replaced team doctor Oliver Kendrick who resigned his position to set up practice in Duquesne.
Joseph Bower, a senior in the School of Business Administration, was chosen student manager of the 1929 football team.
The outlook for the 1929 season was promising since only three starters (Alex Fox, Albert Guarino and Mike Getto) and four substitutes (James Scanlon, Ted Helsing, Ed Sherako and Philip Goldberg) had graduated. Coach Sutherland welcomed 75 aspirants to spring practice on March 21 and trained the squad for six weeks. The Pittsburgh Press noted: "Coach Sutherland is well satisfied with the results of the spring workouts and believes his squad will be strong offensively during the autumn campaign. Reserve strength, barring scholastic difficulties, should be plentiful."
Coach Sutherland invited 41 lads to the preseason drills at Camp Hamilton. A hospital and dispensary were now available on site. The camp lasted two and a half weeks with two practice sessions daily. Coach Sutherland worked the team hard because as noted by David Finoli: "He truly believed in the famous quote that his mentor Pop Warner muttered so many times: 'You play the way you practice'." The Panthers returned to Pittsburgh a week prior to the home opener with Waynesburg College "in as fine condition and with as brilliant prospects as any Pitt team has ever boasted." The Panthers roster was strong as the Pittsburgh Press noted: "Apparently, there are no such things as varsity and second teams out where the Golden Panthers are sharpening their claws for nine weeks of feasting, or fasting. There are just two evenly-matched elevens, with not much to choose between them."
A tarp was purchased to cover the stadium gridiron and insure the playing surface would be in great condition regardless of the weather.
Coaching staff
1929 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 Roscoe “Skip” Gougler – Freshman coach Zoner Wissinger– freshmen coach Support staff Joseph Bower– student football manager Dr. H. A. R. Shanor – team physician George Moore – team trainer Percy S. Browne – custodian of equipment W. D. Harrison - director of athletics James Hagan – assistant director of athletics
Roster 1929 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster Albert DiMeolo*guard101761930Dental SchoolBellefonte AcademyCoraopolis, Pa. Joe Donchess*end101661930Medical SchoolWyoming SeminaryYoungstown, O. Charles Tully*tackle101811931Business Adm.Warwood H. S. Wheeling, W. Va. Ray Montgomery*guard91811930Business Adm.Warwood H. S.Wheeling, W. Va. Ralph Daugherty*center91741932 Bellefonte AcademyFreeport, Pa James MacMurdo*tackle91891932 Ellwood City H. S.Ellwood City, Pa. William Loehrend91561931 Turtle Creek H. S.Turtle Creek, Pa. Paul Collins*end101781932Business Adm. Trinity Prep Sioux City, Ia. Charles Edwards*quarterback91721930Bachelor of Science, College Wyoming SeminaryMoundsville, W. Va. Octavius Uansa*halfback91681930College McKees Rocks H. S.McKees Rocks, Pa. Harold “Josh” Williams*halfback71661931EducationMars H. S.Mars, Pa. Tom Parkinson*halfback71961930 Dental SchoolCalifornia H. S.California, Pa. Edward Baker*quarterback91661931Dental SchoolNanticoke H. S.Nanticoke, Pa. James Rooney*halfback91671930Dental SchoolBellefonte AcademyPittsburgh, Pa. William Walinchus*halfback91691931Dental SchoolMahanoy City H. S.Mahanoy City, Pa. Franklin Hoodhalfback51951931 Bellefonte AcademyMonaca, Pa. Joe Tomminsend41691932EducationFarrell H. S.Farrell, Pa. Jesse Quatse*tackle91951933Dental School Greensburg H. S.Rillton, Pa. Walter Milliganguard71681933EducationKiski SchoolMcKees Rocks, Pa. Markley Barnescenter61721929Business Adm.Broaddus AcademyWellsburg, W. Va. Hart Morris*guard91751932Bachelor of Science, CollegeBellaire H. S. Bellaire, Ohio Vladimar Babictackle91771932Bachelor of Arts, College Duquesne H. S.Duquesne, Pa. Harry Wagnerquarterback81581931Business Adm. Schenley H. S. Pittsburgh, Pa. James Clark*fullback81621932 Kiski School Greensburg, Pa. Edward Hirschberg*end81731932Bachelor of Arts, CollegeMcKeesport H. S. East McKeesport, Pa. Ernest Lewisguard41841931Dental SchoolSteelton H. S.Steelton, Pa. R. Felix Wilpshalfback41581930Civil Engineering Norwin H. S.Irwin, Pa. Arthur L. Corsontackle21891930Business Adm.Wyoming SeminaryNew Albany, Pa. Al Cipertackle41801931 Glenwillard H. S.Glenwillard, Pa. Daniel Fugeguard11741931 Pittsburgh, Pa. Robert Morriscenter41791932Bachelor of Arts, College Bellaire H. S. Bellaire, Ohio Edward Schultzhalfback41601931Bachelor of Arts, CollegeSt. Thomas Prep.West Pittston, Pa. Leo Murphyhalfback61781932 South H. S.Youngstown, Ohio Frank Fisherguard11851931Dental SchoolAllegheny H. S.Pittsburgh, Pa. Jack Kellyhalfback11531932Dental SchoolLatrobe H. S. Latrobe, Pa. Fred Johnsonhalfback11491932 Sioux City, Iowa Herman Yentchguard11751932Business Adm.Perkiomen PrepHarrisburg, Pa. Walter Potterfullback11691932 Somerville, N.J. T. H. McDowellquarterback11641932 Wilkinsburg, Pa. Richard Calhounguard01811931 Pittsburgh, Pa. Walter Zilcoskiguard01791933Dental School Johnsonburg, Pa. Joseph Bower*manager 1931Business Adm.St.Joseph's H. S.Oil City, Pa. * Letterman
Game summaries
Waynesburg
The Panthers home opener was against Waynesburg College. The Panthers and the Yellow Jackets had not played in nineteen years. Pitt lost to the Yellow Jackets 14 to 5 in 1897, but the Panthers gained revenge in 1904 by the lopsided score of 83 to 0 and then with a 42 to 0 victory in 1910. Second-year coach Frank N. Wolf was looking to improve the Yellow Jackets record of 0-6 in 1928. The Jackets beat St. Vincent 19 to 6 to open their season.
The Panthers wore new uniforms for the home opener - blue and gold sateen jerseys with tan trousers and blue helmets with gold cross-pieces. The field was protected by the cover purchased over the summer so a dry field was assured.
Harry Keck of the Sun-Telegraph reported: "Under a warm sun and with only about 9,000 fans looking on, another powerful University of Pittsburgh football eleven made its bow at the Stadium Saturday afternoon, showing promise of great things in the games to come by the manner in which, with first, second and third-string men in action, it romped over the squad of Waynesburg College for eight touchdowns and an impressive 53–0 victory."
The Panther offense established superiority early with two touchdowns in the opening period. Tom Parkinson and Josh Williams scored the touchdowns. The Panthers added three more touchdowns in the second stanza. William Walinchus and Parkinson scored on running plays. The third tally came on a pass from Parkinson to Joe Donchess, which Donchess caught while lying flat on the ground in the end zone. The halftime score read Pitt 33 to Waynesburg 0. The three touchdowns in the second half were scored by Parkinson, Walinchus and third-team halfback Fred Johnson. The extra points were done by committee as Parkinson and James Rooney each converted twice and Edward Baker once. Coach Sutherland substituted often and thirty-five Panthers saw action. Waynesburg finished the season with a 5–4 record.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Waynesburg was Joe Donchess (left end), Charles Tully (left tackle), Ray Montgomery (left guard), Ralph Daugherty (center), Albert DiMeolo (right guard), James MacMurdo (right tackle), William Loehr (right end), Charles Edwards (quarterback), Toby Uansa (left halfback), Josh Williams (right halfback) and Tom Parkinson (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Edward Baker, James Rooney, William Walinchus, Frank Hood, Joe Tommins, Jesse Quatse, Walter Milligan, Markley Barnes, Hart Morris, Vladimir Babic, Paul Collins, Al Ciper, Daniel Fuge, Robert Morris, Frank Fisher, Arthur Corson, Edward Schultz, Harry Wagner, Jack Kelly, Felix Wilps, Fred Johnson, James Clark and Walter Potter.
At Duke
The first road trip of the season took the Panthers to Durham, NC to both battle the Duke Blue Devil eleven and take part in the dedication of their new 35,000 seat stadium. This was Pitt's first trip to the "deep-south" for a football game. The train departed Pittsburgh Wednesday night and arrived in Washington D.C., on Thursday morning. David Finoli noted: "While in the nation's capital, the team got the chance to meet President Herbert Hoover and have their picture taken with him as they visited the White House. They would have the honor of being the first college football team to visit the White House in Hoover's tenure." Sightseeing and a luncheon were followed by practice on the Georgetown Field. Thursday night the squad was back on the train and arrived in Durham Friday morning. Friday's practice was held at the University of North Carolina stadium in Chapel Hill. For the dedication game, the team wore a special hot weather uniform of blue silk with gold trim across the shoulders, and blue helmets with gold crosspieces. The 70-piece Pitt marching band made the trip and took part in the festivities.
Duke coach James DeHart, Pitt's first four-sport letterman, "is conceded to have one of the best teams ever developed in the South, and with football interest of the whole section focused on the big intersectional game at Durham, the Blue Devils will be primed for the Panthers." Coach DeHart was pessimistic when he spoke to The Pittsburgh Press: "We cannot hope to win. I only hope that Jock won't run it up too high on me." Henry Kistler, Duke captain and star tackle, was injured in the previous game against Mercer and was out of the lineup.
The Pittsburgh Press noted: 'At Chapel Hill, where hostility to Duke runs high, the North Carolina boys were unanimous in declaring that the Panthers would triumph. They hoped it would be an overwhelming setback for the Durham lads, they said."
The Panthers were healthy, but Coach Sutherland made two changes to the starting lineup - Edward Baker replaced Charles Edwards at quarterback and Paul Collins replaced William Loehr at end.