The 1925 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1925 college football season. In its second season under head coach Jock Sutherland, the team compiled an 8–1 record and outscored opponents by a total of 151 to 34. The team was ranked No. 10 in the nation in the Dickinson System ratings released in January 1926. This was the Panthers' first season at Pitt Stadium, and the team played eight of its nine games there.
Halfback Andy Gustafson scored the first touchdown at Pitt Stadium. He was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Tackle Ralph Chase was a consensus first-team player on the 1925 All-America team.
Schedule
Preseason
“Although the results of Pitt's 1924 season were one loss less than those of the previous season, many of the followers of the team were bitterly disappointed. People always seem to expect wonders immediately from a new man in a new job, and these fans were not exceptions in the case of Sutherland. The wolves began to howl, and some very unfavorable comments were made. Jock did not mind the criticisms hurled at him half as much as the remarks about his boys. He was hurt by the things said about his players, whom he defended at every turn, insisting that they had done the best they could.”
“The pressure for success had to be felt by the coaching staff as 1925 would also mark the opening of the school's new magnificent $2.1 million stadium. The stadium had an original capacity of 69,400. The problem with the facility was the original budget called for the stadium to be constructed for almost half that amount, $1.1 million. Chancellor Bowman was incensed at the increased debt that had occurred and he named an athletic director...Don Harrison, to oversee the department and rein in an out-of-control football program.” The Panthers scheduled high-level opponents and recruited top-notch talent by offering an average of $55.00 a month plus tuition and books. “In essence they were paying players to play college football, a situation that as years went on would cause the university major issues. The strategy worked incredibly, better than probably Sutherland and Harrison could have hoped.”
In early April, Coach Sutherland ran his second spring football practice session. “The spring practice was productive of much good and everyone was pleased with the fine spirit the men displayed and the way they entered into the practice work. Coach Sutherland urged all the candidates to get in some sort of athletic work for the rest of the year and many will be out for the track team.”
“The University of Pittsburgh football squad formally opened its most important season – stadium year – at Camp Hamilton this afternoon (August 31) when 84 men, players, managers and coaches arrived tonight for a late dinner in camp. The squad traveled in a special car over the Pennsylvania lines to Johnstown, rode to Windber on a chartered street car, then to this site in 20 automobiles donated by the townspeople.” Coach Sutherland's second preseason camp workouts ended on Saturday, September 19, so the squad could return to Pittsburgh for the start of classes on Monday.
"The contractors on the stadium have completed their work, up to schedule. The big structure is all spick and span, and next Saturday it is the hope of the management that it will be crowded to the exits.” The stadium (seventh largest in the country) is immense – it covers more than 9 acres of area; it is 791 feet long and 617 feet wide and it has 36 sections for seating with 55 rows of seats (17 miles of seats). “In construction 2,200 tons of structural steel, 1,000 tons of reinforcing steel, and 20,000 cubic yards of concrete were used.” The stadium will also be used by the baseball, basketball, track, and tennis teams.
Coaching staff
1925 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff John B. "Jock" Sutherland – Head coach Guy “Chalky” Williamson – Assistant coach Marsh Johnson – Assistant coach Alexander Stevenson – Assistant coach H. Clifford Carlson – head freshman coach Paul Templeton – assistant freshman coach Support staff Axel J. Anderson– student football manager Thomas R. Kendrick – team physician Ollie DeVictor – team trainer Karl E. Davis – graduate manager of athletics George I. Carson – assistant graduate manager
Roster 1925 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster Ralph Chase*captain/tackle76' 4"199211926Wyoming Seminary Alfred Amannquarterback25' 9"171211927Bellefonte Academy David Archibaldend06'192211927Westinghouse H. S. Joseph A. Archibaldguard06' 1"165211927Bellefonte Academy Frank J. Benedict*center56'175201926Midland H. S. Allan A. Booth*fullback 85' 8"190211928Sharon H. S. John P. Breencenter35' 10"155211928New Brighton H. S. Jesse J. Brown*halfback75' 11"175211926Nichols Prep (Buffalo, NY) Wallace Coulterfullback45' 11"170211927Crafton H. S. Andy A. Cutler*quarterback66'190201928Bellefonte Academy Felix F. Demoise*end95' 11"160221928Greensburg H. S. Chester D. Doverspiketackle16'175191928New Bethlehem H. S. Paul R. Fisherguard56'180191928Avalon H. S. Dwight W. Fyockfullback25' 10"162211928Johnstown H. S. Richard Goldbergcenter56'185201928Slippery Rock Normal John E. Grindlehalfback25' 7"158221928Potomac State Andrew C. Gustafson*fullback86'191221926West Aurora H. S. (Aurora, IL) James Hagan*halfback55' 9"169201928Windber H. S. Ulhardt Hangartner*guard35' 11"195221926Schenley H. S. John J. Harding*halfback75' 9"155221926Wyoming Seminary Lee R. Herringtonhalfback15' 8"152201927Uniontown H. S. Walter Hobanhalfback45' 9"155211928Sharpsville H. S. W. D. Hockensmithcenter05' 10"175201928Culver Military Academy Robert L. Irwin*halfback85' 11"159221926Bellefonte H. S. Clyde A. Jackend45' 10" 171211927The Kiski School William Kern*tackle76' 188201928Wyoming Seminary John J. Kifer*end75' 11"163221926Norwin H. S. Howard Linn*guard65' 11"214221927Bellefonte Academy Carl W. McCutcheon*halfback85' 9"151 221926East Liverpool H. S. Blair V. McMillin*end75' 11"167191927Wilkinsburg H. S. Herman Reisterguard16' 195191927Westinghouse H. S. John A. Roberts*end76' 1"187191927Parkersburg H. S. Robert S. Rosehalfback05' 11"165201927Schenley H. S. Andrew J. Salata*tackle85' 10"195211928Wyoming Seminary Philip Sargeantend36' 180191928New Castle H. S. James A. Scanlonend56' 177211928The Kiski School Henry Schmitthalfback25' 7"135221927Donora H. S. Joseph Schmitt*halfback95' 11"154211927The Kiski School Edward Seifertguard15' 11"195191928Schenley H. S. Floyd Snyderquarterback15' 8"175211927Wilkinsburg H. S. Wendell Steele*guard76' 2"184211926South Hills H. S. Chester H. Wasmuthtackle35' 11"200201928Union H. S. Gilbert L. Welch*halfback85' 11"165211928Parkersburg H. S. Theodore Wilsonend15'11"170201927Wilkinsburg H. S. Zoner A. Wissinger*tackle76'195211926Greenville H. S. Axel J. Anderson*manager 1926 Bellefonte Academy * Letterman
Game summaries
Washington & Lee
The Pitt Panthers welcomed the Washington & Lee Generals to inaugurate their new stadium. This was the only time the schools met on the gridiron. James DeHart, a 4-sport letter winner at Pitt and teammate of Coach Sutherland, was in his fourth year at the helm of the Generals. His 3-year record was a respectable 17–8–3. The Generals were without their starting end, captain James K. Thomas, their starting tackle, Tex Tilson, and backfield ace, Palmer, due to injuries.
The Pittsburgh Post reported that Pitt would have three new faces in the starting lineup. Frank Benedict, last year's backup to Marsh Johnson at center, and two rookies from the freshmen team, Andrew Salata at tackle and Gilbert “Gibby” Welch at halfback were penciled in for the first game. "Usually secretive, melancholy and dejected, Coach Jock Sutherland, starting his second year in charge of the alma mater, was no different yesterday. With a veteran team of nine, and strengthened by the acquisition of Salata and Welch, last year's freshmen stars, (he) was hopeful of victory, but rather uncertain as to how his team would act, despite the grilling drills of the past few weeks."
Regis M. Welsh of The Pittsburgh Post reported: "Speedy, flashy, strong in spots, taking advantage of scoring breaks, then making enough mistakes to show its own immaturity, the Pitt Panther, romping like wild on its new turf field, and with an admiring and perspiring crowd of almost 20,000 looking on scored a decisive, but not too impressive victory over Washington and Lee yesterday afternoon in the giant bowl, 28–0. Starting with a team of nine veterans and two graduates from last year's freshmen and winding up with the injection of so many substitutes that it would have made Knute Rockne seasick, the Panthers scored four times, twice on blocked kicks and twice by their own plunging and end skirting."
Early in the first period the Pitt offense advanced the ball by both running plays and short passes. Andy Gustafson culminated the drive by bulling his way into the end zone from the one-yard line for the first score in the new stadium. He tacked on the extra point and Pitt led 7–0. The Pitt defense stood out in the second quarter. First, Ralph Chase blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone for six points and Gustafson added the point after. Then, later in the half, Pitt had the Generals again pinned deep in their own territory when James Scanlon and Wendell Steele broke through and blocked the Generals' punt. Steele fell on it for another six points and Allan Booth, Gustafson's replacement, nailed the conversion for a 21–0 halftime lead. The only scoring in the second half was a 20-yard scamper around end by halfback Joseph Schmitt. Booth kicked the extra point to close the scoring for the day. The Generals finished DeHart's last season with a 5–5 record.
The Pitt lineup for the game against Washington & Lee was Blair McMillin (left end), Zoner Wissinger (left tackle), Wendell Steele (left guard), Frank Benedict (center), Ulardt Hangartner (right guard), Ralph Chase (right tackle), John Kifer (right end), Jesse Brown (quarterback), Gilbert Welch (left halfback), John Harding (right halfback) and Andy Gustafson (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Felix Demoise, James Scanlon, William Kern, Joseph Schmitt, Robert Irwin, Allan Booth, Carl McCutcheon, Richard Goldberg, Paul Fisher, Joseph Archibald, Clyde Jack, Herman Reister, John Roberts, Philip Sargeant, James Hagan, Walter Hoban, John Grindle, Dwight Fyock, Ted Wilson and John Breen.
Lafayette
For the fifth year in a row, Lafayette College from Easton, PA. was the second game on the schedule. The series with Lafayette was tied at three victories apiece. Former Pitt star Herb McCracken was in his second year at the helm, having led the Maroon to a 10–0 win over Pitt and final record of 7–2 in 1924. Lafayette opened their 1925 slate with a 20–14 win over Muhlenberg. Lafayette lost All-America end Berry and stalwart guard Budd from the line to graduation. "The Maroon however, will flash a powerful backfield with Kirkleski, Marsh, Gebhardt, Moore and Millman – a quintet of fast steppers – in harness."
"Pitt, however, with its great line, well-balanced backfield and wealth of reserve strength is being made the favorite, and it is generally admitted that a victory for the visitors would be a startling turnover of the advance dope."
David Finoli wrote "As much as Pitt wanted this to be a measuring stick to show how they'd improved, what happened was just the opposite. After spotting the Panthers an early 9–0 lead, Lafayette thoroughly controlled the contest, scoring 20 unanswered points and handing Pitt their worst loss in six years, 20–9."