The 1936 Duquesne Dukes football team, sometimes known as the Bluffites, was an American football team that represented Duquesne University as an independent during the 1936 college football season. In their first year under head coach Clipper Smith, the Dukes compiled an 8–2 record, shut out seven of ten opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 140 to 28. They defeated cross-town rival, Pittsburgh, the only loss of the season for a Pittt team that finished the season ranked No. 3 in the AP poll. After the victory over Pitt, Duquesne rose to No. 11 in the AP poll, but then lost the next two games to West Virginia Wesleyan and Detroit. They concluded the season with four consecutive victories, including a 13–0 victory over No. 7 Marquette and a 13–12 victory over Mississippi State in the 1937 Orange Bowl. They were ranked No. 14 in the final AP poll and No. 10 in the Litkenhous Ratings.
Key players included center Mike Basrak, right halfback Boyd Brumbaugh, guard George Kakasic, and fullback Jim McDonald. Basrak received first-team All-America honors from the Associated Press, International News Service, the All-America Board, and Liberty magazine.
The team played its home games at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.
Schedule
Roster Chet Airhart, end Tex Amann, guard Steve Barko, guard Mitchell Barron Mike Basrak, center Ken Bechtloff, fullback Boyd Brumbaugh, halfback Burns, tackle Campbell, fullback Jim Casillo, quarterback Chapaia, end William Critchfield William Dillon, halfback Disegi, end James Faziola Ferko, guard Fillingham, halfback Gates, quarterback Robert Goodman, tackle Ted Grabinski Ernie Hefferle, end James Horn, guard Johnson, tackle George Kakasic, guard John Karrs, center Larry Kirschling, end Joe Laputka, tackle Regis Lhoest Sam Mangone Marshall Manuel Joe Maras, tackle George Matsik, halfback Jim McDonald, fullback Vince McKeeta John Minnick Geno Onder John Perko, guard George Platukis, end Ray Serangelli Sullivan Sussano, center Alex Tannas Louis Terrone, quarterback Paul Urik Beto Vairo, halfback Zanieski, halfback Frank Zoppetti, quarterback
References