The 1920 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1920 college football season. In its sixth season under head coach Pop Warner, the team compiled a 6–0–2 record and outscored all opponents by a total of 146 to 44. The team played its home games at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. "Perhaps due to the resurrection of sports after the war period, Pitt enjoyed an athletic year that was quite indicative of its pre-war strength, which so practically dominated college sport activities in this section for many years. The season of 1920-21 boasted of representative Pitt teams in every branch of sport - football, basketball, baseball, track, swimming and tennis. Aviation, which made its initial bow at the University last year, progressed in fine manner – the team having been entered in the big intercollegiate meet.
Schedule
Preseason
In spite of the 6–2–1 record of 1919, the outlook for the 1920 campaign was much better for Coach Warner. Twelve of the twenty-two lettermen were still in school and the freshmen team contributed twenty-six lads for possible varsity duty. "The squad next fall will be composed largely of men who went through this year's campaign, either on the varsity or freshmen team. There will be more experience in the Panther outfit next season than there was at anytime this season."
At the annual football banquet Herb Stein, star center, was elected Captain for the 1920 season. A week later Karl E. Davis appointed Robert G. Eckhardt as student football manager for the 1920 season. Mr. Eckhardt was a junior in the School of Economics. His brother was a well-known middle distance runner at Pitt.
On December 11 The Pittsburg Press reported:The announcement today by the University of Pittsburgh athletic authorities that a decision had been reached to have nothing further to do with Carnegie Tech in a sporting way was hardly unexpected. There has been considerable bitterness between the two schools for a long time, and this was increased greatly on the occasion of the recent football game between the Panther and the Plaid at Forbes Field, at which a riot was precipitated by a Tech students who resented the attempt of Pitt men to lower a Tech flag, which had surreptitiously been raised to the top of the Forbes Field flagstaff. However, the chances are that even this incident would have passed without any official action by Pitt, had not it been for an address delivered by Director Hamerschlag, of Tech, at Meadville, not long ago, in which he cast aspersions upon Pitt's eligibility code, and the amateur standing of the Panther athletes. While there is no mention of this address in Pitt's statement, it is known that it caused a great deal of adverse comment on the part of followers of Pitt, and it doubtless had more to do with the break than anything else.
Karl E. Davis announced the eight game 1920 football schedule on December 22. The schedule mirrored the 1919 slate except Lehigh and Carnegie Tech were absent. Lafayette replaced Tech but there was no replacement found for Lehigh.
On September 7, 1920 Coach Warner and forty Panther football prospects arrived at Camp Hamilton for two and a half weeks of preseason training. Student Manager Eckhardt and his assistants "got everything in shipshape for the coming of Coach Warner and his lads. The foxy mentor has asked that his squad be specially equipped this season in the matter of trousers and shoes, and the Panthers will have something novel in those lines. The men have all been provided with shoes in advance, in order to insure a perfect fit." New additions to the staff were Tom Kendrick, former varsity lineman, who handled first aid, and Dr. "Hube" Wagner (captain of the 1913 team), the medical supervisor. Former players - end Pat Herron, last year's captain Jimmie DeHart, guard Dale Seis and tackle Claude Thornhill - were on hand to assist Coach Warner. Leon W. Kelly, a star on the 1916 freshmen team, returned to school after his stint in the army and was welcomed to Camp Hamilton on September 14. "He scales better than 180 pounds, is aggressive, experienced and 'seasoned,' and is likely to win himself a regular job."
Coach Warner, a man of few words, issued a statement to The Pittsburgh Post:I only know that we are in for a hard year. Our opponents are certain to be strong. Many of them do not have the one-year residence rule and a student is eligible for the varsity football team as soon as he matriculates. Often such men plug big holes. We can't do that at Pitt. Our only new men are those who come to us from the Freshmen team of the preceding season. I do not know what the outcome of the season will be, but I believe the boys will do as they have always done for me – fight their hardest and do their best. I can't ask for anything more.
Walter Camp and the Rules Committee made one change of note: "Hereafter, if a touchdown is made, whether directly behind the goalposts or at the extreme corner of the field, the side making the touchdown may bring the ball out in front of the goal such distance as it thinks desirable, and from that point make the try for goal."
Coaching staff
1920 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff Pop Warner – Head coach Floyd Rose – Assistant coach Alexander Stevenson – Assistant coach Andrew Kerr – Freshman coach Support staff Robert G. Eckhardt – Student football manager Karl E. Davis – Graduate manager of athletics Charles S. Miller – Director of athletics
Roster 1920 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster John Anderson*halfback85' 9"1701923Ben Avon H. S.EnglishAndy24 James Bond*guard85' 9"1951921Central H. S.Pre-MedDinty23 Charles Bowser*center75' 11"1701924Johnstown H. S.EconomicsBows21 Ben Bremantackle15' 8"1651921Peabody H. S.Dental SchoolBif22 Franklin E. Byers*halfback45' 11"1601923Turtle Creek H. S.EconomicsRed19 John Clark*guard45' 10"1931923Allegheny H. S.School of MinesClarky19 Jack Clawsonend16' 1"1701923The Kiski School Jack23 Thomas Davies*halfback85' 8"1501922The Kiski SchoolEconomicsHop21 A. Willis Edgar, Jr.*end86' 2"1771924The Kiski School Bill22 Fred Ewingend25' 9"1701922The Kiski SchoolDental SchoolFreddie23 W. Cullen Gourley*tackle85' 10"1901922Punxsutawney H. S.EconomicsFats19 Harvey Harman*tackle46'2001922Peabody H. S.EconomicsHarv19 Mike Hartnetthalfback35' 11"1601923Johnstown H. S.EconomicsMike20 Adolph Herskowitztackle35' 11"1641921Wilkinsburg H. S.Dental SchoolAdd24 Orville Hewitt*fullback75' 10"2101923Wilkinsburg H. S. Orv22 Tom Holleran*quarterback65' 7"1651923The Kiski SchoolDental SchoolGoogs22 W. W. Hornerquarterback15' 8"1611921New Castle H. S.Dental SchoolBill23 Leon Kelly*tackle55' 10"1801922Mansfield NormalEconomicsDick23 William Kramerend16' 1"1751924Oil City H.S. Bill22 Oscar Kratzertguard15' 11"1901921Woodlawn H.S.Dental School Kratz23 John Laughranhalfback35' 11"1551922Braddock H. S.EconomicsSpeedo22 G. Herbert McCracken*halfback85' 9"1571921Sewickley H. S.EconomicsHerb21 John McCrory*end85' 11"1661921Wilkinsburg H. S.Dental SchoolSkyrocket22 John McLean*guard85' 11"1881923Homestead H.S.Dental SchoolMac22 Henry Magarrallcenter35' 11"1651923Westinghouse H. S.PharmacyMaggy21 Louis Markowitzguard45' 7"1931921McKees Rocks H. S.Dental SchoolMarx21 R. M. Monteithhalfback15' 8"1691924Johnstown H. S. Monty21 W. F. Murdochhalfback15' 8"160 1924Peabody H. S. Frank22 Jacob B. Sacklowski*(Sack)tackle86' 2"1901923Fifth Avenue H. S.EconomicsSack19 Richard M. Simpsontackle35' 11"1791923Huntingdon H. S.CollegeDick20 Herb Stein*center85' 11"1801923The Kiski SchoolBachelor of ScienceHerbie221 Charles Storerend15' 6"1551924Elizabeth H. S. Chuck19 W. J. Thomas*guard15' 10"2101921Lock Haven NormalEconomicsDode24 Frank W. Williams*end56' 1"1801924The Kiski SchoolEngineeringPie20 Robert G. Eckhardtmanager 1921 Peabody H. S.Economics * Letterman
Game summaries
At Geneva
For the second season in a row, the Panthers opened their season on the road at Beaver Falls, PA, home of the Geneva Covenanters. Geneva was led by fourth year coach Philip Henry Bridenbaugh. The 1920 Covenanters played all eight of their games at home and earned a 5–2–1 record, losing only to Pitt and Wash. & Jeff. "Graduate Manager M. R. Glover, of the Covenantors, has been advertising this game extensively throughout western Pennsylvania, especially in the Beaver valley, and a crowd that will tax the capacity of the park is anticipated. A preliminary game will be played by the Beaver Falls and Salem, O. high schools and the Pitt – Geneva game will follow. This is considered a big event in the Beaver valley." The Gazette Times reported: "The men are feeling fit and for the greater part are in the best condition for the Pitt game."
On game day, Harry Keck of The Gazette Times noted: "The Panther squad will leave for Beaver Falls in a body at 10:25 this morning, arriving before noon. It will be accompanied by the Pitt student band and a small batch of rooters. Three of the players counted upon to start for the Panthers will not be available. They are Harman, star tackle, who has an injured ankle; Anderson, halfback, who still is nursing hurts received in camp; and Dode Thomas, who is laid up with a cold."
The Gazette Times reported: "Glenn Warner's University of Pittsburgh eleven, minus his guidance, this afternoon inaugurated its 1920 football season by trimming Geneva College on the High School Field here, 47 to 0. The points were scored through the medium of seven touchdowns and five resultant goals."
"The work of Herb McCracken stood out above that of his fellows in the few minutes he was in the game as he broke away from a scrimmage and ran 58 yards through a broken field for the first touchdown. Nobody knows how Herb stayed in the game for he was taken out during the intermission between the first and second quarter when it was found that he was unconscious and had been playing since the first play of the game without knowing what he was doing. He didn't even know he had scored a touchdown until he was told about it."
In addition to McCracken, Tom Davies scored two touchdowns and Mike Hartnett, John Anderson, Orville Hewitt and J. Franklin Byers each tallied one. The goals from touchdowns were scored by committee also; Tom Davies made two with Tom Holleran, James Bond and Oscar Kratzert each kicking one. "Every one of the players on the squad was given a chance to get into the game by Floyd Rose, Warner's right-hand man, who was in charge in the absence of Pop, who went to Morgantown to scout West Virginia University in its game with Lehigh. Geneva did not make a first down and never had a chance on either offense or defense."
The Pitt lineup for the game against Geneva was Bill Edgar (left end), Louis Markowitz (left tackle), James Bond (left guard), Herb Stein (center), John McLean (right guard), William Gourley (right tackle), Tom Holleran (quarterback), Tom Davies (left halfback), Herb McCracken (right halfback) and Orville Hewitt (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Anderson, Bremen, Bowser, Byers, Clark, Clawson, Hartnett, Herkowitz, Horner, Kelly, Kramer, Laughran, Murdoch, Magarrall, Montieth, McCrory, Sacklowski, Simpson, Storer and Williams. The game was played in two 15-minute quarters and two 12-minute quarters.
West Virginia
The Panthers home opener of the 1920 season was against the West Virginia Mountaineers. Pitt led the all-time series 9–5–1. The Mountaineers won 5 of the first 6 meetings. In 1904 the Panthers won 53–0 and proceeded to win seven of the next eight meetings with the one exception being a tie game in 1909. The Panthers out scored the Mountaineers 146 to 9 over that period.