The 1921 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1921 college football season. In its seventh season under head coach Pop Warner, the team compiled a 5–3–1 record and outscored all opponents by a total of 133 to 50. The team played its home games at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.
The 1921 West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh football game was the first college football game to be broadcast live on radio.
Schedule
Preseason
After compiling a record of 42–3–3 in his previous six seasons, Glenn Warner returned for his seventh season as Pitt coach with some reservations about "Pittsburgh's long term commitment to remaining competitive, which to his thinking included building a much-needed stadium and continuing to recruit top-level talent for the football squad." The Stanford University coaching offer piqued his interest but he remained committed to his contract. The Athletic Department added two former Pitt players to the organization - Pat Herron was named assistant coach and Dr. J. Huber Wagner was appointed team physician.
Tom Davies was elected captain for the 1921 season and Lawrence I. Klinestiver was appointed student manager.
On September 6 the 1921 Pitt football prospects gathered at Camp Hamilton for their -week preseason training period. Since only four lettermen were lost from the 1920 squad – John McCrory, James Bond, William Edgar, and Herbert McCracken - and with the strong contingent from the 1920 freshmen team moving up, Coach Warner was expected to place another strong team on the field. Walter Ritchie, 1904 Pitt quarterback, and Lone Star Dietz, the famous Carlisle Indian (1909–1912), assisted Coach Warner the opening week of camp. Ritchie was assistant coach at Illinois Wesleyan and Dietz was the Purdue head coach. Ollie DeVictor was the newly appointed trainer and H. L. Westerman, senior med-student, was in charge of first aid. New facilities installed at the camp included a nine-hole golf course and tennis courts for the players enjoyment. The Panther squad broke camp on September 23 and returned to Pittsburgh. The next day they opened the 1921 season at Beaver Falls against the Covenantors of Geneva College.
The graduate manager arranged a nine-game schedule that was as hard as the 1920 schedule. Because Pitt used Forbes Field for its home games, the first two games were on the road – Geneva and Lafayette. The location of the third game depended on whether or not the Pirates won the pennant. If yes, the Panthers played at Cincinnati, if no, the Panthers played West Virginia at home. Nebraska replaced Georgia Tech in a home game. "The Westerners played good football against Penn State last fall and with new coach Fred Dawson are expected to put up a stern battle here. The team is one of the biggest in the country, virtually all the players being well over six feet tall in height. All in all, local fans should see some tip-top football in the home games, and there is no reason why the season should not be one of the biggest ever, so far as crowds go, as well as one of the most successful playing campaigns in the Panthers history."
"As the Panthers defend the colors of the University of Pittsburgh on the football field this fall, their performances will be announced by radiophone. Through the co-operation of Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co., one of the Westinghouse wireless sets will be installed in the press box and it will announce to the public every play executed by the blue and gold team and their opponents. This will afford the alumni and friends of the team who on account of living at a distance will not be able to attend the games at Forbes Field, an opportunity of having the game brought to their homes. The Westinghouse Co. has made wonderful strides in the wireless field ion broadcasting information, entertainments and athletics the past year. Last winter, when the Pitt basketball team played at Motor Square Garden, the results were received as far north as Toronto, Can., as far west as Nebraska, as far south as the Gulf of Mexico, and east to the Atlantic coast. In many instances the universities and colleges of the United States have installed wireless phones, making it possible for the students who cannot attend the games to assemble at the college and receive the results."
Coaching staff
1921 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff Pop Warner – Head coach Floyd Rose – Assistant coach Alexander Stevenson – Assistant coach Pat Herron – Assistant coach Andrew Kerr – Freshman coach Support staff Lawrence I. Klinestiver – student football manager J. Huber Wagner – team physician Ollie DeVictor – team trainer Karl E. Davis – graduate manager of athletics Charles S. Miller – director of athletics
Roster 1921 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster John Anderson*halfback65' 9"160251923Ben Avon H. S.Ben Avon, PA Charles Bowser*center85' 11"172231923Johnstown H. S.Johnstown, PA Charles B. Bryceguard06' 1"164181924McKeesport H. S.McKeesport, PA J. Franklin Byershalfback15' 11"152201923Turtle Creek H. S.Turtle Creek, PA James Clark*guard55' 10"192201923Allegheny H. S.Pittsburgh, PA John Clawsonend16' 1"164241923The Kiski SchoolIrwin, PA Nicolas Colonna*fullback85' 8"167291923Woodlawn H. S.Woodlawn, PA John Cookguard06'174211923Norwin H. S.Irwin, PA J. P. Curriefullback05' 7"156231924Fifth Ave. H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Thomas Davies*halfback85' 9"155221922The Kiski SchoolWashington, PA Thomas Eliashalfback25' 8"155221923Schenley H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Fred Ewing*end65' 10"165231922The Kiski SchoolSaltsburg, PA Edmund Fredette*center45' 11"178211924The Kiski SchoolWilkinsburg, PA William Hainesend06'160201924Crafton H. S.Crafton, PA Harvey Harman*tackle96'198201922Peabody H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Mike Hartnett*halfback45' 11"158211923Johnstown H. S.Johnstown, PA Orville Hewitt*fullback95' 10"199231923Wilkinsburg H. S.Wilkinsburg, PA Tom Holleran*quarterback85' 7"168231923The Kiski SchoolPittsburgh, PA Lloyd Jordan*end55' 10"167201924Punxutawney H. S.Punxutawney, PA Leon Kelly*tackle85' 10"172241922Mansfield NormalWellsboro, PA John Laughranhalfback05' 10"144231922Braddock H. S.Braddock, PA Lester Learguard06' 1"214211924Monessen H. S.Monessen, PA Charles Lewisguard05' 7"182211924Monessen H. S.Monessen, PA John McLean*tackle75' 11"187231923Homestead H.S.Homestead PA Henry Magarralcenter25' 11"160221923Westinghouse H. S.Pittsburgh, PA John Millercenter26' 1"244191923Mt. Union H. S.Mt. Union, PA Philip Newbakertackle06' 1"164221924Wyoming SeminaryWindber, PA Fred Peters*end96' 2"184 221922Dickinson H. S.Dickinson, NJ William Robuschfullback16'167 201924Salem H. S.Salem, OH Jacob Sack*tackle86' 2"181191923Fifth Avenue H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Harry Seidelson*guard66' 1"184201924Fifth Avenue H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Nick Shuler*quarterback45' 11"178191924Elwood City H. S.Elwood City, PA Richard M. Simpsontackle25' 11"186211923Huntingdon H. S.Huntingdon, PA E. F. Slessingerend15' 9"166181924Turtle Creek H. S.Turtle Creek, PA Herb Stein*center85' 11"180221923The Kiski SchoolNiles, OH Charles Williams*halfback75' 7"167211924Wellsburg H. S.Wellsburg, WVA Frank W. Williams*end96' 2"173211923The Kiski SchoolParnassus, PA Charles Winterburn*halfback95' 6"176211923Elizabeth H. S.Elizabeth, PA Paul Youngkend26'168201924Westinghouse H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Lawrence I. Klinestiver*manager 1922 Sheffield H. S.Sheffield, PA * Letterman
Game summaries
At Geneva
For the third straight year the Panthers opened their football season in Beaver Falls, PA against the Covenanters of Geneva College. Geneva was led by fifth year coach Philip Henry Bridenbaugh. The Geneva lineup had Harold Krotzer, a former Panther, at fullback and Joseph Lynch, a Princeton transfer, at tackle. The Covenanters finished the season with a 5–3–1 record.
The Panther squad, students and alumni traveled to Beaver Falls on the P. & L. E. railroad. Since school was not officially in session, the band was not in attendance. The Pitt squad left Pittsburgh at 10 a.m. and had a noon lunch at the Grand Hotel in Beaver Falls. Coach Warner planned to start his strongest eleven and hoped to play everyone. However, he cautioned the Panthers that the Geneva squad "are many percent stronger than in 1920."
Coach Warner's words seemed prophetic as "the Covenanters put up a gritty battle and held the Panthers to one touchdown in the first half." Pitt backs Tom Davies and John Anderson were both injured early in the game. Late in the first quarter sophomore Charles "Poke" Williams raced 32 yards around right end for a touchdown the first time he touched the ball. Tom Holleran kicked the goal. The first half ended with the score 7–0 in Pitt's favor. Late in the third period, Nick Colonna scored from the five to pad the lead. Holleran was successful on the try for goal. Fullback Bill Robusch added two scores in the last quarter and Williams kicked both goals to close out the scoring. Pitt 28 to Geneva 0. All the touchdowns were scored by stars from the 1920 freshman team and twenty-four players received playing time.
The Pitt lineup for the game against Geneva was Herb Stein (left end), Harvey Harman (left tackle), John Sack (left guard), Henry Magarral (center), Harry Seidelson (right guard), John McLean (right tackle), Frank Williams (right end), Tom Holleran (quarterback), Tom Davies (left halfback), John Anderson (right halfback), and Orville Hewitt (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Edmund Fredette, Fred Peters, Charles Williams, Mike Hartnett, Nick Colonna, Nick Shuler, Bill Robusch, Fred Ewing, Leon Kelly, John Miller, Richard Simpson, Charles Winterburn, and Paul Youngk. The game was played in 15-minute quarters.
At Lafayette
The second road trip was to Easton, Pennsylvania to do battle with third-year coach Jock Sutherland's Lafayette Leopards. The team departed Pittsburgh Thursday evening at 8:05 and arrived in Harrisburg at 6:00 a.m. Friday for breakfast. They then hopped aboard the P.& R. Railroad car and arrived in Allentown around 9:30 a.m. A worried Coach Warner held practice at the Lehigh Valley Country Club Friday afternoon. Saturday at noon the team made its way to Easton for the 3:00 o'clock kick-off. "After the game they will board their train at Phillipsburg, NJ, which is directly opposite Easton, and go thence to Trenton, where their sleeper will be awaiting them. They will arrive home at 8:12 Sunday morning."
Lafayette opened its season with a convincing 48–0 win over Muhlenberg College. Coach Sutherland had 16 returning lettermen, so "he can place the same team on the field this Saturday that gave Pitt such a hard tussle last year. With the advantage of playing on the home gridiron, Lafayette is hopeful of a victory." The Leopard line was anchored by consensus All-America Guard Frank Schwab.
Harry Keck of The Gazette Times was worried: "There is danger of a Pitt defeat in the meeting." Pitt was physically battered by Geneva. Starting halfback Anderson will be sidelined for three weeks. Captain Tom Davies may not play and guard Harry Seidelson will start under a handicap. "So, if Pitt has trouble winning from Lafayette Saturday, don't be surprised."
The Morning Call in Allentown reported: "The bell on old South College rang out the tidings of Lafayette's greatest football triumph in the last decade yesterday afternoon when the Maroon team crushed mighty Pitt by the score of 6–0. Fifteen thousand fans jammed historic March Stadium to witness the battle between these two gridiron juggernauts which was decided by a lone touchdown by 'Bots' Brunner in the first quarter of play."