The 1922 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1922 college football season. In its eighth season under head coach Pop Warner, the team compiled an 8–2 record, shut out five of its ten opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 190 to 43. The team played its home games at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.
Schedule
Preseason
On February 1, 1922 Glenn S. Warner accepted a coaching offer from Stanford University. While he fulfills the last two years of his contract with Pitt, he will serve as advisory coach to Stanford. Andy Kerr, freshman football and varsity basketball coach at Pitt, will be acting head coach for the two year period and Claude Thornhill will be his assistant. Coach Warner will be at Stanford for spring practice but will return to Pitt for the start of training at Camp Hamilton in September. "The action of both Kerr and Warner in lining up with the western school was a great surprise to their friends here, and to the athletic authorities at Pitt, who had no idea of any such denouement."
Dr. H. Clifford Carlson was named freshman football coach by the University Athletic Council on March 9. "Red" graduated from Medical School in 1920. He was a three sport letter-winning athlete while at Pitt playing football (Captain of the undefeated 1917 team), basketball and baseball. Carlson coached the 1920 freshman baseball team to a 7–3 record. On May 10, the Athletic Council named him varsity basketball coach (a position he would hold for 31 years).
A new contract with Forbes Field was signed. It forbade the Pitt football team using the field for practice, so the Engineering Department built a practice facility on the hill for approximately $12,000. "In addition to the new practice field, the Athletic Committee is erecting a dressing room adjacent to the indoor track which will provide room for equipment, rubbing room, general dressing room, showers, toilets, etc. The whole layout is on a par with that at any other school in the United States, and while not what could be termed 'real' fancy, certainly should take care of all the needs of the football men in splendid manner." The new facility will keep Forbes Field in better shape for games.
The nine game schedule arranged by graduate manager Karl E. Davis mimicked the 1921 slate except that Bucknell replaced Nebraska. On September 24 The Pittsburgh Press reported that a tenth game was added to the schedule. The Panthers would play at Stanford on December 30 in the new Stanford Bowl. "Coach Warner saw the trip as an opportunity to see the progress being made by assistants Kerr and Thornhill, and evaluate the talent of the Stanford players in game conditions."
Training at Camp Hamilton commenced on September 5 and ended on the 23rd. Thirty-six men were eligible to compete for positions on the 1922 roster. Three men with varsity experience (halfbacks, Frank Byers and Charles Williams, and end Paul Youngk) were ineligible due to scholastic deficiencies. Two other veterans turned in their pads. Halfback William Robush opted to concentrate on track and end Jack Clawson accepted a position as Athletic Director at Norwin High School.
Coaching staff
1922 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff Pop Warner – Head coach Floyd Rose – Assistant coach Alexander Stevenson – Assistant coach H. Clifford Carlson – Freshman coach Support staff George I. Carson – 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 1922 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster Tom Holleran*quarterback35' 7"1601923The Kiski SchoolPittsburgh, PA Harold Akinstackle05' 10"1981925Bellefonte AcademyAlliance, Ohio John Anderson*halfback105' 9"1601923Ben Avon H. S.Ben Avon, PA William Ashbaugh*center75' 10"1701925Bellefonte AcademyWashington, PA Kenneth Biddleguard15' 10"1961924Crafton H. S.Crafton, PA Karl Bohren*halfback65' 8"1571925Reynoldsville H. S.Reynoldsville, PA Charles Bowser*center105' 11"1721923Johnstown H. S.Johnstown, PA James Breencenter15' 7"1681925New Brighton H. S.New Brighton, PA Roy Brubakerguard15' 7"1681923Knoxville Union H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Cronje Carnahanguard25' 11"1951925Bellefonte AcademyFayetteville, AR John W. Clark*guard85' 10"2061923Allegheny H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Nicolas Colonna*fullback75' 8"1671924Woodlawn H. S.Woodlawn, PA John W. Evanshalfback25' 6"1551925Duquesne H. S.Duquesne, PA William Flanagan*quarterback106'1601925Buckhannon H. S.(WV)Buckhannon, WV Noble Frank*tackle76'1771925Harrisburg Central H. S.Harrisburg, PA Edmund Fredette*center55' 11"1881924The Kiski SchoolWilkinsburg, PA W. Cullen Gourley*tackle95' 10"2001924Punxutawney H. S.Punxutawney, PA Milo Gwosden*end66'1761925Indiana NormalWoodlawn, PA William Hainesend26'1601924Crafton H. S.Crafton, PA Ulhard Hangartnerguard35' 11"1861925Schenley H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Mike Hartnetthalfback25' 11"1581923Johnstown H. S.Johnstown, PA Charles Harveyend15' 8"1601925Beaver Falls H. S.Beaver Falls, PA Orville Hewitt*fullback105' 10"1991923Wilkinsburg H. S.Wilkinsburg, PA Marsh Johnson*fullback46' 2"1801925Bellefonte AcademyJamestown, NY Lloyd Jordan*end105' 10"1781924Punxutawney H. S.Punxutawney PA John Miller*guard56' 1"2301923Mount Union H. S.Mount Union, PA Thomas Murdoch*tackle55' 11"1831925Schenley H.S.Pittsburgh PA Edward J. Newbakertackle16' 1881925Staunton Mil. Acad.(VA)Windber, PA Thola Noontackle05' 10"170 1925Scottdale H. S.Scottdale, PA John B. Sack*tackle106' 2"1851923Fifth Avenue H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Carl Sauer*end105' 11"1661925West Central H. S.(Cleveland)Cleveland, OH Harry Seidelson*guard66' 1"1841924Fifth Avenue H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Nick Shuler*quarterback75' 11"1781924Elwood City H. S.Elwood City, PA Richard M. Simpson*tackle105' 11"1861923Huntingdon H. S.Huntingdon, PA Frank W. Williams*end106' 2"1731923The Kiski SchoolParnassus, PA J. Charles Winterburn*halfback85' 6"1761923Elizabeth H. S.Elizabeth, PA George I. Carson*manager 1923 Peabody H. S.Pittsburgh, PA * Letterman
Game summaries
At Cincinnati
The opening game of the 1922 season was against the Cincinnati Bearcats led by first year coach George McLaren. McLaren played for Warner at Pitt from 1915 to 1918 and captained the 1918 team. He started his coaching career at Kansas State Normal College in 1919 and then moved to Arkansas for the 1920 and 1921 seasons.
The Bearcat lineup included a number of players from last year's squad. Their fullback and captain, Mike Palmer, was declared eligible after some scholastic difficulty and inserted into the lineup.
After the scare Cincinnati gave the Panthers last year, Coach Warner jogged their memory: "Some of you fellows remember that Cincinnati handed us a surprise package last fall on our own grounds," said Warner. "We defeated them, but not by a very creditable score. They will be much harder to beat today, and any lapses on your part are liable to prove fatal to our chances. I want every man to go in there to fight from the first whistle until the game is over, and, if I find any man doing less than what I considered his best, he will be yanked without ceremony."
Charles Bowser started at quarterback and captain Tom Holleran rested his ankle for the Lafayette game. Tackles Ulhard Hangartner and Edmund Fredette, center John Miller and halfback William Flanagan started their first game for the varsity.
The Panthers obeyed their coach and routed the hapless Bearcats 37–0. Six touchdowns were scored with John Anderson and Carl Sauer each tallying two. Orville Hewitt and Karl Bohren added one each. "The feature play of the game came late in the fourth quarter, when Bohren broke away around left end and then cut over to the right side of the field and ran 53 yards to the goal line."
The glaring negative of the game was the inability to convert extra points. Frank Williams converted his first and then missed the second. Karl Bohren, Milo Gwosden (2) and Charles Winterburn all failed on their attempts.
Cincinnati finished the season with a 1–7–1 record.
The Pitt lineup for the game against Cincinnati was Lloyd Jordan (left end), Ulhard Hangartner (left tackle), John Clark (left guard), John Miller (center), Jack Sack (right guard), Edmund Fredette (right tackle), Frank Williams (right end), Charles Bowser (quarterback), William Flanagan (left halfback), John Anderson (right halfback) and Nick Colonna (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Richard Simpson, William Ashbaugh, Nick Shuler, Carl Sauer, Milo Gwosden, Orville Hewitt, Karl Bohren, Charles Winterburn and Noble Frank.
Lafayette
The second game and home opener of the season was against the Lafayette Leopards from Easton, PA. The Leopards were coached by three members of the Warner coaching tree – head man John B. Sutherland, and his assistants - Fred Seidel and Ralph Gougler. The Leopards were on a thirteen game winning streak and were the defending National Champions. Coach Sutherland had a strong team led by Walter Camp first team All-American guard Frank Schwab. Halfback Leonard Brunner and end Charlie Berry also received postseason honors.
After last season's victory - " 'Do It Again' is the motto of the Eastonians in regard to the Pitt game." " 'We are going out to Pittsburgh to win,' said Coach Dr. Jock Sutherland, standing on the steps of the train. 'Pittsburgh has been preparing for Saturday's game since we defeated them here on March Field last October. We realize Pitt's great strength and are not overconfident. We know we must fight for every yard we gain. Lafayette is in fine physical condition. ...We are prepared to put up a wonderful fight'."
Coach Warner has been pointing to this game for a year. In his time at Pitt no team has beaten him two years in a row. "The Warnerites are primed for the fray. The importance has been dinned into their ears ever since their first practice session." The Panthers are healthy and want revenge for the 6–0 setback received in Easton last season.
The Pitt student body was primed for the home opener. On Friday night William Mellott, president of the Student Senate, led 2300 students crammed into Memorial Hall through a practice of the cheers, songs and handclaps meant to boost the spirit of the Panther gridders. Both team Captain Tom Holleran and Dr. Walter Riddle of the 1892 team gave rousing speeches.
The Gazette Times reported: "Bulletins on the progress of the Pitt-Lafayette football game at Forbes Field will fill in vacant periods between announcements of the progress of the fourth game of the world's series at New York today....KDKA station announced yesterday." If the series game is rained out, the Pitt game will be "given complete possession of the air waves."
The Athletic Council and University of Pittsburgh published a one hundred and four page 1922 Football Yearbook/Game Program that sold for 25 cents. The cover was illustrated by halfback Mike Hartnett.
For the second consecutive year Jock Sutherland's Lafayette eleven beat the Panthers in a hard fought defensive struggle. The scoreless tie was broken in the third quarter when Pitt halfback Charles Winterburn fumbled on his 34-yard line and Lafayette tackle Leo Pendergast scooped it up and ran unmolested into the end zone. Charlie Berry drop-kicked the extra point and Lafayette held on to win 7 to 0.
Captain and quarterback Tom Holleran broke his wrist and would be out of the lineup until the Penn State game.
Lafayette out gained the Panthers 160 yards to 72 yards and earned seven first downs to the Panthers five.