The 1924 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1924 college football season. In their 20th season, and first under head coach Jock Sutherland, the team compiled a 5–3–1 record and outscored opponents by a total of 98–43. The team played its home games at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.
Schedule
Preseason
At the close of the 1923 season the University of Pittsburgh bid farewell to Glenn S. Warner, who was now head coach of Leland Stanford University, and welcomed John Bain Sutherland, who had been the Lafayette head coach, to lead the football program. "It is very difficult for a new coach to replace a legend." But "Jock" with his 33-8-2 record for five years work at Lafayette as incentive came home to Pittsburgh to take on the challenge. His first order of business was hiring Guy Williamson, former Pitt quarterback and recent head football coach of Grove City College, as his assistant. Alex Stevenson and Floyd Rose both remained on the staff.
Graduate Manager Karl E. Davis set up another competitive schedule. TheUniversity of Pennsylvania coaches demanded an easier schedule, so they dropped Pitt from their schedule. The Panthers instead played Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore Stadium and Geneva replaced Bucknell. The rest of the schedule mimicked the 1923 slate. Penn was back on the schedule for the 1925 season.
Coach Sutherland implemented a spring practice session to become acquainted with the returning members of the squad. The new coach had work to do as only five starters from the 1923 Penn State game lineup were eligible for the 1924 season. (Chase, Johnson, Wissinger, Gwosden and Gustafson) After four weeks of strenuous drill, Coach Sutherland stated that he was highly pleased with the condition of the many candidates. "Not only the system of Sutherland has been learned, but general conditioning of the men, new signals, and general instructions have been practiced. The three teams which practiced on the field during this time learned new plays which will be utilized next fall. The players have also had considerable practice in handling the oval, punting and passing."
Approximately one year after the initial request, the University and city officials agreed to the conditions of street vacating and construction for the new 70,000 seat stadium. Excavation began August 4, 1924 and the hope was to play the 1925 season in the new structure. W. S. Hindman, class of 1898, was the designing engineer in charge of construction. The stadium facilities were also to be utilized by the baseball, track and basketball teams. "A special basketball pavilion with a seating capacity of 5,000 will be made under the stadium at the right of the main entrance."
Sutherland's first Camp Hamilton preseason practice ran from September 3 to the September 20 with more than 40 aspirants vying for positions on the squad. Coach Sutherland, assisted by Guy Williamson and Floyd Rose, had about three weeks to prepare the lads for their first game at Grove City on September 27. On the eve of the end of camp, Harry Camins of The Gazette Times reported: "Coach Sutherland professes to be entirely satisfied with the results attained during the stay here. He says there remains much to be done, but that the results thus far have been all that could be expected of a team which has to be largely rebuilt."
Coaching staff
1924 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff John B. "Jock" Sutherland – Head coach Guy "Chalky" Williamson – Assistant coach Floyd Rose – Assistant coach Alexander Stevenson – Assistant coach H. Clifford Carlson - freshman coach Support staff Harry Reed– student football manager Ollie DeVictor – team trainer Karl E. Davis – graduate manager of athletics George I. Carson – assistant graduate manager
Roster 1924 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster Noble L. Frank*captain/tackle86' 1"181231925Harrisburg Central H. S. Harold Akins*tackle75' 11"187231925Bellefonte Academy Alfred Amann*quarterback45' 9"171211927Bellefonte Academy David Archibaldend06'192211927Westinghouse H. S. J. A. Archibaldguard16' 1"165211927Bellefonte Academy Clarence Ashbaughcenter05' 10"166211927Washington H. S. William Ashbaugh*quarterback95' 10"179231925Bellefonte Academy Frank J. Benedictcenter46'175191926Midland H. S. James N. Breencenter05' 10"155211925New Brighton H. S. Jesse J. Brown*halfback75' 11"175211926Nichols Prep (Buffalo, NY) Ralph Chase*tackle86' 4"199211926Wyoming Seminary Wallace Coulterfullback05' 11"170201927Crafton H. S. Roland Dalequarterback05' 10"156221926Westinghouse H. S. F. C. Donovanguard 05' 10"183191926St. Francis Prep John W. Evansquarterback35' 8"154231925Duquesne H. S. Charles Freisellguard05' 11"184201926Aspinwall H. S. Andrew C. Gustafson*fullback86'191211926West Aurora H. S. (Aurora, IL) Milo Gwosden*end95' 11"175231926Indiana Normal Ulhardt Hangartner*guard85' 11"195221925Schenley H. S. John J. Harding*halfback85' 9"155221926Wyoming Seminary Oliver Harris*halfback75' 11"166211927New Brighton H. S. Lee Herringtonhalfback05' 8"152201927Uniontown H. S. J. A. Hodgeshalfback05' 11"165231925Central H. S. (Cleveland, OH) Robert Irwin*halfback55' 11"159221926Bellefonte H. S. Clyde Jackend15' 10" 171221927The Kiski School William Jameshalfback05' 11"150221926Schenley H. S. Marsh Johnson*fullback96' 2"181221925Bellefonte Academy Ben Jonesquarterback05' 10"163201926Schenley H. S. John J. Kifer*end85' 11"163211926Norwin H. S. Howard Linn*guard65' 11"214211927Bellefonte Academy Carl McCutcheon*halfback45' 9"151 221926East Liverpool H. S. Blair V. McMillin*end55' 11"167181927Wilkinsburg H. S. Michael Meyerend15' 7"160231926Union H. S. (Knoxville, TN) James Millsfullback06' 2"157201927California H. S. Thomas Murdoch*guard76'181231925Schenley H. S. Herman Riesterguard15' 11"189181927Westinghouse H. S. Carl Sauer*end95' 11"170221925West Central H. S. (Cleveland, OH) Joseph Schmitt*halfback55' 11''154211927The Kiski School Henry Schmitthalfback15' 7"131221927Donora H. S. John B. Shumakertackle05' 11"175201926Rochester H. S. Floyd Snyderquarterback35' 8"175211927Wilkinsburg H. S. Wendell Steele*guard86' 2"184211926South Hills H. S. Alex Vislayend05' 11"151221927Indiana Normal Theodore Wilsonend05'11"170201927Wilkinsburg H. S. Zoner A. Wissinger*tackle86'195211926Greenville H. S. Harry M. Reed*manager 1925 New Brighton H. S. * Letterman
Game summaries
At Grove City
The Panthers opened the 1924 season on the road against the Grove City Crimson coached by former Pitt star Charley Bowser. Bowser was elevated to head coach when former head man Guy Williamson retired. (Subsequently, Coach Sutherland convinced Williamson to join the Pitt staff) Grove City won the first two games played against Pitt, in 1896 and 1898, but weren't able to beat the Panthers in the next seven meetings. "The whole district is wrought up over the contest, and a record-breaking crowd of fans is anticipated. The Grovers are in good shape. The team is just as heavy as Pitt, and probably further advanced in development. Indications point to a stubborn battle all the way with nothing to indicate a lopsided score."
On Friday afternoon, the Panthers traveling squad boarded the train for the ride to Grove City, which included a dinner stop at the Nixon Hotel in Butler. "Coach Jock Sutherland has decided to take 30 members of his squad on the trip, and all the boys are "r'arin'"to go." The Pitt fans are anxious to see how the lineup with six new men "will act in a tight place."
Max E. Hannum of The Pittsburgh Press reported: "The new Pitt football machine, under the direction of its first alumni coach, Dr. John Bain Sutherland, got off to a good start here this afternoon, defeating the Grove City collegians, coached by Charley Bowser, another former Panther, by a score of 14 to 0."
Pitt scored in the first period on a 56-yard run by John Harding. "The little halfback careened through the middle of the line. His way was well paved down the field by Mad Marsh Johnson, who cut down two would-be tacklers who were striving manfully to force Jack to the sideline. Milo Gwosden converted the try-for-point into an 'ace' with a placement kick." Pitt led 7–0. Late in the same period Pitt gained possession at midfield and advanced the ball to the 2-yard line as time expired. On the second play after switching ends of the field, Andy Gustafson bulled into the end zone for the last touchdown of the day. Gwosden again made the point after and Pitt was ahead 14–0. A few minutes later Gwosden missed an 18-yard field goal. Harding also muffed one late in the fourth quarter. Grove City never threatened Pitt's goal, but they missed two field goal attempts.
The Panthers earned 13 first downs to the Grovers 6, but the telling statistic was Grove City only completing 4 passes out of 23 attempts. "Sloppy handling of the ball by receivers and throwers disgusted the fans, while Captain Harry Brian, halfback, failed at tossing and then muffed three successive passes which would have meant heavy gains."
Grove City finished the season with a 3-5-1 record in Coach Bowser's first year.
The Pitt lineup for the game against Grove City was Blair McMillin (left end), Zoner Wissinger (left tackle), Ulhardt Hangartner (left guard), Marsh Johnson (center), Noble Frank (right guard), Thomas Murdoch (right tackle), Milo Gwosden (right end), Alfred Amann (quarterback), John Harding (left halfback), Jesse Brown (right halfback) and Andy Gustafson (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Howard Linn, Ralph Chase, William Ashbaugh, John Kifer, Robert Irwin, Harold Akins and Carl Sauer. The game was played in 15-minute quarters.
Lafayette
The home opener for the third year in a row was against intrastate rival Lafayette. Coach Sutherland's previous charges were now coached by former Pitt running back Herb McCracken. The Leopards with nine returning starters in the lineup beat Muhlenberg in their opening game. Lafayette's line was anchored by All-America end Charlie Berry. "The entire 1923 backfield is back at Easton, including the famous Chicknoski, whom Jock Sutherland ranks as one of the best halfbacks he ever saw....Lafayette will present at Forbes Field a team which will have the advantage over Pitt in the matter of experience."
"The Pitt mentor fears Lafayette. Coach Sutherland realizes that if his pupils are not up to snuff (they) will find themselves on the short end. The Panther punch is still missing." A few Pitt players nursing minor injuries should all be fit to play on Saturday.
Max E. Hannum of The Pittsburgh Press reported: "Herb McCracken returned to Forbes Field in a new role yesterday. He chaperoned a well-drilled and powerful Lafayette football team, and humbled his Blue and Gold alma mater by the score of 10 to 0, while thousands of gridiron-hungry Pittsburghers looked on."
After a scoreless first period, Lafayette advanced the ball to the Pitt 10-yard line minutes before halftime and the Pitt defense stiffened. "Berry fell back to the 24-yard line for an attempted drop kick. It was good, sailing squarely between the uprights." Lafayette led 3-0 at the intermission.
The third quarter was scoreless but in the mid-fourth period Lafayette halfback Kirkleski intercepted Jesse Brown's pass on his 45-yard line and was finally brought down on the Pitt 14-yard line. Six plays later, "the Pitt line was massed for a smash at center but the Lafayette field general crossed them up and pulled a reverse that sent Kirkleski across the goal line in the corner of the field. Berry kicked the try for point from placement." Lafayette won the game 10–0. They finished the season with a 7-2 record.