The 1913 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1913 college football season. In its first season under head coach Joseph Duff, the team compiled a 6–2–1 record and outscored all opponents by a total of 165 to 46.
Schedule
Preseason
John "Hube" Wagner was elected Captain for the 1913 season at the 1912 team banquet . Also, Alfred R. Hamilton, noted longtime supporter of the Pitt football program, offered the use of his farm in Windber, PA to the team for the month of September as a training facility. Thanks to Mr. Hamilton's generosity this turned into a yearly event known as "Camp Hamilton."
Laurence Hurst, the Graduate Manager of Athletics since the 1909 season, resigned to devote more time to his law practice. During his tenure, he was instrumental in negotiating the deal with Barney Dreyfuss to play the home games at Forbes Field; he instituted mail order ticket procedures; he managed the payment of the part time employees needed for the games; he set up a schedule of teams that fans wanted to see play; and the athletic department went from being in debt to having a surplus.
Karl E. Davis was appointed Graduate Manager of Athletics by the Athletic Committee on December 11, 1912. Mr. Davis was a 1910 graduate of the University with a Civil Engineering degree. The Pitt Weekly lauded the appointment: "His selection as a graduate manager is a fitting tribute to his energy, loyalty, and value as an athletic manager, and if his past performances indicate anything, he will certainly make good with a vengeance." Mr. Davis appointed Howard Jenkins, a senior in the Engineering Department, student football manager for the 1913 season. Mr. Davis had the full football schedule arranged by mid-February and The Gazette Times touted it as "the hardest card in its history."
The Pitt Athletic Committee met on April 9 and announced that they hired 1911 Princeton All-American lineman Joseph Duff as coach for the 1913 season. His assistant coach was Edwin H. W. Harlan, a 1907 All-American Princeton halfback. In his first week as coach, Mr. Duff called on all the players to report to spring practice. This was the first year spring practice was held at Pitt. It ran from April 14 - April 26. Preseason conditioning began on September 3 when the team gathered on Alfred Hamilton's farm near Windber, PA. for the inaugural session of "Camp Hamilton." The team "worked hard and patiently until the opening game with Ohio Northern on Saturday, September 27."
Coaching staff 1913 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff Joseph M. Duff Jr. – Head coach Edwin H. W. Harlan – Assistant backfield coach Support staff Howard Jenkins – Student football manager Karl E. Davis – Graduate manager of athletics Charles S. Miller – Director of athletics
Roster
1913 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster Hube Wagner*end95' 11"1851914Monaca H.S.Doctor of MedicineMonaca, PA Leo Collins*end85' 10"1801915East Pittsburgh H.S.Bachelor of LawsEast Pittsburgh, PA Philip Dillon*halfback85' 7"1701916Bellefonte AcademyAssociate MiningEllsworth, PA William Cowell*tackle95' 8"1851916Urbana (Ill.) H.S.School of Mines Fred Ward*halfback45' 7"1501916New Kensington H.S.Doctor of Dental SurgeryBeaver Falls, PA Wayne Smith*guard85' 9"2001915Bellefonte AcademyDoctor of Dental SurgeryPittsburgh, PA Robert Peck*halfback95' 8"1701917Pawling School N.Y.EconomicsCulver, IN Charles Reese*end86' 1"1801915Bellefonte AcademyDoctor of Dental SurgeryWarren, PA Isadore Shapira*center85' 10"1801916East Liberty AcademyBachelor of Science in EconomicsPittsburgh, PA Harry Shof*halfback35' 7"1501916Greensburg SeminaryAssoc. College 1916 and Assoc. Medical 1918 James P. Herron*end35' 10"1351915Monessen H.S.Bachelor of ArtsPittsburgh, PA Mark Hoag*tackle65' 11"1751914Holy Cross PrepDoctor of Dental SurgeryLock Haven, PA Rendall Soppitt*guard66' 1"1851917Greensburg H.S.School of MinesLatrobe, PA E. Fred Ammons*fullback85' 11" 1916Arkansas City (KS) H.S.Doctor of Dental SurgeryTulsa, OK Claude Thornhill*tackle66' 0"200 1917Beaver H.S.School of MinesBerkeley, CA Roy Heil*quarterback95' 6"1351916Topeka, (Kan.) H.S. Doctor of Dental SurgeryTopeka, KS Guy Williamson*halfback95' 9"1551916New Mexico Military AcademySchool of Mines James Jones*tackle15' 10"1551917Johnstown H.S.Associate Mine degreeJohnstown, PA Enoch Pratttackle16' 4"2151914Pittsburgh H.S.Associate EngineeringPittsburgh, PA Roy Kernohanhalfback15' 11"1681915Homestead H.S.Doctor of Dental SurgeryHomestead, PA Carl Hockensmithcenter15' 11"2201916The Kiski SchoolAssociate EngineeringPenn Station, PA Justice Egbertfullback36' 0"1601916East Liberty AcademyAssociate EngineeringPittsburgh, PA William McHughend15' 9" 1917Scranton H.S.Associate CollegeScranton, PA John Cumminscenter05' 11" 1914California NormalBachelor of ScienceBen Avon, PA Charles B. Daugherty0end5' 11" 1916Jeanette H.S.Graduate in PharmacyJeanette, PA David McCandlesscenter1 1917 Associate EngineeringPittsburgh, PA Thomas Frazierend2 1916 Bachelor of Science (ChemistryPittsburgh, PA* Lettermen
Game summaries
Ohio Northern
Reporter L. G. Boggs of The Pittsburgh Press penned: "Pitt's football warriors opened the season at D. C. & A. C. Park, Wilkinsburg, yesterday by defeating the Ohio Northern University eleven 67–6. The game was closer than the score indicates. Ohio Northern players fought gamely every inch of the way and made Coach Duff's men play the limit for every point they made. A crowd estimated at 5,000 packed the park. It was one of the largest crowds that ever turned out for the opening game of the season."
Pitt's record against the Polar Bears was 6–0 and they outscored the Ohio eleven 179–6. These two teams would not play again until September 24, 1932. Ohio Northern would finish the 1913 season under Coach Carl Peters with a 4–6–1 record.
Pitt scored ten touchdowns and seven goals after. The only mystery was that the local newspapers could not agree on who scored the touchdowns. The consensus seemed to be that Philip Dillon scored five to lead the team in scoring. Hube Wagner scored four and Guy Williamson scored one. Bob Peck converted five goal afters and Guy Williamson added two. Coach Duff was able to play nineteen men and observe the scrubs in game action. The Polar Bears scored their first points ever against Pitt on a thirty-yard pass play from quarterback Stump to his left end Gardner.
Mr. Boggs of The Pittsburg Press added:"One thing in evidence throughout the entire game, was that the Pitt men were tackling far better than they did last season. The men evidently have been instructed in the art by Coach Duff."
The Pitt lineup for the game against Ohio Northern was Hube Wagner and William McHugh (left end), "Tiny" Thornhill and Mark Hoag (left tackle), Rendall Soppitt and Enoch Pratt (left guard), Isadore Shapira (center), Wayne Smith (right guard), William Cowell and Chuck Reese (right tackle), Leo Collins, William McHugh and Thomas Frazier (right end), Roy Heil and Fred Ward (quarterback), Bob Peck and Guy Williamson (left halfback), Philip Dillon and Harry Shof (right halfback) and Fred Ammons (fullback). The game was played in 12-minute quarters.
At Navy
The first road game entailed a ride on the Pennsylvania Railroad east to Annapolis, MD. The Pitt team secured a sleeper car and boarded the train early (9 p.m.) on Thursday evening "in order to give them the benefit of the extra slumber." The train departed at 11:15 and the team arrived in Annapolis on Friday morning. They held a practice at St. John's College and then were "the guests of the Naval Academy in Bancroft Hall, the stately dormitory of the sailors."
Navy was led by third year coach Douglas Legate Howard and they would finish the season with a 7–1–1 record. Pitt fielded the same starting lineup as in the Ohio Northern game and the Naval Academy lineup boasted eight veterans from the 1912 team that defeated Pitt.
The Gazette Times special telegram from R. H. Riley stated: "The football warriors of the University of Pittsburgh and the Naval Academy, both wearing Blue and Gold, battled here this afternoon during 48 minutes of actual football and the final result was a scoreless tie."
On Navy's second possession, they advanced the ball to the Pitt 35-yard line. On first down Navy guard Brown faked a field goal and was tackled for a loss. On second down he attempted a field goal "which was smeared by several Pitt linemen." Early in the second quarter, the Navy offense again advanced to the Pitt 25-yard line. "Brown again tried a field goal from placement, but it was blocked." The Pittsburgh defense kept the Midshipmen out of scoring range for the remainder of the first half.
"The Pitt squad went wild in the third quarter when after advancing the ball to the Navy 20-yard line, Heil shot a forward pass to Wagner which the latter grabbed on the bound and carried over the Navy line." The officials claimed another Pitt player had touched the ball and did not allow the touchdown. "Coach Duff was in evidence on the field, vigorously protesting the decision which spoiled a victory for Pittsburgh." Navy then blocked Heil's field goal attempt and regained possession. The remainder of the game was a punting duel with penalties and interceptions stalling both teams offensive drives.
The Pitt lineup for the game against Navy was Hube Wagner (left end), William Cowell (left tackle), Rendall Soppitt (left guard), Isadore Shapira (center), Wayne Smith (right guard), Claude Thornhill (right tackle), Leo Collins (right end), Roy Heil (quarterback), Robert Peck and Guy Williamson (left halfback), Philip Dillon and Thomas Frazier (right halfback) and Fred Ammons (fullback). The game was played in 12-minute quarters.
West Virginia
The October 11 thirteenth edition of the "Backyard Brawl" took place on a muddy Forbes Field. Pitt held a slim 6–5–1 lead in the series after losing five of the first six games. The Mountaineers were led by first year coach Edwin Sweetland and would finish the season with a 3–4–2 record.
The Pitt Weekly reported:"Pitt got away with a 40–0 victory in the first real home game of the season last Saturday. Although the game was preceded by a heavy downpour and a steady drizzle kept up during the entire game, making the field very slow, our team showed amazing speed, and outplayed West Virginia in every aspect of the game."
On Pitt's second possession, Roy Heil passed to a wide open Hube Wagner in the end zone, but the pass was incomplete. After a punt, a fumble and another exchange of punts Pitt had possession on the Mountaineer 20-yard line. "Peck and Williamson between them escorted the ball to the one yard marker." Fred Ammons plunged for the touchdown. Robert Peck was good on the goal after. The remainder of the first half was a series of punts, fumbles, and penalties by each team.
"It was not made public what Duff said to the men during the interim between the halves but it must have had the tabasco tinge to it, for the Pittites went into the game hot and heavy from the start." The visitors received the second half kickoff and muffed a trick play. They punted and Roy Heil returned the punt to the Mountaineer 20-yard line. On first down Guy Williamson raced around the end for the score. Robert Peck was successful on the point after. Pitt 14 to WVA 0. On their next possession, Pitt fumbled on the West Virginia 15-yard line. "Robert Peck put the hummer on a forward pass that the enemy attempted and ran 50-yards for a touchdown. He failed at the goal." Philip Dillon replaced Guy Williamson at left halfback. "He took the ball on the first play and never stopped going until he had made 50 yards and a touchdown." Peck was good on the point after and Pitt led 27–0 at the end of three quarters.