The 1938 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1938 college football season. The Panthers compiled a record of 8–2 in their final season under 15th -year head coach Jock Sutherland, and were ranked eighth in the final AP poll.
Schedule
Preseason
Chancellor John Bowman was not happy that the football team turned down the 1938 Rose Bowl bid and essentially cost the university the $100,000 payday. In February he set in motion the Bowman Plan for athletics at Pitt. The first order of business was to eliminate the Athletic Council and form an all-faculty board in charge of athletics. According to Chester L. Smith of The Pittsburgh Press the Bowman Plan would: "1 – Discourage all forms of alumni help to athletes. 2 – Attempt to deflate football and elevate other sports.. 3 – Bar all forms of recruiting, be they ever so subtle, by officials or coaches of the University. 4 – Limit future football schedules to eight games. 5 – Limit practice sessions for all forms of sport to not more than two hours daily; name Sept. 10 for the opening of preseason football workouts. No restrictions are placed on spring football drills." David Finoli noted in When Pitt Ruled the Gridiron: "Bowman decided he would tighten the noose around the program by taking away the $300 payments of their tuition unless they worked even more hours a day to pay for it starting with the 1938 freshman class....The student-athletes would also be required to move along with their class if they wanted to be eligible to play, which, while an understandable requirement from an academic standpoint, in major college football at the time was almost a death knell." Coach Sutherland approved the plan, but was in favor of de-emphasizing the schedule as well. He stated in Jock Sutherland - Architect of Men by Harry G. Scott: "I know that it is unfair and even dangerous to de-emphasize without also de-emphasizing the schedules. I consider it unfair to send other men's sons out to play without proper talent and without even a chance to win. It would be unwise to put minor league players into heavy major league competition." At a Westmoreland County Pitt Club meeting, when asked about the specifics of the restrictive plans, Coach Sutherland would only say: "It looks like we have made the mistake of winning too many football games."
Assistant coach Charles Bowser resigned for business reasons and center coach Dr. Ralph Daugherty resigned to practice medicine full time. Coach Sutherland hired recent graduates, center Don Hensley and quarterback John Michelosen, to his staff and moved Alec Fox into the assistant coach slot.
On March 15, 1938, Coach Sutherland began his 15th and last spring practice on the Trees practice field. Sixty players showed up for the first day of drills. The "Dream Backfield" was formed when Marshall Goldberg approached coach Sutherland: "Dr. Sutherland, I know the team needs a fullback. Dick Cassiano is a wonderful halfback. Why not let him take my place at that position, and make a fullback out of me?" Sutherland countered that Goldberg was an All-American halfback and might sacrifice that rating his senior year if he switched positions. Goldberg answered: "Oh, that's all right, if you think I can give the team what it needs at fullback, I don't mind if I'm not named All-American again." Two weeks into drills the squad was reduced by the new rules concerning academics. According to The Pitt News: "Somewhere between twelve and twenty-three varsity gridmen were declared ineligible at least for the all-important spring drills." Starting tackle Ted Schmidt and second string tackle George Musulin were dismissed from the squad because they violated the newly instituted eight semester rule. After five and a half weeks of drilling, the annual alumni versus varsity game officially closed the session. The varsity prevailed 21–0. Sophomore halfback Robert Thurbon scored two touchdowns and halfback Emil Narick tallied one to lead the varsity attack.
On September 5 Coach Sutherland welcomed 56 aspirants to fall practice. The squad was housed and fed at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association and was drilled twice a day until the start of fall classes. They completed the two-week session with an intra-squad scrimmage won by the varsity 34–7. Halfback Harold Stebbins tallied twice and Dick Cassiano, Ben Kish and Marshall Goldberg scored the other touchdowns for the first team. In the fourth quarter, Halfback Emil Narick caught a touchdown pass from Charles Shea for the second team score. Bill Daddio converted four of five extra point attempts and Frank Goodell was successful after Narick's score.
Coaching staff 1938 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff John B. "Jock" Sutherland – Head coach Alex Fox – Assistant coach John Michelosen – backfield coach Harold Williams – backfield coach Don Hensley – center coach Michael Nicksick – backfield coach Edward Schultz – end coach Walter Milligan– Freshman coach Support staff Dr. H. A. Ralph Shanor – team physician Roland Logan – team trainer Frank Scott – varsity equipment manager James Hagan - director of athletics Frank Carver – publicity director William McBride – varsity student manager
Roster
1938 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster Stephen Petro*guard106' 1"1891939Johnstown H. S. Johnstown, PA John Benztackle3 6' 3"2151941 Peabody H. S. Pittsburgh, PA Fabian Hoffman*end106'178193Central Catholic H. S. Pittsburgh, PA Gerald Lewisguard45' 9"1951941Emporium H. S. Emporium, PA John Chickerneo*quarterback106'1901939Warren H. S.Warren, OH Joseph Rettinger*end 9 5' 11"1801941Ashland H. S.Ashland, PA Elmer Merkovsky*tackle 106' 1"2051939Scott H. S. North Braddock. PA Ben Asavitchtackle36' 2"2001939Wilkes-Barre Memorial H. S.Wilkes-Barre, PA Walter Raskowski*guard 105' 11"1961939New Castle H. S. New Castle, PA Albin Lezouski*guard106'1851939Mahonoy City H. S. Mahonoy, PA Harold Stebbins*halfback106' 1"1851939Williamsport H. S. Williamsport, PA Albert Gurczenskitackle 4 6' 2"1941941Jeannette H. S.Jeannette, PA Harris Hawkinscenter 5 6'1671941New Martinsville H. S. New Martinsville, WV Michael Sekelafullback 9 6' 1"1921941 Windber H. S. Windber, PA Robert Thurbon*halfback 9 5' 10"1701941 Erie H. S.Erie, PA Benjamin Kish*fullback96'1891940Tonawanda H. S.Tonowanda, NY Alvin Leberfullback 3 5' 9"1701941Monongahela H. S.Monongahela, PA Robert Dannies*center105' 11"2001939Westmont H. S. (PA) Wauwatosa, WI Emil Narick*quarterback106'1801940Union H. S.Benwood, WV Thaddeus Konetsky*tackle 10 6' 2"1981941German Township H. S.German Township, PA John Dickinson*end86' 1"1901940Peabody H. S. Pittsburgh, PA Lawrence Peace*halfback105' 10"1901940 Bradford H. S. Bradford, PA Charles Flemingend45' 8"1701939New Castle H. S.New Castle, PA Frank Kristufek*tackle85' 11"1981940 McKeesport H. S. McKeesport, PA Ernest Bonellihalfback 5 5' 10"1821941 Aspinwall H. S. Aspinwall, PA Ralph Hafertackle66' 2"1851940 Dormont H. S.Dormont, PA John Goodridge*end10 6'1751941Washington H. S.Washington, PA Marshall Goldberg*halfback96'1861939Elkins H. S. Elkins, WVA Richard Cassiano*halfback 10 5' 10"1701940 Albany H. S. Albany, NY Walter Fridleyquarterback 1 5' 11"1751941 Kane H. S. Kane, PA Richard Fullerton*center9 6' 1"1851940 Madison H. S. Madison, NJ George Kracumhalfback 3 6'1801941Hazelton H. S.Hazelton, PA Rudolph Gradisek*guard 10 5' 11"1931941 Sewickley Township H. S. Herminie, PA Frank Goodellfullback 55' 9"1851940Curtis H. S. Staten Island, NY Harold Klein*guard 10 5' 10"1761940Altoona H. S.Altoona, PA William Daddio*end105' 11"1911939Meadville H. S.Meadville, PA Arthur Coraceguard26'1921940Carrick H. S. Carrick, PA Clement Cambalfullback15' 10"1741939Springdale H. S.Springdale, PA Joseph Cambaltackle 3 6'2021940Kiskiminetas Springs H. S. Springdale, PA Willard Currycenter15' 11"1901939 East McKeesport, PA Charles Sheahalfback3 5' 10"1551939 Pittsburgh, PA Alfred Bergertackle06'2181939Allegheny H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Leslie Holtend1 6' 2"1781940Meadville H. S. Meadville, PA James Kosinskiquarterback 1 5' 9"1651939Sheffield H. S. Pittsburgh, PA Earl Shordfullback 0 5' 11"1851940 Pittsburgh, PA Stephen Hortonend 1 6'1701940 Pittsburgh, PA George Sorokahalfback 1 5' 8"1501940 Pittsburgh, PA Jack Cooperhalfback 0 5' 11"1601941 Dormont H. S. Dormont, PA Paul Foleyguard 3 5' 10"1851941Swissvale H. S.Swissvale, PA William Frickcenter 0 5' 10"1801941Taylor Allderdice H. S. Pittsburgh, PA Poldo Gonzaleztackle 0 6' 2"2001941 Victory H. S. Clarksburg, WV Andrew Kluczkaguard 0 5' 9"1801941McKeesport H. S. McKeesport, PA Earl Presselhalfback 0 6'1821941Holidaysburg H. S. Holidaysburg, PA Louis Sleberhalfback1 5' 10"1651941Sewickley Township H. S.Herminie, PA John Sylvesterhalfback 0 5' 10"1481941 Bentleyville H. S.Bentleyville, PA Frank Scott*equipment student manager 1939Westinghouse, H. S.Pittsburgh, PA William McBride*varsity student manager 1939Central Catholic H. S.Pittsburgh, PA * Letterman
Game summaries
West Virginia
Second-year coach Marshall Glenn and his West Virginia Mountaineers were the opening game opponent. After posting an 8–1–1 record the previous season, including a Sun Bowl victory over Texas Tech, the Mountaineers were confident they could break their 9-year losing streak to the Panthers. The Mountaineers returned 8 members of their starting lineup from the Bowl game and had able reserves on the bench.
The Panthers led the all-time series 24–8–1 and had not lost to the Mountaineers since 1928. Coach Sutherland had to replace 6 starters from the previous season. His lineup had 10 seniors and one junior, but the reserve strength was worrisome because of the restrictions put in place for the previous 2 recruiting classes.
The Panthers continued their mastery over the Mountaineers with a solid 19–0 victory in front of an opening day record crowd of 34,500. The Panthers out-gained their opponent on the ground 329 to -11 and earned 15 first downs to 2 for the Mountaineers. West Virginia managed to complete 2 passes for 26 yards, but had three passes intercepted. Pitt drove deep into West Virginia territory twice in the first quarter and lost the ball on downs both times. The third drive followed a weak punt by the Mountaineers that gave Pitt the ball on the West Virginia 32-yard line. The eight-play drive ended with Marshall Goldberg going over left guard from the 2-yard line for the score. Bill Daddio's extra point attempt was blocked and Pitt led 6 to 0 at halftime. The Pitt offense sustained a 64-yard, 7-play drive in the third quarter, highlighted by a 33-yard dash by Stebbins that ended with Goldberg's 1-yard plunge for the touchdown. Daddio converted the placement and Pitt led 13 to 0. Sutherland substituted freely in the final quarter. The Pitt second string offense sustained a 9-play, 80-yard drive with Lawrence Peace, Robert Thurbon and Frank Goodell gaining yardage. Goodell fumbled going in from the 1-yard line, but Pitt end Joseph Rettinger caught the ball and scored. Lawrence Peace tried to run the ball in for the extra point, but was stopped short. Pitt 19 to West Virginia 0.
West Virginia coach Marshall Glenn heaped praise on the Panthers: "Say, that Pitt team is the best looking one I've seen in years. It has the stuff – a tight defense and a lot of power on offense....Yes, I'm very much afraid Jock has another one of his good teams this fall." The Mountaineers finished the season with 4–5–1 record.