The 1909 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1909 college football season.

Schedule

Season recap

The 1908 football season was the end of the coach John A. Moorhead era at Pitt. The General Athletic Committee was charged with finding a suitable replacement. The two leading candidates were Frank Piekarski and Joseph H. Thompson. Mr. Piekarski was an All-American guard at the University of Pennsylvania from 1901 to 1904. He was head football coach at Washington & Jefferson University from 1905 to 1907 and led the Red and Black to a 25–7 record. Joe Thompson started his college football career at Geneva in 1900 and finished up with the 1905 Western University of Pennsylvania team. He wanted to be coach in 1905 and 1906 but did not get hired. While attending law school he coached football at Pittsburgh High School for the 1906 season and at Carnegie Tech for the 1907 season.

Some members of the Pitt student body remembered the uncomfortable situation between Coach Mosse and Mr. Thompson and demanded that their representative on the committee vote against Thompson. On February 17, after two meetings, heated discussions and numerous votes, Joseph H. Thompson was elected track and football coach for the 1909 season. Floyd Rose, former WUP quarterback, was hired as assistant coach.

Homer Roe was elected captain by his teammates. The graduate manager of athletics, Alexander Silverman, was advanced to full professorship and replaced by Laurence Hurst. Since the campus was moved to Oakland, a sixteen-room training house was secured at 3456 Bouquet Street.

The home football games were played at Forbes Field which opened on June 30, 1909.

The major rule changes for the 1909 season were that field goals would be worth three points, if two penalties occurred on the same play the offended team could choose which one to impose and touchbacks were brought out to the twenty-five yard line.

In the fall of 1909 students and alumni met to discuss school spirit and George M.P. Baird (class of 1909) was given credit for suggesting the Panther (felis concolor) as the University animal. Coach Thompson quieted his critics as he took four returning starters and eight holdovers from the 1908 team along with the new recruits and led the Pitt squad to a 6–2–1 record and outscored opponents by a total of 94–26.

Coaching staff

1909 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff Joseph H. Thompson – Head coach Floyd Rose – Assistant backfield coach Alexander Stevenson – Assistant line coach Jim Cosgrove - Line coach Jud Schmidt - Backfield coach   Support staff Laurence Hurst – Graduate manager of athletics

Roster

1909 Pittsburgh Panther football roster Homer Roe^end75' 8"1621910Allegheny H.S.Doctor of Dental SurgeryPittsburgh, PA Frank Van Doren^tackle86' 1"2121911Warrensburg NormalDoctor of MedicineSeaside, OR Henry A. Blair^tackle86'1851912Allegheny H.S.Dental Department Ralph Galvin^center96'2201913New Brighton H.S.Doctor of Dental SurgeryNew Brighton, PA George Bailey^tackle85' 10"1781911East Stroudsburg NormalDoctor of Dental SurgeryScranton, PA James Stevenson^tackle96'1981912Chester H.S. (WVA)Doctor of MedicinePittsburgh, PA John “Jack” Lindsay^end65' 11"1551912Johnstown H.S. Doctor of Dental SurgeryJohnstown, PA William Robinson^quarterback75' 8"1481912Morgan Park AcademySchool of Engineering & MinesAurora, PA Art Robinson^halfback75' 9"158 Morgan Park Academy Aurora, PA Robert “Tex”Richards^tackle95' 11"1751910Wilkinsburg H.S.Mechanical EngineeringButler, PA Harry U. Ent^halfback96'1701912Ridgway H.S.Law School Norman Budd^quarterback75' 8"1501911Sharon H.S. Associate DentalFarrell, PA Charles Quailey^halfback95' 9"1581912Dennison H.S. Doctor of Dental SurgeryPittsburgh, PA Clarence Hapgoodquarterback55' 7"1401911Warren H.S. Doctor of Dental SurgeryErie, PA Raymond Butler^halfback55' 7"1351910Pittsburg H.S. Doctor of Dental SurgerySharon, PA Marion Sayrecenter15' 10"1851912New Brighton H.S. Associate MedicalPhiladelphia, PA David J. Richardsfullback1 1913Wilkinsburg H.S.Associate EngineeringVerona, PA George Gehlertguard35' 11"2051913Villa Nova PrepDoctor of Dental SurgeryHannah, ND Herbert Dewar^quarterback45' 7"1471912California NormalDoctor of Dental SurgeryElizabeth, PA Walter Hinchmanguard15' 10"1351912Edgewood H.S.Doctor of Dental SurgeryMcKeesport, PA Ross Feightner^tackle75' 11"1881912Greensburg H.S.Doctor of Dental SurgeryGreensburg, PA Robert J. Peacock^end85' 11"1701911Dennison CollegeDoctor of Dental SurgeryHouston, PA William Leahy^guard65' 10"2101914Allegheny H.S.enrolled in Dental School John “Red” Frankel^guard95' 7"185 Pittsburgh H.S. William Hardiehalfback1 1912 Dental School Porterhalfback25' 9"155 Washington H.S. Levyhalfback1 ^ Lettermen

Game summaries

Ohio Northern

On October 2, the Joe Thompson era started at Exposition Park in front of two thousand onlookers against the Ohio Northern University Polar Bears from Ada, Ohio. The inexperience of the Pitt squad was evident at first, but halfway through the first half the offense, behind the running of "Tex" Richards and Homer Roe, was able to sustain a drive and score a touchdown. "Tex" Richards carried the pigskin the final ten yards for the first score. Frank Van Doren missed the goal after. Six minutes later Richards and Harry Ent advanced the ball to the visitors five and Ent plunged into the end zone for the second touchdown of the half. Van Doren was successful on the goal after and Pitt led 11–0 at the break.

Coach Thompson made wholesale substitutions for the second half. Will Robinson replaced Norman Budd at quarterback for the second half. He broke away for a fifty-yard scoring jaunt but the referee called offside. The Pitt second string offense did manage one long drive that culminated in a five-yard dash into the end zone by Dave Richards. Van Doren missed the point after. The final score read 16–0. Ohio Northern finished the season with a 1–4 record.

The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Ohio Northern was Homer Roe (left end), Frank Van Doren (left tackle), Henry Blair (left guard), Ralph Galvin (center), George Bailey (right guard), James Stevenson (right tackle), Clarence Hapgood (right end), Norman Budd (quarterback), Charles Quailey (left halfback), Harry Ent (right halfback), and Tex Richards (fullback). Substitutions made during the game were: Raymond Butler replaced Homer Roe at left end; Walter Henchman replaced Henry Blair at left guard; W. Leahy replaced Ralph Galvin at center; Red Frankel replaced George Bailey at right guard; Robert Peacock replaced Clarence Hapgood at right end; Will Robinson replaced Norman Budd at quarterback; William Hardie replaced Harry Ent at right halfback; and Dave Richards replaced Tex Richards at fullback. The game consisted of one twenty-five minute half and one twenty minute half.

Marietta

The kick-off time for the Marietta College Pioneers game was changed from 3 p.m. to 10 a.m. because the Pirates were playing in the World Series. Pitt hoped some baseball fans would visit Exposition Park for football prior to going to Forbes Field for baseball. The Marietta team was the same veteran club that gave Pitt a scare the previous two years. Pitt's starting ends (Homer Roe and Jack Lindsay) were both out with injuries.

The Marietta offense spent most of the first half in Pitt territory but could not score. Late in the half Pitt substitute end Norman Budd picked up a Marietta fumble and raced sixty-five yards for the touchdown. Center Ralph Galvin kicked the point after. Pitt led 6–0 at the break.

In the early moments of the second half Pitt quarterback Bill Robinson returned a punt forty-five yards for a touchdown. Galvin was successful on the point after and Pitt led 12–0. The Pitt offense was rejuvenated and spent the rest of the game on Marietta's side of the field, but could not again penetrate the Marietta goal line. The unfortunate part of the game was the unsportsmanlike conduct of Marietta halfback Nutter. Prior to Marietta, he played at VPI and West Virginia. The lineup presented by Marietta listed him as Miller but a few minutes into the game the Pitt eleven recognized who he was. Field Judge Sam Caruthers made a decision that was reversed by the umpire. An infuriated Mr. Nutter punched Mr. Caruthers. Surprisingly, he was not disqualified or penalized. Minutes later he punched Pitt tackle Frank Van Doren, which caused the crowd to voice their displeasure with the proceedings. The police finally escorted Mr. Nutter from the premises. Marietta finished the season with a 4–3 record. The Pitt Athletic Committee decided that Marietta College would no longer be on the schedule.

The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Marietta was Norman Budd (left end), Frank Van Doren (left tackle), Henry Blair (left guard), Ralph Galvin (center), George Bailey (right guard), James Stevenson (right tackle), Clarence Hapgood (right end), Bill Robinson (quarterback), Charles Quailey (left halfback), Art Robinson (right halfback), and Tex Richards (fullback). At some point during the game Red Frankel replaced George Bailey at right guard and Harry Ent replaced Art Robinson at right halfback. The game consisted of one twenty-five minute half and one twenty minute half.

Bucknell

On October 16 Pitt played their first game at Forbes Field against the Bucknell from Lewisburg, Pa. The final game of the World Series between the Pirates and Tigers was played in Detroit at the same time. The baseball game updates were bulletined to the crowd every inning.

Pitt played great football from the start. They moved the ball into Bucknell territory and punted to Bucknell on their twenty. On second down Bucknell halfback Clark fumbled and Pitt back Harry Ent scooped up the pigskin and scampered for the first score of the game. Ralph Galvin was successful on the point after. Pitt led 6–0. On Bucknell's next possession the Pitt defense stiffened and forced a punt. Quarterback O'Brien of Bucknell punted over the goal and into the bleachers. Pitt thought the ball was dead and ignored it. Bucknell end Campuzanno vaulted a fence and recovered the ball. Knox, the referee, called touchdown Bucknell. O'Brien made the point after and the score was tied. Pitt argued to no avail and after the game Mr. Knox admitted he made an error. On Pitt's next possession Bucknell's defense forced a punt and their quarterback O'Brien fumbled. Pitt halfback Charles Quailey recovered on the Bison twenty yard line. On first down fullback “Tex” Richards raced the twenty yards into the end zone for a touchdown. The play was called back for hurdling. In spite of the penalty, “Tex” Richards scored again a few plays later. Ralph Galvin kicked the point after and Pitt led at halftime 12–6.

The second half was played in Bucknell territory. Pitt scored early in the half on a plunge by Richards with Galvin adding the point after. Coach Thompson made wholesale substitutions. Pitt came close to scoring again twice but lost the ball on downs and a fumble. The final score was 18–6.

Bucknell finished the season with a 3–4–2 record.