The 1906 Western University of Pennsylvania football team was an American football team that represented Western University of Pennsylvania (later renamed the University of Pittsburgh) as an independent during the 1906 college football season.
Schedule
Season recap
The 1905 Western University of Pennsylvania football season was successful record-wise and financially. The Arthur Mosse led team finished the season with an 11–2 record. Its only losses were to Eastern powers Cornell and State College. But two days after the State College defeat newspapers from Philadelphia, Pa. to South Bend, Indiana had headlines describing trouble within the Western University football team. The feud between Coach Mosse and Joe Thompson for control of the team that started at the conclusion of the 1904 season was not settled as satisfactorily as people were led to believe. Joe Thompson and his clique vowed to leave school if Mosse was retained for the 1906 season. Coach Mosse returned to his farm in Kansas and left the coaching decision up to the Athletic Association. Joe Thompson resumed his Law studies and coached the Pittsburgh High School team. Meanwhile, the Athletic Association and Administration of the Western University of Pennsylvania were monitoring the national uproar against football due to nineteen player deaths and over one hundred and thirty serious injuries that occurred during the 1905 season. Columbia, Duke and Northwestern canceled football after the 1905 season. Stanford and Cal switched to the tamer rugby. President Roosevelt encouraged changes in the rules. An intercollegiate conference met and legalized forward passing, abolished mass formations, created the neutral zone line of scrimmage, and designated ten yards to be gained for a first down. The Western University agreed with the rule changes. It adopted a four-year eligibility rule and eliminated professionalism in all their school athletics. The Athletic Association was reorganized to consist of a 13-member committee. Each of the five school departments were represented by a faculty and student member. In addition there was one member from the Board of Trustees, one alumni member and the Chancellor. This committee controlled Athletics at the Western University of Pennsylvania. At the April meeting of the Athletic Association Edgar R. Wingard, the Athletic Director at Butler University, was named Athletic Director and football coach at WUP. Mr. Wingard was a graduate of Susquehanna University and post graduate of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania. In its first season under head coach Edgar Wingard, the team compiled a 7–4 record, shut out seven of its eleven opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 229 to 55.
Coaching staff
1906 WUP football staff Coaching staff Edgar Wingard – Head coach Frank Rugh – Assistant coach John A. Moorhead – Assistant coach Support staff William C. Arthur – Assistant manager
Roster 1906 Western University of Pennsylvania football roster Theodore Perry^end105' 8"1681907Haskell InstituteAssociate DentalPierre, SD Quincy Banburyend45' 7"1551908Salina H.S. (KS)Doctor of Dental SurgeryWichita, KS Gilbert Millertackle35' 11"1761906Butler H.S.Associate Engineering Leslie Waddill^tackle86'1781907Warrensburg Normal (MO)Doctor of Dental SurgeryPittsburgh, PA Waldemar Zieg^guard85' 10"1821910Allegheny H. S.Engineer of MinesPittsburgh, PA C.R. McKinney^guard105' 9"2191912East Liberty AcademyAssociate MedicalDravosburg, PA Paul Vitteguard65' 8"1761907Allegheny H.S.went into business Homer Roeend35' 8"1621910 Doctor of Dental SurgeryPittsburgh, PA John Shuman^lineman96' 2"1801910 Doctor of MedicineSioux City, IA Leo Eggingtonlineman46'1851907 Doctor of Medicine Arthur Yieldingguard86'2151909Guthrie H.S. (OK)Doctor of MedicinePortland, OR Calvin Marshall^tackle106'1871908Gloucester H.S. (MA)Doctor of MedicineMt. Oliver, PA Jack Turner^tackle85' 8"1891908Salina H.S. (KS)Associate LawGregg, PA Millard Fryeend15' 7"1681908Carnegie H.S.Doctor of Dental SurgeryHomer City, PA Edgar Chathamend25' 7"1501909Allegheny H.S.Doctor of MedicinePittsburgh, PA Walter Ritchiequarterback55' 6"1451907Bloomington Prep, (IL)Doctor of Dental SurgeryBloomington, IL Charles Boisseauquarterback45' 7"1511907Warrensburg Normal (MO)Doctor of Dental Surgery Karl Swenson^quarterback75' 8"1531908Kansas NormalDoctor of MedicinePortland, OR Charles Springer^halfback65' 10"1681908Dean AcademyAssociate EngineeringPittsburgh, PA Frederick Klawuhn^halfback95' 8"1701908Ridgeway H.S.Doctor of Dental SurgeryRidgeway, PA Winfred Banbury^fullback75' 10"1651907Salina H.S. (KS)Doctor of Dental SurgeryPratt, KS Omar Mehl^fullback95' 7"1631908Topeka H.S. (KS)Doctor of MedicineBraddock, PA Maurice Goldsmithend15' 10"1641909 Doctor of MedicinePittsburgh, PA John Mackrell^fullback85' 8"1651909Pittsburgh AcademyDoctor of MedicinePittsburgh, PA Samuel Ralstonfullback15' 11"170 1908 Doctor of Dental SurgeryBellevue, PA Raymond Focerend25' 10"1571910 Doctor of Medicine Colliers, WVA John McElhinneyend15' 9"1461909 Mechanical EngineerYoungstown, OH James McCormick^halfback75' 11"1601906Coe CollegeAssociate College/Medical School Joseph Campbellfullback15' 10"1721909 Doctor of Dental SurgeryWoodlawn, PA Irish Clancy^halfback106'175 Bert Munhallcenter15' 10"190 Maggy Snyderend 5' 8"160 Van Millerlineman15' 7"160 Ed Nobleend25' 11"170 Martinlineman15' 9"165 Buckquarterback1 LLoyd McKeown^quarterback4 A. McKeownguard3 ^ Lettermen
Game summaries
At Butler A. C.
On September 23 Coach Edgar R. Wingard took his team to Butler, Pa. to meet the Butler A.C. WUP received the opening kickoff. With Walter Ritchie at quarterback the offense marched down the field and Winfred Banbury carried the ball into the end zone in the first three minutes. After three possession changes the WUP offense had the ball at midfield. Quincy Banbury proceeded to scamper 55 yards for the second touchdown. The halftime score was 10–0.
Karl Swenson replaced Walter Ritchie at quarterback and Coach Wingard used plenty of substitutes in the second half. Butler started the half by earning their initial first down, but then they were forced to punt. Swenson marched the WUP offense downfield and Fred Klawuhn scored the touchdown. Both Karl Swenson and Charles Springer also scored for the University eleven to make the final score 25–0.
The WUP lineup for the game against Butler A. C. was Quince Banbury (right end), Calvin Marshall (right tackle), Arthur Yielding (right guard), John Turner (center), C. McKinney (left guard), Paul Vitte (left tackle), Ed Noble (left end), Walter Ritchie (quarterback), Winfred Banbury (left halfback), Fred Klawuhn (right halfback), and Omar Mehl (fullback). Substitutions made during the game were: Karl Swenson replaced Walter Ritchie at quarterback; Ted Perry replaced Ed Noble at left end; Gilbert Miller replaced Calvin Marshall at left tackle; John Shuman replaced John Turner at center; James McCormick replaced Quince Banbury at right end; and John Mackrell replaced Omar Mehl at fullback. The game consisted of fifteen minute halves.
Westminster
After the rain passed through town on September 29, Westminster College and WUP played the home opener at Exposition Park. The inclement weather kept the attendance to about five hundred loyal students and fans. The offense led by Walter Ritchie took the opening kickoff and marched steadily downfield. John Mackrell scored the first touchdown and Walter Zieg kicked the goal after. After a change of possessions Ritchie was injured and replaced by Karl Swenson. Five plays later Swenson carried the ball into the end zone for the second touchdown in less than 10 minutes. Zieg was successful on the goal kick after. Westminster tried a forward pass but Mackrell intercepted and the half came to an end with WUP ahead 12–0.
The second half was a defensive struggle. Both offenses were able to gain yardage but the defenses would stiffen to stop the drives. Right guard Arthur Yielding hurt his shoulder and was replaced by C. McKinney. Late in the game, Swenson was able to sprint ten yards around end for the final score of the game. Westminster then fooled WUP with a fake punt and gained thirty yards but the WUP defense was able to keep the Titans out of the end zone. The final score was 17–0.
The WUP lineup for the game against Westminster was Quince Banbury (right end), Calvin Marshall (right tackle), Arthur Yielding (right guard), John Shuman (center), Waldy Zieg (left guard), Gilbert Miller (left tackle), Ted Perry (left end), Walter Ritchie (quarterback), John Mackrell (left halfback), Fred Klawuhn (right halfback), and Omar Mehl (fullback). Substitutions made during the game were: Karl Swenson replaced Walter Ritchie at quarterback; C. McKinney replaced Arthur Yielding at right guard; Leslie Waddill replaced Gilbert Miller at left tackle; Munhall replaced John Shuman at center; Charles Springer replaced Omar Mehl at fullback; and Charles Clancey replaced John Mackrell at left halfback. The game consisted of one twenty minute half and one fifteen minute half.
Hiram
The Hiram College Terriers football team, after their train arrived several hours late, was welcomed to Pittsburgh by inclement weather and a superior WUP offensive machine. Due to the poor weather, only a few fans were in the Friendship Park bleachers to cheer on their team. The Hiram defense could not stop the WUP offense and gave up twelve touchdowns. The WUP offense tried the forward pass and was very successful. The highlight was Raymond Forcer, WUP substitute end, catching a pass and scampering fifty yards for his first touchdown of the season. Six more players scored touchdowns: Fred Klawuhn and Charles Clancey each scored three; Homer Roe scored two; John Mackrell, James McCormick, and Karl Swenson each scored one. Waldy Zieg added five extra points and Karl Swenson one to reach the final score of 66–0. Coach Wingard substituted so that all twenty-three team members saw playing time. Hiram made one first down the entire game.
The WUP lineup for the game against Hiram was Homer Roe (right end), Calvin Marshall (right tackle), Arthur Yielding (right guard), Paul Vitte (center), Waldy Zieg (left guard), Leslie Waddill (left tackle), Ted Perry (left end), Henry Boisseau (quarterback), John Mackrell (left halfback), Fred Klawuhn (right halfback), and Omar Mehl (fullback). The following substitutes were utilized at some point during the game: James McCormick, Maurice Goldsmith, Leo Eggington, Andrew Martin, John Shuman, C. McKinney, Gilbert Miller, Karl Swenson, Edgar Chatham, Charles Clancey, Ed Noble, and Ray Focer. The game consisted of one twenty-five minute half and one twenty minute half.
Allegheny
October 13 was a beautiful fall day for football. The football field layout at Exposition Park was altered and bleachers erected to give the student section a better view of the on field action. Close to 2,500 fans were in attendance and at least four hundred WUP students were led into the stadium by a marching band and "Chief Rooters" Bill McCandless and Doc Ryder. The opponent was the Allegheny College Methodists from Meadville, PA. Captain Gilbert Miller and John Mackrell were injured and did not play. Calvin Marshall stepped in as acting Captain.
The WUP offense was basically unstoppable as it produced eleven touchdowns. Omar Mehl, Fred Klawuhn and Leo Eggington each scored two. Leslie Waddill, Charles Clancey, Homer Roe, Van Miller and Joseph Campbell each added one. Waldy Zieg had a banner day kicking as he converted eleven goal kicks after and two field goals to personally account for 19 points. The WUP defense held Allegheny to no first downs. The final tally was 74–0. Coach Wingard was able to give everyone some playing time.