The 1904 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 1904 college football season.
Schedule
Season recap
The alumni of the Western University of Pennsylvania realized they needed to organize an Athletic Association to reverse the state of athletics at the school. WUP was determined that the 1904 football season would not be a replay of 1903. On December 7 a formal group was established and the elected executive committee members pledged to raise money to place a winning football team on the field. Coach Mosse agreed to coach the team. His vision was to have at the least an athletic dorm and training table for the players. The Association promised to raise two thousand dollars and on December 16 executive committee member Samuel Hunter presented the plan to the Collegiate and Engineering students. He also suggested that the students contribute by adding a five dollar fee to their tuition. The initial money would benefit the football program until it was turning a profit and then the money would benefit all the sports. The student response was positive. The new Chancellor Samuel B. McCormick and the faculty were supportive. Pirate owner, Barney Dreyfuss leased the use of Exposition Park for the home games for a percentage of the gate. While the alumni and students were raising money, Coach Mosse was actively recruiting some college football veterans. When school opened in the fall the following players were enrolled in the university and competing for positions on the team: Henry Boisseau and Leslie Waddill from Missouri State Normal; Omar Mehl from Washburn College; Joe Thompson, Joe Edgar, Jud Schmidt, Arthur McKean and Walter East from Geneva College; Theodore Perry from State College; and Walter Ritchie from Illinois Wesleyan. Coach Mosse and Manager Charles Gans managed to put together a ten-game schedule that only had one road game. The Western University hired Frank Hinkey to assist Coach Mosse in late October. The ex-Yale captain was the line coach for two weeks. The culmination of all this hard work by the Administration, Alumni Assn., students, and head coach Arthur Mosse was winning the unofficial 1904 Football Championship of Western Pennsylvania. In its second season under head coach Arthur Mosse, the team compiled a 10–0 record, shut out nine of its opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 406 to 5.
Notably, 1904 marked the first season where WUP/Pitt, Penn State, and West Virginia played a full round robin. Thus, 1904 marked the first season of the Big Three championship.
Coaching staff 1904 WUP football staff Coaching staff Arthur St. Leger Mosse – Head coach Frank Hinkey – Assistant line coach Support staff Charles Gans – Graduate manager of athletics
Roster
1904 Western University of Pennsylvania football roster Theodore Perryend95' 8"1681907State CollegeAssociate DentalPierre, SD Gilbert Millertackle25' 11"1761906Butler H.S.Associate Engineering Leslie Waddilltackle96' 2"1781907Warrensburg Normal (MO)Doctor of Dental SurgeryPittsburgh, PA Waldemar Ziegguard105' 10"1821913Allegheny H. S.Engineer of MinesPittsburgh, PA Arthur McKeancenter76' 1"1751905Geneva CollegeBachelor of Arts/ Law SchoolBeaver Falls, PA Curt Leidenrothcenter95' 11"1801906Allegheny H.S.Doctor of Dental SurgeryBellevue, PA Joseph Edgarguard96'1781908Geneva CollegeDoctor of MedicineOakmont, PA James O'Sullivanguard26'1701906Pittsburg CollegePittsburgh, PA Calvin Marshalltackle96'1871908Gloucester H.S. (MA)Doctor of MedicineMt. Oliver, PA Walter Eastend85' 10"1701906Geneva College Walter Ritchiequarterback95' 6"1451907Bloomington Prep, (IL)Doctor of Dental SurgeryBloomington, IL Charles H. Boisseauquarterback75' 7"1511907Warrensburg Normal (MO)Doctor of Dental Surgery Joe Thompsonhalfback85' 8"1781908Geneva CollegeBachelor of Arts and Law DegreeBeaver Falls, PA Charles Springerhalfback45' 10"1681908Dean AcademyAssociate EngineeringPittsburgh, PA Albert Schmidthalfback85' 8"1801908Pittsburgh H.S.Doctor of MedicineTurtle Creek, PA Omar Mehlfullback85' 7"1631908Topeka H.S. (KS)Doctor of MedicineBraddock, PA Frank Rightertackle35' 10"1661907 Doctor of MedicineRichmond, VA Frank Rughquarterback65' 6"1531904Pittsburgh AcademyAssociate LawPittsburgh, PA Welday Elliotttackle56' 5" 1791907WestminsterMechanical EngineerPittsburgh, PA Thomas Creaend25' 6"1401905Park CollegeCivil EngineerGreenville, PA William Broadhurstend05' 8"1501908 Doctor of MedicineTyre, PA Edward Traxend15' 8"1531906Tri-State NormalBachelor of ScienceMcKeesport, PA James I. McCormickhalfback55' 6"1661906Coe College (IA)Associate College degree Schwartzguard45' 6"172 Thiel College Charles Rosserhalfback1 1904 Electrical EngineeringBellaire, OH
Game summaries
Grove City
On October 1, Grove City College visited Exposition Park to play the 1904 Western University of Pennsylvania football team. More than 1500 spectators ventured to the stadium for the opening game of the season. The engineering and collegiate students were in school and attended in force. Edwin McKee of the engineering department led the cheering section. Grove City received the opening kick and moved the ball against the WUP defense for two first downs and then turned the ball over on downs. The WUP offense showed its potential as Jud Schmidt, Joe Thompson and Omar Mehl moved the ball to the thirty-five-yard line. On the next play, Thompson scampered around left end behind the blocking of Mehl and Schmidt for a touchdown. Joe Edgar kicked the goal after and the score was 6–0 in favor of WUP. After an exchange of possessions the WUP offense again had the ball deep in Grove City territory but were unable to score and the first half ended 6–0. In the second half, Grove City had the ball on offense for only three downs. Joe Thompson scored a touchdown from five yards out on the WUP's second possession. Edgar was good again on the point after. The formidable WUP offense advanced the ball to the Grove City ten yard line as time was called with the final score WUP 12 – Grove City 0. The WUP lineup for the game against Grove City was Theodore Perry (left end), Leslie Waddill (left tackle), Waldy Zieg (left guard), Arthur McKean (center), Joe Edgar (right guard), Calvin Marshall (right tackle), Henry Boisseau (right end), Frank Rugh (quarterback), Joe Thompson (left halfback), Jud Schmidt (right halfback) and Omar Mehl (fullback). Substitutions during the game were: Walter Ritchie replaced Frank Rugh at quarterback; and Walter East replaced Henry Boisseau at right end. The game consisted of one twenty-minute half and one fifteen-minute half.
Mount Union
The Purple of Mount Union College were the opponents on October 11. The pomp surrounding the student body cheering was more impressive than the game itself. All students were attending classes and had football fever. A large contingent of students led by a brass band marched into the stadium. The medical students mounted a skeleton on a donkey and he was the star of the parade. At halftime, the students serenaded the players with “Hail, Hail, the Gang's all Here”. The WUP offense scored twelve touchdowns. The Mount Union eleven was totally outmanned. Captain Joe Thompson played substitutes for the second half and backfield subs Rosser and Springer each scored two touchdowns. The only negative was that Joe Edgar missed five goal kicks. The WUPs won the game 67–0 to the delight of about two thousand fans. The WUP lineup for the game against Mount Union was Theodore Perry (left end), Leslie Waddill (left tackle), Waldy Zieg (left guard), Arthur McKean (center), Joe Edgar (right guard), Calvin Marshall (right tackle), Walter East (right end), Frank Rugh (quarterback), Joe Thompson (left halfback), Jud Schmidt (right halfback) and Omar Mehl (fullback). Substitutions during the game were: Walter Ritchie replaced Henry Boisseau at quarterback; Curt Leidenroth replaced Waldy Zeig at left guard; Rosser replaced Jud Schmidt at right halfback; Charles Springer replaced Omar Mehl at fullback; William Elliott replaced Calvin Marshall at right tackle; and Thomas Crea replaced Theodore Perry at left end. The game consisted of twenty-minute halves.
Westminster
As in previous years, the game on October 15 against Westminster College drew a large crowd of about twenty-five hundred raucous fans to Exposition Park. Similarly to the game four days prior, the WUP offense dominated the game. The WUP offense scored seven unanswered touchdowns. Joe Thompson scored three, Omar Mehl scored two (one on a one hundred yard dash) and Calvin Marshall and Jud Schmidt each scored one. One paragraph in the Pittsburgh Press aptly recapped the action: The best play of the day occurred about the middle of the second half. Locke had kicked off to Schmidt on the 10-yard line where he was downed without a gain. On the next play, Mehl broke through the left side of the line, and ran 100 yards for a touchdown. The work of the entire W. U. P. team was good, but that of Joe Thompson, "Jud" Schmidt, Mehl and Perry was splendid. Thompson scored three of the touchdowns, and only once did Schmidt fail to gain when given the ball. Ritchie handled the team in good shape. Joe Edgar was successful on only three of seven goal kicks. The final score read 38–0. The WUP lineup for the game against Westminster was Theodore Perry (left end), Leslie Waddill (left tackle), Curt Leidenroth (left guard), Arthur McKean (center), Joe Edgar (right guard), Calvin Marshall (right tackle), Walter East (right end), Walter Ritchie (quarterback), Joe Thompson (left halfback), Jud Schmidt (right halfback) and Omar Mehl (fullback). Waldy Zieg replaced Curt Leidenroth at left guard for the second half. The game consisted of twenty-minute halves.
At Geneva
The trip to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania on 22 October to do battle with the Covenanters of Geneva College was the only road game of the season for the Universities. The Pittsburg Press summed up the action best:"Although there was little brilliant playing on either side, this resulted from the fact that WUP did not need to exert herself, and Geneva was unable to do so. WUP had by far the superior team work, and showed far greater experience."The starting lineup for the WUP eleven had three players who were the stars of the strong 1902 and 1903 Geneva teams: Joe Thompson, Joe Edgar and Jud Schmidt. The twelve hundred fans cheered hard for the Covenanters but this WUP contingent was too strong. Joe Thompson and Omar Mehl each scored two touchdowns and Jud Schmidt added another. Joe Edgar was successful on all five goal kicks to make the final score 30–0. Since the Genevans were not congenial hosts and treated both the WUP fans and team poorly, the second half was cut short nine minutes by Captain Thompson. The WUP starting lineup for the game against Geneva was Theodore Perry (left end), Leslie Waddill (left tackle), Waldy Zieg (left guard), Curt Leidenroth (center), Joe Edgar (right guard), Calvin Marshall (right tackle), Henry Boisseau (right end), Walter Ritchie (quarterback), Joe Thompson (left halfback), Jud Schmidt (right halfback) and Omar Mehl (fullback). The game consisted of one twenty-five minute half and one sixteen-minute half.
Susquehanna