The 1902 Western University of Pennsylvania football team was an American football team that represented Western University of Pennsylvania (now known as the University of Pittsburgh) as an independent during the 1902 college football season. The Pitt Football Record Book refers to a 24–0 victory over Bucknell. However, contemporary press coverage indicates that the game was played between Bucknell and the Pittsburgh Stars.
Schedule
Season recap After the successful 1901 season, the Western University of Pennsylvania returned to the part-time borrowed coach routine of the past seasons. The Athletic Association convinced Frederick J. Crolius to coach the team. Mr. Crolius was highly qualified for the position after having played college ball at Dartmouth and spending the 1901 season as halfback on the Homestead Library and Athletic Club. The problem was that he was also the coach of the Allegheny Athletic Association team and the starting halfback on the Pittsburgh Stars pro team. A lot of the responsibility for the coaching and running of the Western University team would fall on team captain John Martin and assistant coach Parke Bachman. Captain Martin played football two seasons at Geneva College prior to his three years of playing for the Western University. Manager Charles L. Livingston pieced together an ambitious fourteen game schedule. However, the WUPs managed to only play eleven. The eight home games were played at the Colosseum. Box seats with new chairs were installed at the Colosseum on the sidelines with an unobstructed view of the action. As an added incentive box seat holders had their own gate for admission. Students were able to purchase low priced season tickets for the first time. In its first season under head coach Fred Crolius, the team compiled a 4–6–1 record and was outscored by a total of 129 to 104.
Game summaries
Allegheny Athletic Association
On September 20, coach Fred Crolius pitted his two teams against each other in a practice game consisting of two ten minute halves. Since the Colosseum was being renovated, the game was played on the campus grounds. The WUP lineup was weakened by injuries and men being called to military duty. Four minutes after kickoff Briney of the three A's plunged into the end zone for a touchdown. The WUP kicked off again and the A's offense continued to find holes in the WUP defense with Reynolds scoring after another four minutes of play. The offensive onslaught continued on the A's next possession but they fumbled on the three yard line. WUP quarterback Edward Ward recovered and raced the length of the field to score their first and only touchdown. The three A's scored once more to make the final score 15–5. The WUP lineup for the game against the AAA was Carpenter (left end), John Martin (left tackle), John Boyd (left guard), Miller (center), Stagg (right guard), Douglass (right tackle) Paul McClain (right end), Edward Ward (quarterback), Cosler (left halfback), John Edwards (right halfback), and William Secrist (fullback). The game consisted of one ten minute half and one five minute half.
At Penn State
The fifth WUP versus State College game mirrored the first four. State College triumphed 27–0. In the first five games of this future great rivalry the Staties outscored the WUP 114–4. The Pittsburgh Daily Post headline was definitely upbeat - "The WUPS do Well at State, Although Crippled They Hold Their Opponents Down Below the Score Made Last Year". Irish Mcllveen scored twice. Carl Forkum, Brit Seeley and Andy Smith each scored once. The WUP defense was porous and the offense could not penetrate the State defense. The referee was ex-WUP coach Dr. Fred Robison. This would be the last WUP versus State game played in State College, Pennsylvania until 1931. The WUP lineup for the game against Penn State was Byron Stroud (left end), Jackson (left tackle), John Boyd (left guard), Stacy Hankey (center), Douglass (right guard), Sweeney (right tackle), Frank Rugh (right end), Carpenter (quarterback), John Martin (left halfback), Paul McClain (right halfback) and William Secrist (fullback). Thomas Hewitt replaced Frank Rugh at right end. The game was played in 20-minute halves.
At Pittsburgh Stars On Saturday, October 4, the WUP eleven was scheduled to play the Pittsburg Stars in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The game was postponed indefinitely due to a muddy playing field.
Grove City
The WUP versus Grove City College football game drew at least 400 fans to the Colosseum in spite of competition from a baseball game at Exposition Park. The fans were not disappointed as the WUP offense moved the ball steadily through the Grove City defense and scored three touchdowns- one by Captain John Martin and two by William Secrist. Frank Rugh converted one goal after. The WUP defense allowed Grove City to get inside their twenty-yard line twice but kept the Crimson out of the end zone. The Crimson coach W.H. Weakley tried to insert himself into the lineup but was quickly ushered to the sideline. The final score was WUP 16 – Grove City 0. The WUP lineup for the game against Grove City was Byron Stroud (left end), Jackson (left tackle), John Boyd (left guard), Stacy Hankey (center), Douglass (right guard), Clyde McGogney (right tackle), Frank Rugh (right end), Carpenter (quarterback), John Martin (left halfback), Paul McClain (right halfback) and William Secrist (fullback). Substitutions during the game were: Marion Edmundson replaced Frank Rugh at right end; Frank Rugh replaced Carpenter at quarterback; and John Kerr replaced William Secrist at fullback. The game was played in 20-minute halves.
Westminster
Even with the crowd larger than the Grove City game, the usual pageantry associated with past Westminster versus WUP football tussles was missing for the October 16 match at the Colosseum. However, the antics on the field kept everyone entertained. Initially, there was a disagreement about the length of the halves. The compromise was one thirty minute half and one twenty-five minute half. After alternating possessions, the WUP offense (minus injured halfbacks John Martin and Paul McClain) moved the ball through the Titan defense but could not sustain the drive and were forced to punt. On first down Tennent, Westminster's end, skirted around the WUP defensive left end and raced eighty-eight yards for a touchdown. Wilbur Hockensmith was the umpire. He had blown the play dead for a holding penalty on Christy of the Titans. Westminster refused to accept the penalty and threatened to leave the field. The WUPs caved in to their demands and resumed play. Mr. Hockensmith resigned as umpire and Coach Crolius replaced him. The goal kick after by Moore was successful and Westminster led 6–0. The energized WUP offense drove the ball to the four yard line but Secrist fumbled and Westminster recovered. The WUP defense managed to get the ball back. On this possession Richard Hawkins and Frank Rugh did the bulk of the ball carrying with Rugh finally shoved over the goal line for the score. He also kicked the goal after to tie the game at 6–6. The second half was mainly the WUP offense versus the Titan defense, but the WUPs were unable to penetrate the goal line. The game ended in a 6–6 tie. The WUP lineup for the game against Westminster was Byron Stroud (left end), Jackson (left tackle), John Boyd (left guard), Stacy Hankey (center), Douglass (right guard), John McClymonds (right tackle), Clyde McGogney (right end), Joe McCready (quarterback), Frank Rugh (left halfback), Richard Hawkins (right halfback) and William Secrist (fullback). Substitutions during the game were: John Kerr replaced Douglass at right guard; John Martin replaced Frank Rugh at left halfback; Frank Rugh replaced Joe McCready at quarterback; and Carpenter replaced Frank Rugh at quarterback. The game consisted of one thirty minute half and one twenty-five minute half.
West Virginia
On October 22, the fifth edition of the Backyard Brawl took place at the Colosseum. The Mountaineers scored on their first possession, which set the tone for the rest of the game. The Mountaineer offense drove the ball steadily through the WUP defense with halfback Paul Martin carrying the ball over the goal for the touchdown. After a change of possessions, West Virginia secured the ball at midfield and three plays later C.F. Hoy plunged over the goal for their second touchdown. The goal kick after was successful by William Washer. The Mountaineers led 11–0. The WUP defense was able to make a goal line stand at the close of the first half to keep the score 11–0. In the second half the WUP defense could not stop the West Virginia offensive onslaught. C.F. Hoy and Lewis "Bull" Smith scored second half touchdowns for the Mountaineers. Late in the second half, the Mountaineers fumbled on their twenty-six yard line and WUP recovered. Seven plays later John Martin bulled his way into the end zone for the lone WUP touchdown. Frank Rugh kicked the goal after and the final score was 23–6 in favor of the visitors. The WUP lineup for the game against West Virginia was Byron Stroud (left end), G. Jackson (left tackle), John Boyd (left guard), Stacy Hankey (center), Ray Alexander (right guard), John McClymonds (right tackle), William Jackson (right end), Carpenter (quarterback), Frank Rugh (left halfback), Joe McCready (right halfback) and William Secrist (fullback). During the game John Kerr replaced Byron Stroud at left end. The game consisted of thirty minute halves.
Geneva
On October 29, coach J. B. Craig brought his undefeated Geneva Covenanters to the Colosseum to gain some revenge for the 1901 loss to the WUP. Joe Thompson (future WUP star and coach) was the captain of the Covenanters. The WUP lineup was missing starters Paul McLain and Richard Hawkins due to military obligations. The first half was a defensive standstill until the WUP offense gave up the ball on downs on their own twenty-nine yard line. Walter East, Jud Schmitt and Joe Thompson carried the ball to the four yard line with East finally plunging into the end zone for the score. The goal kick after by Schmitt was unsuccessful. The halftime score was 5–0 in favor of Geneva. After the second half kick-off Geneva secured possession and methodically advanced the ball through the WUP defense. Bruce Martin (brother of WUP captain John Martin) scampered the last twenty-three yards for the touchdown. The goal kick after was again unsuccessful. After a change of possessions, J. Jackson, fullback for the Universities, fell on a Geneva fumble at the Geneva twenty-five. The WUP offense bucked through the Geneva defense to the thirteen yard line but turned the ball over on downs. Geneva attempted to punt but Patterson (who had replaced Stoyer at end) blocked the kick into the end zone. A mad scramble ended with Joe Thompson on the ball and everyone else on Mr. Thompson. Referee Brownlee called it a safety and the WUPs were on the scoreboard. Geneva 10-WUP 2. After a change of possessions Joe Thompson raced sixty-seven yards for a touchdown and Edgar kicked the goal after. Then Critchlow of the Covenanters scored on a thirty-two yard romp in the waning moments to bring the final score to 22–2 in favor of Geneva. The WUP lineup for the game against Geneva was Byron Stroud (left end), McChesney (left tackle), Walter Shidler (left guard), Stacy Hankey (center), Douglass (right guard), Andrew Wallgren (right tackle), George Stoyer (right end), Joe McCready (quarterback), John Martin (left halfback), R. Jackson (right halfback) and J. Jackson (fullback). Substitutions during the game were: Frank Rugh replaced Byron Stroud at left end and Guy Patterson replaced George Stroyer at right end. The game consisted of twenty-five minute halves.
Philadelphia Professionals