The 1933 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1933 college football season. In its tenth season under head coach Jock Sutherland, the team compiled an 8–1 record, shut out seven of its nine opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 147 to 13. The team played its home games at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh.
End Joe Skladany was a consensus first-team selection to the 1933 All-America team.
Schedule
Preseason
At their February 10 meeting, the athletic board of the University of Pittsburgh appointed James Hagan to the office of Graduate Manager of student athletics, and named Leroy Lewis (Col. '34) Varsity Manager for the 1933 football season.
On March 15, ninety young men enrolled in spring football practice under the direction of Coach Sutherland and his assistants. Claire Burcky of The Pittsburgh Press reported: "Ralph Daugherty took the centers, Joe Donchess the ends, Bill Kern the tackles, Ray Montgomery the guards. Skip Gougler herded the frosh together for a series of maneuvers. Dr. Sutherland, Andy Gustafson and Eddie Baker put three squads of backs through their paces." Coach Sutherland told The Pitt News: "Spring practices at Pitt are far more important although they are considerably shorter than the majority of such sessions at other colleges and universities. Just about two weeks before we are to begin our fall campaign, the boys go to camp. About all the time we have there is to get the boys into condition for their strenuous season. At the spring practices we must outline and work on the plays which we will use during our season, which the other schools can do in the fall because of their long preliminary training period. I personally don't like the idea of a long spring practice. I feel that the participants are under too much of a strain, and the boys suffer too much scholastically, which is more important than spring training." On May 5, the Panther team ended their spring session with an intra-squad game pitting the varsity against the reserves. The varsity prevailed 21 to 0. The following day, Dr. Sutherland officially concluded the spring drills with his second annual football clinic for coaches and players from the Tri-State area. 135 participants attended lectures and watched demonstrations of football technique and strategy.
The yearly stipend given to the football recruits was reduced from $650 to $400 for the 1933 season.
In early September coach John B. Sutherland resigned from his position in the Dental School and became a full-time Professor of Physical Education. In addition to coaching football, Coach Sutherland taught physical education classes and assisted the track, wrestling and boxing coaches.
On September 11, the Panthers were forced to hold their preseason drills on campus because heavy rains had ruined the fields at Camp Hamilton near Windber, PA. The Pittsburgh Press noted: "The boys will work out twice daily at the practice field. They'll be quartered at Webster Hall and a training table will be set up at the University Cafeteria. In the group of 52 reporting, 16 are lettermen, 15 reserves and 21 sophomores." The training camp concluded September 23 with a scrimmage game between the varsity and reserves. The varsity prevailed 27 to 0 in the rain.
Coaching staff 1933 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff John B. "Jock" Sutherland – Head coach Andy Gustafson – Assistant coach Ralph N. Daugherty – assistant center coach Bill Kern – assistant tackle coach Edward Baker – assistant backfield coach Eddie Schultz – assistant line coach Roscoe "Skip" Gougler – Freshman coach Edward Hirshberg – Assistant coach Ulhard Hangartner - scout Support staff Dr. Ralph Shanor – team physician George Moore – team trainer Percy S. Browne – custodian of equipment W. D. Harrison - director of athletics James Hagan – graduate manager of athletics Frank Carver – publicity director Leroy Lewis – student manager
Roster 1933 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster Tarciscio Onder*guard95' 11" 1971934Jeannette H. S.Jeannette, PA Mike Sebastian*halfback95' 10" 1671934Sharon H. S.Sharon, Pa. Charles Hartwig*guard95' 11" 1701934Warwood H. S. Wheeling, WV Robert Hogan*quarterback95' 10" 1801934Meadville H. S.Meadville, PA Henry A. Weisenbaugh*halfback95' 10"1741935Tarentum H. S.Tarentum, PA Louis Wojcihovskiend 26' 1"1701935Weston H. S.Weston, WV Stanley Oleojnicsaktackle55' 11"1801935Bellaire H. S.Bellaire, OH Ken Ormiston*guard9 5' 11"1741935Kiski SchoolPittsburgh, PA Nicholas Kliskey*fullback75' 7"1861935Scott H. S.North Braddock, PA Frank W. Kutz*guard86'1801935Montgomery SchoolMcKeesport, PA Joe Skladany*end95' 8"1841934Larksville H. S.Larksville, PA Frank Walton*tackle95' 10"1971934Beaver Falls H. S.Beaver Falls, PA George Shotwell*center95' 10"1651935Hanover Twp. H. S.Wilkes-Barre, PA Robert Hoel*tackle85' 11"1931935Evanston Twp. H. S.Evanston, IL Miller Munjas*halfback95' 10"1601935Bellaire H. S.Bellaire, OH Isadore Weinstock*fullback96'1941935Coughlin H. S.Wilkes-Barre, PA James Simmshalfback05' 10" 1651934Kiski SchoolMonongahela, PA John Lovetackle46' 1"1961934Jeannette H. S.Jeannette, PA Leslie C. Wilkinscenter25' 10"1781935Kiski SchoolRock Falls, IL Harvey E. Rooker*end86' 1"1791935Tarentum H. S.Tarentum, PA Marwood Starkguard0 5' 10"1691935Allentown H. S.Allentown, PA Richard Matesic*halfback95' 11"1761934Bellefonte AcademyWheeling, WV Robert Timmons*end66' 1681934Allegheny H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Arthur Detzeltackle4 5' 10"1891936 Erie East H. S. Erie, PA Leonard Rectorfullback 2 5' 9"1751936Avella H. S.Avella, PA John Woodhalfback 0 5' 10"1601936Magrotta H. S.New Martinsville, WV Robert LaRuehalfback 0 5' 9"1601936Wyoming SeminaryGreensburg, PA Howard O'Dell*halfback95' 9" 1601934Central H. S. Sioux City, IA John Meredith*tackle 96'1801934Bellefonte AcademyFairmont, WV Leo Malarkeyhalfback0 5' 10"1651936McDonald H. S.McDonald, PA Frank Tiernantackle26' 1851934 Sewickley H. S. Sewickley, PA Arthur Craftend16'1791934New Castle H. S.New Castle, PA Charles Gongloffcenter 1 5' 10"1701936Nanty-Glo H. S.Nanty-Glo, PA Hubert Randour*halfback55' 11"1681936McDonald H. S.McDonald, PA Arthur Schindelend 16'1741936Aurora H. S. Aurora, IL Robert McClurehalfback05' 8"1571936Greenville H. S.Greenville, PA Michael Nicksick*halfback55' 10"1641935Burgettstown H. S.Burgettstown, PA Leon Shedlosky*halfback85' 9"1651936Nanticoke H. S. Nanticoke, PA Vincent Sitesend46' 1"1891936St. John's H. S.Pittston, PA Howard Geliniquarterback15' 10"1701934Weirton H. S.Weirton, WV William Glassfordguard 0 5' 9"1801936Lancaster H. S.Lancaster, Ohio Earl McCueend 1 6' 1"1851936Wilkinsburg H. S.Wilkinsburg, PA Leon Wohlgemuthguard 1 5' 10"1791936Bellaire H. S.Bellaire, OH Gene Stoughtonguard 0 5' 11"1801936Oil City H. S.Oil City, PA Arthur Ruffhalfback25' 9"1501935Etna H. S.Etna, PA Joseph Troglionehalfback25' 9"1641936Wilkinsburg H. S.Wilkinsburg, PA Samuel Dorfmanguard05' 10"1801936Scranton H. S.Scranton, PA Karl P. Seiffertend16'1751935Jeannette H. S.Jeannette, PA Arnold Greenequarterback06' 1"1951936Huntingdon H. S.Huntingdon, PA William Havertyhalfback05' 9"1551936 Pittsburgh, PA John Dougerthalfback05' 8"1601936Shenandoah H. S.Shenandoah, PA Verne Baxterend 5 5' 10"1701936Oliver H. S. Joliet, IL Walter Balasiahalfback15' 10"1601935Hanover Twp. H. S.Wilkes-Barre, PA Leroy Lewis*varsity student manager 1934Derry H. S.Derry, PA Christy Jones"B" team student manager 1934Taylor Allderdice H. S.Pittsburgh, PA * Letterman
Game summaries
Washington & Jefferson
After a three year hiatus, the Panthers opened the season against their long time rival - the Presidents of Washington & Jefferson College. Pitt only led the all-time series 15–13–2, but were 11–2–2 in the previous 15 games played. The Presidents were led by second-year coach Leroy P. "Hank" Day. Day was a member of the 1914 W. & J. team that finished 10–1. He was a successful football coach at Washington High School for 16 seasons prior to returning to his alma mater. His job was made difficult with the administration's decision to de-emphasize football. No athletic scholarships, no training table and no favors to athletes were permitted. The Presidents finished a respectable 5–3–1 in his first year. Coach Day told Robert E. Badger of The Pitt News: "We entertain no hopes whatever of upsetting the Panthers, and our main objective will be to hold the score as low as possible and give the fans a good game....Our squad is in extremely bad physical condition and reserves are scarce."
Coach Sutherland respected coach Day's coaching ability and expected a typical Pitt – W. & J. battle, since this game was always "THE BIG game of the Presidents' schedule." The Pitt lineup was experienced, having 16 lettermen on the roster from the 1932 team. For the opening game, Sutherland decided on Mike Nicksick over Howard O'Dell and Richard Matesic to succeed the departed All-American Warren Heller at left halfback.
Chester Smith of The Pittsburgh Press reported: "The Pitt football team that trotted into the Stadium yesterday afternoon with every expectation of making short shrift of Washington and Jefferson still had to score its first point after 56 minutes of the game had been played. That the score four minutes later was Pitt 9, Wash-Jeff 0, may give some indication of the frenzied finish that set half the 15,000 spectators wild with joy and plunged the others into a purplish gloom."
Both defenses ruled the first three quarters. The Pitt offense took the opening kick-off and advanced the ball to the W. & J. 25-yard line. The Presidents defense held and the Panthers turned the ball over on downs. A punting duel ensued for the remainder of the period. Sutherland sent in his second team at the start of the second quarter. Fullback Henry Weisenbaugh fumbled on the Pitt 24-yard line and end Rod Rittersbaugh recovered for the Prexies. The Presidents offense moved the ball to the Pitt 8-yard line. Sutherland rushed the first team back into the fray and the Panther defense pushed W. & J. back to the 19-yard line. Joe Hardy was short on a 31-yard field goal attempt. The first half ended 0 to 0. The punting duel continued in the third quarter until Pitt back Hub Randour fumbled on his 45-yard line and Elwood Headley recovered for W. & J. The Presidents advanced the pigskin to the Pitt 10-yard line before the Panther defense stiffened and forced another futile field goal attempt by Hardy. In the last period the Pitt offense advanced the ball to the Wash-Jeff 15-yard line and lost the ball on downs. On second down Pitt end Joe Skladany intercepted a lateral and was tackled on the 5-yard line. On first down Pitt back Mike Sebastian fumbled the ball back to the Presidents. The Pitt defense forced a punt and regained possession on the Presidents 40-yard line. Richard Matesic replaced Sebastian and promptly tossed a pass to Howard O'Dell on the 9-yard line. On fourth down Isadore Weinstock was perfect on an 18-yard field goal for the first points of the game. Pitt led 3 to 0. On their ensuing possession, the Presidents gained two first downs into Pitt territory at the 45-yard line. On first down Weinstock intercepted Bill King's pass and Pitt had possession on their own 40-yard line. The Panther offense moved the ball to the W. & J. 38-yard line with three rushes and an off-side penalty. On first down O' Dell raced around right end for a touchdown. Weinstock missed the extra point, but Pitt survived 9 to 0. The Presidents finished the season with a 2–7–1 record.