The 1930 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1930 college football season. In its seventh season under head coach Jock Sutherland, the team compiled a 6–2–1 record, shut out five of its nine opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 186 to 69. The team played its home games at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh.
Schedule
Preseason
Coach Sutherland needed to replace eleven members of the 1929 squad. Five regulars, Albert DiMeolo, Ray Montgomery, Joe Donchess, Toby Uansa and Tom Parkinson, received All-America honors, while the six substitutes – Markley Barnes, James Rooney, Felix Wilps, Arthur Corson, William Loehr and Charles Edwards – all played substantial minutes during the season. At the annual banquet Sutherland "bemoaned the loss of so many of his 1929 stars, saying that a good team could be formed of the players who graduate next spring." He continued: "Our 1930 schedule is the hardest we have ever tackled. We play four times away from home, something a Pitt team has not done in years. We have six consecutive games with Class A opponents. My prediction is that we will win some games we may be expected to lose and lose some which look like sure victories." He named Edward Baker captain. Walter Kearney was later appointed student manager for the 1930 season.
Jock Sutherland's coaching staff had to be restocked for the 1930 season. Charles W. Bowser, assistant coach in charge of the backfield, became head coach at Bowdoin College. Alexander Stevenson, assistant Pitt coach and scout since 1909, contracted pneumonia upon his return from the Rose Bowl and died on February 5. Andy Gustafson, former Pitt fullback, succeeded Charles Bowser as head backfield coach. He had been the head coach at Virginia Tech from 1926-29. 1929 All-Americans Joe Donchess and Ray Montgomery were both hired by the athletic council to assist coach Sutherland for the 1930 season. Montgomery coached the varsity linemen and taught in the physical education department. Donchess was still in medical school and assisted team physician Dr. Shanor with physical conditioning of the players. He also helped coach the ends. Bill Kern, former All-American Pitt tackle, was added to the staff during spring practice. He coached the linemen. The appointment of Ulhardt Hangartner, former Panther guard, completed the coaching staff. He was hired to assist the linemen and be in charge of scouting.
On March 15 coach Sutherland welcomed a record turnout for the start of spring practice. He was anxious to get a glimpse of the new material from last year's freshmen team. The spring session consisted of an hour and a half of basic football drills every afternoon for five or six weeks. Daily scrimmages helped to weed out the players with little or no varsity promise. The spring session determined who got invited to Camp Hamilton for the preseason conditioning.
The 1930 spring session came to a somber conclusion, as veteran running back Leo Murphy sustained a broken neck while blocking during a scrimmage on April 23. He died 6 days later.
Thirty-seven varsity hopefuls were invited to Camp Hamilton on September 1 for the annual preseason conditioning program. Coach Sutherland sent out the invitations with a copy of the rule book and a pair of cleats. His message: "Get the shoes well broken in before you report to camp. Familiarize yourself with the new changes in regards to the rules and study the book so that you are in perfect familiarity with the laws of the game." James Hagan, assistant athletic director, was in charge of the camp. He was ably assisted by student manager Walter Kearney. Trainer Bud Moore, physician Dr. H. A. R. Shanor and equipment manager Percy Brown were all in attendance. After three weeks of training, the team returned to Pittsburgh and practiced on the hill above the stadium in preparation for the home opener against Waynesburg College. Coach Sutherland summarized training camp: "The squad finished at camp in good physical shape but we're a few days late in our schedule as a result of a keen fight for positions, and I will be unable to name a starting lineup for the Waynesburg game for a few days yet."