The 1895 Western University of Pennsylvania football team was an American football team that represented the Western University of Pennsylvania (now known as the University of Pittsburgh) as an independent during the 1895 college football season.
Schedule
Season recap
The Alumni Athletic Advisory Board led by J.D. Scott, one of Pitt football's founding fathers, and the Athletic Association re-energized the Athletic Department at the Western University of Pennsylvania following the disarray of 1893 and 1894. Their first objective in the fall of 1895 was to place a football team on the field. W. A. Stuart, a former State College fullback, was hired to coach the team. After the first two games coach Stuart was dismissed and J. P. Linn replaced him. Coach Linn had played end at Washington & Jefferson University. He coached the remaining five games of the season and then departed for Seminary School. In its first and only season under head coach J. P. Linn, the team compiled a 1–6 record and was outscored by a total of 136 to 30.
Game summaries
At Duquesne Country and Athletic Club
On October 5, the first game pitted the WUP against the Duquesne Country and Athletic Club at Exposition Park. The WUP players were outweighed and outclassed against one of the best club teams in the Pittsburgh area. Five different players scored touchdowns for the Duquesnes. The A.C. made numerous substitutions for the second half. John Rugh replaced Cohen at left guard for the WUP eleven. The second half highlight was an 85-yard kickoff return by Floyd Rose (former WUP quarterback). The final score read 36–0.
The WUP starting lineup for the season opener was William Bigger (left end), George Neale (left tackle), Cohen (left guard), Charles Burheim (center), Smith (right guard), Morris Gelb (right tackle), Al Marshall (right end), Kittner (quarterback), J.P. Linn (left halfback), Edward Mayer (right halfback) and James Frazier (fullback).
At Greensburg Athletic Association
On October 12, the Greensburg Athletic Association ran roughshod over the WUP eleven in Greensburg. The game featured arguments with officials about the rules and accusations of stealing signals. The WUP captain requested that umpire Jamison of Greensburg be replaced with Boswell of the WUP. The home team objected and their Captain Atherton assaulted Mr. Boswell. Injuries to Neale and Marshall of the Western U. did not help matters. The WUP could only manage a safety and lost the game: 40–2 according to The Pittsburgh Post, 24-2 according to The Pittsburgh Press, and 42–2 according to the Coffin Corner.
The WUP lineup for the Greensburg game was Ned Johnston (left end), George Neale (left tackle), Cohen (left guard), Young (center), Smith (right guard), John Rugh (right tackle), Davis (right end), James Frazier (quarterback), Al Marshall (right halfback), Edward Mayer (left halfback) and Thomas (fullback). The attendance was about three hundred and the referee was Hargrave.
At Emerald Athletic Club
On October 19, the first game under the tutelage of J.P. Linn was against the Emerald Athletic Club at Emerald Park. This was Emerald's first game and they were coached by WUP halfback George Neale. The WUP eleven showed marked improvement over their previous games and secured a victory by the score of 22–0. More than two thousand fans witnessed the game refereed by McNeill, that was well played and free from arguments and fisticuffs.
The WUP lineup for the Emerald game was William Bigger (right end), John Scott (right tackle), Cohen (right guard), Young (center), Charles Burheim (left guard), Murray (left tackle), Morris Gelb (left end), James Frazier (quarterback), Thomas (right halfback), George Neale (left halfback) and Charles Rankin (fullback).