Thanks to the initiative of Bert Smyers and John Scott, the Western University of Pennsylvania Athletic Association met during the 1889–90 school year and elected committees for the sports of baseball and football.
[5] Smyers and Scott organized a football team that fall and played one game, which they lost to Shadyside Academy.
The lineup "in addition to Scott, captain and center, and Smyers, quarterback, included Anson B. McGrew and Frank Rhea at guards, Harry S. Calvert and John McGrew at tackles, E. C. Shaler and George H. Calvert at ends, Joseph B. Griggs and William C. Gill at halfbacks, and John M. Hansen at fullback.
The first varsity football team of the Western University of Pennsylvania (WUP) compiled a 2–2 record and was outscored by a total of 74 to 22.
[8] The starting lineup for the 1890 season was John Scott (center/captain), John McGrew (left guard), Anson McGrew (right guard), Harry Calvert (tackle), James Price (right tackle), John Murray (left end), William Dorrington (right end), Bert Smyers (quarterback), Joseph Griggs (left halfback), Alfred Hamilton (right halfback), and Frank Rhea (fullback).
AA teammates Thompson, Robinson and Wilkinson each scored another first half touchdown and Fry converted a goal kick after to account for the 20–0 halftime lead.
For the final game of their first season of football, the WUPs traveled to Beaver Falls to take on the Covies of Geneva College.
In the first half a bad pass gave the ball to Reed, who succeeded in making a touchdown, scoring the only point for the Geneva team.