On June 15, 1896, the Western University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees elected George W. Hoskins to the chair of physical culture.
[11] His unique style of coaching introduced after practice critiquing sessions with blackboard chalk talks, and giving quizzes about the new rule changes for the upcoming season.
[12] There were a host of applicants for team positions, and practice was mandatory unless the coach received a legitimate excuse.
[2] In its first and only season under head coach George W. Hoskins, the team compiled a 2-7 record and was outscored by a total of 69 to 42.
[13] The George Hoskins led WUP eleven opened the season on Saturday, September 26 against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club (PAC) on the East End Grounds.
Five minutes into the second half, the PAC offense methodically advanced the ball down the field and Bushman carried it over the goal line for the first touchdown of the game.
The State College offense then sustained a fifty yard drive culminating with another touchdown by Dunsmore.
The WUP offense proceeded to move the ball into State territory and tried an unsuccessful late field goal.
Early in the first half the referee called a play by Latrobe illegal and a squabble ensued for close to an hour.
After halftime Latrobe's offense controlled the game, but the stingy WUP defense held them to one touchdown.
On October 16, Chancellor William Jacob Holland wrote a letter to coach Hoskins with his concern about the number of injured WUP players.
I have had no opportunity to consult you, but my information is such as to convince me that it would be very prejudicial to the health and perhaps perilous to some of these young men in their present condition to undertake to play a match game.
The percentage of injuries which is likely to result from such an unequal mating of the contending forces on the football team is sufficient , in my judgement, to warrant our faculty in prohibiting contests of this sort.
"[4]On October 24, at Exposition Park the Duquesne Country and Athletic Club (D.C. & A.C.) football team easily defeated the eleven from the Western University 26–0 in front of one thousand spectators.
The second half started like the first, as right tackle Johnson of D.C. & A.C. raced forty-five yards for a touchdown on their opening possession.
The October 30 game with the Western Theological Seminary (also known as Allegheny Athletic Club) was summed up best by the reporter for The Pittsburgh Press: "The W.U.P.
- Allegheny Athletic club football game at Exposition park yesterday afternoon ended by W.U.P.
Referee O. D. Thompson promptly ruled Henry guilty of being off-side on the play and refused to allow the touchdown.
Coach Hoskins called the players together and they left the field, forfeiting the game to the Theological students – 6–0.
The trouble was due to a misunderstanding between the umpire and the referee regarding their respective privileges and duties, and their evident desire to favor their own teams.
quit once, but this action brought forth general hissing and expressions of indignation and they finished the game.”[17] The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer gave a detailed account of the proceedings.
The second half started with the usual back and forth possessions until Guilford of the WUP was penalized for a tackle below the knee.
When play resumed Robert Edwards was literally pushed over the goal with a mighty effort that left him injured.
In the second stanza halfback Brandon was able to break loose on a thirty yard touchdown jaunt for Grove City.