Pitt sports fans were treated to a superb 1927-28 athletic program as four Panther teams finished their seasons undefeated - football, basketball, track and swimming.

In fact many years ago, when Pitt, then the Western University of Pennsylvania, was struggling to gain an athletic foothold, it was Mr. Hamilton's influence and financial aid that smoothed the pathway.

Bowman's plan, it is said, is to have the new men work in conjunction with the office of Graduate Manager K. E. Davis, and the new regime will give Pitt an organization akin to those in vogue in the Western conference.

"The fresh mountain air, the excellent food served up by the famous Alex Williams, and the complete athletic equipment of the camp all provided a real football atmosphere which aided the coaches in conditioning the fellows.

[5][6] The Grove City eleven won the Tri-State district Class-B college championship in 1925 and 1926 under the tutelage of now Pitt assistant coach Charley Bowser.

[45][46] The Pitt Weekly announced: "A fast and determined Mountaineer eleven invades the Panther's stadium lair Saturday afternoon to furnish it with its first major portion of football meat of the season."

Ira Rodgers' Mountaineers were 1–0–1 on the season, having beaten West Virginia Wesleyan and tying former Pitt star Pat Herron's Washington & Lee Generals.

"[47] The Post-Gazette spoke with coach Sutherland: "My team has been hailed far and wide, and this first hard test will either prove that Pitt merits the favorable comment it has received or it will convince the 'too-enthusiastic' that football games are decided on the field and not on paper.

(see photo) The Sunday Sun-Telegraph gushed: "Making the sad mistake of invading Pittsburgh yesterday without taking the precaution to be supported by a company of Marines, the West Virginia University football team took the worst punch on its gridironistic chin that it has suffered in 20 years, being trampled under the ripping claws of Jock Sutherland's Golden Panthers to the merry tune of 40–0.

On the kick-off "Gibby caught the ball well back of his own goal line and twisting and dodging with the speed and grace of a Grange, raced through the entire West Virginia team for a touchdown.

Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Joe Donchess, Allan Booth, Richard Goldberg, Walter Hoban, Andrew Salata, Ray Montgomery, Paul Fisher, Philip Sargeant, Dwight Fyock, Frank Shaw, Mike Getto, Felix Wilps, Chester Doverspike and Lester Cohen.

"Booth came through his right tackle, reversed his field, staved off two tacklers with a stiff arm and, with a perfect interference formed about him, raced seventy-nine yards for his second touchdown.

Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Tom Parkinson, Ray Montgomery, Toby Uansa, Mike Getto, Richard Goldberg, Andrew Salata, Paul Fisher, Felix Demoise and Chester Doverspike.

"[67] The Pitt Weekly recapped: "The Golden Panthers with 58,000 people looking on made Carnegie Tech's greatest dread become a reality last Saturday afternoon in the stadium as they outfought the Tartans for a 23 to 7 score and regained the city championship.

Late in the second period Pitt punted to the Tartans and the ball caromed off Cyril Letzelter and Joe Donchess fell on it for the Panthers at the Tech 5-yard line.

With Welch and Paul Fisher gaining huge chunks of yardage, the Panthers advanced to a first down on the Tartans 2-yard line and Tech needed a time out.

Charles Edwards, William Kern, Walter Hoban, Paul Fisher and James Hagan were all injured to some degree in the Tech game and were questionable for action against Allegheny.

[17] For the undefeated Pitt Panthers, a Thanksgiving Day victory would merit the championship of western Pennsylvania and the entire east, a claim to the national title and an invitation to the Rose Bowl.

Back to Penn State limps another famed Nittany team, clawed even worse than before, to tell the natives the annual story of a sad Thanksgiving day.

; Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Paul Fisher, Andrew Salata, Ray Montgomery, Felix Demoise, Dwight Fyock, Walter Hoban, Richard Goldberg, Chester Doverspike, Philip Sargeant and Edward Seifert.

[96][20] On December 10, "a host of former Panther stars, determined that the 1927 aggregation shall not go unprepared to the coast to meet Stanford in the tournament of roses game on Jan. 2, have taken a most practical method of insuring it.

Andy Kerr's Presidents turned the trick the first time, and Charley Bowser's aggregation of old-timers duplicated the feat yesterday at the Pitt stadium."

[107] "The first Pitt team to travel to the West Coast for an intersectional postseason game left Pittsburgh in two labeled Pullman cars on (Monday) December 26, 1927, at nine o'clock in the evening.

"With the entire squad kicking the ball around and messing things up in general, Sutherland cut the drill short to the disappointment of the spectators, who were enjoying the show immensely."

A gigantic aerial hook-up has been arranged and about 5 o'clock this afternoon fans all over the nation will listen in on the start of the contest, and thereafter follow it eagerly until the last play has been consummated.

"[111] The Pasadena Evening Post wrote: "A warm sun and balmy breezes played on a crowd of around 65,000 persons, gathered in this stadium today to see Pittsburgh and Stanford settle a football argument, the annual Tournament of Roses classic.

But, no Pitt man touched the ball at all, and the officials ruled that Sims had it in his possession and control, fumbling thereafter, whereupon Wilton picked the oval up from the ground to score his touchdown.

Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Ray Montgomery, Andrew Salata, Tom Parkinson, Richard Goldberg, Mike Getto, Felix Demoise, Charles Edwards, Dwight Fyock, Philip Sargeant, Toby Uansa, Walter Hoban and Chester Doverspike.

On Tuesday they toured the motion picture studios and met movie stars – Douglas Fairbanks, Rod La Roque, Billy Dove, Jack Munhall and Lon Chaney.

[118] On February 4, 1928 the Panthers were presented the Joseph H. Jolley Trophy, emblematic of the eastern football championship for 1927, from the Veteran Athletes of Philadelphia at the Penn Athletic Club in Philadelphia, Pa.[119][120] At the annual football banquet twenty-two Panthers and the student manager received their letters – Captain Gilbert Welch, Charles Edwards, William Kern, Felix Demoise, Andrew Salata, Allan Booth, John Roberts, Chester Wasmuth, Tom Parkinson, James hagan, Philip Sargeant, Richard Goldberg, Walter Hoban, Andrew Cutler, Ray Montgomery, Alex Fox, Joe Donchess, Mike Getto, Albert Guarino, Dwight Fyock, Paul Fisher, Toby Uansa and William McKee.