Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-11-05
PITT TAKES RANK
AS A Big Lacquer
In Two Short Years Smoky City
School Climbs to Top Of
Gridiron Heap.
WARNER PROVIDES GOODS
By FRANK G. MENKE.

New York, Nov 4.--The meteoric
rise Of the University of Pittsburgh
in the world of athletics has been the
most remarkable Of any in collegiate
history. Three seasons ago it ranked
merely as a "small-fry" eleven, un-
known outside its own particular sec
ton. Last year, in foot ball, 1t
ranked beyond every eastern college
except Cornell And this season it
may reach the absolute crest.
Pittsburgh in three short years has
bridged the immense chasm that
divides the minor leaguers from the
major leaguers in the gridiron sport.
And all this has been brought about
by a coterie OF Pitt alumni whose
slogan was: Clean sport always"
The first move of the new pilots Of
Pitts athletic destinies was to put
into the managerial position Karl E.
Davis, one OF the finest, cleanest
sportsmen in the collegiate circles to-
day. Davis, tirelcss worker, splen-
did leader and man who never faltcrs
until he has accomplished his purpose,
began his work with dual object in
mind; to make it possible for Pitts
bugh to be lifted to the highest pos
siblc strata in the world OF sports, and
to develop craftsmanship to its abb
solute limit.
How we'll Davis has succeeded is
shown by the accomplishments Of
Pittsburgh since he took charge OF the
business and Of its athletic affairs, in
1914. Not only has Pitt come to the
fore with rush in a foot ball way,
but 1t has. made huge strides in every
other branch of basket bail, track and
field, base ball, and every other branch
Of college sport.
Davis Booked" Big Games.
Before the Davis regime, Pitts
schedule rarely included a game
against a big college. Out in Smoky
City ble folks didn't think their team
was good enough to battle with the
big fellows. They were quite content
to quarrel with the small fellows, for
the most part finding enough glory
In beating them.
But Davis changed that-ins tantly.
Were a big college now--not a
small one. he said. "We have grown
in enrolment to ranking among the
greatest colleges in the country. And
we are through being small in an ath-
letic way. We're going out after the
big crowd-and we're going to beat
them"
Games were scheduled with Cornell,
Navy, Carlisle and other big clevens.
The skeptical at Pitt gaspcd They
| figured that Pitt would be beaten SO
badly by the big fellows" that il
would make them laughing stock.
And then, to the surprise Of every
one, the Pitt gridiron warriors went
out In 1914 and smeared the various
gridirons with the forms OF their foes.
They defeated Cornell, Navy, Car
Isle and the others with apparent ease
and when the season was over only
one defeat was chalked against them
Ia Is to 10 loss to the great Wash
ington-J Jefferson team of that year.
Pitt Unbeaten in 1915.
mo foot ball eleven can become
truly great until It has the tutoring
OF a great COACH" said Davis. after
the 1914 season ended True, we won
all our games but one-but we
shouldn't have lost that. Glen War.
ner Is going to quit his job at Car
Isle; let US get him."
And so Warner, the gridiron gen.
ius," was hired and at once pro.
ceeded to weld together one OF the
greatest foot ball machines Of tn,
age. The 1911 Pitt eleven was great
but that OF 1915 was greater. The
Panthers tussled with the TOUCHES
foes they could find, and dragged
each and every one Of them into ths
mire of defeat, Pennsylvania, Navy
Carlisle, Washington and Jefferson
PENNSYLVANIA State, Allegheny, West
Minister and Carnegie. all got in tn,
way OF Warmers stcan-roller ant
were crushed.
Then 1t was that at last the ma
tives began to realize that out il
Pittsburgh there had grown up /
team within two brief seasons, tina
ranked as one Of the most powerful
in America. Pittsburgh in 1915, wor
every one OF its eight games, wa,
scored upon only five times all yea
and rolled up 247 points against thir
ty-six, by its foes, which record CAV,
Pitt co-claim with Cornell, ais,
unbeaten, for the championship Of thu
western section OF the u. S. A.
Freshmen Barred at Pitt.
| As is always the case when -soHae
one or some group accomplish notice
able deeds, few disgruntled folk
I tried to belittle Pitts achievement
by pointing out that success was du
to the fact that Pitt permitted fresh
men to play on its varsity teams
And right then and there this ne,
faction in charge of Pitts athleti
. affairs set about stealing the am
munition OF the knockers. The
forced through Immediately rul
which barred freshmen from all var
sity teams beginning with the 1911
season.
The freshmen haven't been tn
ones who have done our best wor
in the past" declared Davis. 18th
. older players have been the star
And feel that in 1916 whe
our team will be recruited solely frol
sophomorcs, juniors and seniors. W
will have an eleven stronger by "a
than those Of the two other years"
The truth OF Davis assertion til;
! Pitt did not need the assistance {
+; freshmen to whirl it along on Ii
i road Of triumph can be found in Ii
: perusal of the up-to-date record con
0 piled by the wonderful team tn;
c Glen Warner, "the dean of foot ba
Y coaches" has put together.