Gibby Welch Gilbert Laverne " Gibby " Welch ( December 24 , 1904 – February 10 , 1984 ) was an American football player who played college football for the University of Pittsburgh . He broke Red Grange ' s single season yardage record in 1926 and was an All - American in 1927 . He later played professional football for the New York Yankees in 1928 and the Providence Steam Roller in 1929 . Early years . Welch attended Parkersburg High School in Parkersburg , West Virginia , where he was successful in football , basketball and track . Welch next attended Bellefont Academy , before enrolling at the University of Pittsburgh in 1924 . He played three seasons of football at Pitt from 1925 – 1927 , including the first game ever played at Pitt Stadium . Welch also ran track for Pitt in 1926 , 1927 and 1928 . He was one of the country ' s leading college discus throwers , and also competed in the shotput , javelin and broad jump . Welch was the captain of the football and track teams as a senior . He was the signal - calling left halfback in the single - wing offense run by coach Jock Sutherland in 1926 and 1927 . In 1926 , Welch broke the single - season yardage record set by Red Grange , gaining 1 , 964 yards in just nine games . Welch was described as " one of the most dazzling open field sprinters in the collegiate ranks , " an athlete whose " sensational runs are aided by his excellent use of twirls and pivots through an open field . " 1927 season . He was unanimously selected as an All - American at the halfback position in 1927 by , among others , the Associated Press , United Press , " Collier ' s Weekly " , Central Press Association , Hearst newspapers , " New York Sun " , Billy Evans , and the Walter Camp Football Foundation . Highlights of Welch ' s 1927 All - American season include the following : Professional football . Welch also played professional football for the New York Yankees in 1928 and the Providence Steam Roller in 1929 . He signed with the Steam Roller after the Yankees disbanded . A newspaper story announcing his signing by the Steam Roller noted : " ' Gibby ' , who was once known to have been addressed as Gilbert , functions effectively as a punter , pass dispatcher or receiver , line perforator and broken field runner . It is understood that the Roller management was forced to quote the highest figures ever whispered into a pro football player ' s ears before Welch affixed his signature to a contract . ' Gibby ' was thrown on the open market by the recent dissolution of the New York Yankees . " Later years . After leaving professional football , Welch worked as a football coach at Morris Harvey College in 1931 . He later became a leading real estate man and businessman in Parkersburg , West Virginia . In 1948 , Welch gained attention when he was charged with felonious assault with intent to kill with a deadly weapon . Welch was charged with beating his third wife , Gladys Welch , after two months of marriage in November 1948 . In 1956 , the " Charleston Daily Mail " called Welch " one of the most fabulous characters ever produced in West Virginia athletics . " As of 1968 , Welch ' s career total of 4 , 108 total yards was still a school record at Pitt . Welch ' s rushing records at Pitt stood for more than 50 years until they were broken by Tony Dorsett in the 1970s .