The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 saw the implementation of quarantines that eliminated much of that year's college football season, including five of Pitt's originally scheduled contests. All of Pitt's games that year were played in November, including a high-profile game played as a War Charities benefit against undefeated, unscored upon, and defending national champion Georgia Tech, coached by John Heisman.
Schedule
Season summary
Georgia Tech game
Sources:
Pitt swept through its first two games and then dismantled Georgia Tech 32–0 in front of many of the nation's top sports writers including Walter Camp, ending Tech's 33-game streak without a loss. The game was played for the benefit of the United War Work Fund. . Pitt won the game 32–0 and is considered by many to be that season's national champion. Warner historian Francis Powers wrote:
At Forbes Field, the dressing rooms of the two teams were separated only by a thin wall. As the Panthers were sitting around, awaiting Warner's pre-game talk, Heisman began to orate in the adjoining room. In his charge to the Tech squad, Heisman became flowery and fiery. He brought the heroes of ancient Greece and the soldier dead in his armor among the ruins of Pompeii. It was terrific and the Panthers sat, spellbound. When Heisman had finished, Warner chortled and quietly said to his players: 'Okay, boys. There's the speech. Now go out and knock them off.'
Pitt's first score came on a pass from Tom Davies to Katy Easterday. The next score came soon after the start of the second quarter, when Davies returned a punt back 50 yards for a touchdown. A double pass got the next score. The fourth touchdown was a 6-yard touchdown by George McLaren. "Guyon and Flowers were very clever at intercepting forward passes, which in a measure made up for the fumbling in an early part of the game." A 55-yard touchdown run by Davies was the final score. Guyon also starred on defense. The starting lineup was McCarter, Hilty, Stahl, Stein, V. Allshouse, Mervis, Hurrington, Gougler, Easterday, Davies, McLaren.
The final game of the season at Cleveland Naval Reserve resulted in "Pop" Warner's first loss at Pitt and is one of the most controversial in school history. Warner, along with some reporters covering the game, insisted Pitt was robbed by the officials who, claiming the official timekeeper's watch was broken, arbitrarily ended the first half before Pitt was able to score and then allowed the Reserves extra time in the fourth quarter to pull ahead 10–9 before calling an end to the game. Judy Harlan, formerly of Georgia Tech, and Moon Ducote, formerly of Auburn starred for the Cleveland Naval Reserves. Ducote kicked the winning field goal. Warner declared him "the greatest football player I ever saw". Harlan stated: "I intercepted a pass and returned it to midfield in the fourth quarter. I felt I at least had evened up some of the losses we had at Tech."
Postseason
Despite the loss, the 4–1 Panthers of 1918 were named as a national champion for that season by multiple selectors, several of which are considered to be "major" selections by the official NCAA records book.
The 1918 team was selected or recognized as national champions by multiple selectors, several of which are listed as "major" by the official NCAA football records book. College Football Data Warehouse also recognizes Pitt as a national champion in 1918. These are the selectors that determined Pitt to be national champions in 1918.
1st-N-Goal
Alexander Weyand
Angelo Louisa
Bill Libby
Bob Kirlin
Bob Royce
Century Football Index
College Football USA
George Trevor
Harry Frye
Helms Athletic Foundation*
Houlgate System*
James Whalen
Jim Koger
Loren Maxwell
National Championship Foundation*
Nutshell Sports Football Ratings
Patrick Premo
* A "major" selector that was "national in scope" according to the official NCAA football records book.
