Tom Davies dominated the gridiron for the Pitt Panthers, earning multiple All-American honors and cementing his legacy as a true pioneer of college football.
Football Bio
Pitt football legend Tom Davies was born on October 14, 1896, in Gas City, Indiana.
The Davies family moved from Indiana to Washington, Pennsylvania, when Tom was 11, according to his Wikipedia bio.
After high school, Tom attended the nearby University of Pittsburgh and played halfback for the Panthers and their renowned coach, Pop Warner.
Davies became a consensus All-American in 1918 and 1920, and over his four years, he averaged 150 rushing yards per game!
His Pitt career was highlighted by the perfect Panther season of 1918, where the team went 9-0 and won the National Championship.
In the 1920 game against the University of Pennsylvania, Tom had his best individual effort as a college player when he tossed a touchdown pass, scampered 80 yards for another, returned a kickoff 90 yards for a third, and returned a pick-six 60 yards for a score!
The National Football Foundation cemented Tom Davies into legendary status by inducting him into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1970. [National Football Foundation]
Davies captivated fans with his incredible all-purpose playmaking, setting a remarkable standard that still echoes through Pennsylvania football’s rich history today.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Went on to a lengthy collegiate coaching career, leading programs at Geneva, Allegheny, Rochester, Scranton, and Western Reserve.
- Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1970.
- Consensus All-American in 1918 and a two-time First-Team All-American in 1920 and 1921.
- Led the Pitt Panthers to an undefeated 9-0 season and a National Championship in 1918.
- Averaged an incredible 150 yards a game over his 31-game, four-year collegiate career.
- Ranks among Pitt’s all-time leaders in career scoring (181 points) and all-purpose yards (3,931 yards).
- Inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1966.
One comment