Skip Gougler
Encyclopedia
Roscoe A. "Skip" Gougler (August 11, 1894 – July 16, 1962) was an American football
player and coach, dentist and professor of dentistry. He played at the halfback
and quarterback
positions for the Pitt Panthers football teams from 1915-1918. He was selected as a second-team All-American in 1918. He also played two years of professional football, including the 1919 season with the Massillon Tigers
of the Ohio League
. He later coached football and became a member of the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh’s dentistry school
.
. He played quarterback for the Harrisburg Central High School football team, where he developed a reputation as “a most illusive [sic] sidestepper.”
After one year at Conway Hall, Gougler enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh
where he played four years of football under coach ”Pop” Warner. Gougler was a member of the Pitt Panthers football teams from 1915-1918. He played halfback and quarterback at Pitt. During Gougler’s four seasons at Pitt, the Panthers were undefeated and ran up a 33-game winning streak before losing to Syracuse by a score of 24-3 in 1919. As a senior in 1918, Gougler was selected as a second-team All-American by Robert (Tiny) Maxwel
l, sports editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Pitt's undefeated 1917 team was known as "The Fighting Dentists" because on occasion every position was filled by dental students. The dental students on the 1917 team included Gougler, "Tank" McLaren Katy Easterday
, "Jake" Stahl
. and Jock Sutherland
.
Gougler signed with the Massillon Tigers to play professional football in 1919. Gougler proved to be a key player on the 1919 Massillon team. Early in the season, Gougler kicked three field goals to account for all of the team’s scoring in a key 9-6 win over the Akron Indians. Gougler's third field goal came with only seconds left in the game. In a rematch against Akron later in the year, Gougler again scored all of Massillon’s points in a 13-6 win. On Armistice Day in 1919, Massillon lost to Cleveland Tigers, 3-0, as Gougler missed five field goal attempts, including three from inside the 20-yard line.
In 1920, Gougler completed his education in dentistry. While completing his studies, he began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Duquesne University
in Pittsburgh. In July 1921, he was hired as an assistant football coach at Lafayette College
in Easton, Pennsylvania
. At Lafayette, Gougler worked as an assistant to his former Pitt teammate Jock Sutherland
. In 1924, Sutherland became the head football coach at Pitt, and Gougler followed him from Lafayette. Gougler again became an assistant football coach under Sutherland. He remained a member of the Pitt coaching staff until 1934.
Gougler later served as a member of Pitt's Dental School faculty.
Gougler died at Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh at age 67 in 1962.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach, dentist and professor of dentistry. He played at the halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
and quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
positions for the Pitt Panthers football teams from 1915-1918. He was selected as a second-team All-American in 1918. He also played two years of professional football, including the 1919 season with the Massillon Tigers
Massillon Tigers
The Massillon Tigers were an early professional football team from Massillon, Ohio. Playing in the "Ohio League", the team was a rival to the pre-National Football League version of the Canton Bulldogs. The Tigers won Ohio League championships in 1903, 1904, 1905, and 1906, then merged to become...
of the Ohio League
Ohio League
The Ohio League was an informal and loose association of American football clubs active between 1903 and 1919 that competed for the Ohio Independent Championship . As the name implied, its teams were based in Ohio...
. He later coached football and became a member of the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh’s dentistry school
University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, located in Pittsburgh, PA, is one of Pitt’s six schools of the health sciences and is closely affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center....
.
Biography
Gougler was raised in Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
. He played quarterback for the Harrisburg Central High School football team, where he developed a reputation as “a most illusive [sic] sidestepper.”
After one year at Conway Hall, Gougler enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
where he played four years of football under coach ”Pop” Warner. Gougler was a member of the Pitt Panthers football teams from 1915-1918. He played halfback and quarterback at Pitt. During Gougler’s four seasons at Pitt, the Panthers were undefeated and ran up a 33-game winning streak before losing to Syracuse by a score of 24-3 in 1919. As a senior in 1918, Gougler was selected as a second-team All-American by Robert (Tiny) Maxwel
Tiny Maxwell
Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell was a professional football player and referee. He was also a sports editor with the Philadelphia Public Ledger.-Early life:...
l, sports editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Pitt's undefeated 1917 team was known as "The Fighting Dentists" because on occasion every position was filled by dental students. The dental students on the 1917 team included Gougler, "Tank" McLaren Katy Easterday
Katy Easterday
Roy Alexander "Katy" Easterday was an American football and basketball player, track and field athlete, coach, college athletics administrator, and dentist. He played at the halfback position for the Pittsburgh Panthers football teams from 1917 to 1918 and was selected as an All-American in 1918...
, "Jake" Stahl
E.A. "Jake" Stahl
Edward Adam "Jake" Stahl was an American football player. He played guard and tackle positions for the Pittsburgh Panthers football teams from 1915–1918. He was selected as a second-team All-American in 1918. He also played professional football from 1920–1921.- Biography :Stahl was born in...
. and Jock Sutherland
Jock Sutherland
Dr. John Bain "Jock" Sutherland, D.D.S., was an American football coach. He coached college football at Lafayette College and the University of Pittsburgh and professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers...
.
Gougler signed with the Massillon Tigers to play professional football in 1919. Gougler proved to be a key player on the 1919 Massillon team. Early in the season, Gougler kicked three field goals to account for all of the team’s scoring in a key 9-6 win over the Akron Indians. Gougler's third field goal came with only seconds left in the game. In a rematch against Akron later in the year, Gougler again scored all of Massillon’s points in a 13-6 win. On Armistice Day in 1919, Massillon lost to Cleveland Tigers, 3-0, as Gougler missed five field goal attempts, including three from inside the 20-yard line.
In 1920, Gougler completed his education in dentistry. While completing his studies, he began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
in Pittsburgh. In July 1921, he was hired as an assistant football coach at Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
in Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
. At Lafayette, Gougler worked as an assistant to his former Pitt teammate Jock Sutherland
Jock Sutherland
Dr. John Bain "Jock" Sutherland, D.D.S., was an American football coach. He coached college football at Lafayette College and the University of Pittsburgh and professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers...
. In 1924, Sutherland became the head football coach at Pitt, and Gougler followed him from Lafayette. Gougler again became an assistant football coach under Sutherland. He remained a member of the Pitt coaching staff until 1934.
Gougler later served as a member of Pitt's Dental School faculty.
Gougler died at Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh at age 67 in 1962.