Jock Sutherland

{{Short description|American football player and coach (1889–1948)}}

{{for|the American basketball coach|Jock Sutherland (basketball)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Jock Sutherland

| image = Sutherland Owl1939.jpg

| alt = Jock Sutherland poses for the 1939 Owl, Pitt's annual student yearbook

| caption = Sutherland pictured in the 1939 Owl, Pitt's annual student yearbook

| number =

| position = End

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1889|3|21}}

| birth_place = Coupar Angus, Scotland

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1948|4|11|1889|3|21}}

| death_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| height_ft =

| height_in =

| weight_lbs =

| college = Pittsburgh

| pastteams=

Pittsburgh (1915–1917)
Massillon Tigers (1919)

| pastcoaching=

Lafayette (1919–1923)
Pittsburgh (1924–1938)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1940–1941)
Pittsburgh Steelers (1946–1947)

|pastadmin=

Pittsburgh Steelers (1946–1947)

| highlights =

Consensus All-American (1917)Campbell, et al.: p 4
Career coaching record:
144–28–14 (NCAA)
28–16–1 (NFL)
Career bowl game record: 1–3
Meritorious Service Medal of the State of Pennsylvania{{cite book | title=Jock Sutherland: Architect of Men | first=Harry G. | last=Scott | page=220 | publisher=Exposition Press | location=New York | year=1954 | lccn=54-9996|asin=B003AX9W9Y}}
6× National champion (1921, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937)
7× Eastern football champion (1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937)

{{Infobox military person|embed=yes

|allegiance = {{flagicon|United States}} United States

|branch = File:United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg U.S. Navy

|serviceyears = 1941–46

|rank = 20px Lt. Commander

|battles = World War II

}}

| pfrcoach = SuthJo0

| CollegeHOF = 1492

}}

John Bain Sutherland (March 21, 1889{{cite web | title = Jock Sutherland (American football coach) | url = http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/575743/Jock-Sutherland | publisher = Encyclopædia Britannica | access-date = March 28, 2012}}{{cite news | title = Sutherland Resigns Head Football Coaching Job At U. Of Pittsburgh | url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1675045652.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI | newspaper = The Sun | location = Baltimore, Maryland | date = March 6, 1939 | quote = Dr. John B. (Jock) Sutherland ... will be 50 years old on March 21 | access-date = July 6, 2017 | archive-date = February 20, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170220095437/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/doc/538488247.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=&author=&pub=&edition=&startpage=&desc= | url-status = dead }} – April 11, 1948) was an American football player and coach. He coached college football at Lafayette College (1919–1923) and the University of Pittsburgh (1924–1938) and professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1940–1941) and Pittsburgh Steelers (1946–1947). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.

Biography

A native of Coupar Angus in Scotland, Sutherland got his start in football by playing end at the University of Pittsburgh, commonly known as Pitt, under legendary coach Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner. Sutherland was named an All-American and played on Pitt's national championship teams in 1915 and 1916.

Sutherland also played on Pitt's undefeated 1917 team. The 1917 team was known as "The Fighting Dentists" because on occasion every position was filled by dental students.{{Cite news|title=50th Anniversary: Last Unbeaten Pitt Team, 1917 'Fighting Dentists', Will Be Honored Saturday |work=Daily Courier |date=November 2, 1967}} The dental students on the 1917 team included Sutherland,{{Cite news |title=Jimmy Phelan to Fulfill Promise Of Coaching Job |work=Nevada State Journal |date=December 12, 1936}} Katy Easterday,{{Cite news |title=All-American Gridder: Former Wildcat Mentor Retires |work=Leader Times |location=Kittanning, Pennsylvania |date=July 6, 1959}} (Easterday graduated from Pitt in 1919 with a degree in dentistry.) Skip Gougler,{{Cite news |title='Skip' Gougler New Coach is Training Backfield Player |work=The Lafayette |date=October 5, 1921}} (Gougler completed his education in dentistry at Pitt in 1920.) "Tank" McLaren{{Cite news |title=Pitt Crack Athletes Secure Coaching Jobs |work=Altoona Mirror |date=April 30, 1919 |quote=[McLaren] graduates from the university dental school in June.}} and "Jake" Stahl.{{Cite news |title=Dr. Stahl was dentist in Hampton |work=North Hills News Record |date=October 12, 1966}} Sutherland also lettered in wrestling and captained the track and field team at Pitt for which he specialized in the hammer throw, discus, and shot put. He was also a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, Psi Omega national dental fraternity, Omicron Delta Kappa, and the Druids Society, a secret society at the university.{{cite book| title=Jock Sutherland: Architect of Men|first=Harry G.|last=Scott|location=New York, NY|publisher=Exposition Press|year=1954|pages=43–47| lccn=54-9996|asin=B003AX9W9Y}} Sutherland graduated from the University of Pittsburgh's School of Dentistry, where he also held a professorship in the instruction of bridge and crown.

= Coaching =

In 1919, Sutherland played in a few games with the Massillon Tigers of the Ohio League, which was the direct predecessor to the modern National Football League. However, he soon left the team and began his head coaching career at Lafayette College from 1919 to 1923, leading the Leopards to the 1921 Eastern Collegiate Championship.{{cite journal | title=Sutherland | journal=Coffin Corner | publisher=Professional Football Researchers Association | volume=1 | issue=9 | year=1979 | pages=1–3 | url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/01-09-016.pdf | author=P.F.R.A. Research | access-date=2010-11-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127055905/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/01-09-016.pdf | archive-date=2010-11-27 | url-status=dead }}

== University of Pittsburgh ==

File:Sutherland Owl1938pg246.jpg

In 1924, Sutherland replaced "Pop" Warner, his former coach and mentor, as head coach at Pitt. Sutherland, who was described as "a national hero" in a Saturday Evening Post article,Alberts, p. 158 became a highly admired and influential coach at the university while compiling a record of 111–20–12. On offense, he ran a double-wing formation known as the "Sutherland Scythe".{{Cite news |title=COLLEGE FOOTBALL; This Pitt Backfield Is Still a Dream |first=William N. |last=Wallace |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01EED9153CF936A25753C1A962958260 |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 15, 1994 |page=30, section 1 |access-date=December 10, 2009 |quote=They ran an offense called the Sutherland Scythe after Coach Jock Sutherland, a titan of his time. It was a precision double-wing attack that ravaged opponents. But more distinctive than its offensive power game was the players' decision at the end of the season to turn down an invitation to play in the Rose Bowl.}} He was known for his calm and direct demeanor, never shouting or ranting to motivate his team.{{Cite news |title=The Blade of the Sutherland Scythe |first=Grantland |last=Rice |author-link=Grantland Rice |url=http://fultonhistory.com/newspaper%202/Utica%20NY%20Daily%20Observer/Utica%20NY%20Observer%201938%20a%20pdf/Utica%20NY%20Observer%201938%20a%20-%200364.pdf |newspaper=Utica Observer-Dispatch |date=Oct 20, 1938 |page=11–A |access-date=December 10, 2009 |quote=Sutherland manages to keep his players at a high level all season by coaching them in a calm, professional manner. Dressing room histrionics have no part in his system. There are no blood-tingling pep talks from the doctor before a game or between halves. Before a game he tells the players what he wants them to do. Between halves he tells them wherein they have failed to do it. If they are trailing at the half he doesn't try to whip them to a fury by yelling at them, pleading with them or shedding tears over the disaster that is about to befall the old school. He merely points out their mistakes...}}

During his tenure, Sutherland's teams were named Eastern football champions seven times including 1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, and 1937.{{Cite book |title=University of Pittsburgh 1975 Football Media Guide |url=http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittathletics;cc=pittathletics;q1=eastern%20titles;rgn=full%20text;idno=1975d004652;didno=1975d004652;view=image;seq=0056 |access-date=December 10, 2009 |year=1975 |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |page=54}} During this time, Pitt appeared in four Rose Bowl games (1928, 1930, 1933, and 1937) and turned down a bid for the 1938 Rose Bowl. Sutherland's teams were named "National Champions" by various selectors for nine different seasons including 1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, and 1938.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigeast/pittsburgh/all_national_champs.php |title=Pittsburgh Total National Championships |work=CFBDataWarehouse.com |publisher=College Football Data Warehouse |access-date=August 26, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704202839/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigeast/pittsburgh/all_national_champs.php |archive-date=July 4, 2008 }}{{Cite book |last1=Hursen |first1=Steve |title=2007 Pitt Football Media Guide |access-date=December 10, 2009 |year=2007 |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |page=176 |chapter=Panther History: Pitt Football 2006 |chapter-url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pitt/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/06guide-pantherhistory.pdf |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522213706/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pitt/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/06guide-pantherhistory.pdf |url-status=dead }} Of these, the University of Pittsburgh officially recognizes five of those years as national championship seasons (1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, and 1937), while one of them, 1937, includes the Associated Press national championship designation which, at the time, was only the second instance in which the AP poll had been published. Sutherland coached the famed "Dream Backfield" of John Chickerneo, Dick Cassiano, Harold Stebbins, and Marshall Goldberg, which at the time was considered to be the best backfield in history by some, including Don Miller, a member of The Four Horsemen of Notre Dame.{{Cite news |title=Playing square |first=Jeff |last=Moshier |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19381025&id=zsYLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tFQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3822,5289067 |newspaper=The Evening Independent |location=St. Petersburg, Florida |date=October 25, 1938 |page=8 |access-date=December 10, 2009 }}

After years of struggling with the university for sustained financial support, Sutherland resigned in 1938 because the school's Chancellor, John Gabbert Bowman, instituted a policy of de-emphasis for the football program, eliminating athletic scholarships, student athlete stipends, and the recruiting funds. Bowman's moves, which resulted in Sutherland's departure, were controversial among students and supporters of the football program.Alberts, p. 167

As of 2009, his career coaching record of 144–28–14 in 20 seasons at the collegiate level, an .812 winning percentage, is the 25th best winning percentage in all divisions of college footballCampbell, et al.: p 216 and 11th best among coaches from the top division,Campbell, et al.: p 219 currently known as the Division I FBS. His .812 winning percentage is also the 5th best such mark during the first 20 years of any coaches' career.Campbell, et al.: p 223 He is also tied for the 23rd fewest games to reach 100 victories, accomplished in his 132nd game as coach.Campbell, et al.: p 225

== Professional football and military service ==

Sutherland later coached in the National Football League with the Brooklyn Dodgers for two seasons, 1940–41, before leaving the team to serve the United States during World War II.{{Cite web |title=Jock Sutherland Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/SuthJo0.htm |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

During the war, Sutherland served in the United States Navy and achieved the rank of Lieutenant commander.{{Cite news |title=Jock Sutherland's Condition Serious |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19480411&id=iOoKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DE8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4176,3115784 |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |date=April 11, 1948 |page=25 |access-date=December 10, 2009 }}

Upon returning to the United States, Sutherland landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he was head coach and team vice president. He led the Steelers to their first playoff appearance in 1947.

= Sudden illness and death =

While on a scouting trip for the Steelers in April 1948, Sutherland was found in his car in Bandana, Kentucky, where he was experiencing confusion and was then taken to a hospital in Cairo, Illinois, where he was initially diagnosed with "nervous exhaustion".{{cite news |title=SUTHERLAND STAYS IN CAIRO HOSPITAL; Football Worries Blamed for Steeler Coach's Breakdown -- General Condition Good |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1948/04/09/archives/sutherland-stays-in-cairo-hospital-football-worries-blamed-for.html |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 9, 1948 |page=32, Sports sect |access-date=December 10, 2009 |quote=Coach John B. (Jock) Sutherland, 59, of the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers was in a hospital today reported suffering from either a nervous breakdown or amnesia. Sutherland, on a talent scouting trip through the South, was found in a dazed condition in his mired automobile in Bandana, Ky., yesterday.}} He was flown back to Pittsburgh for further treatment. An exploratory surgery was required to determine whether he was suffering from a hemorrhage or a tumor. Sutherland died in Pittsburgh on April 11, 1948, following surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor.{{cite news |title=Sutherland Dies Following Brain Surgery |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ej8KAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZUoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6702,608488&hl=en |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record |location=Ellensburg, Washington |date=April 12, 1948 |page=8 |access-date=December 10, 2009 }} He is interred in Pittsburgh's Homewood Cemetery.

Honors

File:JockCoaching Owl36pg227.jpg

Sutherland was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951 as a coach. He is memorialized on the Pitt campus with a street, Sutherland Drive, and the student residence Sutherland Hall.

Head coaching record

=College=

{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = AP }}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Lafayette

| conf = Independent

| startyear = 1919

| endyear = 1923

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1919

| name = Lafayette

| overall = 6–2

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1920

| name = Lafayette

| overall = 5–3

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 1921

| name = Lafayette

| overall = 9–0

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1922

| name = Lafayette

| overall = 7–2

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1923

| name = Lafayette

| overall = 6–1–2

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Lafayette

| overall = 33–8–2

| confrecord =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Pittsburgh Panthers

| conf = Independent

| startyear = 1924

| endyear = 1938

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1924

| name = Pittsburgh

| overall = 5–3–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1925

| name = Pittsburgh

| overall = 8–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1926

| name = Pittsburgh

| overall = 5–2–2

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1927

| name = Pittsburgh

| overall = 8–1–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname = Rose

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1928

| name = Pittsburgh

| overall = 6–2–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 1929

| name = Pittsburgh

| overall = 9–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname = Rose

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1930

| name = Pittsburgh

| overall = 6–2–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 1931

| name = Pittsburgh

| overall = 8–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1932

| name = Pittsburgh

| overall = 8–1–2

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname = Rose

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1933

| name = Pittsburgh

| overall = 8–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 1934

| name = Pittsburgh

| overall = 8–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1935

| name = Pittsburgh

| overall = 7–1–2

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 1936

| name = Pittsburgh

| overall = 8–1–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname = Rose

| bowloutcome = W

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = 3

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 1937

| name = Pittsburgh

| overall = 9–0–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = 1

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1938

| name = Pittsburgh

| overall = 8–2

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = 8

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Pittsburgh

| overall = 111–20–12

| confrecord =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record End

| overall = 144–28–14

| bowls = no

| poll =

| polltype = Rankings from final AP Poll

}}

David DeLassus, [http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_year_by_year.php?coachid=2271 All-Time Coaching Records:Dr. John B. "Jock" Sutherland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030023348/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_year_by_year.php?coachid=2271 |date=2010-10-30 }}, College Football Data Warehouse, August 5, 2010.

*The Pittsburgh Panthers claim a share of the 1934 national championship per a 1970 Sports Illustrated study on national championships that the school has used since its publication as the basis of its claims.{{Cite journal | last = Jenkins| first = Dan | title = This Year The Fight Will Be In The Open | journal = Sports Illustrated | date = September 11, 1967 | pages = 30–33 | volume = 27 | issue = 11 | publisher = Time, Inc. | location=Chicago, IL | url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1967/09/11/this-year-the-fight-will-be-in-the-open/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716150712/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1080269/index.htm | url-status=live | archive-date=July 16, 2012 | access-date=2009-04-29}} However, this championship is not included in the Official NCAA Records Book's list of national champions.

References

=Bibliography=

{{Cite book |last1=Alberts |first1=Robert C. |title=Pitt: The Story of the University of Pittsburgh 1787–1987 |url=http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittmiscpubs;cc=pittmiscpubs;q1=Sutherland;rgn=full%20text;idno=00c50130m;didno=00c50130m;view=image;seq=0178 |format=TIFF |access-date=December 10, 2009 |edition=Digital |year=2006 |orig-year=1986 |publisher=University of Pittsburgh Press |location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |isbn=0-8229-1150-7 |pages=543}}
{{Cite journal |first1=Richard M. |last1= Campbell |first2=Gary K. |last2=Johnson |first3=Sean |last3=Straziscar |first4=J.D. |last4=Hamilton |first5=Jeff |last5=Williams |first6=David |last6=Worlock |first7=Jim |last7=Wright |first8=Kyle |last8=Nagdeman |title=Official 2009 NCAA Division I Football Records Book |journal= Official ... NCAA Division 1 Football Records Book |url=http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/FullFBbook4pubsc73cede3-ea4e-4727-bc61-22730fae676f.pdf |access-date=December 15, 2009 |date=August 2009 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |location=Indianapolis, Indiana |issn=0735-5475 |pages=235 |ref=2009RecordBook}}
Jock Sutherland: Architect of Men. Harry G. Scott. New York, NY: Exposition Press, 1954.