Gibby Welch
refer to caption
Welch (with ball) tied a Pittsburgh school record with this 105-yard kickoff return against West Virginia in 1927. Pitt won the game 40–0.
No. 16, 3
Position:Halfback
Personal information
Born:(1904-12-24)December 24, 1904[1]
Parkersburg, West Virginia, U.S.
Died:February 10, 1984(1984-02-10) (aged 79)[2]
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:178 lb (81 kg)
Career information
College:Pittsburgh
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total touchdowns:14
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

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 was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia,[3] and attended Parkersburg High School, where he was successful in football, basketball and track.[4][5] Welch next attended Bellefont Academy,[2][4] 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.[2] Welch also ran track for Pitt in 1926, 1927 and 1928.[4] He was one of the country's leading college discus throwers, and also competed in the shot put, javelin and broad jump.[6] Welch was the captain of the football and track teams as a senior.[4] He was the signal-calling left halfback in the single-wing offense run by coach Jock Sutherland in 1926 and 1927.[2]

In 1926, Welch broke the single-season yardage record set by Red Grange, gaining 1,964 yards in just nine games.[4][7] 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."[7]

1927 season

He was unanimously selected as an All-American at the halfback position in 1927 by, among others, the Associated Press,[8] United Press,[9] Collier's Weekly,[10] Central Press Association,[11] Hearst newspapers,[12] New York Sun,[13] Billy Evans,[14] and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.[15] Highlights of Welch's 1927 All-American season include the following:

  • In a 21-13 win over Nebraska, Welch took the opening kickoff and ran 84 yards for a touchdown.[16] In the second quarter of the same game, Welch caught a long forward pass and then "twisted and squirmed his way 71 yards down the field for another score."[16]
  • Welch also had a 105-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against West Virginia in 1927.[5] His 105-yard return was the longest run of the year in college football.[17]
  • In late November 1927, Welch had another big game in a 30-0 win over Penn State. One newspaper writer noted that Welch "ripped the Penn State line to shreds, bent the Lion ends almost double with his wide sweeping runs, and kicked and passed in almost uncanny form when necessary."[18]
  • Welch also led Pitt to their first bowl game, the 1928 Rose Bowl game against Stanford. In a 7-6 Stanford win, Welch was held to 50 yards, as one reporter noted: "Gibby Welch, Pitt's All-American halfback, was a tower of strength for his alma mater, but Stanford had been coached to watch the stocky halfback who made eastern grid circles buzz this season."[19]

Professional football

Welch also played professional football for the New York Yankees in 1928 and the Providence Steam Roller in 1929.[1] 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."[20]

Later years

After leaving professional football, Welch worked as a football coach at Morris Harvey College in 1931.[4][5] He later became a leading real estate man and businessman in Parkersburg, West Virginia.[5]

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.[21][22][23][24]

In 1956, the Charleston Daily Mail called Welch "one of the most fabulous characters ever produced in West Virginia athletics."[5] As of 1968, Welch's career total of 4,108 total yards was still a school record at Pitt.[25] Welch's rushing records at Pitt stood for more than 50 years until they were broken by Tony Dorsett in the 1970s.[2]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Morris Harvey Golden Eagles (West Virginia Athletic Conference) (1931)
1931 Morris Harvey 5–54–53rd
Morris Harvey: 5–54–5
Total:5–5

References

  1. 1 2 "Gibby Welch". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Marino Parascenzo (1984-02-11). "Famed Pitt football star Gibby Welch dies at 79". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  3. ↑ "Parkersburg, West Virginia". City-Data.com. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Gibby Welch Selected As Head Coach at Morris Harvey College: Former Pitt Star Coaches Football; Parkersburg Star Named To All America Team in 1927". Charleston Daily Mail. 1931-07-16.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Dick Hudson (1956-01-26). "Gibby Welch Was A Great One". Charleston Daily Mail.
  6. ↑ "Gibby Welch Is Entered For Pitt in Penn Relay". The Lima News. 1928-04-19.
  7. 1 2 "College Captains: Welch of Pittsburgh". Decatur Review. 1927-10-15.
  8. ↑ "East, West and South Share All-American Honors: Mythical Eleven Averages 185 Pounds With Every Man A Captain". Billings Gazette. 1927-12-11.
  9. ↑ Frank Getty (1927-11-27). "Famous Grid Coaches Pick Stars Of Year: Westerners Land Seven Places On Mythical Team". Syracuse Herald.
  10. ↑ "6 Westerners On Grantland Rice All-Stars". Woodland Daily Democrat. 1927-12-02.
  11. ↑ Norman E. Brown (1927-12-10). "Fans Help Select Stars of Gridiron: Oosterbaan and Joesting Found To Be Most Popular Football Stars in Country". The Evening Independent (Massilon, OH).
  12. ↑ "How About These For All-American Elevens?". San Antonio Light. 1927-12-04.
  13. ↑ "N.Y. Sun's All-American Team Features Caldwell For Halfback Position". The Bee (Danville, VA). 1927-11-26.
  14. ↑ Billy Evans (1927-12-01). "Billy Evans' All-American". The Anniston Star.
  15. ↑ "Walter Camp Football Foundation". Archived from the original on 2007-12-18.
  16. 1 2 "Gridiron Nostalgia: Heroes of 1927" (PDF). LA84 Foundation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  17. ↑ Gould, Alan J. (1927-11-30). "Long Runs and Passes Thrill Football Fans: Gibby Welch Travels 105 Yards to Score Against W.V.U. for Season's Best". Billings Gazette.
  18. ↑ "Pittsburgh Crushes Nittany Lions of Penn State Under 30-0 Score". Charleston Gazette. 1927-11-25.
  19. ↑ "Stanford's Win Stresses Western Gridders Supremacy". Woodland Daily Democrat. 1928-01-03.
  20. ↑ "'Gibby' Welch Has Signed Up In Providence". The Coshocton Tribune. 1929-09-25.
  21. ↑ "Former Pitt Star Faces Grave Charge". New Castle News. 1948-12-09.
  22. ↑ "Welch Charged With Wife Assault". Cumberland Evening Times. 1948-12-09.
  23. ↑ "Postpone Hearing for 'Gibby' Welch". New Castle News. 1948-12-11.
  24. ↑ "'Gibby' Welch Hearing Delayed Second Time". Charleston Daily Mail. 1948-12-18.
  25. ↑ Ron Pagua (1968-08-29). "Spinning Sports". Valley Independent.
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