Pittsburgh Lyceum (American football)

Pittsburgh Lyceum

Founded	1906
Folded	c.1925
Based in	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
League	Western Pennsylvania Circuit
Team history	Pittsburgh Lyceum (1906-c.1925)
Team colors	Unknown

The Pittsburgh Lyceum were a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1906^[1] until 1910. The team played against many of the top "Ohio League", the most notables being the Canton Bulldogs and the Massillon Tigers.^[2] They were regarded as one of the top professional football teams in Pittsburgh from 1907 until the mid-1920s. The Lyceum was also the last pro football championship team Pittsburgh would produce until the 1970s. Many of their victories came against many of the strongest teams in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. Hence, they were given the mythical moniker the "Tri-State Champions" in 1909. The team was finally defeated in 1909, via an upset by the Dayton Oakwoods in their final game of 1909. The Lyceums broke up after a disappointing 1910 season.^[3] An incarnation of the team existed in 1924. Art Rooney, who would go on establish the Pittsburgh Steelers and become enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, played for the Lyceum.^[4]

1924 Pittsburgh Lyceum Football Team. Art Rooney is located on the bottom row, far right.

References

1. PFRA Research (1987). "When Did they Start?" (PDF). Coffin Corner (Professional Football Researchers Association) 9: 1–5.
2. "Blondy Wallace and the Biggest Football Scandal Ever" (PDF). PFRA Annual (Professional Football Researchers Association) 5: 1–16. 1984.
3. PFRA Research. "Glamourless Gridirons: 1907-09" (PDF). Coffin Corner (Professional Football Researchers Association): 1–5.
4. Lew Freedman; Dick Hoak (September 18, 2009). Pittsburgh Steelers: The Complete Illustrated History. MBI Publishing Company. p. 14. ISBN 0760336458.