Gibby Welch

Gibby Welch

Gibby Welch (with ball) tied a University of Pittsburgh school record with this 105-yard kickoff return against West Virginia in 1927. Pitt won the game 40-0.
Date of birth	December 24, 1904
Place of birth	Parkersburg, West Virginia
Date of death	February 10, 1984
Place of death	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Career information
Position(s)	Halfback
College	University of Pittsburgh
Career history
As player
1928	New York Yankees
1929	Providence Steam Roller
Awards	Consensus All-American, 1927

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.

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

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

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