The 1960 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1960 college football season. Led by sixth-year head coach John Michelosen, the Panthers compiled a record of 4–3–3. The team played home games at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh.
Schedule
Preseason
Snow delayed the start of spring practice two weeks, and on a snowy Thursday, March 24, Coach John Michelosen welcomed 70 hopeful Panthers (including 18 returning lettermen) to his sixth spring session. The Panthers lost 13 lettermen to graduation. Michelosen's main concerns were replacing the quarterback (Ivan Toncic), and both co-captain tackles (Ken Montanari and Bill Lindner). 1958 letterman quarterback Ed Sharockman, who dropped out of school for a year, re-entered Pitt and was eligible to play in the fall. Dave Kraus, Ed Clark and Jim Traficant were the other quarterback candidates. Guard Bill Guzik was switched to tackle and lettermen Dick Mills competed with 2 juniors (Elmer Merkovsky, Bob Budavich) for the remaining spot at tackle. Sessions ran from Tuesday through Saturday until the April 9 intra-squad game. The final day kicked off with a track meet against Navy, followed by the football game between the Blues and Whites. Local Pittsburgh TV Channel 11 carried all the action. Coach John Michelosen sat in the TV booth as commentator. Navy defeated the Panthers 66–65 on the track, and the Blues defeated the Whites 16–14 on the gridiron.
Fifty-five players were invited to pre-season training camp beginning on August 23 at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA. The squad spent 12 days at camp, returning to Pitt on September 1 for school registration. They continued to prepare on campus for their opening game against UCLA. Mike Ditka was voted captain.
Game summaries
at UCLA
The Pittsburgh Panthers opened their 1960 season with a trip to Los Angeles, CA to play the UCLA Bruins. This was their third meeting, and Pitt led the series 2–0. Second-year coach Bill Barnes' squad had 25 returning lettermen. All-America candidate Billy Kilmer led the Bruins offense.
The Panthers were flown to Los Angeles by TWA on Friday morning. Upon arrival, the squad was treated to a few hours at Disneyland before check-in at the Ambassador Hotel. In the evening the team went to the USC versus Oregon State football game. The Saturday schedule was calisthenics, breakfast, rest, pre-game dinner and game at 8:15 p.m. The game was televised back to Pittsburgh on Channel 11 WPXI with Mal Alberts announcing.
The Panthers led for more than 59 minutes but ended up losing 8–7 to the delight of the 35,056 Bruins fans. Pitt took the opening kick-off and held the ball more than 7 minutes on a 68-yard touchdown drive. Fullback Jim Cunningham went over from the 1-yard line. Fred Cox booted the extra point and Pitt led 7–0. The game turned into a punting duel until the final UCLA drive. UCLA gained possession on their 49-yard line with over 4 minutes left in the game. Bruins' halfback Bill Kilmer passed for 3 first downs and halfback Ezell Singleton ran for one. Singleton finished the drive with a 4-yard run over right guard, and Kilmer ran in for the two point conversion. In desperation, Pitt was able to move the ball to the UCLA 41-yard line, but Fred Cox's field goal from midfield was short as time ran out.
UCLA out gained the Panthers 275 yards to 188. Fred Cox led the Panthers with 36 yards rushing on 9 carries. Pitt quarterback David Kraus completed 5 of 8 passes for only 29 yards. Bill Kilmer and Ezell Singleton led the Bruins by each rushing for 49 yards. Kilmer completed 10 of 18 passes for 138 yards and threw one interception.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against UCLA was Mike Ditka (left end), Bob Budavich (left tackle), Paul Hodge (left guard), Andy Kuzineski (center), Larry Vignali (right guard), Dick Mills (right tackle), Ron Delfine (right end), David Kraus (quarterback), Bob Clemens (left halfback), Fred Cox (right halfback) and Jim Cunningham (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Steve Jastrzembski, Heywood Haser, Elmer Merkovsky, Tom Brown, John Draksler, Dick Matyus, Ralph Conrad, Bob Guzik, David Walker, Ed Sharockman, Jim Traficant, Chuck Reinhold, John Yaccino, Mike Frasca and Lou Slaby.
Michigan State
On September 24, the Panthers welcomed Duffy Daugherty's Michigan State Spartans for Youth Day at the Stadium. The Spartans led the all-time series 4–0, and they had out scored the Panthers 106–41. The Spartans roster contained future pro footballers – Herb Adderley, Fred Arbanas, Gary Ballman and Wayne Fontes.
First string Pitt guard Regis Coustillac was back in the line-up. Center Dick Matyus and guard Larry Vignali were injured and did not play. Andy Kuzneski started at center, and Ralph Conrad replaced Vignali.
In front of 46,140 fans the Pitt Panthers and Michigan State Spartans played to a 7–7 tie. Late in the second period the Panthers scored on a 4-play, 65-yard drive. Mike Ditka caught a 12-yard touchdown toss from Dave Kraus and Fred Cox booted the extra point. One minute and 9 seconds remained in the first half. On the third play after the kick-off Tom Wilson threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to Jason Harness and Art Brandstatter's placement tied the game. Brandstatter missed two field goals in the second half. The Panthers offense was stymied by the Spartan defense and the game ended in a tie.
Michigan State had 19 first downs and 359 total yards, while the Panthers managed 11 first downs and 173 total yards. The Spartans lost 75 yards on 5 penalties, had 1 pass intercepted and lost 1 fumble. Panthers quarterback Dave Kraus completed 7 of 13 passes for 87 yards and 1 touchdown. MSU's Tom Wilson completed 10 of 24 passes for 178 yards and 1 touchdown. They each threw an interception.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Michigan State was Mike Ditka (left end), Bob Budavich (left tackle), Regis Coustillac (left guard), Andy Kuzineski (center), Ralph Conrad (right guard), Dick Mills (right tackle), Ron Delfine (right end), David Kraus (quarterback), Bob Clemens (left halfback), Fred Cox (right halfback) and Jim Cunningham (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Steve Jastrzembski, Heywood Haser, Elmer Merkovsky, Gary Kaltenbach, Paul Hodge, John Holzbach, Frank Scrip, Tom Brown, John Draksler, Bob Guzik, David Walker, Ed Sharockman, Jim Traficant, Chuck Reinhold, Ray Tarasi, John Yaccino, Mike Frasca and Lou Slaby.
at Oklahoma
The Panthers second road trip was to Norman, OK to play the defending Big Seven Conference champion Oklahoma Sooners. Veteran coach Bud Wilkinson was in his 14th season, and his Sooners were 0–1, having lost to Northwestern the previous week. Oklahoma led the all-time series 3–0–1.
Coach Michelosen took his squad to Norman on Friday, and worked out on Owen Field in the afternoon. He used the same line-up that started the Michigan State game. Pitt was favored by a point, but Oklahoma had not lost 2 games in a row under Coach Wilkinson.
For the second time in three weeks the Panthers were beaten by a late two-point conversion, 15–14. The Sooners scored first on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Carpenter to Ronny Payne in the opening quarter. Karl Milstead added the placement for a 7–0 lead. Pitt answered with an drive to the Oklahoma 10-yard line, but lost the ball on downs. The Sooners then advanced to the Pitt 3-yard line, where they too, turned the ball over on downs. Pitt ran the ball out to the 30-yard line. Jim Traficant replaced Ed Sharockman at quarterback. Traficant completed 3 straight passes, the final a 33-yard toss to Fred Cox for the score. The two-point conversion failed, and the Sooners led at halftime 7–6. Early in the third period Cox intercepted a Carpenter pass on the Oklahoma 32-yard line. It took the Panthers 4 plays to score. Cox ran in off-tackle from the 3-yard line. A pass from Traficant to Mike Ditka for two points put the Panthers in front 14–7. In the final quarter, Oklahoma end Phil Lohmann blocked a Pitt punt and recovered on the Panthers 11-yard line. Don Dickey scored on second down. The Sooners lined up for a placement, but it was a fake and Bennett Watts ran around right end for the two points to put the Sooners back in front 15–14. Pitt had 11 minutes to answer, but the Oklahoma defense kept them out of the end zone.
Pitt gained 372 total yards and had 23 first downs. Oklahoma gained 315 total yards and had 17 first downs. Traficant completed 8 of 15 passes for 102 yards and 1 touchdown. Bob Clemens led the Pitt rushers with 83 yards on 12 carries. Ronnie Hartline led Oklahoma with 91 yards on 15 carries.
The Pitt starting line-up for the game against Oklahoma was Mike Ditka (left end), Bob Budavich (left tackle), Regis Coustillac (left guard), Andy Kuzineski (center), Ralph Conrad (right guard), Dick Mills (right tackle), Ron Delfine (right end), David Kraus (quarterback), Bob Clemens (left halfback), Fred Cox (right halfback) and Jim Cunningham (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Steve Jastrzembski, Dave Mastro, Heywood Haser, David Walker, Gary Kaltenbach, Ed Fornadel, Paul Hodge, John Holzbach, Richard Taylor, John Draksler, Bob Guzik, Ed Sharockman, Jim Traficant, Chuck Reinhold, John Yaccino, Mike Frasca and Lou Slaby.
Miami (FL)
On October 8, the Panthers welcomed Andy Gustafson's Miami Hurricanes for the annual High School and Band Day game. The Hurricanes were 1–0 after beating North Carolina (29–12) in their opening game. Miami led the all-time series 3–2, and Pitt had never beaten the Canes at home. Since the Pirates were playing at the Yankees in the World Series, the game was played at 10:00 a.m. so the baseball fans could get home and be in front of their TVs for the opening pitch. Pitt was favored by a touchdown.
Coach Michelosen named sophomore Jim Traficant the starting quarterback.
29,455 fans got out of bed early to see the Panthers. Carl Apone wrote in the Post-Gazette: There were a lot of mixed up people at the Stadium yesterday.They watched a college football game at 10 a.m.; had hot dogs and hot chocolate for breakfast; and waved Pittsburgh Pirate baseball pennants.”
Pitt finally was able the beat the Hurricanes on their home field 17–6. The game was scoreless for 3 quarters. Fred Cox missed a 32-yard field goal in the second quarter, but after a 61-yard, 12-play drive to open the final quarter, he converted a 30-yarder to put Pitt on the scoreboard. Miami turned the ball over when quarterback Bobby Weaver fumbled while being tackled by Pitt end Heywood Haser. Mike Ditka recovered on the Miami 18-yard line. An illegal substitution penalty moved the ball to the 9-yard line. Jim Clemens scored on a run through right tackle on second down. Cox booted the extra point and Pitt led 10–0. Pitt kicked off and the defense forced a Miami punt. The punter slipped on the turf, which, again gave Pitt possession on the 18-yard line. On second down, Jim Cunningham ran through right guard for the final 13 yards. Cox's placement made it 17–0 Pitt. Miami answered with a 12-play, 75-yard drive. Bill Miller caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Eddie Johns with 7 seconds remaining in the game. Johns was tackled trying to run around right end for the two point conversion.
Statistically, Miami had 14 first downs to Pitt's 13, but Pitt out-gained the Hurricanes 252 yards to 178. Fred Cox averaged 46.4 yards on 5 punts. Jim Traficant completed 6 of 11 passes for 95 yards.