The 1956 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1956 college football season. Led by second-year head coach John Michelosen, the Panthers compiled a record of 7–3–1 with a loss in the Gator Bowl to Georgia Tech. The team played home games at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh.
Schedule
Preseason
After leading the Panthers to their best record since 1938, plus a bowl game, Coach Michelosen was a popular Pittsburgh sports figure on the banquet circuit. On January 19, he was honored by the Ambridge Quarterback Club with a plaque from the club, a silver sugar bowl from the fans, and another plaque from the American Legion. On February 12, he was feted at the Post-Gazette Dapper Dan Club and received the 1955 Pittsburgh Man of the Year in Sports award. On April 17, he was honored by the B'Nai B'Rith at their second annual Sports Award Night as outstanding district grid coach.
Michelosen started his second season of spring drills on March 23 at Ellsworth Field. 85 aspirants, including 20 non-scholarship athletes and 20 lettermen, took part in the twenty sessions allowed by the NCAA. On April 28, the high school coaches clinic and final scrimmage took place at the stadium. Three thousand fans attended and watched the Blues beat the Whites 36–18.
On August 30, the Pitt ticket office reported that the Notre Dame game was sold out. The earliest sellout in Pitt history.
Pitt freshmen coach Steve Petro was assisted by former Panthers Dick Deitrick and Rudy Mattioli. He booked a four game schedule for his squad.(West Virginia, Penn State, Navy and Kent State)
On September 1, fifty-two varsity gridders began three weeks of fall practice at Ellsworth Field in preparation for their opening game on September 22 at West Virginia. Sophomore end Bob Hook broke his ankle during a scrimmage, and was lost for the season.
Game summaries at West Virginia
Coach John Michelosen's second season began with a trip to Morgantown for the forty-ninth renewal of the Backyard Brawl. Two years in a row, the Mountaineers were undefeated and supposedly bowl bound until they were upset by the Panthers. Art Lewis's roster was highlighted by center Chuck Howley. The game had been sold out since August 18, the earliest sellout ever for WVU.
The #10 ranked Panthers were favored by 7 1/2 points and led the all-time series 36–11–1. They were undefeated in Morgantown. After a short practice on Friday, the Panthers contingent bussed to Waynesburg, PA, and housed at the Jackson Hotel. Panther ends, Joe Walton (leg bruise) and Dale Brown (ribs), were nursing injuries, but were expected to play.
The 34,800 fans were treated to a true “backyard brawl” as the Panthers earned a 14–13 victory. The Mountaineers were in Pitt territory most of the first quarter, but the Panthers defense held at their 34-yard line and again on their 36-yard line. Then, Pitt fullback Tom Jenkins fumbled on the 19-yard line, and end Joe Kopinsky recovered for the Mountaineers. The first play of the second quarter was a pass to Kopinsky on the 1-yard line. Quarterback Mickey Trimarti scored on the next play, but Jim Pickett's placement went wide. The Panthers stopped another Mountaineer drive with a Dick Bowen interception before halftime. At the start of the third quarter, the Mountaineers drove to the Pitt 41-yard line. Tom Jenkins intercepted a Trimarti pass, but the West Virginia defense forced a punt. Jenkins boomed a 54-yard punt that rolled dead on the 3-yard line. On first down, West Virginia back Larry Krutko fumbled and Pitt guard Vince Scorsone recovered on the 2-yard line. On second down Ray DiPasquale ran around left end to tie the game. Ambrose Bagamery's placement put Pitt ahead 7–6. On the ensuing kick-off, Panthers John Pollock and Dick Scherer separated Ralph Anastasio from the ball, and Bagamery recovered for the Panthers on the Mountaineers 20-yard line. The Panthers scored in five plays. Nick Passodelis's run through the middle for the last 5 yards upped the lead to 13–6. Darrell Lewis kicked this extra point and Pitt led 14–6. West Virginia answered with a 67-yard drive aided by two Pitt penalties (unnecessary roughness for 15 yards, offsides for 5 yards). Trimarti's quarterback sneak and Joe Pickett's kick tightened the score to 14–13. West Virginia missed two field goals in the final period – an 8-yard attempt by Pickett and a 38-yard attempt by Bob Guesman.
Pitt had 5 first downs, was assessed 100 yards on 10 penalties and lost 3 fumbles. On the positive side, the Pitt defense intercepted 4 passes, recovered 2 fumbles and Tom Jenkins punted 5 times for an average of 41.6 yards.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against West Virginia was Joe Walton (left end), Bob Pollock (left tackle), Vince Scorsone (left guard), Charles Breuckman (center), Dan Wisniewski (right guard), Herman Canil (right tackle), Dick Scherer (right end), Corny Salvaterra (quarterback), Dick Bowen (left halfback), Ray DiPasquale (right halfback) and Tom Jenkins (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Ron Kissel, John Guzik, Don Crafton, Tom Salwoki, Dick Carr, Jim McCusker, Bob Rosborough, Dale Brown, Darrell Lewis, Corky Cost, Nick Passodelis, Ambrose Bagamery, Jim Theodore and Ralph Jelic.
Syracuse
On September 29, the Panthers welcomed the Syracuse Orangemen for their home opener. Coach Ben Schwartzwalder's #7-ranked squad was 1–0, having beaten Maryland (26–12). Syracuse was led on offense by All-American and future Hall of Famer Jim Brown.
Pitt led the all-time series 7–2–2, and was favored by 6 points. More than 40,000 fans were expected, including a record 8,000 Boy Scouts. An aerial show by the Pensacola Naval Air Cadets added to the entertainment.
Both second string guards were injured in the WVU game. John Guzik broke his leg, and was out for the season. Dick Carr injured his knee and could not play. Coach Michelosen moved Ed Michaels and Ed Humeston into their positions. Halfback Joe Scisly was hurt (shoulder) in practice and did not play.
The Panthers stayed unbeaten with a 14–7 victory over the Orangemen. After a scoreless first period, Syracuse fullback Ed Coffin intercepted a Darrell Lewis pass and raced 55 yards for the touchdown early in the second. Jim Brown added the extra point and Pitt trailed 7–0. Late in the second quarter, Pitt gained possession on the Syracuse 30-yard line. The Panthers needed seven running plays to score, with Corny Salvaterra gaining the final yard on a quarterback sneak. Ambrose Bagamery's placement tied the score. In the third quarter, Pitt gained possession on the Syracuse 49-yard line. Again it took 7 plays. A 19-yard pass to Joe Walton put the Panthers ahead. Bagamery added the extra point to make it 14–7. Then the Panthers defense took over and kept Syracuse from scoring.
Jim Theodore led the Panthers rushing attack with 91 yards on 14 carries. Quarterback Darrell Lewis was 4 of 8 for 44 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception. The Pitt defense held Jim Brown to 52 yards rushing.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Syracuse was Joe Walton (left end), Bob Pollock (left tackle), Vince Scorsone (left guard), Charles Breuckman (center), Dan Wisniewski (right guard), Herman Canil (right tackle), Dick Scherer (right end), Corny Salvaterra (quarterback), Dick Bowen (left halfback), Ray DiPasquale (right halfback) and Tom Jenkins (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Ron Kissel, Ed Michaels, Ed Humeston, Tom Salwoki, Jim McCusker, Jim Zanos, Bob Rosborough, Dale Brown, Darrell Lewis, Corky Cost, Nick Passodelis, Ambrose Bagamery, Jim Theodore, Dick Haley and Ralph Jelic.
at California
On week three, the #7 Panthers flew to the west coast to play the Cal Bears at Berkeley, CA. Cal was 0–2, having lost to Baylor and Illinois. Coach Pappy Waldorf had 17 returning lettermen on his squad that lost to the Panthers in 1955.
The flight to San Francisco was 10 hours, with a stop in Kansas City, MO for gas. The Panthers arrived and immediately were bussed to the Alameda Naval Air Training Station for a workout. Dinner followed at the Claremont Hotel (around 11 p.m. Pittsburgh time).
The California Bears ruined the Pitt road trip with a 14–0 upset. The Panther offense managed to drive to the Bears 35, 39 and 15 yard lines in the first half, but penalties and a staunch defense kept them out of the end zone. Pitt had 80 yards of penalties in the first half to 0 for the Bears. The Bears scored in the second quarter on an 8 play, 54-yard drive that ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Gus Gianulias to Norm Becker. Gianulias added the extra point for a 7–0 Cal lead at halftime. The Bears added another score in the third period. A 6-play, 51-yard drive ended on a 1-yard plunge by Herb Jackson. Darrell Roberts' placement closed the scoring. Both teams used their third-string quarterback in the final period. Bill Kalidan of the Panthers completed 3 of 9 passes for 29 yards and threw 2 interceptions. Future All-American Joe Kapp completed 8 of 10 passes for 51 yards.
The coaches summed it up very well. Michelosen said: “That was a pretty good California team out there today. They certainly pushed us around the field.” Waldorf answered: “That was the best football played at Cal in at least three years.”
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against California was Joe Walton (left end), Bob Pollock (left tackle), Vince Scorsone (left guard), Charles Brueckman (center), Dan Wisniewski (right guard), Herman Canil (right tackle), Bob Rosborough (right end), Darrell Lewis (quarterback), Dick Bowen (left halfback), Ray DiPasquale (right halfback) and Tom Jenkins (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Ron Kissel, Bob Kiesel, Ed Michaels, Tom Salwoki, Jim McCusker, Joe Pullekines, Dick Scherer, Dale Brown, Corny Salvaterra, Bill Kaliden, Corky Cost, Nick Passodelis, Ambrose Bagamery, Jim Theodore, Dick Haley and Ralph Jelic.
vs Duke—Oyster Bowl
On October 20, the Panthers traveled to Norfolk, VA to play the Duke Blue Devils in the Tenth Annual Oyster Bowl Game. The proceeds went to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children. Coach Bill Murray's squad was 2–2 on the season. Duke led the all-time series 6–4. The Devils were led at quarterback by Sonny Jurgensen. He was injured and only played a few snaps. In addition, end Bill Thompson, center Jack Harrison and guard Ray Hord did not make the trip.
Three Panthers were injured and did not make the trip: halfback Dick Bowen, fullback Tom Jenkins and tackle Art Gob. The flight was bumpy and several Panthers became air sick. Since Pitt was designated the home team, the officials were from the East. Coach Michelosen named a new starting backfield: quarterback Corny Salvaterra, halfbacks Jim Theodore and Dick Haley and fullback Ralph Jelic.