The 1953 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1953 college football season. The team compiled a 3–5–1 record under head coach Red Dawson.
Schedule
Preseason
For the first year since 1949, there was no chaos in the Panthers coaching staff during the off-season, as Red Dawson returned to coach the Pitt Panthers. Spring practice opened on April 7 and ran for 20 sessions. Over 50 aspirants tried out for the squad. On May 9, the final scrimmage was an alumni versus varsity game, which began the Spring Festival Week. In front of a crowd of 2,392, the varsity prevailed 20–13.
The Panthers fall pre-season training was held in Pittsburgh on the Ellsworth Center field. 50 players were invited to participate on September 1. Coach Dawson's roster had 25 returning lettermen, 20 sophomores from the unbeaten freshman team and 5 returning non-lettermen. The squad participated in two-a-day practice sessions until school started on September 21. On September 11, Pitt and Rutgers met for a scrimmage at Ligonier High School Field. The Panthers scored seven touchdowns and held Rutgers scoreless.
The Pittsburgh Railways offered bus service from the main campus to the stadium for 10 cents on home game-days.
Coach Dawson's recruiting class of freshmen was notable. The class was led by Joe Walton and included Charles Brueckman, Bob Rosborough, Corky Cost, Corny Salvaterra, Dick Scherer, Dale Brown, Herman Canil, Vincent Scorsone, Bob Pollock, James Lenhart, Darrell Lewis, Nick Passodelis, Ambrose Bagamery, Ralph Ciper and Dan Wisnewski, all of whom lettered and helped lead the Panthers to back-to-back bowl games in 1955 and 1956.
Game summaries
West Virginia
The Panthers opened the 1953 season with the annual Backyard Brawl against West Virginia. Pitt led the series 34–10–1. Mountaineers Coach Art Lewis had basically the same team that shut out the Panthers 16–0 in 1952. Quarterback Fred Wyant, who scored one touchdown and passed for the second in last year's meeting, again directed the offense. Future pro football star Joe Marconi was switched from defense to offensive halfback.
Pitt starting tackle Lou Palatella broke his leg in practice and was lost for the season. He was replaced by William Schmitt. Coach Dawson reworked the backfield by replacing returning quarterback Rudy Mattioli, with last year's left halfback, Bob Hoffman. Former defensive backs Richie McCabe and Chester Rice were named starting halfbacks and Bobby Epps was the fullback.
In front of 43,446 fans, West Virginia beat the Panthers 17–7. Mountaineers quarterback Fred Wyant and fullback Joe Marconi scored the touchdowns, while Joe Stone was good on both placements and on a 15-yard field goal. Pitt scored in the second quarter to tie the game at seven. After gaining possession on their 37-yard line, the second string backfield (Henry Ford, Ray DiPasquale, Gene Steratore and Joe Capp) moved the ball to the 4-yard line, and Capp ran through right tackle for the score. Steratore added the placement. Pitt gained 13 first downs to West Virginia's 14, but Pitt only gained 195 yards versus the Mountaineers 286. Pitt completed only 1 of 13 passes. The Mountaineers had not won two straight in the series since 1922-23.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against West Virginia was Joe Zombek (left end), William Schmitt (left tackle), Harold Hunter (left guard), Ed Bose (center), Rudy Grunder (right guard), Eldred Kraemer (right tackle), Dick Deitrick (right end), Bill Hoffman (quarterback), Chester Rice (left halfback), Richie McCabe (right halfback) and Bobby Epps (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Bob McQuaide, John Paluck, William Cessar, Howard Linn, Paul Blanda, John Cenci, Bob Ballock, Gary LeDonne, Henry Ford, Gene Steratore, Joe Capp, Rudy Mattioli, Ray DiPasquale and John Jacobs.
Oklahoma
On October 3, the #8-ranked Oklahoma Sooners came to Pittsburgh for the first time. Bud Wilkinson's Sooners were 0–1 for the season, having lost to Notre Dame (28–21). Sooner guard J. D. Roberts was a consensus All-American, Outland Trophy winner and UPI Lineman of the Year for 1953.
The Panthers were healthy, and Coach Dawson tweaked the starting lineup for the Sooners. William Cessar replaced William Schmitt at tackle; Ed Johnson replaced Bob Ballock at center; John Cenci replaced Rudy Grunder at guard; Henry Ford replaced Bob Hoffman at quarterback and Ray Dipasquale replaced Chester Rice at halfback.
The 10 point underdog Panthers outplayed the Sooners, but only managed a 7–7 tie. Pitt ran 80 plays, earned 19 first downs and gained 277 total yards, while holding Oklahoma to 44 plays, 9 first downs and 170 total yards. Oklahoma scored in the second quarter on an 80-yard pass play from Buddy Leake to Larry Grigg. Leake added the extra point. The Panthers were in Oklahoma territory on every possession of the first half but could not score. They punted 4 times, fumbled once and were held on downs twice. Pitt fumbled early in the second half on their 7-yard line and held on downs. The Panthers offense drove 89 yards but stalled on the 1-yard line. The defense held and regained possession on the Oklahoma 49-yard line. Pitt's touchdown came on a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Pete Neft, capping a 15-play drive. Paul Blanda's placement tied the game. Bobby Epps led the Pitt rushers with 73 yards. Henry Ford completed 8 of 15 passes for 76 yards, and Dick Deitrick caught 4 of them for 61 yards.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Oklahoma was Joe Zombek (left end), William Cessar (left tackle), Harold Hunter (left guard), Ed Johnson (center), John Cenci (right guard), Eldred Kraemer (right tackle), Dick Deitrick (right end), Henry Ford (quarterback), Ray DiPasquale (left halfback), Richie McCabe (right halfback) and Bobby Epps (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Bob McQuaide, John Paluck, William Schmitt, Howard Linn, Dick Gatz, Glen Tunning, Ed Stowe, Joe Los, Bob Ballock, Pete Neft, Ray Ferguson, Joe Capp, Rudy Mattioli, Paul Blanda and John Jacobs.
Nebraska
On October 10, after an absence of 11 years on the Pitt schedule, the Nebraska Cornhuskers returned to Pitt Stadium as the Panthers Homecoming opponent. The Panthers led the all-time series 11–3–3. Former Panthers All-American guard Bill Glassford was in his fifth year as coach of the Huskers, and his line coach was former Pitt lineman and ex-head coach Mike Milligan. Nebraska had an 0–2–1 record, having lost to Oregon and Kansas State and tying Illinois.
Pitt with their 0–1–1 record was ranked #17 and favored by 13 points. Coach Dawson kept the lineup intact except for returning a healthy Rudy Grunder back at right guard.
Jock Sutherland was honored at halftime with a plaque commemorating his selection to the College Football Hall of Fame. Admiral William F. Halsey presented the award to Jock's sisters and brother (Louisa, Marion and William). Seventeen former Pitt All-Americans and over 50 former lettermen were on the field for the presentation ceremonies.
A Homecoming Day crowd of 20,666 watched the Panthers manage to eke out a 14–6 victory over the Cornhuskers. Pitt scored on its opening possession by going 66 yards in 12 plays. Fullback Bobby Epps scored from the 1-yard line and Paul Blanda added the extra point. Pitt recovered 5 Husker fumbles and Nebraska countered by intercepting 3 Pitt passes. Late in the third quarter, Nebraska intercepted an errant Henry Ford pass and gained possession on the Panthers 43-yard line. A nine-play drive ended with a 1-yard touchdown by Johnny Bordogna. Bordogna's placement was low and Pitt led 7–6. The Huskers later drove to the Panthers 14-yard line, but the Panthers defense held. The Pitt offense ran an 86-yard, 18-play drive with Henry Ford plunging into the end zone as time expired for the touchdown. Blanda kicked the point after and Pitt was 1–1–1 for the season.
The Panthers gained 212 yards rushing. Bobby Epps gained 87 yards on 17 carries and Richie McCabe added 53 yards on 13 carries. The Panthers only threw 7 passes. They completed three, had three intercepted and dropped 1.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Nebraska was Joe Zombek (left end), William Cessar (left tackle), Harold Hunter (left guard), Ed Johnson (center), Rudy Grunder (right guard), Eldred Kraemer (right tackle), Dick Deitrick (right end), Henry Ford (quarterback), Ray DiPasquale (left halfback), Richie McCabe (right halfback) and Bobby Epps (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Bob McQuaide, Fred Glatz, William Schmitt, Howard Linn, John Cenci, Ed Stowe, Joe Los, Bob Ballock, Pete Neft, Ray Ferguson, Joe Capp, Dick Manson and Paul Blanda.
at Notre Dame
On October 17, the #15 Pitt Panthers traveled to South Bend, IN to play #1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish for their first of four straight road trips. The Irish led the all-time series 13–6–1, but Pitt upset the Irish 22–19 in 1952. The Irish were led by three All-Americans: halfback Johnny Lattner (1953 Heisman Trophy winner), tackle Art Hunter and end Don Penza. Frank Leahy's Irish were 2–0 on the season and favored by 19 points in their home opener.
On Friday, Coach Dawson and 39 squad members flew on a chartered Capital airliner to Elkhart, IN. The Panthers held a workout at Notre Dame Stadium in the afternoon. John Cenci replaced the injured Rudy Grunder at right guard in the Panthers starting lineup.
In front of 57,998 fans, the Pitt Panthers led the #1 Fighting Irish at the end of the first half 14–7. The Panther offense was unable to advance into Notre Dame territory in the second half, while the Irish scored two touchdowns and a safety to beat the Panthers 23–14. Pitt scored on their first possession by going 66 yards in 9 running plays with Bobby Epps going off tackle from the 8-yard line for the touchdown. Paul Blanda added the extra point. Notre Dame answered early in the second period with a 13-play 70-yard drive. Fullback Neil Worden ran the final 2 yards for the score. Menil Mavraides added the placement. After Notre Dame regained possession, quarterback Ralph Guglielmi completed a pass to end Paul Matz, but Pitt defensive back Henry Ford stole the ball and raced to the Notre Dame 7-yard line. An offsides penalty moved the ball to the 2-yard line. Halfback Richie McCabe went around end for the score. Blanda booted the placement. Notre Dame wasted no time to assert its power in the third quarter, as they tackled Epps in the end zone for a safety on Pitt's first possession. Then the Irish recovered a Ford fumble on the Panther 24-yd line. On the fourth play Guglielmi scored from the 1-yard line. Notre Dame added the final touchdown late on an 8-yard scamper by Guglielmi. Mavraides placement ended the scoring.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Notre Dame was Joe Zombek (left end), William Cessar (left tackle), Harold Hunter (left guard), Ed Johnson (center), John Cenci (right guard), Eldred Kraemer (right tackle), Dick Deitrick (right end), Henry Ford (quarterback), Ray DiPasquale (left halfback), Richie McCabe (right halfback) and Bobby Epps (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Bob McQuaide, Dick Gatz, William Schmitt, Howard Linn, Ed Stowe, Joe Los, Bob Ballock, Pete Neft, Ray Ferguson, Joe Capp, Dick Manson, Ed Bose, John Paluck, Fred Glatz, Rudy Mattioli, John Jacobs and Paul Blanda.
at Northwestern
The second road game was against the Northwestern Wildcats at Evanston, IL. Coach Bob Voigts' Wildcats were 2–2 for season. They were led by quarterback Dick Thomas (third ranked college passer) and All-American end Joe Collier, who set Big Ten records for touchdown receptions (7) and receiving yards (650) in 1952.