The 1948 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1948 college football season. The team compiled a 6–3 record under head coach Mike Milligan.
Pittsburgh was ranked at No. 31 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System ratings for 1948.
Schedule
Preseason
After the disastrous 1947 season, the University's Faculty Committee on Athletic Policy and Chancellor Fitzgerald's Temporary Student-Alumni Athletic Committee, both recommended changes to better the football situation. The results were made public on February 26. The Faculty Committee recommended: that Coach Milligan be asked to resign; that the committee have some control of scheduling; that the Athletic Director, James Hagan, provide an organizational chart of his Department; that a uniform program of employment for student-athletes be established; and that the Faculty Committee on Athletic Policy be reorganized. The Student-Alumni Committee agreed with some issues, but recommended that the Athletic Director, James Hagan, be fired and Coach Milligan be retained. They also recommended upgrades to Pitt's athletic facilities and equipment. After receiving the conflicting reports, the Chancellor formed another committee, the Panel of Five, led by long-time supporter Floyd Rose to come to a consensus. On April 12, the Board of Trustees accepted the Panel of Five's recommendations. Coach Milligan and Athletic Director James Hagan both kept their jobs and a new athletic committee consisting of eight voting members and the Athletic Director was formed. The Athletic Director was given more duties and was to consult with coaches on scheduling. However, the animosity between the coach and athletic director continued. When the committee convened on June 1, the rift was addressed and Mr. Hagan was unanimously asked to resign. On June 7, James Hagan resigned as Athletic Director effective July 1. Frank Carver, Pitt's Sports Publicist, was named acting director.
On March 29, Coach Milligan opened the 6-week spring practice session. Thirty-one lettermen and thirty-five aspirants from the 1947 freshmen squad were joined by another thirty newcomers. Fifty-four of these prospects were invited to the two-week preseason fall camp at Bedford Springs Resort. The Panthers squad then returned to Pittsburgh and resumed two-a-day practices in preparation for the 9-game fall schedule.
On April 11, the Pitt community was in mourning when Jock Sutherland died from a brain tumor at the age of 59.
Coaching staff 1948 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff Walter “Mike” Milligan – head coach Harold Williams – assistant coach Dick Cassiano – assistant backfield coach Robert Timmons – assistant end coach Jesse Quatse – assistant line coach John Kosh – assistant guard coach Ted Schmitt– freshman coach Edmund Shedlosky– assistant freshman coach Support staff
Frank Carver – publicity director/ interim athletic director Dr. Ralph Shanor – team physician Dr. Dan Dickinson – team physician Howard Waite – trainer Bill Haines – equipment manager Velton Castrodale – student manager
Roster 1948 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster William Abraham (USN)*halfback 9 1955 ft 8 injuniorJeannette H. S.Jeanette, PA Bernard Barkouskie*guard 8 190 5 ft 10 injuniorWilkes-Barre H. S.Kulpmont, PA Robert Becker (AC)*fullback 9 1906 ftjunior Westinghouse H. S.Pittsburgh, PA James Black (USMC)tackle 0 2006 ftsophomoreAltoona H. S.Altoona, PA Michael Boldin (Army)*tackle 9 210 6 ftsophomoreJohnstown H. S.Johnstown, PA Nick Bolkovac*tackle 9 2106 ft 1 insophomoreYoungstown H. S.Youngstown, OH Fred Botti (USN)quarterback 0 1956 ftjuniorConnellsville H. S. Connellsville, PA William Bruno (USMC)*halfback 2 1805 ft 11 in juniorPenn H. S. Verona, PA Frank Capello (Army)end 1 1806 ft juniorElwood City H. S.Elwood City, PA Louis Cecconi*halfback 8 165 5 ft 7 injuniorDonora H. S.Donora, PA Joe Cherol (USN)halfback 3 1755 ft 6 injunior Youngstown H. S.Youngstown, OH Fred Cimino (Army)tackle 0 1906 ft sophomoreWeirton H. S.Weirton, WV Ralph Coleman (USN)*tackle 9 2106 ft seniorAmbridge H. S.Ambridge, PA William Coury (AC) *guard 0 1855 ft 9 insophomoreArnold H.S.Arnold, PA Walter Cummins (Army) *quarterback 9 2056 ft 1 inseniorGreensburg H. S.Greensburg, PA Sam DeFedetackle 0 200 6 ft sophomoreMartins Ferry H. S.Martins Ferry, OH James Delong (USN)tackle 0 2156 ft 2 insenior Reading H. S.Reading, OH Carl DePasqua* quarterback 8 1705 ft 9 injuniorWilliamsport. H.S.Williamsport, PA Nick DeRosa*end 8 185 6 ftsophomoreDonora H. S. Donora, PA Anthony DiMatteo (AC)halfback 1 185 5 ft 11 in seniorPerry H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Donald Fisher (USMC)*center 7 1855 ft 10 insenior Williamsport H. S.Williamsport, PA Wilbur Forsythe (AC)*tackle 5 2106 ft 3 inseniorEast Huntingdon H. S.East Huntingdon, PA Peter Fuderich (USN)*quarterback 8 1755 ft 7 inseniorAliquippa H. S.Aliquippa, PA George Gallinotackle 0 200 6 ftsophomoreFreeport H. S.Freeport, PA Gene Gaugler (USMC)quarterback 0 200 6 ft 1 injuniorBeaver Falls H. S.Beaver Falls, PA Ted Geremsky (USN)*end 7 2056 ft 4 in sophomoreBraddock H. S.Braddock, PA Flint Greene*guard 7 2005 ft 9 in sophomoreNew Kensington H. S.New Kensington, PA Sam Haddad (USMC)*tackle 0 215 6 ft 3 injuniorNew Castle H. S. New Castle, PA William Hardisty (USN)* halflback 8 2106 ft 2 injuniorLangley H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Harry Hollihan end 0 2006 ft 1 in sophomoreGlenshaw H. S.Glenshaw, PA Robert Humend 0 180 5 ft 11 injuniorColumbiana H. S.Columbiana, OH Ray Johnson (Army)tackle 1 210 6 ft 3 infreshmanOliver H. S.Pittsburgh, PA David Karanovichguard 1 1956 ft 2 insophomoreIrwin H. S.Irwin, PA Andrew Kisiday (USN)guard 3 1885 ft 11 in juniorAmbridge H. S.Ambridge, PA John LaFrankie (USMC)guard 0 1955 ft 11 in juniorElizabeth H. S.Elizabeth, PA Lindaro Lauro (AC)*halfback 5 1955 ft 10 in juniorNew Castle H. S.New Castle, PA Robert Lee (USMC)*halfback 9 1855 ft 10 injuniorNew Castle H. S.New Castle, PA John Masarickquarterback01956 ftsophomore Har-Brack H. S. Tarentum, PA George Matich (S)quarterback 0 1805 ft 11 injuniorClairton H. S.Clairton, PA Mark Maystrovich (Army)quarterback 0 2006 ft sophomoreIrwin H. S.Irwin, PA William McPeak (USN)*end 9 1956 ft seniorNew Castle H. S.New Castle, PA Louis Melillo* quarterback 8 1805 ft 10 in juniorKittanning H. S. Kittanning, PA Robert Mihm*tackle 9 2206 ft sophomoreWestinghouse H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Malcolm Morgan (Army)halfback 0 1755 ft 11 insophomoreCharleroi H.S.Charleroi, PA Joseph O'Bara (USN)halfback 2 1655 ft 9 insophomoreJohnstown H. S.Johnstown, PA Russell Phillipsend 1 1756 ft sophomore Sharon H. S.Sharon, PA Laurice Pierceguard 2 1755 ft 9 insophomoreJeannette H. S.Jeannette, PA Robert Plotz*tackle 8 2056 ft juniorMartins Ferry H. S.Martins Ferry, OH Emil Rader (Army)halfback 2 2005 ft 11 in sophomoreWheeling H. S.Boggs Run, WVA Leonard Radnor*center 9 1855 ft 10 injuniorPlymouth H. S.Plymouth, PA George Radosevich*center 6 200 6 ft 2 insophomoreBrentwood H. S.Brentwood, PA Anthony Razzano (Army)guard 1 1855 ft 8 injuniorNew Castle H. S.New Castle, PA James Robinson (Army)*halfback 8 1905 ft 11 injuniorConnellsville H. S.Connellsville, PA William Samerend 1 1856 ft 1 injuniorDonora H. S.Donora, PA Ralph Shorttackle 0 1956 ft juniorMartins Ferry H. S.Martins Ferry, OH Leo Skladany*end 9 2056 ft 1 inseniorPlymouth H. S.Plymouth, PA Jack Smodic*halfback 5 1655 ft 11 inseniorGerman Twp. H. S.Adah, PA George Steingraber*center 4 1856 ft 1 insophomoreSt. George H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Earl Sumpter*guard 6 1755 ft 10 injuniorClairton H. S.Clairton, PA Charles Thomas*guard 9 1906 ft 3 injuniorDormont H. S.Dormont, PA Fred Thomastackle 0 195 5 ft 11 injuniorTarentum H. S.Tarentum, PA John Vrablefullback 0 1855 ft 11 insophomoreGreensburg H. S. Greensburg, PA Lee Ward (Army)center 0 1755 ft 11 injuniorMt. Lebanon H. S.Mt. Lebanon, PA Charles Yost*guard 9 1956 ft sophomoreYoungstown H. S.Youngstown, OH * Letterman
Game summaries
SMU
On September 25, the Panthers opened the season at Pitt Stadium against the SMU Mustangs. Pitt led the all-time series 2–0–1. Coach Matty Bell's squad returned 15 lettermen from their 1947 unbeaten season (9–0–2), and were ranked No. 3 in the preseason. 1948 Heisman Trophy winner, Doak Walker, and future All-American, Kyle Rote, led the Mustangs offense.
Coach Milligan had 10 returning players in the starting line-up along with sophomore tackle Nick Bolkovac. The Panthers were a 20-point underdog.
The SMU Mustangs, on their seventh attempt, won their first game in the state of Pennsylvania by defeating the Panthers 33 to 14. Doak Walker scored two touchdowns, passed for a third and booted 3 of 5 extra points. End Raleigh Blakely caught 2 touchdown passes and Kyle Rote capped the Mustangs scoring with a 47-yard touchdown reception from Gil Johnson. Pitt managed to score 2 touchdowns in the final period. Bimbo Cecconi hooked up with Bill Bruno for a 16-yard touchdown pass, and Bobby Lee threw a 13-yard scoring toss to Bill McPeak to cap an 88-yard drive.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against SMU was Leo Skladany (left end), Nick Bolkovac (left tackle), Bernie Barkouskie (left guard), Len Radnor (center), Michael Boldin (right guard), Robert Plotz (right tackle), Bill McPeak (right end), Walt Cummins (quarterback), Bobby Lee (left halfback), Bill Bruno (right halfback) and Bill Abraham (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for the Panthers were Nick DeRosa, Earl Sumpter, Robert Mihm, Ralph Coleman, Charles Thomas, Charles Yost, Anthony Razzano, Laurice Pierce, Flint Greene, George Steingraber, Donald Fisher, William Hardisty, Bimbo Cecconi, Carl DePasqua, Louis Meillo, Robert Becker, Peter Fuderich and Joseph Cherol.
Notre Dame
For Pitt's second home game, Frank Leahy brought his Notre Dame Fighting Irish to Pitt Stadium. The Irish were 1–0 on the season, having defeated Purdue 28–27 in their home opener. The Irish line-up had three consensus All-Americans – end Leon Hart, guard Bill Fischer and halfback, Emil Sitko. Guard Marty Wendell and end Jim Martin also received some All-America recognition. Notre Dame led the all-time series 10–6–1, and had outscored the Panthers 211–15 in the previous 5 games.
Coach Milligan decided to alter the Pitt line-up against the 26–point favorite Irish. On the line, Don Fisher replaced Len Radnor at center, and Charles Thomas and Charles Yost started at guard instead of Bernie Barkouskie and Mike Boldin. In the backfield, Pete Fuderich took over at quarterback for Walt Cummins, and Bob Becker replaced Bill Abraham at fullback.
The Irish were not impressed with the Panthers line-up changes and routed Pitt 40–0. Notre Dame led 28–0 at halftime, and Coach Leahy used his reserves for the second half. The Pitt offense threatened the Irish goal line three times. After the first Irish score, Bobby Lee and Jimmy Robinson combined for a 60-yard lateral rush to the Irish 9-yard line. The Irish defense held, then punted and the Panthers came right back to the Notre Dame 15-yard line. The Notre Dame defense held again. Late in the game, the Panthers offense advanced 75 yards, but Jimmy Robinson was tackled on the 6–yard line on the last play of the game.