The 1947 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1947 college football season. In its first season under head coach Mike Milligan, the team compiled a 1–8 record and was outscored by a total of 267 to 26.
Pitt was ranked at No. 81 (out of 500 college football teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1947.
Schedule
Preseason
On February 14, after compiling a 3–5–1 record in his first year as Pitt head coach, Wesley Fesler accepted the head coaching position at his alma mater Ohio State. On February 17, assistant head coach Mike Milligan, a former Pitt Panther guard (1929–1931), was appointed head coach unanimously by the Athletic Director James Hagan, the Board of Trustees and Chancellor Rufus Fitzgerald. "I am pleased that we have a man on our coaching staff who has won the united support of the university and community for the position of head football coach," Chancellor Fitzgerald said. "Walter S. Milligan is a top-flight coach with a fine influence on young men."
On March 17, 115 freshmen and returning military football aspirants reported for Coach Milligan's two-week spring practice introductory session. The holdovers from the 1946 roster reported on March 31. On May 10, Milligan's first spring session ended after 7 weeks with a final squad game, in which the first string defeated the second 28–6.
Fall practice began on September 3, rather than mid-August, due to a new Western Conference ruling. Pitt still felt if they followed the Conference's policies they would ultimately be asked to join the Conference. Fifty-six Panthers, including 27 lettermen, reported for 2 weeks of training at the Arandale Hotel and Country Club in Bedford, PA. The squad returned to Pittsburgh on the seventeenth with just another week to prepare for their opening game at Illinois.
Coaching staff 1947 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff Walter "Mike" Milligan – head coach Charles Hartwig – assistant coach Dick Cassiano – assistant backfield coach Ralph Mitterling – assistant line coach Harold Williams – assistant coach Robert Timmons – assistant defensive coach Support staff James Hagan - director of athletics Frank Carver – publicity director Dr. Ralph Shanor – team physician Howard Waite – trainer Bill Haines – equipment manager Velton Castrodale – student manager
Roster 1947 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster William Abraham (USN)halfback 0 1905 ft 7 injuniorJeannette H. S.Jeanette, PA Bernard Barkouskie*guard 9 190 5 ft 8 insophomoreWilkes-Barre H. S.Wilkes-Barre, PA Robert Beckerfullback 3 1906 ftsophomore Westinghouse H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Michael Boldin (Army)*tackle 9 210 6 ftfreshmanJohnstown H. S.Johnstown, PA Fred Botti (USN)halfback 1 1906 ftsophomoreConnellsville H. S. Connellsville, PA William Bruno (USMC)*fullback 51856 ft sophomorePenn H. S. Verona, PA Frank Capello (Army)*end 6 1805 ft 11 insophomoreElwood City H. S.Elwood City, PA Louis Cecconi*quarterback 9 160 5 ft 6 insophomoreDonora H. S.Donora, PA Joe Cherol (USN)halfback 1 1755 ft 6 insophomore Youngstown H. S.Youngstown, OH Fred Cimino (Army)guard 0 1905 ft 10 infreshmanWeirton H. S.Weirton, WV Ralph Coleman (USN)*guard 7 2156 ft 1 injuniorAmbridge H. S.Ambridge, PA William Coury (AC)*guard 5 1855 ft 9 insophomoreArnold H.S.Arnold, PA Walter Cummins (Army)*end 8 2056 ft 2 injuniorGreensburg H. S.Greensburg, PA Sam DeFedetackle 1 195 5 ft 11 infreshmanMartins Ferry H. S.Martins Ferry, OH James DeLong (USN)* tackle 5 2106 ft 2 insophomoreReading H. S.Reading, PA Carl DePasqua* quarterback 9 1705 ft 9 insophomoreWilliamsport. H.S.Williamsport, PA Anthony DiMatteo (AC)*halfback 8 185 5 ft 11in juniorPerry H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Frank Farrell (AC)guard 3 1905 ft 10 infreshman Mt. Pleasant H. S.Mt. Pleasant, PA Donald Fisher (USMC)center 3 1805 ft 11 injunior Williamsport H. S.Williamsport, PA Wilbur Forsythe (AC)*tackle 9 2106 ft 3 injuniorEast Huntingdon H. S.East Huntingdon, PA Peter Fuderich (USN)* quarterback 8 1755 ft 7 injuniorAliquippa H. S.Aliquippa, PA Ted Geremski (USN)end 5 2056 ft 4 in freshmanBraddock H. S.Braddock, PA William Goelz (USN) end 4 1806 ft seniorCrafton H. S.Crafton, PA Sam Haddad (USMC)*center 2 210 6 ft 3 insophomoreNew Castle H. S. New Castle, PA William Hardisty (USN)* fullback 9 2156 ft 2 insophomoreLangley H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Morris Harris (Army) tackle 4 2406 ft sophomoreGlassport H. S.Glassport, PA Robert Hawkinsend 0 210 6 ft 3 insophomoreCovington H. S.Covington, VA Nick Iannitackle0 1955 ft 10 infreshmanEast Deer H. S.East Deer, PA George Johnson (Army)guard 2 2056 ft 3 inseniorGerman Twp. H. S.Edenborn, PA Ray Johnson (Army)tackle 0 210 6 ft 3 infreshmanOliver H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Donald Karanovich*tackle 8 185 6 ft 2 infreshman Irwin H. S.Irwin, PA Andrew Kisiday (USN)center 4 1855 ft 11 in sophomoreAmbridge H. S.Ambridge, PA John Kosh (Army)*center 1 1956 ftseniorDonora H. S.Donora, PA Elmer Kozzora (Army)halfback 3 1705 ft 9 insophomoreDormont H. S.Dormont, PA John LaFrankie (USMC)*quarterback 0 1956 ft sophomoreElizabeth H. S.Elizabeth, PA Lindaro Lauro (AC)*quarterback 7 2005 ft 10 in sophomoreNew Castle H. S.New Castle, PA Robert Lee (USMC)*halfback 5 1755 ft 10 insophomoreNew Castle H. S.New Castle, PA William McPeak (USN)*end 9 1956 ft juniorNew Castle H. S.New Castle, PA Lester Malizia (Army)tackle 0 1755 ft 11 in sophomoreNew Castle H. S. New Castle, PA George Matich (S)quarterback4 1805 ft 10 insophomoreClairton H. S.Clairton, PA Mark Maystrovich (Army)quarterback 3 1906 ft freshmanIrwin H. S.Irwin, PA William Mihm*end 8 1856 ft juniorWestinghouse H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Robert Plotz*tackle 6 1956 ft sophomoreMartins Ferry H. S.Martins Ferry, OH Emil Rader (Army)fullback 4 1956 ft freshmanWheeling H. S.MWheeling, WVA Leonard Radnor*center 7 1855 ft 10 insophomorePlymouth H. S.Plymouth, PA Anthony Razzano (Army)guard 4 1805 ft 8 insophomoreNew Castle H. S.New Castle, PA Paul Rickards (AC)*halfback 6 1856 ft sophomoreWheeling H. S.Wheeling, WV James Robinson (Army)*halfback 9 1805 ft 10 insophomoreConnellsville H. S.Connellsville, PA William Samerend 4 1906 ft 2 insophomoreDonora H. S.Donora, PA Robert Schneider (AC)end 01906 ft 2 in juniorCentral Catholic H. S. Pittsburgh, PA Robert Shantaend 5 1706 ft sophomoreMcKees Rocks H. S. McKees Rocks, PA Fred Shermanhalfback 0 170 5 ft 9 infreshman Hanover Twp. H. S.Hanover Township, PA Boleshaw Shiner (USN)tackle02006 ft 1 infreshman McKees Rocks H. S.McKees Rocks, PA Ralph Shortcenter 0 1956 ft 1 insophomoreMartins Ferry H. S.Martins Ferry, OH Leo Skladany*end 8 2006 ft 1 injuniorPlymouth H. S.Plymouth, PA Edwin Smith (AC)center 0 2156 ft 2 insophomoreMcKeesport H. S.McKeesport, PA Jack Smodic*halfback 9 1655 ft 10 injuniorGerman Twp. H. S.Gates, PA Earl Sumpter*cguard 9 1755 ft 10 insophomoreClairton H. S.Clairton, PA Robert Teittfullback 0 1855 ft 8 insophomoreTrafford H. S. Trafforda, PA Charles Thomasguard 3 1856 ft 2 insophomoreDormont H. S.Dormont, PA Jack Ulam (AC)halfback 5170 5 ft 9 injuniorMt. Lebanon H. S.Mt. Lebanon, PA Gildo Viecelitackle 0 2056 ft 2 infreshmanIrwin H. S. Irwin, PA Lee Ward (Army)*center 8 1755 ft 11 insophomoreMt. Lebanon H. S.Mt. Lebanon, PA Harold Wertmanfullback 0 2006 ft 1 insophomoreShamokin H. S.Shamokin, PA * Letterman
Game summaries
at Illinois
On September 27, Pitt opened their season at Champaign, IL against the Fighting Illini. Illinois led the series 4–0 and had outscored the Panthers 128–43. Coach Ray Eliot had 29 returning veterans from his 1946 Western Conference and 1947 Rose Bowl Championship team.
On Friday morning, the Panthers 35-man traveling squad arrived in Chicago by train, and then boarded the Orange Blossom Special to Champaign. They were housed at the Inman Hotel. The squad practiced at Memorial Stadium on Friday afternoon. Coach Milligan's Panthers were the decided underdogs. "We've got a small squad both physically and numerically," he explained. "Our boys will give all they've got but in too many cases it may not be enough."
While the Panthers defense held the Illini scoreless for 47 minutes, the Panther offense was unable to move the ball. Three minutes into the final period, Perry Moss connected with Dwight Eddleman on a 20-yard touchdown pass. Don Maechtle added the point after and Illinois led 7–0.The Illini added another late touchdown on a 40-yard punt return by Eddleman. Maechtle converted the placement and Pitt lost 14–0. Illinois had 18 first downs and gained 316 yards. Their defense held the Panthers to 4 first downs and a total of 75 yards gained. Conversely, the Panthers defense forced 7 fumbles and recovered 6 to keep the game closer than expected.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Illinois was Leo Skladaney (left end), Morris Harris (left tackle), Bernie Barkouskie (left guard), Leonard Radnor (center), George Johnson (right guard), Robert Plotz (right tackle), William McPeak (right end), William Bruno (quarterback), James Robinson (left halfback), Carl DePasqua (right halfback) and Tony DiMatteo (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were William Mihm, Robert Shanta, Michael Boldin, Wilbur Forsythe, Don Karanovich, Anthony Razzano, John Kosh, Earl Sumpter, Ralph Coleman, Lee Ward, Andrew Kisiday, William Hardisty, George Matich, Walter Cummins, Jack Smodic, Louis Cecconi, Elmer Kozzora, Peter Fuderich and Emil Rader.
Notre Dame
On October 5, Notre Dame, the defending National Champions, opened their season against the Pitt Panthers. Notre Dame led the all-time series 9–5–1 and had outscored the Panthers 171–9 in the previous 4 games. Coach Frank Leahy's squad boasted 7 All-Americans – quarterback Johnny Lujack, halfback Terry Brennan, tackles George Connor and Zygmont Czarobski, guard Bill Fischer, center George Strohmeyer, and end Leon Hart.
Coach Milligan made a few changes to the lineup. Quarterback Bill Bruno hurt himself playing soccer in Phys. ed. Class, and was replaced by George Matich. Wilbur Forsythe started at left tackle and Ted Geremski started at left guard. Louis Cecconi replaced Carl DePasqua at left halfback.
Notre Dame pummeled the Panthers 40–6. The Panthers made a game of it for the first half, and only trailed 13–6 at the break. The Irish scored 4 unanswered touchdowns in the second half to seal the victory. Terry Brennan, Doug Waybright, James Martin, Leon Hart, Coy McGee and Lancaster Smith each scored a touchdown, and Fred Earley converted 4 extra points. The lone Panther score came in the second period on a 7-yard run by Carl DePasqua. Louis Cecconi's placement was blocked by Bill Wightkin.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Notre Dame was Leo Skladaney (left end), Wilbur Forsythe (left tackle), Bernie Barkouskie (left guard), Ted Geremski (center), George Johnson (right guard), Robert Plotz (right tackle), William McPeak (right end), George Matich (quarterback), James Robinson (right halfback), Louis Cecconi (left halfback) and Tony DiMatteo (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were William Mihm, Robert Shanta, William Goelz, Morris Harris, Michael Boldin, Don Karanovich, William Coury, Anthony Razzano, Earl Sumpter, Ralph Coleman, Lee Ward, Leonard Radnor, Andrew Kisiday, William Hardisty, Walter Cummins, Jack Smodic, Carl DePasqua, Elmer Kozzora, Peter Fuderich, Lindaro Lauro, Robert Lee, Mark Maystrovich, Paul Rickards, John Ulam and Emil Rader.
at Michigan