1946 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

The 1946 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1946 college football season. In their first and only year under head coach Wes Fesler, the Panthers compiled a 3–5–1 record and were outscored by 136 to 88. Three of their losses were to teams ranked in the final AP Poll: No. 1 Notre Dame (0–33); No. 5 Illinois (7–33); and No. 20 Indiana (6–20).

Pitt was ranked at No. 43 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System rankings for 1946.

Schedule

Preseason

On January 31, with a three year record of 10–17, Coach Shaughnessy was requested by a faculty committee led by Professor R. A. Sherrill, faculty chairman of athletics, to sever his ties with professional football, and concentrate his efforts on improving the Pitt football program. Earlier, his three assistant coaches had threatened to leave if he was going to be retained. Shaughnessy answered the committee by pointing out the problems with the Pitt football program: inconsistencies in Pitt's football code; a schedule too hard for the material recruited; his staff of assistants were not good teachers and could not carry out assignments they were given. He told the Sun-Telegraph: "What I do with my Sundays off is my own business." On February 4, Clark Shaughnessy resigned as Pitt coach and accepted the coaching job at the University of Maryland (replacing Paul Bryant).

The Pittsburgh Panthers, had an 0–17 record against the nine-team Western Conference since they de-emphasized the program. However, they still held hope that they would be invited to be the tenth member. On March 12, Chancellor Rufus Fitzgerald announced the hiring of Ohio State grad Wesley E. Fesler as the 18th head football coach at the University of Pittsburgh. Fesler told The Press: "I knew I was being considered but I didn't think anything would be done so soon. Naturally, I'm happy and mighty pleased. I've already picked two of my assistants, Charles Hartwig and Mike Milligan." By April 3, Fesler's staff was complete with the addition of Dick Fisher, Lyal Clark and Ralph Fife.

On March 20, Coach Fesler welcomed over 100 candidates to his six-week spring practice session. Dr. Ralph Shanor returned from the Navy to his team physician position. Jimmy Dimitroff was appointed student manager and was assisted by Velt Castrodale. By April 10, only forty candidates remained on the squad. The coaches cut 15 deemed as unfit, and the Army drafted starting halfback James Robinson and center Jim Stopford. Starting tackle George Johnson played baseball, and one prospect did not make grades. The Sun-Telegraph reported that: "The abrupt letdown in interest has been caused partly by the dissatisfaction on the part of some players with their jobs at the school and partly by the fact that some candidates realized that they were not of varsity caliber..." "Some players holding janitorial jobs work a shift from 10 p. m. to 1 a. m. because classrooms are not vacant until then. The more disgruntled of this group have petitioned Chancellor Rufus Fitzgerald for relief." On May 2, the spring session ended with the Blues beating the Whites 36–0 in the final scrimmage game.

On August 18, the Panthers opened a three-week fall practice at The Kiski School in Saltsburg, PA. This was the first time they had practiced off-campus since their days at Camp Hamilton (1913–1936). Among the more than 100 prospects that made the trip were 56 discharged veterans, 65 freshmen, and 20 lettermen (9 of whom played the previous year). 15 more students were in summer school and would join the team upon its return to campus. The squad trained twice a day, were housed in tents and ate at a nearby boys' camp.

Coaching staff 1946 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff Wes Fesler – head coach Charles Hartwig – assistant coach Dick Fisher – assistant backfield coach Ralph Fife – assistant line coach Walter Milligan – assistant coach Lyal Clark – assistant defensive coach Randy Gradisek - assistant coach Ralph Mitterling - assistant coach   Support staff James Hagan - director of athletics Frank Carver – publicity director Dr. Ralph Shanor – team physician Howard Waite – trainer Bill Haines – equipment manager Jim Dimitroff – varsity student manager Velt Castrodale – assistant manager

Roster 1946 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster William Abraham (USN)*halfback 9 1855 ft 7 insophomoreJeannette H. S.Jeanette, PA Jack Banbury (AC)halfback 2 190 6 ft senior Schenley H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Bernard Barkouskie*guard 9 200 5 ft 8 infreshmanWilkes-Barre H. S.Wilkes-Barre, PA William Bruno (USMC)*fullback 9 1806 ft freshmanPenn H. S. Verona, PA Frank Capello (Army)end 1 1806 ft freshmanElwood City H. S.Elwood City, PA Louis Cecconi*quarterback 9 155 5 ft 6 infreshmanDonora H. S.Donora, PA Daniel Cerronetackle 2 2456 ft 4 insophomoreBraddock H. S. Braddock, PA Henry Clougherty (USMC)*center 9 1855 ft 8 injuniorSwissvale H. S.Swissvale, PA Ralph Coleman (USN)guard 5 2206 ft 1 insophomoreAmbridge H. S.Ambridge, PA William Coury (AC)*guard 7 1805 ft 9 infreshmanArnold H.S.Arnold, PA Walter Cummins (Army)*end 9 2006 ft 2 insophomoreGreensburg H. S.Greensburg, PA Peter Daley (USN)halfback 2 1705 ft 7 in sophomoreBrownsville H. S.Brownsville, PA James DeLong (S)tackle 0 2106 ft 2 infreshmanReading H. S.Reading, PA Carl DePasqua* quarterback 9 1655 ft 6 infreshmanWilliamsport. H.S.Williamsport, PA William Dillon (AC)guard 0 185 6 ft freshmanMarianna H. S.Marianna, PA Charles Dowlerend 0 1956 ft 3 infreshman Burgettstown H. S.Burgettstown, PA Jack Durishan (AC)*tackle 9 220 6 ft 1 inseniorHazleton H. S.Hazleton, PA Wilbur Forsythe (S)*tackle 6 2106 ft 3 insophomoreEast Huntingdon H. S.East Huntingdon, PA Peter Fuderich (USN)halfback 3 1805 ft 6 insophomoreAliquippa H. S.Aliquippa, PA Romeo Gallifa (USMC)center 1 1906 ft freshmanDonora H. S.Donora, PA James Gasper (S)guard 0 1955 ft 9 infreshmanPeabody H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Gene Gaugler (USMC)fullback 3 2006 ft 2 insophomoreBeaver Falls H. S.Beaver Falls, PA Matt Gebel (Army)fullback 3 190 6 ftseniorEast Pittsburgh H. S.East Pittsburgh, PA William Goelz (S)end 2 1755 ft 11 insophomoreCrafton H. S.Crafton, PA John Gregg (AC)end 4 1756 ft juniorMt. Lebanon H. S.Mt. Lebanon, PA Sam Haddad (USMC)*center 8 210 6 ft 3 infreshmanNew Castle H. S. New Castle, PA William Hardesty (USN)tackle 2 2206 ft 1 infreshmanLangley H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Morris Harris (USN)tackle 4 2606 ft freshmanGlassport H. S.Glassport, PA James Hayhurstguard 0 1956 ft junior East Fairmont H. S.Fairmont, WV Robert Humhalfback 1 1805 ft 11 infreshmanColumbiana H. S.Columbiana, OH George Johnson (Army)guard 3 2406 ft 4 injuniorGerman Twp. H. S.Edenborn, PA John Kosh (Army)*center 9 2006 ftjuniorDonora H. S.Donora, PA John LaFrankie (USMC)*halfback 6 1955 ft 11 infreshmanElizabeth H. S.Elizabeth, PA Lindaro Lauro (AC)*fullback 6 1905 ft 9 in sophomoreNew Castle H. S.New Castle, PA Jack Lavia (S)halfback 0 1705 ft 11 infreshmanSharpsburg H. S.Sharpsburg, PA Robert Lee (USMC)*halfback 6 1755 ft 9 infreshmanNew Castle H. S.New Castle, PA George Matich (S)halfback 1 1905 ft 11 infreshmanClairton H. S.Clairton, PA Glenn McCurdy (USN)guard 0 1905 ft 8 insophomoreEast McKeesport H. S.East Mckeesport, PA William McPeak (USN)*end 9 1856 ft sophomoreNew Castle H. S.New Castle, PA Joseph Massey (AC)guard 2 2006 ft freshmanBeaver Falls H. S.Beaver Falls, PA William Mihm*end 7 1806 ft sophomoreWestinghouse H. S.Pittsburgh, PA John Montana (Army)fullback 0 185 5 ft 10 injunior Meadville H. S.Meadville, PA Jack Pepper (USN)halfback 2 1755 ft 10 in freshmanSchenley H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Robert Plotz*tackle 8 1856 ft freshmanMartins Ferry H. S.Martins Ferry, OH Chester Radnor (USN)halfback 2 1705 ft 8 infreshmanPlymouth H. S.Plymouth, PA Leonard Radnorcenter 4 1855 ft 10 infreshmanPlymouth H. S.Plymouth, PA George Ranii*guard 7 2105 ft 11 inseniorAspinwall H. S.Blawnox, PA Martin Rosepink (S)*tackle 8 2056 ft seniorVerona H. S. Verona, PA Michael Roussostackle 6 2406 ft 4 injunior New Castle H. S.New Castle, PA John Rozanskitackle 0 1955 ft 10 in juniorPlymouth H. S. Plymouth, PA Joe Rubinohalfback 3 1705 ft 6 infreshmanDormont H. S.Dormont, PA William Samerend 0 1906 ft 1 infreshmanDonora H. S.Donora, PA Clair Saundershalfback 0 1755 ft 10infreshman New Brighton H. S.New Brighton, PA Clement Schneider (USMC)end 1 1956 ft 2 in freshmanCentral Catholic H. S. Pittsburgh, PA Ralph Shortquarterback 4 1906 ft 1 infreshmanMartins Ferry H. S.Martins Ferry, OH Leo Skladany*end 8 2006 ft sophomorePlymouth H. S.Plymouth, PA Jack Smodicquarterback 3 1655 ft 9 insophomoreGerman Twp. H. S.Gates, PA Michael Sprock (USN)halfback 3 1705 ft 8 insophomoreAmbridge H. S.Ambridge, PA Earl Sumptercenter 1 1655 ft 10 infreshmanClairton H. S.Clairton, PA Robert Teitt*fullback 4 1905 ft 8 infreshmanTrafford H. S. Trafford, PA Fred Thomas (USN)center 0 1856 ft freshmanTarentum H. S.Tarentum, PA Charles Underdonkfullback 0 1855 ft 8 infreshmanMoundsville H. S.Moundsville, WVA Jack Ulam (AC)halfback 0 170 5 ft 8 infreshmanMt. Lebanon H. S.Mt. Lebanon, PA Lee Ward (Army)*center 4 1756 ft freshmanMt. Lebanon H. S.Mt. Lebanon, PA Leo Watkins (AC)guard 01705 ft 9 infreshmanWestinghouse H. S.Pittsburgh, PA * Letterman

Game summaries

Illinois

On September 21, the Panthers, led by Wes Fesler, opened their season against the Fighting Illini for the second year in a row. The Illini led the series 3–0, and had out scored the Panthers 95–36. Illinois coach Ray Eliot had a veteran squad that was favored to win the Western Conference title. His analysis: "We are the most overrated team in the United States. There are 20 teams around who can knock us off." The Illini used both rail and air service to get to Pittsburgh. Seven members of the Illini squad arrived by train and the remaining twenty-nine members flew by chartered plane. Starting end Joe Buscemi and reserve halfback Jack Pierce did not make the trip. Guard Alex Agase was a consensus All-American.

Coach Fesler had only three lettermen in his starting lineup – Jack Durishan, Leo Skladany and William McPeak. McPeak and Durishan were named co-captains. The 120 member Pitt Band performed for the first time in three years.

The Panthers extended their winless streak against the Western Conference to eighteen games by losing to the Illini 33–7. Illinois star running back Buddy Young scored on a 46-yard dash around the left side of the Pitt defense on Illinois's second play from scrimmage. Pitt answered after Louis "Bimbo" Cecconi intercepted a Julius Rykovich pass on the Illini 37-yard line and returned it to the 22. Three plays later Cecconi scored from the 1-yard line, and then he booted the placement to tie the game. The Panthers played the second quarter in Illinois territory but were unable to score. Pitt end Walt Cummins dropped a pass on the 1-yard line; Illini quarterback Tommy Gallagher intercepted a Pete Fuderich pass on the goal line; and Mike Roussos missed a 23-yard field goal. After intermission, Buddy Young, Art Dufelmeier, Paul Patterson and Chick Maggioli each scored a touchdown, and Don Maechtle converted three of five extra points.

Illinois finished the season ranked #5 in the AP poll with an 8–2 record. They won the Western Conference Championship and beat UCLA in the 1947 Rose Bowl.

Even though the Panthers lost 2 starters early in the game to injuries (end Leo Skladany and running back Bobby Lee), Coach Fesler was pleased with the overall effort. He told the Sun-Telegraph that when the team came in the locker room: "They told me they were sorry they couldn't hold up the whole way and promised to win one for me next week. They have the right spirit."