The 1944 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1944 college football season. The team compiled a 4–5 record under head coach Clark Shaughnessy.

Schedule

Preseason

The war effort continued to play havoc with college football rosters. Coach Shaughnessy held spring practice after summer registration so there would be more men to work with than the fifteen holdovers from the previous season. Fifty-four prospects reported for the team on June 15. On July 5, the practice site was moved to the old Shady Side Academy gridiron. Coach Shaughnessy was pleased: "We have had between 50 and 60 boys out at every drill. What's more they seem to enjoy it more as the practice gets tougher and we get beyond the preliminary work into the more exacting drills." On July 30, the Whites defeated the Blues 34–0 in the final summer intrasquad game. Shaughnessy was upbeat: "I am very much satisfied with the squad right now. We are potentially much stronger than at this time last year."

On September 1, 78 candidates reported for the first fall practice. Two-a-day sessions were held until the Wednesday prior to the opening game of the season. Seventeen holdovers from the previous season and plenty of freshmen filled out the roster. Two veterans of the 1942 squad, Angelo Carlaccini and Loren Braner were discharged from the ASTP Dental School and were able to play.

Former Pitt tackle and assistant coach, Bob Hoel, was rehired as an assistant line coach.

To generate ticket sales for the Notre Dame game, the Sports War Finance Committee offered 50-yard line seats to purchasers of war bonds ($18.75 and up). If one purchased a $10,000 bond (or higher), the fan could choose a seat on the Pitt bench, or a visit to the Notre Dame dressing room after the game.

Coaching staff 1944 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff Clark Shaughnessy – head coach Dr. Danny Fortmann – assistant coach Charles Hartwig – assistant coach Robert Hoel – assistant coach Stan Olenn – assistant coach   Support staff James Hagan - director of athletics Frank Carver – publicity director Jim Hellman – varsity student manager Harold Whitson – property manager

Roster 1944 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster John Anthonyhalfback 0 1626 ft freshmanJamestown H. S.Jamestown, NY James Barniclecenter 0 1805 ft 9 infreshmanFranklin H. S. Franklin, PA Michael Banasick*halfback 6 178 5 ft 11infreshman Scottdale H. S.Scottdale, PA Frederic Bottifullback 0 1856 ft 2 infreshmanNorth Union H. S.Uniontown, PA Walter Brajdichtackle 0 1646 ftfreshmanSouth Huntingdon Twp. H. S.Yukon, PA Loran Braner*center 7 2006 ft 2 inDental Sch. Lancaster H. S.Lancaster, PA Jay Brown*end 5 1906 ftjuniorSchenley H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Richard Brucequarterback 1 170 5 ft 10 infreshmanMassanutten M. A.Harrisonburg, VA Angelo Carlaccini*halfback 6 1655 ft 10 inDental Sch. Tarentum H. S. Tarentum, PA Ralph Coleman*center 9 206 6 ftfreshman Ambridge H. S.Baden, PA Samuel Cosentinofreshman 0 180 5 ft 10 infreshmanAvalon H. S.Avalon, PA Joseph DeFrank*tackle 9 2095 ft 11 insophomore German Twp. H. S.Footedale, PA Edward Deichmanend 0 1806 ft 1 infreshman Westinghouse H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Robert Dickeyend 0 1686 ft freshmanRayen H. S.Youngstown, OH Matthew Dischnerguard 0 198 6 ftfreshmanShaler Twp. H. S. Etna, PA John Douthitthalfback 0 1505 ft 7 infreshman South Hills H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Louis Falconehalfback 0 1605 ft 7 infreshmanBrentwood H. S.Brentwood, PA Robert Flath*tackle 5 190 5 ft 11 infreshmanGreensburg H. S.Greensburg, PA George Freese*fullback 7 176 5 ft 11 infreshmanWheeling H. S.Wheeling, WV Frank Galloquarterback 0 165 5 ft 8 injuniorVandergrift H. S.Vandergrift, PA Eugene Gaugler*fullback 6 198 6 ft 2 infreshmanBeaver Falls H. S.Beaver Falls, PA Ralph Hammond*center 8 201 6 ftseniorAllderdice H. S. Fulton, MO Robert Hawkins*tackle 7 1986 ft 3 in freshmanBeaver H. S.Beaver, PA Robert Hayhurst*guard 8 1955 ft 11 infreshman Fairmont H. S.Fairmont, WV James Hornicktackle 0 2056 ftsophomore Peabody H. S.Pittsburgh, PA John Itzel*fullback 5 190 6 ftseniorCentral Catholic H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Richard Johnshalfback 0 1605 ft 9 in freshmanPButler H. S.Butler, PA Charles Juddfullback 1 1905 ft 9 insenior Everett H. S.Everett, MA Thomas Kalmanirhalfback 3 1655 ft 9 insophomore Conemaugh Twp. H. S.Jerome, PA Joe Kielb*quarterback 5 1905 ft 9 inseniorSchenley H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Edgar Kimmelquarterback 0 1606 ftfreshman Penn H. S.North Bessemer, PA Leo Kinghalfback 0 1695 ft 10 in freshmanPeabody H. S.Pittsburgh, PA John J. Kleintackle 0 1805 ft 11 1/2 infreshmanHomestead H. S.West Homestead, PA George Kohut*guard 6 2006 ftfreshmanBethel Twp. H. S.Coverdale, PA John Kosh*fullback 7 1806 ftfreshmanDonora H. S.Donora, PA Frank Lengjakcenter 0 1675 ft 11 infreshmanNorth Union H. S.Uniontown, PA John L. Lewis, Jr.end 0 1906 ftsophomore R. J. Reynolds H. S.Winston-Salem, NC George Linelli*halfback 5 167 5 ft 9 insophomorePeabody H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Paul Longcenter0 2306 ft 1 infreshman Youngwood H. S.Youngwood, PA John Lozar*fullback 7 1805 ft 10 infreshmanGerman Twp. H. S.Adah, PA Andrew Lovichguard 0 1505 ft 10 infreshmanMonesson H. S.Donora, PA Owen McManuscenter 4 1956 ft 1 insophomoreSt. Vincent H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Ernest Mandrosend 0 1585 ft 10 1/2 infreshmanSouth Hills H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Edward Maruzewskiend 2 1856 ft 2 in freshmanBridgeville H. S.Bridgeville, PA Don Matthews*halfback 9 1655 ft 9 injuniorCoatesville H. S.Coatesville, PA Francis Mattioliguard 3 2055 ft 10 inDental SchoolHar-Brack H. S.Brackenridge, PA Remo Moffa*guard 5 1885 ft 9 in freshmanAltoona H. S.Altoona, PA Frank Morristackle 0 1776 ftfreshmanAvalon H. S.Avalon, PA George Morrisonfullback 0 2276 ftfreshmanPeabody H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Harry Munsonguard 1 1755 ft 10 infreshmanMillvale H. S.Millvale, PA Denver Newman*end 9 1745 ft 11 infreshman New Castle H. S.New Castle, PA Paul Oberkircherguard 2 1826 ftsophomoreStrong Vincent H. S.Erie, PA John Pagerquarterback 0 1765 ft 9 in sophomoreSt Veronica H. S.Aliquippa, PA Jack Paton*end 8 1766 ftfreshmanSewickley H. S. Sewickley, PA Victor Pepperhalfback 1 1755 ft 11 in freshmanCentral Catholic H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Harry Petersonquarterback01705 ft 10 1/2 infreshmanEllsworth H. S.Cokeburg, PA Albert Phillips*tackle 9 2196 ftfreshmanVandergrift H. S.Vandegrift, PA Steve Polach*guard 6 1655 ft 7 insophomoreNorth Union H. S.Uniontown, PA Richardo Puglieseguard 1 1735 ft 10 in freshman Vandergrift H. S.Vandergrift, PA George Ranii*guard 9 2105 ft 10 insophomoreAspinwall H.S.Blawnox, PA Edward Reesehalfback 0 159 5 ft 8 injuniorPeabody H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Paul Rickards*quarterback 91856 ftfreshmanWheeling H. S.Wheeling, WV Michael Roussos*tackle 9 2136 ft 2 infreshmanNew Castle H. S.New Castle, PA John Rozanski*tackle 7 2155 ft 9 in freshmanPlymouth H. S. Plymouth, PA Harvey Sarles*end 9 1786 ft 2 in freshmanButler H. S.Butler, PA Max Scherbtackle 1 2055 ft 11 insophomoreAllderdice H. S. Pittsburgh, PA Clem Schneiderend 4 1956 ft 3 infreshmanCentral Catholic H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Charles Schultzetackle 0 2045 ft 10 1/2 infreshmanWarwood H. S.Wheeling, WV Alfred Siscaguard 0 1555 ft 6 infreshmanShaler Twp. H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Edmund Slaterend 1 1655 ft 11 infreshmanNorth Union H. S.Uniontown, PA William Sloskyend 0 1856 ftfreshmanE. Pike Run H. S.California, PA Bernard Sniscak*halfback 7 1605 ft 8 in freshmanLansford H. S.Lansford PA Michael Sprock*halfback 8 1605 ft 10 infreshman Ambridge H. S.Ambridge, PA James Suehrquarterback 0 1505 ft 7 in freshmanCrafton H. S.Crafton, PA William Suttonend 4 185 5 ft 10 infreshmanBrownsville H. S.Brownsville, PA Charles Tomedolskyend 0 1656 ftfreshmanGlassport H. S.Glassport, PA Edward Velencichalfback 0 1655 ft 10 infreshmanGlassport H. S.Glassport, PA Edward Wagnerend 0 1746 ft 1 infreshman Penn H. S. North Bessemer, PA Robert Watkinsguard 1 1605 ft 9 infreshmanCalifornia H. S.California, PA Fred Wilsoncenter 0 1906 ft freshmanE. Pike Run H. S.California, PA E. Wojciechowskitackle 0 200 6 ft 1 infreshmanVandergrift H. S.Vandergrift, PA Louis Yakopec*halfback 6 1555 ft 7 infreshmanAspinwall H. S.Harmonville, PA Albert Zellman*end 6 175 6 ft freshmanSouth Hills H. S.Pittsburgh, PA Edward Zimmovan*end 9 184 6 ft 1 infreshmanNorth Union H. S.Uniontown, PA * Letterman

Game summaries

West Virginia

On September 23, the Pitt Panthers opened the 1944 football season against Ira Rogers' West Virginia Mountaineers. The teams had met 37 times previously, with Pitt leading the series 27–8–1. West Virginia had not beaten the Panthers since 1928. The Mountaineers, like the Panthers, were made up mostly of freshmen and 4-Fs. The only holdovers in the West Virginia lineup were end, Bill Anderson; tackle, Charles Smith; quarterback, John Lucente and center, Russ Lopez.

Shaughnessy's Panther line-up had six freshmen and five holdovers. The returnees were Francis Mattioli and George Ranii at guard; Joseph DeFrank at tackle; Tom Kalmanir at halfback, and John Itzel at fullback. Tom Kalmanir was designated captain for the game.

The Panthers gained their first opening day victory since 1939 by defeating the Mountaineers 26–13. Tom Kalmanir scored his first touchdown in the opening quarter but Mike Sprock missed the extra point. The second quarter was scoreless, and Pitt led 6–0 at halftime. Early in the third period, the Panther offense drove 58 yards in 7 plays. Mike Sprock scored on a 2-yard run. Sprock missed the point after and Pitt led 12–0. After being shutout the five previous years, the Mountaineers managed to score twice. In the third quarter, Gus Rader scored from the 2-yard line to end a 7-play, 50-yard drive. Jim Walthall drop-kicked the extra point to cut the lead to 12–7. The Pitt offense answered with two long drives, both ending with 1-yard touchdown runs. After an 11-play, 62-yard drive, Tom Kalmanir scored his second touchdown, and John Kosh added the extra point. George Freese scored the last touchdown for the Panthers to end a 16-play, 78-yard drive, and he converted the placement. The Mountaineers added a late score on a 62-yard touchdown pass from Bob Haman to Leo Kesling. Tony Leone missed the placement.

The Pitt starting lineup for the game against West Virginia was Edward Zimmovan (left end), Joe DeFrank (left tackle), Francis Mattioli (left guard), Ralph Hammond (center), George Ranii (right guard), Michael Roussos (right tackle), Jack Paton (right end), George Freese (quarterback), Ted Kalmanir (left halfback), Michael Sprock (right halfback) and John Itzel (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Harvey Sarles, Edward Maruzewski, Denver Newman, Albert Zellman, Jay Brown, William Sutton, Edmund Slater, Albert Phillips, John Rozanski, Robert Flath, George Kohut, Richardo Pugliese, Robert Hayhurst, Steve Polach, Remo Moffa, Paul Oberkircher, Ralph Coleman, Owen McManus, Michael Banasick, Eugene Gaugler, Paul Rickards, Bernard Sniscak, George Linelli and Donald Matthews.

Notre Dame

After leading Notre Dame to the national title in 1943, head coach Frank Leahy entered the Navy and Edward McKeever replaced him for the 1944 football season. The Notre Dame lineup had three All-Americans: tackle George Sullivan; guard Pat Filley; and halfback Bob Kelly.

Pitt coach Shaughnessy was optimistic. "In fact," he said after last night's practice, "we'll be in there giving Notre Dame a tough battle all the way. We're definitely a much better team than we were at this time last year." Three changes were made in the Pitt lineup - Angelo Carlaccinini replaced Mike Sprock at right halfback; Ralph Coleman replaced George Ranni at right guard; and George Kohut replaced Joe DeFrank at left tackle.