The 1965 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1965 NCAA University Division football season. The team compiled a 3–7 record under head coach John Michelosen. The team's statistical leaders included Kenny Lucas with 1,921 passing yards and Barry McKnight with 406 rushing yards.
Schedule
Preseason
The de-emphasis of the football program was felt most strongly from 1965 through 1972. Bill Cabin wrote in the April 28, 1965 Pitt News: “Rumors about financial problems have been circulating since November, and Chancellor Edward H. Litchfield admits the university is under financial stress.” Three assistant coaches (Ernie Hefferle, Bill Kaliden, Joe Pullikines) resigned along with head trainer Frank Weichec. Athletic Director Frank Carver dismissed the idea that finances influenced their decisions, but they all received jobs with substantial pay increases. On May 22, while Chancellor Litchfield attempted to solicit donations and funding, he suffered a heart attack. On July 28, he decided to resign and Dr. Stanton C. Crawford was named Acting Chancellor. On August 23, 1966, the University of Pittsburgh became a state-related school.
Athletic Director, Frank Carver, hired former Pitt end Bob Rosborough, former Panther tackle Dick Mills and former Penn and Rutgers head coach John Stiegman to complete Michelosen's staff. Due to the assistant coaching matters, the football staff was able to only recruit 16 incoming freshmen.
On March 18, Coach Michelosen welcomed 67 varsity hopefuls, including 20 lettermen, for spring practice. The NCAA allowed 20 days of practice, but the Pitt trimester break interfered with the calendar. The Blue-White intra-squad game was played on April 24. The Blues beat the Whites 30–25. Halfback Eric Crabtree scored 4 touchdowns for the winners. Quarterback Jim Alcorn threw 2 touchdown passes to end Bob Longo for the losing side.
On Sunday August 22, over 60 Panthers reported to the Stadium for their final camp, under the direction of Coach Michelosen, at Allegheny College. On Monday the squad bussed to Meadville. Tuesday was photo day, and on Wednesday 10 days of two-a-day drills began. On Saturday, September 4 a final scrimmage was played before bussing back to Pittsburgh for 12 more days of preparation prior to their opening game.
Game summaries
Oregon
The Panthers opened the season against Coach Len Casanova's Oregon Ducks. Pitt led the all-time series 2–1, but Oregon had won the previous game played in Portland, OR. Pitt and Oregon have not met since on the gridiron.
In front of an opening day crowd of 31,916 at Pitt Stadium, Oregon evened the all-time series at 2–2 with a 17–15 victory. After a scoreless opening period, the Ducks offense stalled on the Pitt 23-yard line and Len Scholl booted a 36-yard field goal. Pitt answered with a 13-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown dive by Bob Dyer. Frank Clark kicked the extra point. Pitt led 7–3 at halftime. The Oregon offense scored twice in the third period. First, halfback Scott Cress caught an 8-yard pass from Tom Trovato to end an 11-play, 72-yard drive. Then, the Oregon defense forced a punt and drove 87 yards for their final touchdown. Cress ran around left end for 6-yards. Scholl converted both extra points. In the final quarter, the Panthers offense drove deep inside Oregon territory to the 25-yard line but lost the ball on a fumble. They got the ball back, drove to the 5-yard line and fumbled again. The next Pitt drive ended with a Bob Dyer 8-yard touchdown pass to Mitch Zalnasky. Fullback Barry McKnight's run cut the lead to 2 points. The Panthers managed to regain possession and move the ball to the Ducks 8-yard line, but Kenny Lucas threw an interception and Oregon was able to run out the clock.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Oregon was Mitch Zalnasky (left end), Tom Raymond (left tackle), Gabe Tamburino (left guard), Fred Hoaglin (center), Tom Qualey (right guard), Jim Jones (right tackle), Mike Rosborough (right end), Ken Lucas (quarterback), Eric Crabtree (left halfback), Bob Dyer (right halfback) and Barry McKnight (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Ed Assid, Bob Longo, Greg Keller, John Verkleeren, Phil Dahar, Howard Heit, John Schmidt, Al Keiser, Robert Trethaway, Robert Guzinsky, George Macko, Ray Radakovich, Joe Novogratz,Tom Crosby, David Merrill, Tom Mitrakos, Jock Beachler, John Boucek, Bob Bazylak, Joe Pohl, James Dodaro, Dale Stewart, Joe Curtin, Gerald Rife, Jim Flanigan, Mike Raklewicz, Andy McGraw and Frank Clark.
Oklahoma
On September 5, the Panthers hosted Coach Gomer Jones' Oklahoma Sooners for the third time in their series. Oklahoma had not lost to the Panthers and led the all-time series 4–0–1. Coach Jones had 20 returning lettermen on his roster, including All-American linebacker Carl McAdams.
Pitt managed to thrill the crowd of 24,452 fans by beating the Sooners 13–9. After a scoreless first quarter, in which the Panthers botched a field goal attempt, the Oklahoma offense moved to the Pitt 7-yard line and converted a Ron Shotts field goal. The Pitt offense answered with a 66-yard, 6-play drive, capped with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Kenny Lucas to Eric Crabtree. James Jones added the extra point. Then, with less than 2 minutes left in the half, a 14-yard punt gave Pitt possession on the Sooners 28-yard line. Lucas connected with end Mitch Zalnasky on three straight passes. The final 8-yard reception produced the touchdown. Jones' kick went wide left and Pitt lead 13–3. The Panthers squandered two scoring chances in the second half. Sooner guard Glanville Liggins blocked a 33-yard field goal attempt by Jones. Later Pitt drove to the 4-yard line and ended up turning the ball over on downs on the 9-yard line. Oklahoma started their 8-play, 91-yard touchdown drive with less than 6 minutes remaining. Quarterback John Hammond threw a 8-yard touchdown pass to Gordon Brown to cut the lead to 4 points. A fake placement attempt was intercepted by Pitt linebacker Tom Mitrakos. Oklahoma halfback Tom Pannell led all rushers with 82 yards. Barry McKnight's 43 yards led the Panthers. The crucial stat was Pitt punter Andy McGraw averaged 44 yards on 5 punts, while Sooner Tom Stidam averaged 29.9 on 7 kicks.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Oklahoma was Mitch Zalnasky (left end), Tom Raymond (left tackle), Gabe Tamburino (left guard), Fred Hoaglin (center), Tom Qualey (right guard), Jim Jones (right tackle), Mike Rosborough (right end), Ken Lucas (quarterback), Eric Crabtree (left halfback), Bob Dyer (right halfback) and Barry McKnight (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Ed Assid, Bob Longo, Greg Keller, Phil Dahar, George Hawryluk, Howard Heit, John Schmidt, Al Keiser, Robert Trethaway, Robert Guzinsky, Dave Drake, David Randour, Richard Genter, Joe Novogratz,Tom Crosby, Tom Mitrakos, Jock Beachler, John Boucek, Ed James, Bob Bazylak, Joe Pohl, James Dodaro, Dale Stewart, Joe Curtin, Gerald Rife, Jim Flanigan, Mike Raklewicz, Dewey Chester and Andy McGraw.
at West Virginia
On October 2, the Panthers went to Morgantown, WV for the 58th Backyard Brawl. Pitt lead the all-time series 41–15–1, but the teams had split the past eight games. Sixth-year head coach Gene Corum returned 25 lettermen from the team that lost 14–0 at Pitt Stadium the previous season.
In front of a record sell-out crowd of 35,000 fans, West Virginia beat Pitt 63–48. In the highest scoring game of the series, the Pitt Panthers offense scored 7 touchdowns, kicked 2 extra points and converted 2-2 point conversions for 48 points, but the Pitt defense gave up 9 touchdowns and 9 extra points. Other records set were: highest losing score (48); total offense (624 yards WVU); passing yardage (320 yards WVU); touchdown passes (5 by Allen McCune WVU); rushing yardage in a quarter (133 yards by Garrett Ford). Eric Crabtree led Pitt with 3 touchdowns. He gained 75 yards rushing on 4 carries, had 3 pass receptions for 76 yards and returned a kick-off 92-yards to tie the game at 42. Halfbacks Dick Rader and Garrett Ford each scored three touchdowns for the Mountaineers.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against West Virginia was Mitch Zalnasky (left end), Tom Raymond (left tackle), Gabe Tamburino (left guard), Fred Hoaglin (center), Tom Qualey (right guard), Jim Jones (right tackle), Mike Rosborough (right end), Kenny Lucas (quarterback), Bob Dyer (left halfback), Eric Crabtree (right halfback) and Barry McKnight (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Phil Dahar, Ed Assid, Bob Longo, John Verkleeren, Greg Keller, Al Keiser, Robert Guzinsky, Howard Heit, John Schmidt, Robert Trethaway, Dave Drake, David Randour, Brian Bubnis, Tom Crosby, James Dodaro, Mickey Depp, Jim Flanigan, Tom Mitrakos, Joe Novogratz, William Boucek, Ken Perry, Dale Stewart, Gerald Rife, Joseph Pohl, Joe Curtin, Bob Bazylak and Andy McGraw.
at Duke
On October 9, the Panthers travelled to Durham, NC to play the unbeaten (3–0) Duke Blue Devils. The all-time series was tied at 6–6, but Pitt had won the previous three games. This was the National TV Game of the Week.
In front of 25,000 fans the Pitt Panthers lost to the Blue Devils 21–13. The Pitt offense scored a touchdown on an opening drive of 95-yards in 10 plays. Eric Crabtree ran the final 8 yards for the score. James Jones added the extra point and Pitt led 7–0 in less than 5 minutes. The second quarter was all Duke as they tallied 3 touchdowns. Duke fullback Page Wilson ran 1-yard over left guard to cap a 9-play, 77-yard drive. Mike Caldwell tied the score with his first of three placements. An exchange of punts gave the Devils possession on the Pitt 31-yard line. Duke scored in three plays on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Scotty Glacken to Chuck Drulis. On second down after the kick-off Pitt quarterback Kenny Lucas fumbled and Duke recovered on the Panthers 39-yard line. Glacken scored on a 2-yard run around left end and Duke led 21–7 at halftime. Pitt engineered an 85-yard march early in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 21–13. End Mitch Zalnasky caught a 1-yard pass from Lucas, but the 2-point conversion failed. Later in the period, Pitt gained possession and drove to a first down on the Duke 22-yard line. Barry McKnight fumbled the hand off and Duke recovered. The Blue Devils were then able to run out the clock.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Duke was Mitch Zalnasky (left end), Tom Raymond (left tackle), Gabe Tamburino (left guard), Fred Hoaglin (center), Dave Randour (right guard), John Schmidt (right tackle), Mike Rosborough (right end), Kenny Lucas (quarterback), Bob Dyer (left halfback), Eric Crabtree (right halfback) and Barry McKnight (fullback). The defensive lineup was Phil Dahar (left end), Al Keiser (left tackle), Dave Drake (middle guard), Bob Guzinsky (right tackle), Ed Assid (right end), Jim Flanigan (left linebacker), Tom Mitrakos (middle linebacker), Joe Novogratz (right linebacker), Dale Stewart (left cornerback), Gerald Rife (right cornerback) and Joe Pohl (safety). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Ed James, Andy McGraw, and James Jones.
at Navy
On October 16, the Panthers played their third road game in a row against the Midshipmen of the Naval Academy at RFK Stadium in Washington D. C. Pitt led the all-time series 7–4–2, but the Panthers had not beaten the Middies in the past three contests. First-year Navy Coach Bill Elias had 17 returning lettermen and his troops had a 2–1–1 record.