Wikipedia

1948 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

The 1948 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 1948 college football season. The team compiled a 6–3 record under head coach Mike Milligan.[1]

1948 Pittsburgh Panthers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record6–3
Head coach
Home stadiumPitt Stadium
Seasons
← 1947
1949 →
1948 Eastern college football independents records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 6 Army   –   8 – 0 – 1
Penn State   –   7 – 1 – 1
Buffalo   –   6 – 1 – 1
Villanova   –   8 – 2 – 1
Boston University   –   6 – 2 – 0
Boston College   –   5 – 2 – 2
Pittsburgh   –   6 – 3 – 0
Franklin & Marshall   –   5 – 3 – 1
CCNY   –   3 – 4 – 1
Tufts   –   3 – 4 – 1
Colgate   –   3 – 6 – 0
Fordham   –   3 – 6 – 0
NYU   –   3 – 6 – 0
Temple   –   2 – 6 – 1
Duquesne   –   2 – 7 – 0
Carnegie Tech   –   1 – 7 – 0
Hofstra   –   0 – 6 – 2
Bucknell   –   1 – 8 – 0
Syracuse   –   1 – 8 – 0
Drexel   –   0 – 8 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

Pittsburgh was ranked at No. 31 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System ratings for 1948.[2]

Schedule edit

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 25SMU
L 14–3331,469
October 2Notre Dame
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)
L 0–4064,000
October 9West Virginia
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)
W 16–6
October 16Marquette
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA
W 21–7
October 23Indiana
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA
W 21–14
October 30at Western Reserve
W 20–012,000[3]
November 6at Ohio State
L 0–4168,966[4]
November 13at Purdue
W 20–1335,000
November 20No. 6 Penn State
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)
W 7–049,444
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Preseason edit

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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9]

On April 11, the Pitt community was in mourning when Jock Sutherland died from a brain tumor at the age of 59.[10]

Coaching staff edit

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 edit

References edit

  1. ^ "1948 Pittsburgh Panthers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. May 21, 2016.
  2. ^ "Michigan, Irish Finish 1-2 in Litkenhous Ratings". Wilmington Morning News. December 15, 1948. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Becker Leads Pitt in 20-to-0 Victory". New York Times. October 31, 1948. p. S3. ... before 12,000 fans at League Park.
  4. ^ "Bucks Swamp Pittsburgh, 41-0". The Pantagraph. Associated Press. November 7, 1948. p. 14. Retrieved October 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Text of Athletic Reports". Pitt News. Vol. 41, no. 36. February 27, 1948. p. 5. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  6. ^ Henry, Jack (April 13, 1948). "Pitt Trustees OK New Athletic Policy". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Hughes, Carl (June 8, 1948). "Ex-Grid Star Resigns As Trustees Prepare to Act On Ouster". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 24. Retrieved April 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Scherb, Max (April 6, 1948). "Spring Grid Aspirants Face First Squad Cut". The Pitt News. Vol. 41, no. 44. p. 6. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  9. ^ Giffen, Donald (September 14, 1948). "Panthers Home From Fall Camp". The Pitt News. Vol. 42, no. 1. p. 6. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  10. ^ "Jock Sutherland Mourned by City". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. April 12, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved April 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "University ofPittsburgh Roster (Alphabetical)". Pitt vs. Ohio State Souvenir Program. Ohio StateUniversity Athletic Department: 15. November 6, 1948.
  12. ^ "University of Pittsburgh 1948 Roster". Pitt vs. S. M. U. souvenir program. University of Pittsburgh Athletic Department: 16. September 25, 1948.
  13. ^ "Football Lettermen". 2008 Pitt Football Media Guide. University of Pittsburgh. pp. 178–182. Retrieved January 19, 2024.


 

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