This was Pitt's only full season at Three Rivers Stadium as the team moved into Heinz Field the following season. [67] This was Pitt's first undefeated national championship since 1937. [79] Walt Harris, who had built a reputation as a quarterback guru with a background in the West Coast Offense, was brought in to replace Majors in 1997 and undertook the task of rebuilding a program that won only fifteen games in the previous five seasons. In preparation for the following year, the first season of football officially recognized by the university, Smyers and his teammates took up a collection and purchased a football for practices and games; players were responsible for their own uniforms. [63], "Iron" Mike Ditka, shown here in 1960, was an All-American at left end and also played basketball and baseball. Sherrill also molded a devastating defense that was anchored at the defensive end position manned by Hall of Fame inductee Rickey Jackson and Heisman Trophy runner-up Hugh Green, who had the highest finish in the Heisman voting by a defensive player until 1997, when Michigan's cornerback Charles Woodson, who also played receiver, won the trophy. Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy, List of Denver Broncos starting quarterbacks, List of Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterbacks, List of Washington Redskins starting quarterbacks, University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band, 1937 undefeated National Championship team, File:Larry Fitzgerald 060621-F-0782R-007 0T3TE crop.jpg, File:University of Pittsburgh "VICTORY LIGHTS", Cathedral of Learning.jpg, Year-by-year list of "Major" National Championship Selections, Official NCAA Division 1 Football Records Book, research conducted by College Football Data Warehouse, File:Andy Lee on field pregame at Eagles at 49ers 10-12-08.JPG, File:Larry Fitzgerald catches TD at 2009 Pro Bowl.jpg, List of Pittsburgh Panthers head football coaches, http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pitt/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2008FBMediaGuide.pdf, http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/misc/div_ia_wins.php, National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame: Hall of Famers, accessdate=2009-03-15, http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pitt/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/09FBMG-ThisIsPittFB.pdf, http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/colleges.aspx, http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittmiscpubs;cc=pittmiscpubs;q1=starrett;rgn=full%20text;idno=00afj8718m;didno=00afj8718m;view=image;seq=423;node=00afj8718m%3A25;page=root;size=s;frm=frameset, http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/duqu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/08-fb-media-guide.pdf, "Coaching Records Game by Game: Arthur St. L. "Texas" Mosse: 1903", http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_game_by_game.php?coachid=1684&year=1903, http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittmiscpubs;cc=pittmiscpubs;g=documentingpitt;xc=1;xg=1;q1=Mosse;rgn=full%20text;idno=00c50130m;didno=00c50130m;view=image;seq=85;page=root;size=s;frm=frameset, http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittyearbooks;cc=pittyearbooks;idno=1907e49702;node=1907e49702%3A20;frm=frameset;view=image;seq=302;page=root;size=s, http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittcourant;cc=pittcourant;q1=state;rgn=full%20text;idno=e39398v20n03;didno=e39398v20n03;view=image;seq=0024, http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_game_by_game.php?coachid=1684&year=1904, http://books.google.com/?id=2HY9Fer-FE0C&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=colonel+joe+thompson, http://books.google.com/?id=G1eiBErc8lQC&pg=PT16&lpg=PT16&dq=University+Of+Pittsburgh+College+Football+Number+Jerseys, http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1071065/index.htm, "College Football Rules Changes - Equipment", http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittyearbooks&cc=pittyearbooks&idno=1911e49702&node=1911e49702%3A17&frm=frameset&view=image&seq=184, College Football Data Warehouse: Yearly National Championship Selections: 1910, accessdate=2009-03-31, College Football Data Warehouse: Pittsburgh All National Championships: Pittsburgh Total National Championships, accessdate=2009-04-08, College Football Data Warehouse: Yearly National Championship Selections: 1916 National Champions, accessdate=2009-04-08, "College Football Data Warehouse: Yearly National Championship Selections: 1918 National Champions", http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/national_championships/yearly_results.php?year=1918, Past Division I-A Football National Champions, "This Year The Fight Will Be In The Open", http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1080269/index.htm, http://www.rolltide.com/fls/8000/files/files/14260.pdf, "College Football Data Warehouse: Yearly National Championship Selections: 1936 National Champions", http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/national_championships/yearly_results.php?year=1936, http://books.google.com/?id=2HY9Fer-FE0C&pg=PA80&dq=pitt+football, "College Football Data Warehouse: Yearly National Championship Selections: 1937 National Champions", http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/national_championships/yearly_results.php?year=1937, http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittmiscpubs&cc=pittmiscpubs&idno=00c50130m&node=00c50130m%3A15&frm=frameset&view=image&seq=185, http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittmiscpubs;cc=pittmiscpubs;q1=Sutherland;rgn=full%20text;idno=00c50130m;didno=00c50130m;view=image;seq=0178, http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittathletics;cc=pittathletics;q1=eastern%20titles;rgn=full%20text;idno=1975d004652;didno=1975d004652;view=image;seq=0056, "COLLEGE FOOTBALL; This Pitt Backfield Is Still a Dream", http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01EED9153CF936A25753C1A962958260, http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pitt/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/06guide-pantherhistory.pdf, http://books.google.com/?id=2HY9Fer-FE0C&lpg=PP1&dq=tales%20from%20the%20pitt%20panthers&pg=PA10#v=onepage&q=, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-DsOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4n0DAAAAIBAJ&dq=&pg=2965%2C1523326, http://books.google.com/?id=Lp6TxXFZ7xEC&dq=pitt+michigan+state+big+ten+1949&q=PItt+Michigan+State#v=onepage&q=Pittsburgh, "Grier Integrated a Game and Earned the World's Respect", http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/01/sports/ncaafootball/01grier.html, University of Pittsburgh football media guide 2002, pg. Pitt football murals displayed in the Great Hall of Heinz Field, Pitt has had 72 different players selected as First Team All-American throughout its history for a total of 88 all-time First Team All-American Selections. On Iowa State's ensuing possession, they fumbled on first play at their own 29. Thompson graduated from the university in 1905 and continued on with post-graduate work in the School of Law completing his law degree. Since the advent of the AP Poll in 1936, Pitt has been selected as its National Champion twice, in 1937 and 1976. Michelosen immediately brought Pitt football back to respectability in his first season with the 1955 Eastern Championship that was capped by an appearance in the 1956 Sugar Bowl.

The Panthers' practice facility is the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Performance Complex which is also shared with the Steelers. Eight Panthers have been elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The university again looked to its past to reverse its fortunes and brought back Johnny Majors, who had recently resigned from Tennessee after a successful 16-year tenure there. Notre Dame currently leads the series 46-20-1, with Pitt winning two of the last three. In an inglorious start to Pitt football history, WUP was defeated 38-0. However, Milligan resigned after the 1949 season, never to return to head coaching, due to a perceived snub by the university offering him only a one-year contract. The Panthers returned to undefeated status during 1920, albeit with ties against Syracuse and undefeated Penn State. [3] Pitt continued their winning ways with a 2917 win over Rutgers, despite seven turnovers by the Panthers. His arrival at Pitt gave the program instant national credibility, lifting the perception of the program from a regional power to that of a national one. Following this historic season, Majors returned to his alma mater, the University of Tennessee, to take the head coaching job. However, Pitt lost its final two regular season games, including a last second loss by a field goal at West Virginia and a one-point loss at home for the Big East championship to undefeated Cincinnati. However, national tragedy struck on November 22 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated which resulted in postponing Pitt's next-to-last game against Penn State from November 23 to December 7. [2] Pitt then hosted Penn State for the two teams last scheduled meeting, which Pitt won 120. Wide receiver Antonio Bryant, who gained 81 yards on 6 receptions and recorded the game's only touchdown, broke the Big East record for most receiving yards in a season with 1,154 yards. The Panthers finished the regular season winning the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy as Eastern Champions and ranked third in the Associate Press Poll, the inaugural year of the poll, whose rankings were finalized before the bowl season. The following year, in 1909, the school officially adopted the Panther as a mascot. Pitt football finished the season undefeated in: 1904 (100) 1910 (90) 1915 (80) 1916 (80) 1917 (100) 1920 (602) 1937 (901) 1976 (120), 1894 1899 1914 1918 1925 1927 1929 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1963 1979 1980 1981, For much of its history, Pitt played as an independent, as did the majority of what are now labeled as Division I FBS football-playing schools located in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Pitt's comeback drive would be ended by a Marc Timmons interception at Iowa State's 12-yard line. Eight consecutive losing seasons followed. Although the Panthers showed improvement during the 1999 season, their loss in the season finale at West Virginia left them with a 5-6 record and without a bowl. Pitt has been represented by at least one Pro Bowl selection every year since 1981.[129][130]. [74] The loaded Panthers, in Marino's senior season, stormed out to a 7-0 record and number one ranking before losing to Notre Dame at Pitt Stadium. [4], Pittsburgh's winning streak would come to an end at Syracuse in double overtime fashion, 1724. The other major national poll, the Coaches' Poll, began in 1950 and has selected Pitt as its National Champion once, in 1976. longest and fiercest rivalries for both schools, University of Pittsburgh's School of Dentistry, Pittsburgh Panthers football seasons#National Championships, New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, College Sports Information Directors of America. American Football Database is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. However, CFBDW does not list the 1934 season, claimed by Pitt, as a recognized championship season. Of the eight undefeated seasons, four are not claimed as national championship seasons by Pitt. Pedersen, Paul M.; Parks, Janet B.; Quarterman, Jerome et al., eds. The university also obtained a lease of Exposition Park to give the football team a more stable and permanent home, and its first full season at the park began with the 1904 undefeated team. However, an early loss at North Carolina in 1979, a midseason loss during a driving rainstorm at Florida State in 1980, and a devastating season-ending defeat at the hands of rival Penn State in 1981 prevented those teams from clinching an AP or Coaches poll national championship. Copyright 2000-2022 Sports Reference LLC. This was Pitt's first win against Penn State in 8 games and improved Pitt to 30, their best start since 1991. Furthermore, in a survey of NFL drafts from 1979 to 2009, ESPN rated Pitt third, behind only USC and Miami, for having "the most fertile NFL draft pipelines. All rights reserved. [89] Graham instituted a sweeping change of offensive and defensive philosophies[90] but staggered to a 6-6 regular season. [51] However, Pitt was tripped up against neighboring rival Carnegie Tech and at undefeated Duke. However, substantial damage had already been done to the football program. During his tenure the university's administration implemented a policy of heightened entry requirements for athletes, above those of its peer institutions and the NCAA. However, Pitt stumbled out of the gate with an overtime loss at Utah and dropped out of the polls for the remainder of the season. Pitt finished ranked among the top twenty programs in four seasons with Michelosen at the helm. Upon the move to Heinz Field, the athletic department, in collaboration with their sideline apparel outfitter at the time Aropostale, created the Aero-Zone. A 130 pound WUP student, Bert Smyers, along with senior student John Scott, assembled a football team that year composed of only three players who had previously witnessed the sport. Without starting quarterback Michael Vick, Virginia Tech came back in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 points, to win the game 3437. The first Pitt-Penn State game was played in 1893. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. [91] On December 14, 2011, less than one year after being hired, Graham resigned taking the head coaching position at Arizona State. On November 10, 1979, the Backyard Brawl was the last college football game played at old Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia, with the Panthers prevailing 24-17. This team would go 10-2 while outscoring its opponents 405-36. ; Nestor, Mendy; Welsh, Celeste, eds.

Nestor, Mendy; Borghetti, E.J. [37], After a 5-3-1 record in his first season, Sutherland's second season kicked off the Panthers' first in the newly constructed Pitt Stadium and saw the team achieve an 8-1 record and win the 1925 Eastern Championship. [9], Pittsburgh clinched their first winning season since 1997 and recorded their second shutout, first time since 1987, with a 70 win at Temple despite 6 Panther turnovers.

[57], Jimmy Joe Robinson carrying the ball against Notre Dame in 1948, The policy of deemphasis resulted in a dramatic downturn for Pitt's football fortunes, including a succession of coaches with short stints. [26], Warner's impact was immediate. Of historic note, in 1935, Pitt battled then football powerhouse Fordham, who featured the Seven Blocks of Granite which included guard Vince Lombardi, to the first of what would be three consecutive scoreless ties at New York City's Polo Grounds. With Goldberg at fullback, Dick Cassiano and Harold Stebbins at halfback, and John Chickerneo at quarterback, Pitt won at Wisconsin, shut out West Virginia and Penn State at home and Nebraska on the road, and routed Southern Methodist. [126] In addition, five Pitt players have been named as a National Scholar-Athletes by the National Football Foundation[127] and three players have awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships. To avoid subpar play following the cross country train trip, Sutherland took his team out two weeks early to allow for adequate preparation. [42] However, it was during this time that the seeds of a rift between Sutherland and the university's administration were being sown, partly initiated by the refusal of the university to supply pocket money for players during the Rose Bowl trip, which Sutherland then decided to supply out of his own pocket. Smyers suffered a broken nose in a 40-6 loss to Washington and Jefferson, a school that would become one of WUP's fiercest early rivals. [27] His second season duplicated that success, repeating an 8-0 record while collectively outscoring opponents 255-25, and garnering what is widely regarded as a consensus national championship. version of ". Hackett only posted one winning season and was fired before the last game of the 1992 season. A failed 2-point conversion made the score 2934. Keck, Harry (November 30, 1918). However, Wannstedt earned his signature victory and marked a turning point for the program with perhaps the biggest upset in both schools' histories when Pitt defeated West Virginia 13-9 and thus prevented the Mountaineers from playing for the national championship. [44] Pitt finished the 1937 regular season as repeat Eastern Champions and was ranked number one in the AP's final poll. Allegheny A.A. called Smyers who brought the WUP team as a replacement. [n 5], Using the research compiled by Sports Illustrated, the nine National Championships claimed by Pitt are presented in their annual football media guide as follows:[1], see also: Year-by-year list of "Major" National Championship Selections. Heinz Field kiosk celebrating Pitt's 1976 National Championship. The Irish also spoiled Pitt's perfect season in a 1931 game at South Bend, although the Panthers finished 8-1 with six shutouts, including a 40-0 dismantling of Nebraska. In addition, Herb McCracken, who played at Pitt from 19181920, was inducted as a coach of Allegheny and Lafayette. (2010). Warner's final season was his worst at Pitt as the Panthers stumbled to a 5-4 record in 1923. Gottfried fought these policy changes which caused him to fall out of favor with the school's administration, including Chancellor Posvar, and led ultimately to his dismissal despite a 27-16-2 overall record. A 50-yard long Hail to Pitt Flag is carried by 100 students, selected for each home football game, onto the field during pre-game ceremonies. The game in Morgantown on December 1, 2007, was the 100th edition of the Backyard Brawl, and would prove to be one of the greatest of the series.

[62], Four additional winning seasons followed against formidable national schedules that were highlighted by victories over Notre Dame, USC, Miami, UCLA, Penn State, Oregon, Syracuse, Nebraska, and West Virginia. The 1963 team, led by All-American Paul Martha, swept through a schedule that included wins at Notre Dame, UCLA, West Virginia, and Miami and home victories against Washington, Cal, Syracuse, and Penn State. [1] The Panthers then travelled to Bowling Green, winning there 34 16 and improving to 2-0 for the first time since 1995. Pitt led Tech 3427 going into the fourth quarter, due mostly to their passing attack. (2008). Pitt's stars during this period were running back Edgar "Special Delivery" Jones and guard Ralph Fife, who led Pitt to an upset win over undefeated Fordham in 1941. Wannstedt's return to his alma mater was marked by a return to the use of the wordmark "Pitt" as a logo, including its display on the football helmets.

[5] Pitt's eight Hall of Famers and their year of induction and years played are: Four-time Pro Bowler Russ Grimm was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010, Larry Fitzgerald catches a touchdown pass during the 2009 Pro Bowl in which he earned MVP honors, Marty Schottenheimer played in the 1965 Pro Bowl and served 21 years as a head coach in the NFL, Through the 2011 NFL season, 31 former Pitt players have been selected to appear in the NFL Pro Bowl for a total of 109 all-time Pro Bowl selections. 7681, accessdate=2009-01-08, http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/FullFBPDFcedfc79a-1762-4a85-a013-57dc2b7eb624.pdf, "Pittsburgh Composite Championship Listing: Recognized National Championships", http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigeast/pittsburgh/championships.php, The Owl (1929), University of Pittsburgh, 1929, pg. Pitt had been a member of the Big East in most other sports, including basketball, since 1982. Pitt played its home games in 2000 at Three Rivers Stadium. This led to athletic director Tom Hamilton taking the reins of the team on an interim basis for the 1951 season. [7], Pittsburgh would then host North Carolina, who would upset the Panthers 1720 despite holding a 407293 disadvantage in total offense.