1947 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

"[13] On March 17, 115 freshmen and returning military football aspirants reported for Coach Milligan's two-week spring practice introductory session.

[16] Fifty-six Panthers, including 27 lettermen, reported for 2 weeks of training at the Arandale Hotel and Country Club in Bedford, PA.

[22] Coach Ray Eliot had 29 returning veterans from his 1946 Western Conference and 1947 Rose Bowl Championship team.

[23] On Friday morning, the Panthers 35-man traveling squad arrived in Chicago by train, and then boarded the Orange Blossom Special to Champaign.

Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were William Mihm, Robert Shanta, Michael Boldin, Wilbur Forsythe, Don Karanovich, Anthony Razzano, John Kosh, Earl Sumpter, Ralph Coleman, Lee Ward, Andrew Kisiday, William Hardisty, George Matich, Walter Cummins, Jack Smodic, Louis Cecconi, Elmer Kozzora, Peter Fuderich and Emil Rader.

[26] On October 5, Notre Dame, the defending National Champions, opened their season against the Pitt Panthers.

[27] Coach Frank Leahy's squad boasted 7 All-Americans – quarterback Johnny Lujack, halfback Terry Brennan, tackles George Connor and Zygmont Czarobski, guard Bill Fischer, center George Strohmeyer, and end Leon Hart.

Terry Brennan, Doug Waybright, James Martin, Leon Hart, Coy McGee and Lancaster Smith each scored a touchdown, and Fred Earley converted 4 extra points.

Tommy Devine of the Detroit Free Press wrote: "Another factor that may lead to increased playing time for the Wolverine starters is a desire on the part of the players to trim the Panthers more decisively than Notre Dame did a week ago....In the major national polls, Notre Dame is rated as the top team, with Michigan second.

[32] In front of 59,964 fans, the Pitt Panthers received the worst drubbing in their football history, as eight Wolverines combined to score ten touchdowns, and Jim Brieske added nine extra points for a 69–0 decision.

Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Ted Geremski, William Samer, William Goelz, Michael Boldin, Don Karanovich, Morris Harris, Earl Sumpter, Frank Farrell, Ralph Coleman, Lee Ward, Andrew Kisiday, William Hardisty, Jack Smodic, Carl DePasqua, Elmer Kozzora, Peter Fuderich, Lindaro Lauro, Mark Maystrovich, John Ulam and Emil Rader.

[22] Coach Bo McMillin's squad was 1–1–1, after beating Nebraska 17–0, tying Wisconsin 7–7, and losing to Iowa 27–14.

[35] Back George Taliaferro, future College Football Hall of Fame member, and guard Howard Brown gained All-America recognition.

[36] After the Panthers extended their losing streak to 23 games versus the Western Conference and absorbed their worst loss in history, The Pitt News reported that the student body council held a meeting, and proposed to the powers to be that they do something to better the Pitt athletic situation.

Bob Dickey, a member of the student congress and former football player, stated, "We've got to decide on some sort of remunerative system for the various athletic teams or get out of the big league.

Homecoming festivities included releasing 1000 homing pigeons prior to the game, and a Battle of Music between the marching bands.

Starting end, Leo Skladany was injured in the Ohio State game and was replaced by Frank Capello.

Don Bailey kicked three extra points, and Jack Stuhlman tackled Pitt fullback Paul Rickards in the end zone for a safety.

[51] The Panthers fifth and final midwest road trip of the season took them to Lafayette, IN to play the Purdue Boilermakers.

The Panthers rode the overnight train to Indianapolis, and enjoyed breakfast at the Claypool Hotel before bussing to Lafayette.

After a scoreless first quarter, Purdue end, Clyde Grimenstein intercepted a Paul Rickards pass and raced 43-yards for the touchdown.

[55] On November 22, the Penn State Nittany Lions came to Pittsburgh with the sole purpose of giving their coach, 18-year veteran Bob Higgins, an undefeated season.

"[59] Coach Milligan had three starters back in the lineup: end Leo Skladany, halfback Tony DiMatteo and fullback Bill Bruno.

Halfback Bobby Williams scored the first two and end Ed Czekaj added a placement to give the Nittanies a 13–0 lead at halftime.

In the third period, State fullback Fran Rogel ran off-tackle 20 yards, and while getting tackled, he lateraled the ball to halfback Elwood Petchel, "who galloped unhindered into the end zone."

Then, Pitt halfback Bob Lee fumbled into the arms of State end Dennie Hoggard and he ran 21 yards for the final touchdown.

Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Frank Capello, William Mihm, Sam Haddad, James DeLong, Don Karanovich, Donald Fisher, William Hardisty, Jack Smodic, James Robinson, Lindaro Lauro, Louis Cecconi, Paul Rickards, Peter Fuderich and Robert Becker.

[63] At a banquet held on Friday night prior to the game, Jock Sutherland told the attendees about the difficulties of the de-emphasis with the 1947 schedule: "Milligan had to play the Chicago Bears every weekend.

The next play was a 30-yard touchdown heave that bounced off the fingers of Pitt back Jack Smodic, and landed in the hands of Bernie Huntz.

Coach Milligan concurred: "My boys played a whale of a game, but that West Virginia club is a good team.