Hence, the Panthers lost their fifth coach in seven years, and Casanova was Athletic Director Tom Hamilton's “hand-picked choice”.
[18] The Panthers interviewed Michigan State assistant coach Lowell Dawson, but he couldn't get a release from the school.
That will give us plenty of time to look over the field.”[19] On September 4, 40 upperclassmen and 20 freshmen (who were eligible for varsity play in 1951) opened fall camp at Ligonier, PA under the tutelage of Coach Hamilton.
Red Smith ran into the end zone on the next play and Ray Green's placement made it 7–0 in favor of Duke.
Indiana fullback Gene Gedman (a Duquesne, PA native) answered with an 85-yard touchdown run to tie the score.
Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Bernard Eisen, Chris Warriner, Joe Bozek, Bill Adams, Otto Kneidinger, Bill Priatko, Donald Anthony, Eldred Kraemer, Albert Smalara, Joe Zombek, Neil Huffman, Tony Romantino, Merle DeLuca, Joe Schmidt, Gabe Gembarosky, Stuart Kline, Eldred Kraemer, Albert Smalara, Joe Bozek, Bill Adams, Henry Ford, Blair Kramer, Ray Ferguson, Bill Sichko, Richie McCabe, Jim Campbell, Paul Blanda and Paul Chess.
On October 12, the 41-member Pitt squad flew, via Pan American, to Cedar Rapids, IA and housed at the Montrose Hotel.
Pitt was able to keep it close for three quarters, but the home team scored 3 touchdowns in the final period to secure the victory.
Pitt's Bestwick, Warriner, Joe Schmidt and Bob Brennan were injured and did not play the in the second half.
Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Bill Adams, George Glagola, Otto Kniedinger, Glen Dillon, Donald Anthony, Charles Yost, Stuart Kline, William Ewing, Merle DeLuca, Joe Schmidt, Albert Smalara, Tony Gasparovic, Louis Palatella, Bernard Eisen, Joe Bozek, Joe Zombek, Henry Ford, Blair Kramer, Ray Ferguson, Bill Sichko, Bill Reynolds, Paul Blanda, Paul Chess and Bob Osterhout.
Irish quarterback, John Mazur threw two touchdown passes to Billy Barrett and then ran 1-yard for another score to close out the first half.
Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Joe Zombeck, Joe Bozek, Bernard Eisen, Chris Warriner, George Glagola, Albert Smalara, Eldred Kraemer, Louis Palatella, Otto Kneidinger, Tony Romantino, Dave Adams, Joe Schmidt, Charles Yost, Bill Ewing, Henry Ford, Paul Blanda, Bill Sichko, Ray Ferguson, Paul Chess, James Campbell, Bob Wrabley and Bob Osterhout.
Coach Hamilton changed the Panthers starting lineup: Bob Bestwick (quarterback) and Chris Warriner (end) were healthy; Otto Kneidinger replaced Bob Brennen at left tackle; Eldred Kraemer was back at left tackle; Tony Romantino started at right guard.
Don McAuliffe, Jim Ellis, Leroy Bolden, Paul Dekker and Wayne Benson scored the touchdowns.
Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Joe Zombek, Bill Adams, George Glagola, Richard McQuade, Albert Smalara, Charles Yost, Dave Adams, Gabe Gembrosky, Bill Ewing, Stuart Kline, Joe Schmidt, Merle DeLuca, Bill Gasparovic, Louis Palatella, Joe Bozek, Henry Ford, Blair Kramer, Ray Ferguson, Bob Wrabley, James Campbell, Richard McCabe, Paul Blanda and Paul Chess.
[41] After the first five games, quarterback Bob Bestwick and end Chris Warriner set Pitt passing and receiving records.
Early in the second quarter Rice halfback Bob Garbrecht scored the first touchdown on a 2-yard plunge to cap an 80-yard drive.
Late in the third quarter, Pitt end Joe Bozek recovered a Rice fumble on the Owl 35-yard line.
With four minutes left, Owl end Sonny McCurry caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Dan Drake.
[43] Bob Bestwick, by completing 13 of 27 passes, broke two records and added to his totals set the previous week.
[48] Coach Hamilton named tackle Bob Brennan and guard Rudy Andabaker co-captains for the remainder of the season.
[49] In front of 34,757 Homecoming Day fans, the Panthers extended their losing streak to 10 games, as the Ohio State Buckeyes held on for a 16–14 victory.
Late in the second period, West Virginia end, Bill Marker caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Gerry Fisher and Pitt led at halftime 25–6.
After intermission, Bob Bestwick connected with George Glagola for an 11-yard touchdown pass and Blanda added the extra point to close the Panthers scoring.
Substitutes appearing in the game for the Panther were George Glagola, Joe Bozek, Bernard Eisen, Glenn Dillon, Robert McQuade, Louis Palatella, Bill Gasparovic, Albert Smalara, Stuart Kline, Neil Hoffman, Bob Nesbitt, Bill Ewing, Dave Adams, Donald Anthony, Tony Romantino, Don Schlick, James Croyle, Harold Hunter, Joe Schmidt, Bob Ballock, Gabe Gembarosky, Blair Kramer, John Jacobs, Paul Blanda, Paul Chess, Ray Ferguson, Bill Reynolds, Henry Ford, Bob Wrabley, Louis Cimarolli, Don Waters, Bill Hoffman, Paul Mikanik and Richie McCabe.
Jesse Arnelle caught a 6-yard pass from Bob Szajna, and Bill Leonard kicked the extra point.
[56] The Panthers, on a two game win streak, ended their season in Miami, FL against Coach Andy Gustafson's Hurricanes.
Coach Hamilton employed the same lineup he used against Penn State, except a healthy Dick Dietrick replaced Bill Adams at right end.
[59] In front of 39,855 fans, the Panthers ended their season on a three game win streak, with a 21–7 victory over the two-touchdown favored Hurricanes.
On the seventh play Johnny Bow scored on a 10-yard end run and Elmer Tremont booted the point after to make the final 21–7.