[1] On January 14, 1952, Lowell (Red) Dawson became the twenty-second head football coach (and fourth in the past four years) of the Pittsburgh Panthers.
On June 14, Dawson completed his staff with the hiring of former Steelers head coach, John Michelosen and former Temple assistant, Bob Friedlund.
The Panthers took a short break for Easter, then finished on May 3, with a high school coaches' football clinic, a track meet against Notre Dame and scrimmage game between the varsity and an alumni team.
Quarterback Rudy Mattioli and halfback Paul Chess stood out on offense, while Joe Schmidt led the defense.
Late in the third period, Bobby Epps caught a screen pass from Mattioli and ran 54 yards for a Pitt touchdown.
Coach Bud Wilkinson had 5 All-Americans ( Heisman Trophy winner Billy Vessels, Buck McPhail, Eddie Crowder, Buddy Leake and Tom Catlin), among the 33 lettermen on his roster.
Linebackers Joe Schmidt and Paul Blanda were injured in the Iowa game, and Coach Dawson replaced them with George Glagola and Dick Gatz.
Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Glen Dillon, Joe Zombek, George Glagola, Robert Kennedy, William Schmitt, Bill Priatko, Stuart Kline, Tony Romantino, Francis Baron, Dick Gatz, William Cessar, Bob McQuaide, Joe Bozek, Ken Voytell, Pete Neft, Henry Ford, John Jacobs, Chester Rice, Ray Ferguson, Bob Wrabley, Paul Chess and Joe Capp.
[29] The 14-point underdog Panthers flew into South Bend, and practiced on the Notre Dame field before headquartering in Elkhart until game time.
Coach Dawson welcomed the return of defensive starters Joe Schmidt, Paul Blanda and Rich McCabe to the lineup.
The second time the Panthers gained possession, Rudy Mattioli handed the ball to Bill Reynolds, and he raced 78 yards for the first touchdown.
In the fourth quarter, Irish halfback Joe Heap returned a punt 92 yards to cut the lead to 20–19.
With less than a minute to play, Guglielmi dropped back to pass and Joe Bozek tackled him in the end zone for a safety.
Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Glen Dillon, Joe Zombek, George Glagola, Robert Kennedy, William Schmitt, Bill Priatko, Stuart Kline, Joe Schmidt, Tony Romantino, Dick Gatz, William Cessar, Bob McQuaide, Joe Bozek, Ken Voytell, Pete Neft, Henry Ford, John Jacobs, Chester Rice, Ray Ferguson, Bob Wrabley, Paul Chess and Richie McCabe.
Coach Dawson put Paul Chess at fullback, John Jacobs at left halfback and Ken Voytell at middle linebacker.
The Army offense answered with two fourth quarter touchdowns by Mario DeLucia, and Rex Shain converted both extra points.
Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Glen Dillon, Joe Zombek, George Glagola, Robert Kennedy, William Schmitt, Bill Priatko, Stuart Kline, Tony Romantino, Dick Gatz, William Cessar, Bob McQuaide, Joe Bozek, Ken Voytell, Pete Neft, Henry Ford, John Jacobs, Bobby Epps, Paul Blanda, Chester Rice, Ray Ferguson, Bob Wrabley, Paul Chess and Richie McCabe.
Coach Dawson switched halfbacks Henry Ford and Bob Wrabley to offense to replace the injured John Jacobs and Bill Hoffman.
[41] At halftime Chandler Ketchum, president of the Pittsburgh Junior Chamber of Commerce, presented Pitt Athletic Director Tom Hamilton the Tri-State Big Three football championship trophy for the 1952 season (having beaten both West Virginia and Penn State).
After a scoreless first period, the Mountaineers offense scored in each of the final three quarters, while their defense kept the Panthers out of the end zone.
Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Albert Smalara, Joe Zombek, Bill Priatko, Stuart Kline, Dick Gatz, William Cessar, Bob McQuaide, Joe Bozek, Ken Voytell, George Glagola, Pete Neft, Bobby Epps, Paul Blanda, Chester Rice, Ray Ferguson, Bob Wrabley and Richie McCabe.
[45][46] Coach Dawson had linebacker Joe Schmidt and halfback Bill Hoffman back in the starting lineup.
[47] In front of 19,907 Homecoming fans, Pitt bettered their win total of 1951 with a convincing 28–7 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers.
Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Bob Kennedy, William Schmitt, John Censi, Glen Dillon, Joe Schmidt, Albert Smalara, Joe Zombek, Bill Priatko, Stuart Kline, Dick Gatz, William Cessar, Bob McQuaide, Joe Bozek, Ken Voytell, George Glagola, Pete Neft, Paul Chess, Paul Blanda, Chester Rice, Ray Ferguson, Bob Wrabley and Richie McCabe.
Late in the second period, Ohio State tied the game on a 32-yard touchdown pass from John Borton to Bob Grimes.
[56] After beating Ohio State, the Orange, Sugar and Cotton Bowl committees were supposedly considering extending an invitation to Pitt.
Late in the third period, State freshman quarterback Eddie Frantz led a 14-play, 86-yard drive for the Wolfpack touchdown.
Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were William Schmitt, Bob Kennedy, Joe Schmidt, Joe Zombek, Bill Priatko, Stuart Kline, Dick Gatz, William Cessar, Joe Bozek, George Glagola, John Censi, Glen Dillon, Ken Voytell, Francis Baron, Pete Neft, Paul Chess, Paul Blanda, Chester Rice, Ray Ferguson, Bob Wrabley, John Jacobs, Henry Ford, Bobbie Ingram, Don Schlick and Richie McCabe.
[60] Eleven Panthers, who played for three different head coaches during their stay, participated in their final game at Pitt Stadium.
Penn State won their twentieth game in the series, and gained revenge for the 1948 season when they were undefeated and Pitt upset their bowl aspirations.