The 1946 Pittsburgh Panthers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1946 college football season. In their first and only year under head coach Wes Fesler, the Panthers compiled a 3–5–1 record and were outscored by 136 to 88. Three of their losses were to teams ranked in the final AP Poll: No. 1 Notre Dame (0–33); No. 5 Illinois (7–33); and No. 20 Indiana (6–20).
Pitt was ranked at No. 43 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System rankings for 1946.
Schedule
Preseason
On January 31, with a three year record of 10–17, Coach Shaughnessy was requested by a faculty committee led by Professor R. A. Sherrill, faculty chairman of athletics, to sever his ties with professional football, and concentrate his efforts on improving the Pitt football program. Earlier, his three assistant coaches had threatened to leave if he was going to be retained. Shaughnessy answered the committee by pointing out the problems with the Pitt football program: inconsistencies in Pitt's football code; a schedule too hard for the material recruited; his staff of assistants were not good teachers and could not carry out assignments they were given. He told the Sun-Telegraph: "What I do with my Sundays off is my own business." On February 4, Clark Shaughnessy resigned as Pitt coach and accepted the coaching job at the University of Maryland (replacing Paul Bryant).
The Pittsburgh Panthers, had an 0–17 record against the nine-team Western Conference since they de-emphasized the program. However, they still held hope that they would be invited to be the tenth member. On March 12, Chancellor Rufus Fitzgerald announced the hiring of Ohio State grad Wesley E. Fesler as the 18th head football coach at the University of Pittsburgh. Fesler told The Press: "I knew I was being considered but I didn't think anything would be done so soon. Naturally, I'm happy and mighty pleased. I've already picked two of my assistants, Charles Hartwig and Mike Milligan." By April 3, Fesler's staff was complete with the addition of Dick Fisher, Lyal Clark and Ralph Fife.
On March 20, Coach Fesler welcomed over 100 candidates to his six-week spring practice session. Dr. Ralph Shanor returned from the Navy to his team physician position. Jimmy Dimitroff was appointed student manager and was assisted by Velt Castrodale. By April 10, only forty candidates remained on the squad. The coaches cut 15 deemed as unfit, and the Army drafted starting halfback James Robinson and center Jim Stopford. Starting tackle George Johnson played baseball, and one prospect did not make grades. The Sun-Telegraph reported that: "The abrupt letdown in interest has been caused partly by the dissatisfaction on the part of some players with their jobs at the school and partly by the fact that some candidates realized that they were not of varsity caliber..." "Some players holding janitorial jobs work a shift from 10 p. m. to 1 a. m. because classrooms are not vacant until then. The more disgruntled of this group have petitioned Chancellor Rufus Fitzgerald for relief." On May 2, the spring session ended with the Blues beating the Whites 36–0 in the final scrimmage game.
On August 18, the Panthers opened a three-week fall practice at The Kiski School in Saltsburg, PA. This was the first time they had practiced off-campus since their days at Camp Hamilton (1913–1936). Among the more than 100 prospects that made the trip were 56 discharged veterans, 65 freshmen, and 20 lettermen (9 of whom played the previous year). 15 more students were in summer school and would join the team upon its return to campus. The squad trained twice a day, were housed in tents and ate at a nearby boys' camp.
Coaching staff
Game summaries
Illinois
On September 21, the Panthers, led by Wes Fesler, opened their season against the Fighting Illini for the second year in a row. The Illini led the series 3–0, and had out scored the Panthers 95–36. Illinois coach Ray Eliot had a veteran squad that was favored to win the Western Conference title. His analysis: "We are the most overrated team in the United States. There are 20 teams around who can knock us off." The Illini used both rail and air service to get to Pittsburgh. Seven members of the Illini squad arrived by train and the remaining twenty-nine members flew by chartered plane. Starting end Joe Buscemi and reserve halfback Jack Pierce did not make the trip. Guard Alex Agase was a consensus All-American.