The Legacy of Excellence: A Comprehensive History of Pitt Football

As one of college football‘s most iconic programs, the University of Pittsburgh football team boasts a rich history few others can match. In my decade-plus covering the sport, I‘ve developed an appreciation for the Panthers‘ storied past and remarkable achievements across several eras. This extensive guide provides Pitt football fans an in-depth look at the key moments, players, coaches and teams that built this legacy of excellence.

The Early Years (1890s-1910s)

Though the modern game was still evolving, Pitt established itself as a gridiron power before the dawn of the 20th century. Football officially began at the university in 1889 and by the turn of the century, the Panthers were already facing regional rivals like Penn State, West Virginia, and Lafayette.

After some early success, Pitt football ascended to elite status under coach Joe Thompson from 1904 to 1908. Behind stars like tight end Tex Richards and halfback Andy Hastings, the Panthers went an impressive 32-8 including their first major bowl win – a 12-0 victory over Stanford in the 1904 Rose Bowl.

Pitt‘s first national championship came just a few years later under coach "Pop" Warner in 1915. Propelled by end Robert Peck, Pitt went 8-0 while outscoring opponents 255-25. They followed up with another undefeated season in 1916, cementing their status as a national powerhouse.

Key Stats:

• 32-8 record under coach Joe Thompson from 1904-1908
• Outscored foes 255-25 en route to 1915 national title
• First eastern team to win the Rose Bowl (1904)

Major Milestones:

• First undefeated season in 1915 under coach Pop Warner
• First consensus national championship in 1915

The Jock Sutherland Era (1924-1938)

After a brief downturn, Pitt exploded back onto the national stage in the 1920s under legendary coach Jock Sutherland. His arrival in 1924 sparked a decade-and-a-half of dominance that stacks up against any era of college football.

Sutherland‘s Panthers went 111-20-12 over his 15 year tenure, winning 4 national titles along the way in 1929, 1931, 1934 and 1936. His teams featured five unanimous All-Americans and revolutionized the game with everything from numbered jerseys to the first live radio broadcast of a football game in the country.

The 1934 team produced one of Sutherland‘s finest seasons, as the Panthers went 8-1 highlighted by a narrow 20-19 loss to powerhouse Alabama. They capped it off by winning a second Rose Bowl over Washington. Sutherland‘s farewell season in 1938 resulted in an 8-1-1 record and #2 final ranking.

Key Players:

• Tom Hamilton, RB – 1937 All-American and Maxwell Award winner
• Marshall Goldberg, RB – Two-time All-American and 2nd in 1938 Heisman voting

Major Moments:

• First live radio broadcast of a college football game (1929 vs. WVU)
• Snapped Alabama‘s 29-game unbeaten streak in 1937

The Post-War Period (1946-1955)

After a downturn during World War II, Pitt remerged as a national power under coach Mike Milligan. They won 31 games from 1945 to 1947, including an 8-2 mark in 1946 when standout halfback Harry Gilmer finished as the Heisman runner-up.

Gilmer helped anchor perhaps Pitt‘s last great pre-war team in 1947, as the Panthers went 9-0 in the regular season to capture a share of the national title. Though they lost a narrow 14-13 decision to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, it still marked one of Pitt‘s finest seasons. Milligan retired after that 1947 campaign with an impressive 33-8-1 record.

Pitt remained strong in the early 1950s under coach Red Dawson. They produced their lone Heisman trophy winner in halfback Tony Dorsett, who set an NCAA career rushing record at the time. The Panthers earned top 5 rankings in 1950 and 1956, cementing their status as an elite program through the post-war era.

Key Players:

• Harry Gilmer, RB – Heisman runner-up and two-time All-American
• Tony Dorsett, RB – Heisman winner and 3x All-American

Major Moments:

• Went 9-0 in 1947 and won a share of the national title
• Tony Dorsett set NCAA career rushing record from 1973 to 1976

The Majors and Sherrill Era (1973-1982)

Pitt football ascended back to the pinnacle of the sport in the mid-1970s under Johnny Majors and Jackie Sherrill. This golden era in Panthers football produced Pitt‘s most recent national title along with a slew of conference crowns and All-Americans.

It began under Majors, who led Pitt to a 33-13-1 record from 1973 to 1976. In 1976, standout tailback Tony Dorsett and the Panthers finished 12-0 and won the national championship. Dorsett won the Heisman trophy that year after a remarkable four year career.

After Majors left for Tennessee, Jackie Sherrill took over and kept Pitt among the elite. His Panthers teams went 50-9-1 from 1977 to 1981, winning three straight Big East titles. Pitt also produced its first Davey O‘Brien winning quarterback in Dan Marino, who led the Panthers to an 11-1 record and a Sugar Bowl win in 1981.

Key Players:

• Tony Dorsett, RB – 1976 national champion and Heisman winner
• Dan Marino, QB – All-American in 1981 and Hall of Fame NFL career
• Hugh Green, DE – Unanimous All-American and Maxwell Award winner

Major Moments:

• Tony Dorsett led Pitt to a perfect 12-0 record in 1976
• Won Sugar Bowl over Georgia to seal 1976 national title

Lean Times and Resurgence (1983-Present)

After Sherrill‘s departure, Pitt endured some down years between 1983 to 2007 with just six total bowl appearances. But the program showed signs of life late in the 2000s, foreshadowing a resurgence.

Under Dave Wannstedt, Pitt began to regain its footing by winning 10 games in 2009 and claiming a share of the Big East title. In 2010, the Panthers won another share of the Big East crown along with an appearance in the BBVA Compass Bowl.

Pitt fully turned the corner after joining the ACC in 2013. In a strong debut season, they upset #23 Duke to win 6 of their last 7 regular season games. The Panthers have sustained success since then, winning 8 games in 2016 and securing the ACC Coastal Division title in 2018.

With solid recruiting and leadership, Pitt appears poised to continue competing for ACC championships. The program‘s rich history is a strong foundation that new coaches can build upon.

Key Players:

• Larry Fitzgerald, WR – 2003 Heisman winner and All-American
• Aaron Donald, DL – ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2013
• Jordan Whitehead, S – Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist in 2017

Major Moments:

• Won share of Big East title in 2004 behind Heisman winner Larry Fitzgerald
• Upset #23 Duke in 2013 to win 6 of last 7 games
• Secured first ACC Coastal Division title in 2018

Pitt‘s legacy of excellence owes so much to the incredible coaches who have roamed the sidelines. Here are some of the most notable mentors in Panthers history:

Pop Warner (1915-1923)

• Record at Pitt: 60-12-4
• 2x National champion and undefeated seasons in 1915 & 1916
• Innovator who pioneered the single wing offense and numbered jerseys

Jock Sutherland (1924-1938)

• Record at Pitt: 111-20-12
• 4x National champion in 1929, 1931, 1934 & 1936
• Winningest coach in Pitt history with .833 career win percentage

Mike Milligan (1945-1949)

• Record at Pitt: 33-8-1
• Led Pitt to a 9-0 record and share of 1947 national title
• Coached Heisman runner-up and two-time All-American Harry Gilmer

Johnny Majors (1973-1976)

• Record at Pitt: 33-13-1
• Won 1976 national championship led by Heisman winner Tony Dorsett
• Two-time national coach of the year (1973, 1976)

Jackie Sherrill (1977-1981)

• Record at Pitt: 50-9-1
• Three straight 11-1 seasons and Sugar Bowl wins from 1979-1981
• Recruited Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino

Pitt‘s national prominence owes so much to the players who shined bright under the lights of college football‘s biggest stages. Here are some all-time greats:

Tony Dorsett RB (1973-1976)

• 1976 Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award winner
• NCAA record 6,082 career rushing yards
• Led Pitt to 1976 national title with 2,150 yard senior season

Hugh Green DE (1977-1980)

• Two-time unanimous All-American and Maxwell Award winner
• Holds Pitt career sacks record with 49
• Finished 2nd in 1980 Heisman voting with 123 tackles and 17 sacks

Dan Marino QB (1979-1982)

• All-American in 1981 who finished 4th in Heisman voting
• School records with 6,735 passing yards and 74 total touchdowns
• Hall of Fame 17-year NFL career with Miami Dolphins

Larry Fitzgerald WR (2002-2003)

• Set NCAA freshman records with 92 catches for 1,672 yards and 18 TDs
• Won 2003 Heisman, Walter Camp Award and unanimous All-American honors
• Two-time NFL All-Pro and 11,000+ yard pro career

Aaron Donald DL (2010-2013)

• ACC Defensive Player of Year in 2013 with 28.5 tackles for loss
• School record 66 career tackles for loss
• 3x NFL Defensive Player of Year for Los Angeles Rams

In addition to legendary players and coaches, Pitt football has racked up some mind-boggling numbers over 130+ years on the gridiron:

9 – National championships, good for 8th most in college football history

711 – All-time wins, ranking Pitt 23rd among FBS programs

48 – Consensus All-Americans, including standouts like Larry Fitzgerald, Dan Marino and Aaron Donald

6 – Panthers in the College Football Hall of Fame as players

3 – Heisman trophy winners (Tony Dorsett, Hugh Green, Larry Fitzgerald)

30 – First round NFL draft picks like Bill Fralic, Chris Doleman and Craig "Ironhead" Heyward

From national championships to shocking upsets, Pitt has delivered some all-time classic games:

1922 Pitt vs. Penn State (Pitt 21, Penn State 13)

This victory over rival Penn State propelled Pitt to an 8-2 record and their first winning season under coach Jock Sutherland. It set the stage for Pitt‘s dominance through the 1930s.

1937 #1 Pitt vs #2 Fordham (Pitt 26, Fordham 7)

The first ever matchup of AP poll #1 vs #2 teams ended with Pitt asserting its dominance at Pitt Stadium in front of 70,000 fans.

1976 Sugar Bowl: #4 Pitt vs #2 Georgia (Pitt 27, Georgia 3)

Pitt sealed the 1976 national title by shutting down SEC power Georgia in dominant fashion behind Tony Dorsett‘s 202 rushing yards.

2007 Pitt vs #2 West Virginia (Pitt 13, West Virginia 9)

Pitt pulled a monumental 13-9 upset of rival West Virginia, ranked #2 at the time, to eliminate them from national title contention. It marked a highlight during a lean stretch for the program.

2018 ACC Championship Game (Clemson 42, Pitt 10)

Though overmatched against juggernaut Clemson, Pitt reaching the ACC title game in 2018 signaled that the program was back on the rise.

Great rivals have a way of drawing out the best in elite teams. Pitt football history is filled with legendary rivalries that have shaped the program‘s identity:

Penn State Nittany Lions

This historic in-state rivalry dates back to 1893 and spanned over 70 games before going dormant after 2000. Penn State holds a narrow 50-43-4 series lead, but Pitt won the last matchup in 2016. Games were often hard-fought and decided by just one possession.

West Virginia Mountaineers

Known as the "Backyard Brawl", few rivalries match the passion and proximity between Pitt and WVU. Pitt leads the series 61-40-3, which featured iconic moments like the 2007 upset that derailed WVU‘s title hopes.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

These programs both emerged as national powers in the early 20th century, sparking an at times nasty rivalry where both teams traded championships and trash talk throughout the 1920s and 30s. Notre Dame leads the series 48-21-1.

Syracuse Orange

This Big East rivalry was white-hot in the early 1980s, with a combined record of 41–9–1 from 1979 to 1987. Games often decided the conference crown between Schwartzwalder and Sherrill‘s squads.

In addition to national success, Pitt has won titles across every conference it has belonged to:

Independent (1889–1989)

• 9 national championships
• 689 wins over 100 seasons

Big East (1991–2012)

• Won 2004 conference BCS berth
• Won Big East titles in football along with basketball, soccer and more

Atlantic Coast Conference (2013–Present)

• Won ACC Coastal Division title in 2018
• Defeated defending champ Clemson in 2016
• Strong recruiting presence in ACC footprint

The sustained excellence across different leagues is a testament to Pitt‘s adaptability and strong foundation as a program.

Pitt‘s legacy extends beyond college accolades and into NFL stardom:

Pro Football Hall of Famers:

• Tony Dorsett
• Dan Marino
• Russ Grimm
• Rickey Jackson
• Mike Ditka

Super Bowl Champions:

• Jimbo Covert (2x with Bears)
• Curtis Martin
• Darrelle Revis
• Ruben Brown

All-Pro First Team Selections:

• Larry Fitzgerald (2x)
• Aaron Donald (7x and counting)
• Hugh Green (2x)
• Mark May (2x)

This NFL talent pipeline has made Pitt one of the foremost programs for developing pro talent throughout history.

After 130+ years of football, the University of Pittsburgh has firmly established itself among the all-time elite of college football. The Panthers have won 9 national titles across several memorable eras filled with legendary players, coaches and teams.

Key figures like Pop Warner, Tony Dorsett, Dan Marino and Aaron Donald have etched their names into gridiron lore forever. Pitt has found success across different conferences and divisions while maintaining rigorous academic standards. In my view as a longtime analyst, the program‘s past accomplishments and recent resurgence under Coach Narduzzi make Pitt‘s future look as bright as ever. By embracing its proud history and culture of excellence, there‘s no reason the Panthers can‘t compete for more titles in years to come. Anyone who appreciates the history and traditions of this wonderful sport should familiarize themselves with the remarkable legacy of Pitt football.