1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football
250 x 141
Consensus national champion
Sugar Bowl champion
Eastern champion
Sugar Bowl, W 27–3 vs. Georgia
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 1
Record12–0
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJoe Avezzano (1st season)
Offensive schemeVeer
Defensive coordinatorBobby Roper (1st season)
Base defenseBasic 50
Home stadiumPitt Stadium
1976 NCAA Division I independents football records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Pittsburgh   –  12 –0 –0
No. 17 Rutgers   –  11 –0 –0
San Diego State   –  10 –1 –0
No. 12 Notre Dame   –  9 –3 –0
Colgate   –  8 –2 –0
Boston College   –  8 –3 –0
Cincinnati   –  8 –3 –0
Memphis State   –  7 –4 –0
North Texas State *   –  7 –4 –0
Southern Illinois   –  7 –4 –0
Penn State   –  7 –5 –0
Villanova   –  6 –4 –1
South Carolina   –  6 –5 –0
Virginia Tech   –  6 –5 –0
Army   –  5 –6 –0
Florida State   –  5 –6 –0
Illinois State   –  5 –6 –0
Richmond   –  5 –6 –0
West Virginia   –  5 –6 –0
Georgia Tech   –  4 –6 –1
Temple   –  4 –6 –0
Air Force   –  4 –7 –0
Dayton   –  4 –7 –0
Louisville   –  4 –7 –0
Marshall   –  4 –7 –0
Navy   –  4 –7 –0
Indiana State   –  3 –7 –0
Hawaii   –  3 –8 –0
Holy Cross   –  3 –8 –0
Miami (FL)   –  3 –8 –0
Syracuse   –  3 –8 –0
Utah State   –  3 –8 –0
Northeast Louisiana   –  2 –9 –0
Southern Miss   –  2 –9 –0
Tulane   –  2 –9 –0
  • North Texas State (originally 6–5) was awarded a forfeit win after Mississippi State was found to be using an ineligible player.[1]
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 1976 NCAA Division I football season and is recognized as a consensus national champion.[2] Pitt was also awarded the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy as the best Division I team in the East. The Panthers played their home games at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

During the 1970s, the top-ranked team won its bowl game only three times: Pittsburgh joined Nebraska (1971) and USC (1972).

Kiosk in the Great Hall at Heinz Field celebrating Pitt's 1976 national championship
A football signed by the 1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football team, including Tony Dorsett and head coach Johnny Majors.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 114:20 pmat No. 11 Notre DameNo. 9
ABCW 31–1059,075
September 187:30 pmat Georgia TechNo. 3
W 42–1443,424
September 251:30 pmTempleNo. 3
W 21–738,500
October 21:30 pmat DukeNo. 2
W 44–3137,200
October 91:30 pmLouisvilleNo. 2
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA
W 27–634,000
October 161:30 pmMiami (FL)No. 2
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA
W 36–1942,434
October 232:00 pmat NavyNo. 2
W 45–026,346
October 301:30 pmSyracuseNo. 2
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)
W 23–1350,399
November 61:30 pmArmydaggerNo. 2
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA
W 37–745,753
November 131:30 pmWest VirginiaNo. 1
ABCW 24–1656,500
November 269:00 pmNo. 16 Penn StateNo. 1
ABCW 24–750,250
January 112:30 pmvs. No. 5 GeorgiaNo. 1
ABCW 27–376,117[3]

Roster

1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
C 67 Tom Brzoza Jr
QB 12 Matt Cavanaugh Jr
TE 81 James Corbett Sr
RB 33 Tony Dorsett Sr
RB Jo Jo Heath Fr
QB 10 Robert Haygood Injured Sr
LG 66 George Link Jr
WR 24 Gordon Jones So
WR 19 Randy Reutershan Jr
WR 29 Willie Taylor Jr
FB 34 Elliott Walker Jr
QB Tom Yewcic Sr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
LB 55 Al Chesley So
DT 75 Ed Gallagher So
DE 70 Randy Holloway Jr
DE 60 Cecil Johnson Sr
CB 31 Bob Jury Jr
DT 78 David Logan So
DT 68 Don Parrish Sr
DE 91 Al Romano Sr
CB 21 J.C. Wilson Jr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
P 41 Larry Swider Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Coaching staff

1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff
Coaching staff
  • Johnny Majors – head coach
  • Joe Madden – assistant head coach/defensive secondary
  • Joe Avezzano – offensive coordinator/offensive line
  • Bobby Roper – defensive coordinator/defensive line
  • Bill Cox – quarterbacks/receivers
  • Jim Dyar – defensive secondary
  • Larry Holton – defensive ends
  • Harry Jones – offensive backs
  • Bob Matey – middle guards/junior varsity
   Support staff
  • Henry Lee Parker – administrative assistant to the head coach
  • Keith Schroeder – coordinator of computer scouting
  • Ray Olsen – graduate assistant
  • Dave Wannstedt – graduate assistant
   Strength and conditioning staff

Regular season

The previous season saw Pitt win the Sun Bowl over Kansas for an 8–4 record, highlighted by wins at Georgia and Notre Dame. The stage was set for 1976, with Pitt ranked ninth in the AP preseason poll, for the Panthers to make a run for the national championship.

In the first game of the 1976 season, the Panthers faced off against Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. A year earlier, Tony Dorsett had finished with 303 yards rushing in Pitt's 34–20 victory over the Irish. "They even grew the grass high," said Carmen DeArdo, a diehard Pitt alumnus, "and everyone knew Tony would get the ball." "They didn't let that grass grow long enough," Dorsett said later. He darted 61 yards on his first run of the season and tacked on 120 more by the end of the 31–10 Pitt win.[4][5]

The season continued with a 42–14 win at Georgia Tech and a 36–19 win over Miami. The Panthers traveled to Annapolis on October 23 to face Navy and Dorsett broke the NCAA career rushing record on a 32-yard touchdown run in the 45–0 victory. Dorsett's achievement prompted a mid-game celebration in which even Navy saluted the feat with a cannon blast.[6] Pitt won a tough, hard-fought battle against struggling rival Syracuse.

On November 6, the second-ranked Panthers hosted Army at Pitt Stadium and won handily, but the significant action was taking place several hundred miles west, in West Lafayette, Indiana, where the Purdue Boilermakers held off the top-ranked Michigan Wolverines 16–14 in the closing seconds. The Pitt Stadium crowd erupted in celebration when the stadium public address announcer dramatically gave the final score from Purdue. For the first time in the modern era, Panther fans could legitimately claim, "We're number one!" Pitt defended its ranking in a close Backyard Brawl against West Virginia to go 10–0 heading into the regular season finale on national television against instate rival Penn State (7–3).[7]

At a packed Three Rivers Stadium on the night after Thanksgiving, the Nittany Lions scored first and held Dorsett to 51 yards in the first half; the game was tied at seven at halftime.[8] Majors adjusted for the second half by shifting Dorsett from tailback to fullback, enabling him to explode for an additional 173 yards as Pitt rolled to a 24–7 victory to cap an undefeated regular season.[8][9]

In December, Dorsett became the first (and remains the only) Pitt Panther to win the Heisman Trophy as the nation's best college football player. Dorsett also won the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, and was named UPI Player of the Year. He led the nation in rushing with 1,948 yards and was selected as an All-American. Dorsett finished his college career with 6,082 total rushing yards, then an NCAA record for career rushing.

Sugar Bowl

The 11–0 Panthers accepted an invitation to the Sugar Bowl to face fifth-ranked Georgia. Pitt defeated the Bulldogs 27–3 and was voted number one by both the Associated Press and Coaches polls, claiming their ninth national championship.[10] This was Pitt's first undefeated national championship since 1937. The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) named Majors the 1976 Coach of the Year. Following this historic season, Majors returned to his alma mater, the University of Tennessee, to take the head coaching job.[11]

Game summaries

At #11 Notre Dame

No. 9 Pittsburgh Panthers at No. 11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 9 Panthers 7 14 01031
No. 11 Fighting Irish 7 3 0010

at Notre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana

  • Date: September 11
  • Game time: 4:20 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • Referee: Tom Paspalas
  • TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson (play-by-play) and Ara Parseghian (color commentator)
StatisticsPITTND
First downs1220
Total yards277287
Rushes/yards53–19150–112
Passing yards87175
Passing: Comp–Att–Int6–13–013–38–4
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Pittsburgh PassingRobert Haygood5–12, 83 yards
RushingTony Dorsett22 carries, 181 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJim Corbett4 receptions, 72 yards
Notre Dame Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At Georgia Tech

Robert Haygood tore knee ligaments in the victory.

No. 3 Pittsburgh Panthers at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 3 Panthers 7 7 141442
Yellow Jackets 0 7 7014

at Grant Field • Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: September 18
  • Game time: 7:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 43,424
StatisticsPITTGT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Pittsburgh Passing
RushingTony Dorsett27 carries, 113 yards, 3 TD
Receiving
Georgia Tech Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Temple

Temple Owls at No. 3 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Owls 7 0 007
No. 3 Panthers 0 6 8721

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

  • Date: September 25
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 38,500
StatisticsTUPITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Temple Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At Duke

No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers at Duke Blue Devils – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 2 Panthers 7 23 14044
Blue Devils 7 0 16831

at Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, NC

  • Date: October 2
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 37,200
StatisticsPITTDUKE
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Duke Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Louisville

Louisville Cardinals at No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 0 066
No. 2 Panthers 10 17 0027

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: October 9
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 34,000
  • [12]
StatisticsLOUPITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Louisville Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
RushingTony Dorsett30 carries, 130 yards
Receiving

Matt Cavanaugh sustained a hairline fracture in the left ankle during the first half.

Miami (FL)

Miami (FL) Hurricanes at No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Hurricanes 0 0 61319
No. 2 Panthers 9 13 01436

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

  • Date: October 16
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 42,434
StatisticsMIAMIPITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Miami (FL) Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At Navy

No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers at Navy Midshipmen – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 2 Panthers 7 7 102145
Midshipmen 0 0 000

at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland

  • Date: October 23
  • Game time: 2:00 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 26,346
StatisticsPITTNAVY
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Pittsburgh Passing
RushingTony Dorsett27 carries, 180 yards, 3 TD
Receiving
Navy Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Syracuse

Syracuse Orangemen at No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Orangemen 7 0 6013
No. 2 Panthers 3 7 7623

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

  • Date: October 30
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 50,399
StatisticsSYRPITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Syracuse Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Army

Army Cadets at No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cadets 0 0 707
No. 2 Panthers 3 10 21337

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

  • Date: November 6
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EST
  • Game attendance: 45,753
StatisticsARMYPITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Army Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving

West Virginia

West Virginia Mountaineers at No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Mountaineers 3 0 7616
No. 1 Panthers 7 7 3724

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

  • Date: November 13
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EST
  • Game attendance: 56,500
  • Referee: Raymond Bower
  • TV announcers (ABC): Steve Zabriskie (play-by-play) and Lee Grosscup (color commentator)
StatisticsWVUPITT
First downs1525
Total yards169399
Rushes/yards44–9963–350
Passing yards7049
Passing: Comp–Att–Int8–24–18–14–0
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
West Virginia PassingDan Kendra8–24, 70 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
RushingWalt Easley16 carries, 75 yards
ReceivingSteve Lewis6 receptions, 74 yards, 2 TD
Pittsburgh PassingMatt Cavanaugh8–14, 49 yards
RushingTony Dorsett38 carries, 199 yards, 3 TD
ReceivingJim Corbett4 receptions, 27 yards

Vs. #16 Penn State

No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers vs. No. 16 Penn State Nittany Lions – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 1 Panthers 0 7 71024
No. 16 Nittany Lions 7 0 007

at Three Rivers Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

StatisticsPITTPSU
First downs2012
Total yards419241
Rushes/yards65–27841–106
Passing yards141135
Passing: Comp–Att–Int8–17–29–19–4
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Pittsburgh PassingMatt Cavanaugh8–16, 141 yards, 2 INT
RushingTony Dorsett38 carries, 224 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingGordon Jones4 receptions, 111 yards
Penn State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Vs. #5 Georgia (Sugar Bowl)

1977 Sugar Bowl: No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers vs. No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 1 Panthers 7 14 3327
No. 5 Bulldogs 0 0 303

at Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA

  • Date: January 1
  • Game time: 12:30 PM EST
  • Game weather: indoors
  • Game attendance: 76,177
  • Referee: Vincent Buckley
  • TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson (play-by-play) and Ara Parseghian (color commentator)
StatisticsPITTUGA
First downs2414
Total yards480181
Rushes/yards66–28840–135
Passing yards19246
Passing: Comp–Att–Int10–18–03–22–4
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Pittsburgh PassingMatt Cavanaugh10–18, 192 yards, 1 TD
RushingTony Dorsett32 carries, 202 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingWillie Taylor4 receptions, 72 yards
Georgia Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Team players drafted into the NFL

PlayerPositionRoundPickNFL club
Tony DorsettRunning back12Dallas Cowboys
Larry SwiderPunter7185Denver Broncos
Jim CorbettTight end7194Cincinnati Bengals
Al RomanoDefensive lineman11289Houston Oilers
Carson LongKicker11302Los Angeles Rams
Don ParrishDefensive end12314Atlanta Falcons

[13]

Awards and honors

  • Tony Dorsett, Heisman Trophy [14]
  • Tony Dorsett, Walter Camp Award[15]
  • Tony Dorsett, Maxwell Award
  • Tony Dorsett, led the nation in rushing with 1,948 yards
  • Tony Dorsett, All-America selection

Media

Radio

Flagship station Play-by-play Color commentator Sideline reporter Studio host
WTAE–AM 1250Bill HillgroveJohn Sauer

References

  1. ↑ https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1976-standings.html
  2. ↑ Official 2009 NCAA Division I Football Records Book (PDF). Indianapolis: The National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2009. p. 85. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Pitt: How sweet it is!". The Pittsburgh Press. January 2, 1977. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "CNNSI.com – College Football – Heisman Heroes – Suzuki presents Heisman Heroes: Tony Dorsett – Friday August 25, 2000 01:29 PM". CNN.
  5. ↑ Gorman, Kevin (October 30, 2008). "Pitt-Notre Dame series produces phenomenal performances". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Tony Dorsett No. 1". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. October 24, 1976. p. 77.
  7. ↑ Axelrod, Phil (November 26, 1976). "Pitt, State, maybe Tennessee". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 18.
  8. 1 2 Parascenzo, Marino (November 27, 1976). "Panthers claw Nittany Lions, 24-7". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 1.
  9. ↑ Mackin, Mike (June 12, 2008). "Let's Learn From the Past: The 1976 Pitt Panthers". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Yearly National Championship Selections: 1976 National Championships". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on November 9, 2007. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
  11. ↑ Fitzgerald, Francis J., ed. (1996). The Year the Panthers Roared. Louisville, Kentucky: AdCraft Sports. ISBN 1-887761-06-3.
  12. ↑ "Pitt loses quarterback, but Dorsett nears record." Eugene Register-Guard. 1976 Oct 10. Retrieved 2018-Dec-30.
  13. ↑ "1977 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2007.
  14. ↑ "1976 – 42nd Award Tony Dorsett Pittsburgh Back". HeismanTrophy.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Football". Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2009.

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