American college football season
1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football Consensus national champion Sugar Bowl champion Eastern champion
Conference Independent Ranking Coaches No. 1 AP No. 1 Record 12–0 Head coach Johnny Majors (4th season) Offensive coordinator Joe Avezzano (1st season) Offensive scheme Veer Defensive coordinator Bobby Roper (1st season) Base defense Basic 50 Home stadium Pitt Stadium Seasons
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 Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source September 11 4:20 pm at No. 11 Notre Dame No. 9 ABC W 31–1059,075 September 18 7:30 pm at Georgia Tech No. 3 W 42–1443,424 [3] September 25 1:30 pm Temple No. 3 W 21–738,500 October 2 1:30 pm at Duke No. 2 W 44–3137,200 [4] October 9 1:30 pm Louisville No. 2 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA W 27–634,000 October 16 1:30 pm Miami (FL) No. 2 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA W 36–1942,434 October 23 2:00 pm at Navy No. 2 W 45–026,346 October 30 1:30 pm Syracuse No. 2 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry ) W 23–1350,399 November 6 1:30 pm Army No. 2 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA W 37–745,753 November 13 1:30 pm West Virginia No. 1 ABC W 24–1656,500 [5] November 26 9:00 pm No. 16 Penn State No. 1 ABC W 24–750,250 January 1 12:30 pm vs. No. 5 Georgia No. 1 ABC W 27–376,117 [6]
Roster 1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football team roster Players Coaches Offense Defense Special teams Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured 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.[7] [8]
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.[9] 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).[10]
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.[11] 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.[11] [12]
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.[13] 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.[14]
Game summaries At #11 Notre Dame No. 9 Pittsburgh Panthers at No. 11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total No. 9 Panthers 7 14 0 10 31 No. 11 Fighting Irish 7 3 0 0 10
at Notre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana
Date : September 11Game time : 4:20 PM EDT Game attendance : 59,075Referee : Tom PaspalasTV announcers (ABC ) : Keith Jackson (play-by-play) and Ara Parseghian (color commentator)
Statistics PITT ND First downs 12 20 Total yards 277 287 Rushes/yards 53–191 50–112 Passing yards 87 175 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 6–13–0 13–38–4 Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Pittsburgh Passing Robert Haygood 5–12, 83 yards Rushing Tony Dorsett 22 carries, 181 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jim Corbett 4 receptions, 72 yards Notre Dame Passing Rushing Receiving
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Pittsburgh Notre Dame 1 Notre Dame McAfee 25-yard touchdown reception from Siager, Reeve kick good 0 7 1 Pittsburgh Dorsett 5-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 7 7 2 Pittsburgh Haygood 1-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 14 7 2 Pittsburgh Haygood 1-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 21 7 2 Notre Dame 53-yard field goal by Siager 21 10 4 Pittsburgh 34-yard field goal by Long 24 10 4 Pittsburgh Cavanaugh 8-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 31 10 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 31 10
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 3 4 Total No. 3 Panthers 7 7 14 14 42 Yellow Jackets 0 7 7 0 14
at Grant Field • Atlanta, Georgia
Date : September 18Game time : 7:30 PM EDT Game attendance : 43,424
Statistics PITT GT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Tony Dorsett 27 carries, 113 yards, 3 TD Receiving Georgia Tech Passing Rushing Receiving
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Pittsburgh Georgia Tech 1 Pittsburgh Dorsett 6-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 7 0 2 Pittsburgh Dorsett 6-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 14 0 2 Georgia Tech Jolly 1-yard touchdown run, Smith kick good 14 7 3 Pittsburgh Cavanaugh 4-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 21 7 3 Georgia Tech Rucker 1-yard touchdown run, Smith kick good 21 14 3 Pittsburgh Jones 51-yard touchdown reception from Haygood, Long kick good 28 14 4 Pittsburgh Dorsett 10-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 35 14 4 Pittsburgh Jones 6-yard touchdown reception from Cavanaugh, Long kick good 42 14 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 42 14
Temple Temple Owls at No. 3 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Owls 7 0 0 0 7 No. 3 Panthers 0 6 8 7 21
at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA
Date : September 25Game time : 1:30 PM EDT Game attendance : 38,500
Statistics TU PITT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Temple Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Temple Pittsburgh 1 – – – Temple Johnson recovered blocked punt and returned 15 yards for a touchdown, Sornisky kick good 7 0 2 Pittsburgh 50-yard field goal by Long 7 3 2 Pittsburgh 33-yard field goal by Long 7 6 3 Pittsburgh Walker 1-yard touchdown run, 2-point run good 7 14 4 Pittsburgh Dorsett 3-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 7 21 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 7 21
At Duke No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers at Duke Blue Devils – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total No. 2 Panthers 7 23 14 0 44 Blue Devils 7 0 16 8 31
at Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, NC
Date : October 2Game time : 1:30 PM EDT Game attendance : 37,200
Statistics PITT DUKE First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving Duke Passing Rushing Receiving
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Pittsburgh Duke 1 Duke Gore 4-yard touchdown run, Fusco kick good 0 7 1 Pittsburgh Taylor 66-yard touchdown reception from Cavanaugh, Long kick good 7 7 2 – – – Pittsburgh Safety, blocked punt goes out of the end zone. 9 7 2 Pittsburgh Taylor 10-yard touchdown reception from Cavanaugh, Long kick good 16 7 2 Pittsburgh Corbett 27-yard touchdown reception from Cavanaugh, Long kick good 23 7 2 Pittsburgh Jones 37-yard touchdown reception from Cavanaugh, Long kick good 30 7 3 Pittsburgh Jones 27-yard touchdown reception from Cavanaugh, Long kick good 37 7 3 Duke Barney 1-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass good 37 15 3 Pittsburgh Dorsett 4-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 44 15 3 Duke Williamson 55-yard touchdown reception from Dunn, 2-point pass good 44 23 4 Duke Gore 1-yard touchdown run, 2-point run good 44 31 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 44 31
Louisville Louisville Cardinals at No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 0 0 0 6 6 No. 2 Panthers 10 17 0 0 27
at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Date : October 9Game time : 1:30 PM EDT Game attendance : 34,000[15]
Statistics LOU PITT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Louisville Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Tony Dorsett 30 carries, 130 yards Receiving
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Louisville Pittsburgh 1 10:21 Pittsburgh Cavanaugh 17-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 0 7 1 Pittsburgh 39-yard field goal by Long 0 10 2 10:49 52 Pittsburgh Cavanaugh 6-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 0 17 2 – – – Pittsburgh Fumble recovery returned 0 yards for touchdown by Johnson, Long kick good 0 24 2 Pittsburgh 30-yard field goal by Long 0 27 4 – – – Louisville Fumble recovery returned 0 yards for touchdown by Abood, Turner kick no good 6 27 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 6 27
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 3 4 Total Hurricanes 0 0 6 13 19 No. 2 Panthers 9 13 0 14 36
at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA
Date : October 16Game time : 1:30 PM EDT Game attendance : 42,434
Statistics MIAMI PITT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Miami (FL) Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Miami (FL) Pittsburgh 1 – – – Pittsburgh Safety, Felder tackled Mason in end zone. 0 2 1 Pittsburgh Dorsett 3-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 0 9 2 Pittsburgh 25-yard field goal by Long 0 12 2 Pittsburgh 29-yard field goal by Long 0 15 2 Pittsburgh Dorsett 40-yard touchdown reception from Yawcic, Long kick good 0 22 3 Miami (FL) Johnson 3-yard touchdown run, 2-point run failed 6 22 4 Pittsburgh Taylor 10-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 6 29 4 Miami (FL) Cain 75-yard touchdown reception from Glover, 2-point pass incomplete 12 29 4 Pittsburgh Dorsett 53-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 12 36 4 Miami (FL) Anderson 2-yard touchdown run, Dennis kick good 19 36 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 19 36
At Navy Statistics PITT NAVY First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Tony Dorsett 27 carries, 180 yards, 3 TD Receiving Navy Passing Rushing Receiving
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Pittsburgh Navy 1 Pittsburgh Corbett 30-yard touchdown reception from Yawcic, Long kick good 7 0 2 Pittsburgh Dorsett 6-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 14 0 3 Pittsburgh 40-yard field goal by Long 17 0 3 Pittsburgh Dorsett 69-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 24 0 4 Pittsburgh Dorsett 21-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 31 0 4 Pittsburgh Dorsett 32-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 38 0 4 Pittsburgh Sindewald 18-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 45 0 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 45 0
Syracuse Syracuse Orangemen at No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Orangemen 7 0 6 0 13 No. 2 Panthers 3 7 7 6 23
at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA
Date : October 30Game time : 1:30 PM EDT Game attendance : 50,399
Statistics SYR PITT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Syracuse Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Syracuse Pittsburgh 1 Pittsburgh 41-yard field goal by Long 0 3 1 Syracuse Magee 80-yard touchdown reception from Hurley, Jacobs kick good 7 3 2 Pittsburgh Dorsett 1-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 7 10 3 Syracuse 45-yard field goal by Jacobs 10 10 3 Syracuse 55-yard field goal by Jacobs 13 10 3 Pittsburgh Dorsett 33-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 13 17 4 Pittsburgh 47-yard field goal by Long 13 20 4 Pittsburgh 29-yard field goal by Long 13 23 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 13 23
Army Army Cadets at No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Cadets 0 0 7 0 7 No. 2 Panthers 3 10 21 3 37
at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA
Date : November 6Game time : 1:30 PM EST Game attendance : 45,753
Statistics ARMY PITT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Army Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Army Pittsburgh 1 Pittsburgh 27-yard field goal by Long 0 3 2 Pittsburgh 39-yard field goal by Long 0 6 2 Pittsburgh Dorsett 4-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 0 13 3 Pittsburgh Dorsett 32-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 0 20 3 Pittsburgh Dorsett 5-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 0 27 3 Army Logue 27-yard touchdown reception from Hall, Castelli kick good 7 27 4 Pittsburgh Taylor 24-yard touchdown reception from Cavanaugh, Long kick good 7 34 4 Pittsburgh 35-yard field goal by Long 7 37 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 7 37
West Virginia West Virginia Mountaineers at No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Mountaineers 3 0 7 6 16 No. 1 Panthers 7 7 3 7 24
at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA
Date : November 13Game time : 1:30 PM EST Game attendance : 56,500Referee : Raymond BowerTV announcers (ABC ) : Steve Zabriskie (play-by-play) and Lee Grosscup (color commentator)
Statistics WVU PITT First downs 15 25 Total yards 169 399 Rushes/yards 44–99 63–350 Passing yards 70 49 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–24–1 8–14–0 Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics West Virginia Passing Dan Kendra 8–24, 70 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Walt Easley 16 carries, 75 yards Receiving Steve Lewis 6 receptions, 74 yards, 2 TD Pittsburgh Passing Matt Cavanaugh 8–14, 49 yards Rushing Tony Dorsett 38 carries, 199 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jim Corbett 4 receptions, 27 yards
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP West Virginia Pittsburgh 1 7:33 Pittsburgh Dorsett 17-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 0 7 1 0:50 West Virginia 22-yard field goal by McKenzie 3 7 2 12:32 Pittsburgh Dorsett 3-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 3 14 3 11:41 Pittsburgh 27-yard field goal by Long 3 17 3 4:03 West Virginia Lewis 14-yard touchdown reception from Kendra, McKenzie kick good 10 17 4 9:05 Pittsburgh Dorsett 30-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 10 24 4 3:11 West Virginia Lewis 9-yard touchdown reception from Kendra, McKenzie kick no good 16 24 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 16 24
Vs. #16 Penn State No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers vs. No. 16 Penn State Nittany Lions – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total No. 1 Panthers 0 7 7 10 24 No. 16 Nittany Lions 7 0 0 0 7
at Three Rivers Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA
Statistics PITT PSU First downs 20 12 Total yards 419 241 Rushes/yards 65–278 41–106 Passing yards 141 135 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–17–2 9–19–4 Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Pittsburgh Passing Matt Cavanaugh 8–16, 141 yards, 2 INT Rushing Tony Dorsett 38 carries, 224 yards, 2 TD Receiving Gordon Jones 4 receptions, 111 yards Penn State Passing Rushing Receiving
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Pittsburgh Penn State 1 11:59 Penn State Torrey 21-yard touchdown reception from Fusina, Capozzoli kick good 0 7 2 7:42 Pittsburgh Dorsett 6-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 7 7 3 13:23 Pittsburgh Dorsett 40-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 14 7 4 10:55 Pittsburgh Walker 12-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 21 7 4 3:10 Pittsburgh 47-yard field goal by Long 24 7 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 24 7
Vs. #5 Georgia (Sugar Bowl) 1977 Sugar Bowl: No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers vs. No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total No. 1 Panthers 7 14 3 3 27 No. 5 Bulldogs 0 0 3 0 3
at Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA
Date : January 1Game time : 12:30 PM EST Game weather : indoorsGame attendance : 76,177Referee : Vincent BuckleyTV announcers (ABC ) : Keith Jackson (play-by-play) and Ara Parseghian (color commentator)
Statistics PITT UGA First downs 24 14 Total yards 480 181 Rushes/yards 66–288 40–135 Passing yards 192 46 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–18–0 3–22–4 Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Pittsburgh Passing Matt Cavanaugh 10–18, 192 yards, 1 TD Rushing Tony Dorsett 32 carries, 202 yards, 1 TD Receiving Willie Taylor 4 receptions, 72 yards Georgia Passing Rushing Receiving
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Pittsburgh Georgia 1 Pittsburgh Cavanaugh 6-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 7 0 2 Pittsburgh Jones 59-yard touchdown reception from Cavanaugh, Long kick good 14 0 2 Pittsburgh Dorsett 11-yard touchdown run, Long kick good 21 0 3 Georgia 25-yard field goal by Leavitt 21 3 3 Pittsburgh 42-yard field goal by Long 24 3 4 Pittsburgh 31-yard field goal by Long 27 3 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 27 3
Team players drafted into the NFL [16]
Awards and honors Tony Dorsett, Heisman Trophy [17] Tony Dorsett, Walter Camp Award[18] Tony Dorsett, Maxwell Award Tony Dorsett, led the nation in rushing with 1,948 yards Tony Dorsett, All-America selection Media Radio References ^ https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1976-standings.html ^ Official 2009 NCAA Division I Football Records Book (PDF) . Indianapolis: The National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2009. p. 85. Retrieved October 16, 2009 . ^ "Pitt rolls past Georgia Tech, 42–14". Kingsport Times-News . September 19, 1976. Retrieved January 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Pitt struggles by Duke". The Tampa Tribune . October 3, 1976. Retrieved January 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Panthers hold off WVU, 24–16". The Pittsburgh Press . November 14, 1976. Retrieved January 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Pitt: How sweet it is!". The Pittsburgh Press . January 2, 1977. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "CNNSI.com – College Football – Heisman Heroes – Suzuki presents Heisman Heroes: Tony Dorsett – Friday August 25, 2000 01:29 PM". CNN . ^ 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 . ^ "Tony Dorsett No. 1". Reading Eagle . (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. October 24, 1976. p. 77. ^ Axelrod, Phil (November 26, 1976). "Pitt, State, maybe Tennessee". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . p. 18. ^ a b Parascenzo, Marino (November 27, 1976). "Panthers claw Nittany Lions, 24-7". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . p. 1. ^ Mackin, Mike (June 12, 2008). "Let's Learn From the Past: The 1976 Pitt Panthers". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Retrieved April 29, 2010 . ^ "Yearly National Championship Selections: 1976 National Championships". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on November 9, 2007. Retrieved April 15, 2009 . ^ Fitzgerald, Francis J., ed. (1996). The Year the Panthers Roared . Louisville, Kentucky: AdCraft Sports. ISBN 1-887761-06-3 . ^ "Pitt loses quarterback, but Dorsett nears record." Eugene Register-Guard. 1976 Oct 10. Retrieved 2018-Dec-30. ^ "1977 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. ^ "1976 – 42nd Award Tony Dorsett Pittsburgh Back". HeismanTrophy.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2011 . ^ "Football". Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2009 . Further information The Year the Panthers Roared . Francis J. Fitzgerald, ed., Louisville, Kentucky, AdCraft Sports, 1996, ISBN 1-887761-06-3 1976 team where are they now? Pitt Magazine article
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
1936–1949 1950s 1960s 1960 : Minnesota (AP, Coaches, NFF ) / Ole Miss (FWAA) 1961 : Alabama (AP, Coaches, NFF) / Ohio State (FWAA) 1962 : USC 1963 : Texas 1964 : Alabama (AP, Coaches) / Arkansas (FWAA) / Notre Dame (NFF) 1965 : Alabama (AP, FWAA) / Michigan State (Coaches, FWAA, NFF) 1966 : Notre Dame (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF) / Michigan State (NFF) 1967 : USC 1968 : Ohio State 1969 : Texas 1970s 1980–1991