The 1964 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1964 NCAA University Division football season. The team compiled a 3–5–2 record under head coach John Michelosen. The team played its home games at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh. The team's statistical leaders included Fred Mazurek with 686 passing yards and Barry McKnight with 551 rushing yards.
Schedule
Preseason On March 17, Coach Michelosen opened his tenth spring practice. More than 50 players took part. Nine of eleven starters were lost to graduation, but 21 lettermen returned. Basketball star Brian Generalovich vied for one of the end positions. Quarterback Fred Mazurek and halfback Bill Bodle missed drills due to baseball team commitments. The spring session ended with a televised scrimmage on April 18. Pitt and the Naval Academy had a track meet at 11:30 a.m., and the football game followed at 2:00 p.m. The Blues (first and fourth units) beat the Whites (second and third units) 22–6. End Bill Howley was the star with two touchdowns. He caught a 14-yard pass from Kenny Lucas for the first score and then closed the scoring with a 95-yard kick-off return.
On August 24, 62 Panthers convened at Allegheny College in Meadville for the start of fall practice. The squad worked out twice -a-day for two weeks and held a scrimmage on September 5 prior to returning to Pittsburgh for the start of classes.
Game summaries UCLA
On September 12, the Panthers opened their season by hosting the UCLA Bruins. Pitt led the all-time series 4–2. UCLA Coach Bill Barnes had 26 returning lettermen on his squad that lost to Pitt 20–0 the previous season. The Panthers were a 7-point favorite in the NBC national televised game of the week.
UCLA disappointed the 41,333 partisan fans at the stadium by beating the Panthers 17–12. Bruins' quarterback Larry Zeno threw 2 touchdown passes and kicked both extra points and a field goal in the first half. UCLA lead 17–6 at the break. Pitt scored in the second quarter on a Fred Mazurek 4-yard run to cap a 9-play, 75-yard drive. The two-point conversion pass was intercepted. Pitt cut the lead to 17–12 in the third period with a 7-play, 38-yard drive. Barry McKnight scored on a 2-yard run. The two point conversion pass was incomplete. Then the Pitt offense played most of the final period in UCLA territory, but could not score.
The Pitt starting line-up for the game against UCLA was Bill Howley (left end), Jim Jones (left tackle), Ray Popp (left guard), Paul Cercel (center), Bernie LaQuinta (right guard), Ron Linaburg (right tackle), Mitch Zalnasky (right end), Fred Mazurek (quarterback), Dale Stewart (left halfback), Eric Crabtree (right halfback) and Barry McKnight (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Phil Dahar, John Verkleeren, Dennis Bernick, John Schmidt, Tom Raymond, Joe Novogratz, Robert Sorochak, James Irwin, Marty Schottenheimer, Kenny Lucas, Francis Novak, James Dodaro, Bill Bodle, Peter Billey and Jim Flanigan.
at Oregon
Game #2 on Pitt's schedule was in Portland, OR against the Oregon Ducks . The Panthers departed Pittsburgh early Friday (September 25), and had a stopover in Billings, MT for a brief workout at the East Montana College of Education. Oregon Coach Len Casanova had 18 returning lettermen including All-American quarterback candidate Bob Berry. The Ducks were on a 5 game win streak, but Pitt led the all-time series 2–0.
The Oregon Ducks extended their win steak to six games by defeating the Panthers 22–13. Early in the second period, Marty Schottenheimer intercepted a Bob Berry pass and returned it to the Oregon 16-yard line. Fred Mazurek capped the drive with a 1 yard quarterback sneak. Jim Jones added the extra point. Oregon answered in less than 3 minutes, as Berry connected with Sullivan for a 56-yard pass play to the Panthers 6-yard line. On second down Berry passed 7 yards to Steve Bunker for the touchdown and Mike Brundage booted the extra point. The Ducks went 69 yards for their second touchdown the next time they got possession, with Dennis Keller scoring on a 1-yard run. Dave Tobey kicked the extra point from the 25-yard line after a holding penalty was assessed to the Ducks. The Panthers did everything offensively in the second half except score enough to win. After the kick-off they drove 59 yards to the 2-yard line. Halfback Dale Stewart fumbled into the end zone and Oregon recovered. Early in the final period, the Panthers drove to the Ducks 9-yard line and lost the ball on downs. The defense forced a punt and Eric Crabtree returned it to the Oregon 25-yard line. Fred Mazurek scored on the sixth play. Pitt opted to try a 2-point conversion, but Mazurek was sacked on the 5-yard line. Pitt regained possession on their 27-yard line. Stewart fumbled and Oregon recovered. Then Berry threw an interception and Eric Crabtree ran 82 yards for the apparent go-ahead score, but an official called offside on the Panthers to nullify the play. Six plays later Ray Palm caught Berry's second touchdown pass. Berry passed to Bunker for the 2-point conversion. The Panthers were 0–2.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against Oregon was Bill Howley (left end), Jim Jones (left tackle), Ray Popp (left guard), Paul Cercel (center), Bernie LaQuinta (right guard), Ron Linaburg (right tackle), Mitch Zalnasky (right end), Fred Mazurek (quarterback), Dale Stewart (left halfback), Bill Bodle (right halfback) and Barry McKnight (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Phil Dahar, Mike Rosborough, Dennis Bernick, Bob Guzinsky, Joe Novogratz, Tom Qualey, Marty Schottenheimer, Fred Hoaglin, Robert Sorochak, James Irwin, John Schmidt, George Macko, Kenny Lucas, Francis Novak, Joseph Pohl, Dewey Chester, James Dodaro, Eric Crabtree and Jim Flanigan.
William & Mary
On October 3, the Panthers hosted the Willian & Mary Indians for their Syria Shrine Charity Game. The Indians were 1–1 on the season under first-year head coach and future Hall-of-Famer Marv Levy. The Tribe had beaten VMI (14–12) and lost to Navy (35–6). Scott Swan, the Tribe's leading rusher, was injured and did not play. In 1949 the Panthers beat the Indians 13–7 in their only other meeting. Coach Michelosen had to shuffle his starting lineup due to injuries: halfbacks Bill Bodle (thigh bruise) and Dale Stewart (damaged rib cartilage); tackles Ron Linaburg (knee injury and ankle sprain) and Jim Jones (damaged foot) and guard Bernie Laquinta (turf toe) did not play.
In front of 23, 264 fans, the Panthers earned their first victory of the 1964 season by beating William & Mary 34–7. Six different Panthers scored. Barry McKnight, Bob Dyer, Eric Crabtree, Bill Howley and Kenny Lucas each scored a touchdown, and Howard Heit kicked 4 extra points. Pitt quarterback Fred Mazurek completed 10 of 16 passes for 141 yards and carried the ball 8 times for 87 yards. In the second quarter, William & Mary running back Chuck Albertson returned a kick-off 86 yards for their only touchdown. Sam Miller kicked the extra point.
The Pitt starting lineup for the game against William & Mary was Brian Generalovich (left end), Dennis Bernick (left tackle), Ray Popp (left guard), Marty Schottenheimer (center), James Irwin (right guard), Al Keiser (right tackle), Mitch Zalnasky (right end), Fred Mazurek (quarterback), James Dodaro (left halfback), Eric Crabtree (right halfback) and Barry McKnight (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Phil Dahar, Howard Heit, Ron Simentel, Gabe Tamburino, Wayne Anderson, Bob Guzinsky, Joe Novogratz, Tom Qualey, Paul Cercel, Jock Beachler, Fred Hoaglin, Bob Taylor, Robert Sorochak, Dan Picciano, Ronald Cimino, Tom Raymond, John Schmidt, Robert Trethaway, Bill Howley, Mike Rosborough, James Eskridge, Kurt Wentzel, John Cullen, Kenny Lucas, Joseph Pohl, Ed Assid, Ed James, Francis Novak, Peter Smith, Dewey Chester, James Elmore, Bill Mullett, Bob Dyer, Peter Billey, Jim Flanigan, Carmen Sporio and William Beck.
West Virginia
On October 10, the Panthers and the West Virginia Mountaineers played for the fifty-seventh time. Pitt led the all-time series 40–15–1, but West Virginia had won 4 of the past 7. Gene Corum's squad was 2–1 for the season, having beaten Richmond (20–10) and the The Citadel (7–3) and losing to Rice (24–0). Pitt quarterback Fred Mazurek explained the rivalry: “Against everyone else they hardly look like a football team. But when they play us, all of a sudden they played like eleven all-Americans. They really want to beat us.”
37,179 fans braved the cold and windy conditions to see the Panthers even their record at 2–2 by defeating the Mountaineers 14–0. Pitt took the opening kick-off and drove 68 yards in 15 plays. The drive took eight minutes and was capped with a Fred Mazurek 1 yard quarterback sneak. Jim Jones kicked the extra point. but then missed two field goal attempts. The Panthers scored again in the second quarter on a 9 yard touchdown pass from Mazurek to Eric Crabtree. Pitt defensive back Joseph Pohl intercepted Allen McCune's pass and returned it to the Mountaineers 45-yard line. Pitt scored five plays later. Jones added the extra point and Pitt led 14–0. Defense dominated the second half.
The starting lineup for the game against West Virginia was Bill Howley (left end), Dennis Bernick (left tackle), Ray Popp (left guard), Paul Cercel (center), James Irwin (right guard), Al Keiser (right tackle), Mitch Zalnasky (right end), Fred Mazurek (quarterback), James Dodaro (left halfback), Eric Crabtree (right halfback) and Barry McKnight (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Brian Generalovich, Phil Dahar, Mike Rosborough, Jim Jones, Bob Guzinsky, Tom Raymond, Howard Heit, Joe Novogratz, Tom Qualey, Robert Sorochak, Dan Picciano, Marty Schottenheimer, Jock Beachler, Kenny Lucas, Joseph Pohl, Dale Stewart, Dewey Chester, Peter Billey, Bob Dyer and Jim Flanigan.
at Miami
The fifth game of the season was against the Miami Hurricanes in the Orange Bowl. The Hurricanes were led by first year head coach Charlie Tate. He inherited 19 returning lettermen, but his squad was 0–3 for the season. Pitt led the all-time series 5–4.
The favored Panthers were lucky to escape the Orange Bowl with a 20–20 tie, as the game ended when Miami kicker Dan Cifra's field goal went wide right with 9 seconds left on the clock. Miami, who had scored 1 touchdown total in its three previous games, managed to score twice to take a 13–0 lead late in the first half. Halfback Andy Sixkiller returned a Pitt punt 67 yards for the initial touchdown. The snap was fumbled on the extra point and Miami led 6–0 at the end of the first quarter. Then Miami scored on an 8-play, 43-yard drive. Bob Beletnikoff ran 6 yards around left end for the touchdown and Cifra booted the extra point. With less than 5 minutes left in the first half, the Panthers second team, led by Kenny Lucas, completed a 13-play, 66-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Mike Rosborough. Jim Jones kicked the extra point to cut the lead to 13–7. In the third quarter, the Panthers went ahead 14–13 on a 1-yard run by Barry McKnight and Jones placement to end a 67-yard drive. Miami immediately answered with a 10-play, 50-yard drive to retake the lead 20–14 on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Beletnikoff to Jack Sims and Cifra extra point. With less than 5 minutes remaining, Pitt gained possession on their own 13-yard line. Four plays moved the ball to the 33-yard line. On second down Eric Crabtree ran around end for a 67-yard touchdown run. Jones missed his first extra point of the season, and the Panthers went home 2–2–1.