1978 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

Last updated

1978 Pittsburgh Panthers football
Tangerine Bowl, L 17–30 vs. NC State
ConferenceIndependent
Record8–4
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDon Boyce (1st season)
Offensive scheme Split backs
Defensive coordinator Jimmy Johnson (2nd season)
Base defense 5–2
Home stadium Pitt Stadium
Seasons
  1977
1979  
1978 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 4 Penn State    11 1 0
North Texas State    9 2 0
East Carolina    9 3 0
Navy    9 3 0
No. 7 Notre Dame    9 3 0
Rutgers    9 3 0
Florida State    8 3 0
Tennessee State    8 3 0
Temple    7 3 1
Pittsburgh    8 4 0
Holy Cross    7 4 0
Louisville    7 4 0
UNLV    7 4 0
Southern Miss    7 4 0
Northeast Louisiana    6 4 1
Georgia Tech    7 5 0
Hawaii    6 5 0
Miami (FL)    6 5 0
South Carolina    5 5 1
William & Mary    5 5 1
Cincinnati    5 6 0
Villanova    5 6 0
Army    4 6 1
Memphis State    4 7 0
Tulane    4 7 0
Virginia Tech    4 7 0
Air Force    3 8 0
Colgate    3 8 0
Richmond    3 8 0
Syracuse    3 8 0
Illinois State    2 9 0
West Virginia    2 9 0
Boston College    0 11 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1978 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Panthers competed in the 1978 Tangerine Bowl.

Contents

Coach Jackie Sherrill stated in the pre-season that he expected to have "another outstanding football team". [1]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 168:30 p.m.at Tulane No. 14W 24–632,658 [2]
September 231:30 p.m. Temple No. 11W 20–1243,445 [3]
September 301:30 p.m. North Carolina No. 9
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA
ABC W 20–1650,439 [4]
October 71:30 p.m.at Boston College No. 9W 32–1521,673 [5]
October 1412:30 p.m.at Notre Dame No. 9ABCL 17–2659,075 [6]
October 211:30 p.m. Florida State Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 15
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA
W 7–355,104 [7]
October 282:00 p.m.at 18 Navy No. 15L 11–2132,909 [8]
November 41:00 p.m.at Syracuse No. 19W 18–1726,037 [9]
November 111:30 p.m. West Virginia No. 20
W 52–753,074 [10]
November 181:30 p.m. Army No. 18
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA
W 35–1745,297 [11]
November 251:30 p.m.at 1 Penn State No. 15ABCL 10–1777,465 [12]
December 238:00 p.m.vs. NC State No. 16 Mizlou L 17–3031,356 [13]

[14]

Coaching staff

1978 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff
Coaching staff Support staff
  • Alex Kramer – Executive Assistant
  • Bob Matey – Scouting coordinator
  • Kevin Dickey – Graduate assistant
  • Gary Davis – Graduate assistant
  • Tony Wise – Graduate assistant
 Strength and conditioning staff
  • Bob Matey – Weight Program

[15]

Team players drafted into the NFL

PlayerPositionRoundPickNFL club
Gordon Jones Wide receiver234 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Walt Brown Center5131 Detroit Lions
Jeff Delaney Defensive back7190 Los Angeles Rams
Al Chesley Linebacker11296 Philadelphia Eagles
David Logan Nose Tackle12307 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

[16]

References

  1. Pitt Strong Again; Lions Up in Air, web: The Sacramento Bee, 1978, retrieved March 13, 2023
  2. "Panthers rough up Tulane, 24–6". The Pittsburgh Press. September 17, 1978. Retrieved October 19, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Pitt rallies by Temple". The State. September 24, 1978. Retrieved October 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Jacobs, Trocano rally Pitt 20–16". The Palm Beach Post. October 1, 1978. Retrieved January 27, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Pitt Thumps Boston College, 32–15". The Pittsburgh Press. October 8, 1978. pp. D1, D2 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Irish overcome Pittsburgh". The Montana Standard. October 15, 1978. Retrieved October 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Jacobs' jaunt jolts Seminoles for Pitt". Daily Press. October 22, 1978. Retrieved October 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Navy impressive in defeating Pitt, 21–11". The Hartford Courant. October 29, 1978. Retrieved October 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Pittsburgh clips Syracuse, 18–17". The Indianapolis Star. November 5, 1978. Retrieved October 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Pitt attack finally erupts, crushes West Va., 52–7". The Pittsburgh Press. November 12, 1978. Retrieved January 27, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Pitt rolls to 35–17 conquest of Cadets". The Patriot-News. November 19, 1978. Retrieved October 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Paterno takes gamble, keeps Penn St. No. 1". The Miami Herald. November 26, 1978. Retrieved October 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Wolfpack rips Panthers, in Tangerine Bowl upset". The Tampa Tribune. December 24, 1978. Retrieved January 27, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  14. "1978 Pitt Panthers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  15. "Coaches Biographies". 1978 Pitt Football. University of Pittsburgh Department of Athletics. 1978. pp. 19–24. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  16. "1979 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.