1989 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

1989 Pittsburgh Panthers football
John Hancock Bowl Champions
John Hancock Bowl, Win, 31–28, Texas A&M Aggies
Conference	Independent
Ranking
Coaches	#19
AP	#17
1989 record	8–3–1
Head coach	Mike Gottfried (4th year) Paul Hackett (interim)
Offensive coordinator	Paul Hackett (1st year)
Offensive scheme	Multiple Pro
Defensive coordinator	Bob Valesente (1st year)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Pitt Stadium (Capacity: 56,500)

1989 Division I-A independents football records
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#1 Miami			–					11	–	1	–	0
#2 Notre Dame			–					12	–	1	–	0
#3 Florida State			–					10	–	2	–	0
Northern Illinois			–					9	–	2	–	0
#15 Penn State			–					8	–	3	–	1
#17 Pittsburgh			–					8	–	3	–	1
#21 West Virginia			–					8	–	3	–	1
Syracuse			–					8	–	4	–	0
Southwestern Louisiana			–					7	–	4	–	0
Akron			–					6	–	4	–	1
South Carolina			–					6	–	4	–	1
Virginia Tech			–					6	–	4	–	1
Louisiana Tech			–					5	–	4	–	1
Army			–					6	–	5	–	0
Louisville			–					6	–	5	–	0
East Carolina			–					5	–	5	–	1
Tulsa			–					6	–	6	–	0
Southern Miss			–					5	–	6	–	0
Tulane			–					4	–	8	–	0
Navy			–					3	–	8	–	0
Rutgers			–					2	–	7	–	2
Boston College			–					2	–	9	–	0
Memphis			–					2	–	9	–	0
Cincinnati			–					1	–	9	–	1
Temple			–					1	–	10	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1989 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 1989 college football season.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
Sat. Sep. 2	7:00 p.m.	Pacific	#23	Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA		W 38–3	35,421
Sat. Sep. 9	12:00 p.m.	at Boston College	#23	Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA		W 29–10	31,000
Sat. Sep. 23	7:30 p.m.	#10 Syracuse	#13	Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA (Rivalry)	ESPN	W 30–23	45,762
Sat. Sep. 30	7:30 p.m.	at #9 West Virginia	#10	Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV (Backyard Brawl)	ESPN	T 31–31	68,938
Sat. Oct. 7	12:00 p.m.	at Temple	#8	Veterans Stadium • Philadelphia, PA	JP Sports	W 27–3	24,982
Sat. Oct. 14	12:00 p.m.	Navy	#9	Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA	JP Sports	W 31–14	50,467
Sat. Oct. 28	5:00 p.m.	at #1 Notre Dame	#7	Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, IN (Rivalry)	ESPN	L 7–45	59,075
Sat. Nov. 11	2:30 p.m.	#7 Miami (FL)	#14	Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA	CBS	L 3–24	52,528
Sat. Nov. 18	12:00 p.m.	East Carolina	#19	Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA		W 47–42	21,862
Sat. Nov. 25	2:30 p.m.	#22 Penn State	#19	Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA (Rivalry)	CBS	L 13–16	57,158
Sat. Dec. 2	7:00 a.m.	vs. Rutgers	#24	Lansdowne Road • Dublin, Ireland (Emerald Isle Classic)	ESPN	W 46–29	19,800
Sat. Dec. 30	2:30 p.m.	vs. #16 Texas A&M	#23	Sun Bowl Stadium • El Paso, TX (John Hancock Bowl)	CBS	W 31–28	44,887
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Coaching staff

1989 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff
	Coaching Staff Mike Gottfried – Head Coach Bob Valesente – Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Paul Hackett – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Nick Rapone – Secondary Tommie Liggins – Tight Ends Bill Meyers – Offensive Line Larry Kirksey – Running Backs Frank D'Alonzo – Defensive Line Sal Sunseri – Linebackers Scott O'Brien – Special Teams			Support Staff Alex Kramer – Administrative Assistant Bud Ratliff – Recruiting Coordinator Frank Cignetti, Jr. – Graduate Assistant Michael McCarthy – Graduate Assistant Thomas McConkey – Graduate Assistant Frank Gansz, Jr. – Graduate Assistant Skip Peete – Graduate Assistant John Stone – Graduate Assistant			Strength and Conditioning Staff Buddy Morris – Strength Coordinator

Team players drafted into the NFL

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL Club
Marc Spindler	Defensive End	3	62	Detroit Lions
Dean Caliguire	Guard	4	92	San Francisco 49ers
Alonzo Hampton	Defensive Back	4	104	Minnesota Vikings
Tom Sims	Defensive Tackle	6	152	Kansas City Chiefs
Chris Goetz	Guard	9	227	San Diego Chargers
Carnel Smith	Defensive End	11	290	Indianapolis Colts
Roman Matusz	Tackle	11	298	Chicago Bears