Former Ohio State star and All American end Wes Fesler did a good job restructuring the squad for 1946 and the team felt it had a better future than its subsequent 3-5-1 record. He also placed a one-inch Navy blue center stripe on the all white shell he inherited from Shaugnnessy’s regime, returning Pitt to the use of its official school color. There was great confidence expressed by the Pitt faithful that Fesler had the goods to restore the Panthers’ football glory. He had been a nine-letter winner at Ohio State and was considered to be their greatest athlete ever. As the Buckeyes’ fullback, he was a three-time All American and Big Ten MVP, received major league baseball offers throughout his college career, and was a Phi Beta Kappa student. He improved the defense and did much to develop standouts Bill McPeak, Lou Cecconi, Leo Skladany, and Carl DePasqua. Against Penn State’s nation leading defense the Panthers gained 227 yards and the Purdue game was lost only because “Henry Stram, reserve back, booted a perfect 19 yard field goal with only three seconds remaining in the final period.” With hope rising, Fesler bolted for his alma mater’s head coaching job, an offer he felt he couldn’t refuse.