NEXT PANTHERS GAMEDAY:Signing DayFebruary 3rd 2010 Buy Pitt Tickets  
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 Posted on December 3rd, 2009 by David WhipkeyCourtesy of www.pittsburghpanthers.com The University of Pittsburgh lost one of its finest ambassadors Wednesday when Serafino “Foge” Fazio passed away at the age of 71. Fazio’s deep Pitt ties included time as a player, an assistant and ultimately head coach for the Panthers. “Foge was a true ‘Pitt Man,’” said Panthers head coach Dave Wannstedt, who as a high school senior at Baldwin was recruited by Fazio to the University of Pittsburgh. “He loved this university and everyone at Pitt loved Foge. He was an outstanding football coach and an even better person. From the time I came back to Pittsburgh five years ago, no one has been a better friend or supporter of what we are doing at Pitt. He will be greatly missed.” Fazio was an All-East center and team MVP as a senior at Pitt in 1959. After playing for the Boston Patriots of the American Football League for one season, he would embark on a four-decade coaching career that included time in both the college and NFL ranks. He would serve his alma mater as linebackers coach (1969-72; 1977-79), defensive coordinator (1979-81) and, ultimately, head coach (1982-85). Fazio was part of seven bowl teams at Pitt, including five that finished ranked among the nation’s Top 10 at season’s end. As an NFL assistant, he served stints with the Falcons, Jets and Redskins and was the defensive coordinator of the Vikings (1996-98) and Browns (2001-02). He retired with Cleveland in 2003 but returned to pro ball two years later as a Vikings defensive consultant. In recent years, Fazio distinguished himself as a knowledgeable radio analyst, first working for Westwood One’s national broadcasts and then for the past two years working on the Pitt football radio team with Bill Hillgrove and Bill Fralic, who was a three-time All-America offensive tackle under Fazio from 1982-84. “I don’t know that anyone embodied the Pitt spirit better than Foge Fazio,” said athletic director Steve Pederson, who approached Fazio about working Pitt broadcasts in 2007. “It was obvious from the first time that I met him how passionate he was about this university and its football program. “Foge had the unique ability to make everyone he came in contact with feel special. In so many ways he represented all the great things associated with the University of Pittsburgh.” Although he had left the coaching ranks for the broadcast booth, Fazio dedicated time to helping Our Lady of Sacred Heart High School in Coraopolis start a football program that will begin play in 2010 under former Pitt quarterback Bill Daniels (1972-74). Posted on November 12th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey The Notre Dame-Pitt series has provided the football world with some of the most vivid memories and best players to ever step foot on the gridiron. Coaches such as Knute Rockne, Elmer Layden, Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine and Lou Holtz have led the Irish into battle against the Panthers while Pitt coaches Jock Sutherland, Johnny Majors, Jackie Sherrill, Foge Fazio, Walt Harris and Dave Wannstedt have prowled the sidelines in contests against Notre Dame. Players such as Joe Montana, Jerome Bettis, Paul Hornung, Johnny Lujak, Daryle Lamonica, Raghib Ismail, and Ricky Watters along with other Irish legends have squared off against Panthers such as Dan Marino, Tony Dorsett, Bill Fralic, and Larry Fitzgerald Notre Dame holds a decisive 44-19-1 series lead over Pitt. However, the Panthers have won two of the past three contests. Here is a brief synopsis of the rivalry’s modern history. November 15, 1975: Panthers running back Tony Dorsett basically beat the Irish by himself on a crisp fall day at Pitt Stadium. Then a junior, Dorsett torched the Irish for 303 yards on the ground in a 34-20 win. September 11, 1976: Pitt kick-started their national championship season with an impressive 31-10 win over the Irish in South Bend. Dorsett, the eventual Heisman Trophy winner, ran for 181 yards in the win. ABC moved the game, which was previously scheduled in the middle of the season to week one. Legend has it the Notre Dame grounds crew allowed the natural playing surface to grow higher than usual in an effort to slow down the fleet Dorsett. September 10, 1977: The Joe Montana-quarterbacked Irish spoiled Pitt’s home opener with a come-from-behind 19-9 win. Notre Dame’s fierce defense knocked Panther quarterback Matt Cavanaugh from the contest. The Irish used the win as a spring board to a national championship. November 6, 1982: Dan Marino and his Panthers entered the showdown with the Irish at Pitt Stadium ranked Number 1 in the country and had visions of winning a national title. But the Gerry Faust-coached Irish hung tough all day and upset Pitt 31-16 before an overflow crowd. Notre Dame running back Allen Pinkett helped salt the game away midway through the fourth quarter with a 76-yard touchdown run. October 10, 1987: Notre Dame entered the 1987 game at Pitt Stadium undefeated and with a roster that included players such as receiver and eventual Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown and quarterback Tony Rice. But Pitt running back Craig “Ironhead” Heyward was unstoppable in a 30-22 win over coach Lou Holtz and his Irish. November 13, 1999: The Panthers sent Pitt Stadium out in grand style with a pulsating 37-27 win before an overflow crowd of 60,190. Pitt quarterback John Turman tossed two touchdown passes to Antonio Bryant and running back Kevan Barlow scored twice. The Pitt student section took the field and the goal posts with nine seconds remaining on the clock. Approximately 300 former Pitt players were saluted in a stirring halftime tribute. October 12, 2002: The eighth-ranked Irish used defense and opportunistic offense to hold off the Panthers 14-6 at Notre Dame Stadium. Pitt outgained Notre Dame in total yardage by a margin of 402-185. But the Irish defense sacked Pitt quarterback Rod Rutherford eight times. Rutherford threw for 313 yards in the game. October 11, 2003: In their first visit to Heinz Field, Notre Dame secured a 20-14 win over Pitt. Notre Dame’s Julius Jones enjoyed a career day against Pitt’s defense, rushing for 262 yards and two scores. Pitt’s Larry Fitzgerald finished with five catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns. The Irish defense again terrorized Pitt quarterback Rod Rutherford and sacked him eight times. November 13, 2004: Pitt earned their first win over Notre Dame since 1999 by virtue of a thrilling 41-38 win at Notre Dame Stadium. Panthers quarterback Tyler Palko tossed five touchdown passes and led a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter that culminated in Josh Cummings 32-yard field goal. Palko finished with 26 completions in 42 attempts for 334 yards. Pitt’s defense intercepted Brady Quinn twice. September 3, 2005: In a game that was the first contest along the sidelines for Notre Dame’s Charlie Weis and Pitt’s Dave Wannstedt, the Irish defeated the Panthers 42-21 at Heinz Field. Notre Dame’s offense bulldozed its way to 275 yards rushing and paved the way to victory. Brady Quinn threw for 233 yards for the Irish. November 1, 2008: Pitt outlasted Notre Dame 41-38 in four overtimes. It was the longest game in the history of Notre Dame Stadium. Panther running back LeSean McCoy ran for 169 yards on 32 carries and had one touchdown. Pitt’s Conor Lee drilled a 22-yard field goal to win the game after Notre Dame’s Brandon Walker missed a 38-yard try. Posted on September 20th, 2009 by AdminBy David Whipkey | Pitt Panthers Gameday Correspondent Pitt’s storied football tradition includes many players who have moved on and excelled in the National Football League. Performers such as Dan Marino, Tony Dorsett, Mike Ditka, Hugh Green and Bill Fralic dominated both on the Oakland campus and in the professional ranks. The tradition is continuing in a big way this millennium. PittPanthersGameday.com will highlight each Panther alumnus on Mondays during the NFL season. Week two’s highlights included: Darrelle Revis, New York Jets cornerback: Revis continued his stellar early 2009 season by shutting down another premium wide receiver. One week after stifling Houston’s Andre Johnson, Revis again displayed his coverage skills by limiting New England’s Randy Moss to 24 yards receiving on four receptions. Revis also contributed five tackles and one interception of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in New York’s 16-9 win at the Meadowlands. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals receiver: Fitzgerald helped the Cards rebound after a disappointing season opening loss to San Francisco. The current Madden ’10 video game cover boy hauled in a 22-yard scoring pass from Kurt Warner in Arizona’s 31-17 win over host Jacksonville. Fitzgerald finished with four catches for 34 yards in the win. Gerald Hayes, Arizona Cardinals linebacker: Hayes was a stabilizing force in Arizona’s defense during their 31-17 win at Jacksonville. Hayes finished with three tackles and assisted the defense in holding the Jaguars to 92 yards rushing. LaRod Stephens-Howling, Arizona Cardinals kick returner: The rookie finished with 14 yards rushing on two carries and added 25 yards worth of kick return yardage. Shawntae Spencer, San Francisco 49ers cornerback: Spencer is fast becoming a force in San Francisco’s secondary. Spencer finished with two tackles in their 23-10 win over Seattle and helped hold the Seahawks to 224 yards passing. Andy Lee, San Francisco 49ers punter: Lee kept Seattle’s offense pinned deep all day Sunday. The sixth-year punter averaged 40 yards per punt on six boots in Sunday’s 23-10 over the Seahawks. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles running back: Shady made things happen Sunday when he touched the ball in Philadelphia’s 48-22 loss to the New Orleans Saints. McCoy finished with 18 yards on three carries and added 37 yards receiving on four receptions. Posted on September 8th, 2009 by Admin
Posted on July 2nd, 2009 by pantherPitt has retired 8 jerseys of former outstanding football players
Posted on June 18th, 2009 by panther
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