Former Pittsburgh Panther Pigskin Stars
Mike Ditka (1958-1960)
A noticeable football name around the globe. Played college football for a school that was just a short drive away. Recruited by 2 other football powerhouses. One also in-state & one from Indiana. A college player that played two different positions but had a specialty at one. One of the greatest to ever line-up at the tight end position in college. A player that garnered All-American status his final year at Pitt. Also, voted into the elite class of college football players(College Football Hall of Fame). Once leaving his college days, "Iron Mike" went on to the next level to both play & coach. He played for 3 different teams in the NFL. Garnering 5 Pro Bowl nominations & 3 Super Bowl titles.
Ditka is in a class by himself for being the very initial player elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame from his tight end position. He coached the very team(Bears) he played for to a Super Bowl championship. This title led to even more publicity with a "tune" about the Super Bowl victory. As head of a team, Ditka didn't care to show his emotions after games. His media relations were sometimes not very good by expressing his thoughts & opinions openly. He currently is under contract with ESPN as a pro football expert.
"Run" Tony "Run"
Tony Dorsett was one of the finest running backs to ever play college football. He led Pittsburgh to a nation title in 1976. During this season Dorsett picked up numerous awards. He won the Heisman. He won the Maxwell Award given to the best college football player in America. He also won the the Walter Camp Award for college football Player of the Year. He led the nation in rushing in 1976. His total was a whopping 1948 yards. He was first team All-American 3 out of 4 seasons at Pitt. He finished on the 2nd team All-America squad his other season. Dorsett ranks #2 all-time in college football for rushing yards trailing only Ricky Williams.
He had two games to well remember in college. Both games were against the mighty Irish. He rushed for 303 yards in 1975 & he totaled 290 rushing yards in 1976. People even said that Notre Dame let the field grass grow high to try & help slow this great running back down. Dorsett went on to have a great NFL career as well. He played 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys & one with the Denver Broncos. He holds honors as being the only player to ever win a college national title one year & a Super Bowl championship the next. He helped lead the Cowboys to Super Bowl XXII win. During that Super Bowl winning season Dorsett was voted Rookie of the Year in the NFL. He has been voted into both the College Football & Pro Football Hall of Fame. Both were done in 1994.
Dan Marino(1979-1982)
A former Pitt & Dolphin great at QB. A player that played college football in his stomping grounds. A worse than expected final college campaign that affected his Heisman chances & draft status at the next level. A senior campaign that persuaded other NFL teams to avoid picking him in the draft. A few other QB's drafted in front of him but didn't turn out as good if they'd picked him instead. The Miami Dolphins were the beneficiary in this situation. They got a QB that turned out to break numerous QB records. He brought tons of joy & recollections to football fans everywhere.
Due to his subpar senior season, Marino wasn't drafted as high as expected. There were 5 other QB's drafted before him in the 1983 NFL Draft. Well, The teams that passed on him wished they hadn't. Miami was the team that picked him & the rest is literally "history". He spent his entire NFL career in Miami. Playing 17 seasons in the NFL & setting numerous passing records. He was voted NFL MVP in 1984. He was a 9-time Pro Bowl selection. He never won a Super Bowl title though with the Dolphins. His jersey number has been officially retired by Miami. He was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2005, he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
A noticeable football name around the globe. Played college football for a school that was just a short drive away. Recruited by 2 other football powerhouses. One also in-state & one from Indiana. A college player that played two different positions but had a specialty at one. One of the greatest to ever line-up at the tight end position in college. A player that garnered All-American status his final year at Pitt. Also, voted into the elite class of college football players(College Football Hall of Fame). Once leaving his college days, "Iron Mike" went on to the next level to both play & coach. He played for 3 different teams in the NFL. Garnering 5 Pro Bowl nominations & 3 Super Bowl titles.
Ditka is in a class by himself for being the very initial player elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame from his tight end position. He coached the very team(Bears) he played for to a Super Bowl championship. This title led to even more publicity with a "tune" about the Super Bowl victory. As head of a team, Ditka didn't care to show his emotions after games. His media relations were sometimes not very good by expressing his thoughts & opinions openly. He currently is under contract with ESPN as a pro football expert.
"Run" Tony "Run"
Tony Dorsett was one of the finest running backs to ever play college football. He led Pittsburgh to a nation title in 1976. During this season Dorsett picked up numerous awards. He won the Heisman. He won the Maxwell Award given to the best college football player in America. He also won the the Walter Camp Award for college football Player of the Year. He led the nation in rushing in 1976. His total was a whopping 1948 yards. He was first team All-American 3 out of 4 seasons at Pitt. He finished on the 2nd team All-America squad his other season. Dorsett ranks #2 all-time in college football for rushing yards trailing only Ricky Williams.
He had two games to well remember in college. Both games were against the mighty Irish. He rushed for 303 yards in 1975 & he totaled 290 rushing yards in 1976. People even said that Notre Dame let the field grass grow high to try & help slow this great running back down. Dorsett went on to have a great NFL career as well. He played 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys & one with the Denver Broncos. He holds honors as being the only player to ever win a college national title one year & a Super Bowl championship the next. He helped lead the Cowboys to Super Bowl XXII win. During that Super Bowl winning season Dorsett was voted Rookie of the Year in the NFL. He has been voted into both the College Football & Pro Football Hall of Fame. Both were done in 1994.
Dan Marino(1979-1982)
A former Pitt & Dolphin great at QB. A player that played college football in his stomping grounds. A worse than expected final college campaign that affected his Heisman chances & draft status at the next level. A senior campaign that persuaded other NFL teams to avoid picking him in the draft. A few other QB's drafted in front of him but didn't turn out as good if they'd picked him instead. The Miami Dolphins were the beneficiary in this situation. They got a QB that turned out to break numerous QB records. He brought tons of joy & recollections to football fans everywhere.
Due to his subpar senior season, Marino wasn't drafted as high as expected. There were 5 other QB's drafted before him in the 1983 NFL Draft. Well, The teams that passed on him wished they hadn't. Miami was the team that picked him & the rest is literally "history". He spent his entire NFL career in Miami. Playing 17 seasons in the NFL & setting numerous passing records. He was voted NFL MVP in 1984. He was a 9-time Pro Bowl selection. He never won a Super Bowl title though with the Dolphins. His jersey number has been officially retired by Miami. He was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2005, he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
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