Pitt is less than four weeks away from the start of the 2024 season, which begins against Kent State on Aug. 31 at Acrisure Stadium, and a few new promotions have been revealed.
There are three new promotions for the home slate this season, including the honoring one of the best players in program history.
Youngstown State — Earth, Wind & Fire Day, Sept. 21
In honor of the hit song “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire, Pitt will pay tribute to the Grammy-winning band with a Pittsburgh-based cover band Let It Grove performance on Roc’n on Rooney during pregame and the Panther Pitt student section will receive 70s-style throwback shirts.
Cal — Pittsburgh Day, Oct. 12
In honor of the Steel City and a history of great athletics in the city, an in-game race featuring the Pittsburgh sporting mascots from a variety of sports will take place and the Pitt Fiesta Bowl teams from 1979 and 2004 will be honored.
Syracuse — Larry Fitzgerald Night, Oct. 24
This one is self-explanatory. Legendary Larry Fitzgerald will be honored for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. A limited number of fans will be given a Larry Fitzgerald bobblehead.
The most notable event, of course, is Fitzburgh.
Fitzgerald, when reflecting on his legendary career earlier this year, felt confident in saying that his time at Pitt was life-changing.
“I’ve seen a few young athletes announce their college commitment decisions recently, and I can’t help but reflect on making that decision on my own all those years ago,” Fitzgerald wrote on Instagram.
“Choosing to attend (Pitt) and continue my athletic career there was one of the most formative decisions I could ever make. My experience at Pitt allowed me to grow into the young man I wanted to be, challenge myself both academically and athletically, and make lifelong connections and memories I’ll never forget. I remember the first time I stepped onto the field, I knew it was where I was meant to be. From the coaches, the players, and the administration to the city and my church family at Mt Ararat, everything felt like a new home away from home.
“For any young student-athletes out there making a college decision right now: trust your instincts, do your research and find a place that feels like home and doesn’t make you feel like you are just another spoke on a wheel, where you can grow and develop as a person and an athlete. If you do all of that, it’ll be all worth it in the end.”
“Larry means the world,” Narduzzi told WPXI last September. “He’s actually gonna be our honorary captain, so I guess I’m announcing that to the world right now here with you guys. But we read off what he’s done, and you talk about the, I think it was over 1,400 catches and 17,000 yards, 121 TDs in the NFL. It’s just like, ‘Wow.’
“He’s an amazing football player, an amazing person and we’re excited to have him back.”
Fitzgerald only spent two seasons at Pitt, but he made an impact that cannot — and will not — be forgotten any time soon. And that impact has continued to this day.
In those two seasons at Pitt from 2002-03, he recorded 161 receptions for 2,677 yards and 34 touchdowns. His sophomore campaign (92 receptions for 1,672 yards and 22 touchdowns) earned him Heisman runner-up honors.
Fitzgerald was perhaps the best player in college football in the 2003 season as he won the Biletnikoff Award, the Walter Camp Award, the Big East Offensive Player of the Year honor and was named a unanimous All-American. And there’s a legitimate argument to be made that he should’ve won the Heisman Trophy, too.
His dominance carried over to the NFL after being selected with the third pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. Despite a career in which he played with a revolving door of quarterbacks, Fitzgerald will go down as one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history.
In 17 seasons, all with the Cardinals, he recorded 1,432 receptions (second all-time) for 17,492 yards (second all-time) and 121 touchdowns (sixth all-time). He also added 57 receptions for 942 yards and 10 touchdowns in the postseason in 2008-09, one of the greatest individual postseasons in NFL history.
Fitzgerald, along with fellow Pitt legends Matt Cavanaugh, Ruben Brown and Chris Doleman, was inducted into the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame last fall, and his next stop will be the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he’s eligible.
It’s a shame he didn’t win the Heisman that year! Head and shoulders above White (winner).
H2P!!!