PITTSBURGH — Go ahead. Try it. Pick the five best Pittsburgh athletes since the year 2000, college or pro, based on whatever criterion you desire, and I guarantee you’ll leave the exercise riddled with regrets.
I sure did. I left out Larry Fitzgerald. How many athletes, anywhere, were better than Fitzgerald at the height of his powers at Pitt?
kAmx =67E @FE %]y] (2EEPk^Am
kAmp2C@? s@?2=5 2?5 p?E@?:@ qC@H? 5:5?’E >2<6 >J =:DE[ 6:E96C — 2?5 qC@H? >:89E 92G6 925 E96 =@?86DE DEC6E49 @7 5@>:?2?46[ C6=2E:G6 E@ 9:D A66CD[ @7 2?J !:EED3FC89 2E9=6E6 @G6C E96 7:CDE ad J62CD @7 E9:D 46?EFCJ] qFE E96? 96 BF:E @? 9:D E62>] p?5 E92E 4@DE 9:>]k^Am
kAm%9:D H2D =:<6 2 #F3:<’D rF36] x <6AE ECJ:?8 E@ 7:?5 E96 A6C764E 4@>3:?2E:@? 2?5 <6AE 86EE:?8 :E HC@?8] x’> DE:== ?@E DFC6 x 8@E :E C:89E] qFE J@F 42?’E <66A 6G6CJ3@5J]k^Am
kAm|2C4\p?5C6 u=6FCJ[ p=2? u2?642[ r2> w6JH2C5 2?5 y2>6D w2CC:D@? >:89E 92G6 DE2EF6D 3F:=E 7@C E96> 😕 @E96C 4:E:6D] %96J H6C6?’E 6G6? 😕 E96 CF??:?8 😕 E9:D 42E68@CJ] %@@ >F49 4@>A6E:E:@? 😕 E96D6 A2CED] x 92G6?’E 6G6? >6?E:@?65 qC2?5:? z?:89E @C s6yF2? q=2:C]k^Am
kAm%96 @>:DD:@? @7 w:?6D (2C5 =67E >6 962CE3C@<6?[ 2?5 =62G:?8 @FE (2EE[ H9@ D9@F=5 36 2 E9C66\E:>6 }u{ s676?D:G6 !=2J6C @7 E96 *62C[ D66>D 3@C56C=:?6 4C:>:?2=[ 3FE =:<6 x D2:5i *@F ECJ :E]k^Am
kAmx’== 8@ 7:G6 E@ @?6] t?G6=@A6D[ A=62D6 ]]]k^Am
kAmd]X %C@J !@=2>2=F W$E66=6CD[ a__b\`cXk^Am
kAmpD |:<6 %@>=:? >:89E D2J[ E9:D >2? ?665D ?@ 6?5@CD6>6?E 7C@> >6] qFE x’> 8@:?8 E@ AC@G:56 @?6[ 2?JH2J]k^Am
kAmq6D:56D 7@FC 7:CDE\E62> p==\!C@ ?@>:?2E:@?D — @?=J 7:G6 $E66=6CD 92G6 6G6C 925 >@C6 — A=FD E96 5676?D:G6 A=2J6C @7 E96 J62C 2H2C5 😕 a_`_[ !@=2>2=F 2FE9@C65 D6G6C2= @7 E96 >@DE :?56=:3=6 >@>6?ED @7 E96 BF2CE6C 46?EFCJ 😕 !:EED3FC89 DA@CED[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 >@DE >6>@C23=6 A=2J 😕 p4C:DFC6 $E25:F> 9:DE@CJ H96? 96 4=:?4965 E96 a__g pur 492>A:@?D9:A 82>6 H:E9 2 A:4<\D:I]k^Am
kAm(9J 9:> @G6C (2EEn (6==[ J@F 4@F=5 >2<6 2 42D6 7@C 6:E96C — 3FE $FA6C q@H=D 2C6 2 E:63C62<6C] $@ 2C6 =686?52CJ A@DED62D@? A=2JD] s@ J@F @H @7 2?@E96C }u{ A=2J6C H9@ =:E6C2==J =62AE @G6C E96 =:?6 E@ DE@A 2 BF2CE6C324< D?62< 2?5 >256 2 DA64E24F=2C :?E6C46AE:@? C6EFC? 7@C 2 E@F495@H? 😕 E96 D2>6 82>6[ =6E 2=@?6 2 82>6 H:E9 2 EC:A E@ E96 $FA6C q@H= 2E DE2<6nk^Am
kAm%92E H2D !@=2>2=F]k^Am
kAm#2?5@> >6>@CJi x C6>6>36C !@=2>2=F 2CC:G:?8 =2E6 E@ 9:D 7:CDE EC2:?:?8 42>A[ 😕 a__b[ 3642FD6 @7 4@?EC24E :DDF6D] w6 D2:5 96 76=E D:4< E@ 9:D DE@>249 @? E96 2==\?:89E 7=:89E 7C@> {@D p?86=6D 2?5 “2D92>65” H96? 96 D9@H65 FA] x 2=D@ C6>6>36C 9:> 2D E96 566A6DE E9:?<6C x 6G6C :?E6CG:6H65 W2=@?8 H:E9 p= ‘:==2?F6G2X]k^Am
kAmtI2>A=6i E96 52J x 2D<65 9:> E@ 6IA@F?5 @? >6?E:@?:?8 E92E 96 76=E A2=A23=6 762C 367@C6 6249 82>6]k^Am
kAm“!6@A=6 2C6 A2C2=JK65 @? 2 7@@E32== 7:6=5] !6@A=6 5:6[” !@=2>2=F D2:5] “*@F ;FDE ?6G6C @H H96? :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 J@FC =2DE >@>6?E] x H2D E96 <:?5 @7 8FJ H9@ H@F=5 ?6G6C E2=< E@ >J H:76 @? 82>6 52J] }@H x’> E96 8FJ H9@’D =:<6[ ‘x =@G6 J@F]’ x H2?E >J 49:=5C6? E@ @H x =@G6 E96> 3642FD6 x 5@?’E @H H92E’D 8@:?8 E@ 92AA6? @FE E96C6] x’> ?@E ECJ:?8 E@ A=2J E96 >2CEJC 96C6] x =@G6 7@@E32==] xE’D D@>6E9:?8 H6 49@@D6 E@ 5@] qFE H6 2== @H 9@H >F49 @7 2 82>3=6 :E 😀 E@ A=2J E9:D 82>6]”k^Am
kAmc]X p?5C6H |4rFE496? W!:C2E6D[ a__h\`f[ ‘ab\AC6D6?EXk^Am
kAm~?6 @7 @?=J E9C66 !:EED3FC89 2E9=6E6D E@ H:? 2 =628F6 |’! 2H2C5 E9:D 46?EFCJ] W|2C:@ {6>:6FI[ J@F >:89E C642==[ D9@F=5 92G6 H@? :E 😕 a__` 27E6C >2<:?8 2 5C2>2E:4 C6EFC? 7C@> C6E:C6>6?E E@ A@DE fe A@:?ED 😕 cb 82>6D]X %92E 😀 D:8?:7:42?E]k^Am
kAm|4rFE496? 2=D@ >256 7:G6 DEC2:89E p==\$E2C v2>6D 2?5 >@DE :>A@CE2?E=J FD96C65 E96 A:E:7F= !:C2E6D @FE @7 a_ J62CD 😕 6I:=6] w6 H2D E96 7246 @7 E96 7C2?49:D6 😕 a_`b 7@C E92E F?7@C86EE23=6 H:=5\42C5 D46?6 2E !}r !2C<] w6 D4@C6D 9F86 A@:?ED E96C6]k^Am
kAm|4rFE496? 2=D@ ;FDE A2DD65 #@36CE@ r=6>6?E6 😕 42C66C 9@>6 CF?D 2?5 DE2?5D 369:?5 @?=J #2=A9 z:?6C 2?5 (:==:6 $E2C86== @? E96 !:C2E6D’ 2==\E:>6 =:DE] w6 😀 E96 !:C2E6D’ >@DE A@AF=2C A=2J6C D:?46 $E2C86==]k^Am
kAm#2?5@> >6>@CJi x H@?’E 7@C86E 492EE:?8 H:E9 2 4=62?=J D92G6? W?@ 8@2E66X |4rFE496? 😕 E96 }6H *@C< *2?<66D 4=F39@FD6 😕 a_`g 2?5 962C:?8 9:> C64@F?E E92E >28:42= H:=5\42C5 ?:89E 2E !}r !2C< 7C@> 7:G6 J62CD 62C=:6C[ H96? 9:D >@E96C[ !6EC:?2[ D2?8 E96 ?2E:@?2= 2?E96> 2?5 H96? rF6E@ 5C@AA65 E96 32==] *@F 4@F=5 D66 😕 9:D 6J6D H92E E96 ?:89E >62?E E@ 9:> 2?5 2=H2JD H:==]k^Am
kAm“w@H6G6C x H2D BF@E65 2E E96 E:>6 — 2?5 x C625 H92E6G6C x D2:5 23@FE :E — x’5 36 =:<6[ ‘}@[ E92E H2D?’E 6?@F89[’ “ |4rFE496? D2:5] “*@F 42?’E C62==J AFE :?E@ H@C5D E96 E9:?8D J@F 6IA6C:6?46 H96? J@F’C6 A2CE @7 D@>6E9:?8 E92E 3:8] (96? D@>6@?6 EC:6D E@ 86E J@F E@ 6IA=2:? H92E :E H2D =:<6[ J@F 42?’E 6IA=2:? :E] (@C5D 2C6?’E 6?@F89] %92E’D 9@H x 766= 23@FE E92E >@>6?E]k^Am
kAm“(@C5D 42??@E 6IAC6DD 9@H x 6IA6C:6?465 :E E9C@F89 >J @H? 6J6D]”k^Am
kAmb]X tG86?: |2=<:? W!6?8F:?D[ a__e\AC6D6?EXk^Am
kAmxE D66>D D:==J E92E x 5632E65 H96E96C 96 D9@F=5 6G6? 36 @? E9:D =:DE] (92E H2D x E9:?<:?8n |2=<:? H@? ;FDE 23@FE 6G6CJ AC6DE:8:@FD 2H2C5 E96 }w{ 92D E@ @776C — E96 r2=56C %C@A9J WC@@<:6 @7 E96 J62CX[ E96 w2CE %C@A9J W|’!X[ E96 pCE #@DD %C@A9J WD4@C:?8 E:E=6[ EH@ @7 E96>X[ E96 r@?? $>JE96 %C@A9J WA=2J@77 |’!X 2?5 E96 $E2?=6J rFA WE9C66 E:>6DX]k^Am
kAmw2D 2?J 2E9=6E6 😕 !:EED3FC89 9:DE@CJ H@? C@@<:6 @7 E96 J62C[ =628F6 |’![ A=2J@77 |’! W:? H92E6G6C 7@C> E92E >:89E 36X 2?5 2 492>A:@?D9:Ank^Am
kAm*6D[ 3FE @?=J @?6i |2C:@ {6>:6FI]k^Am
kAm#2?5@> >6>@CJi %96 ;@<6 324< 😕 a__c H2D E96 !6?8F:?D H6C6 D@ 325 E96J 4@F=5?’E 6G6? H:? E96 5C27E =@EE6CJ] p?5 56DA:E6 92G:?8 E96 }w{’D H@CDE C64@C5[ E96J 5:5?’E] %96J =@DE E96 ~G649<:? DH66ADE2<6D E@ E96 (2D9:?8E@? r2A:E2=D]k^Am
kAmqFE 2D 5C27E 52J 2AAC@24965[ x C6>6>36C 2E =62DE @?6 D4@FE E6==:?8 >6 E96 =:<6=J D64@?5 A:4< — 2 <:5 ?2>65 |2=<:? — H2D?’E 6I24E=J 2 4@?D@=2E:@? AC:K6 2?5 >:89E 6G6? @FE5@ ~G649<:? 😕 D@>6 C6DA64ED]k^Am
kAm%96 6I24E H@C5D @7 E96?\}6H y6CD6J s6G:=D D4@FE:?8 5:C64E@C s2G:5 r@?E6 H6C6 E96D6i “,|2=<:?. 😀 2? 6I46AE:@?2= E2=6?E[ 2?5 :E’D ?@E F?C62D@?23=6 E@ E9:?< E96 8FJ H9@ 8@6D D64@?5 4@F=5 36 36EE6C E92? E96 8FJ H9@ 8@6D 7:CDE]”k^Am
kAm%92E H2D E96 7:CDE x’5 962C5 2?J@?6 9:?E 2E DF49 2 E9:?8[ 2?5 H9:=6 ~G649<:? 92D >256 2== <:?5D @7 9:DE@CJ[ |2=<:? 92D @FE5@?6 9:> 😕 EH@ 42E68@C:6Di A@:?ED A6C 82>6 2?5 $E2?=6J rFAD]k^Am
kAmx? 724E[ |2=<:? C2?6 😕 A@:?ED A6C 82>6[ 7:G6 DA@ED 29625 @7 ~G649<:? 2?5 29625 @7 =@ED @7 8FJD H9@ 5@?’E ?665 7:CDE ?2>6Di y28C[ |6DD:6C[ q6=:G62F[ w@H6 2?5 >@C6]k^Am
kAma]X q6? #@6E9=:D36C86C W$E66=6CD a__c\a`Xk^Am
kAmw6 A=2J65 >@C6 82>6D E92? 2?J3@5J 😕 7C2?49:D6 9:DE@CJ 2?5 H@? E96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ @7 E96>] %96 AC@>:?6?46 @7 E96 A@D:E:@? — $E66=6CD BF2CE6C324< — 724E@CD 😕 E9:D 564:D:@?] $@ 5@ E96 EH@ 492>A:@?D9:AD[ E96 :4@?:4 $FA6C q@H=\H:??:?8 5C:G6 2?5 E9C@H 282:?DE E96 pC:K@?2 r2C5:?2=D[ E96 9:DE@C:4 C@@<:6 D62D@?[ E96 3C:==:2?E 25\=:3 DEJ=6 2?5 E96 ?F>36CD]k^Am
kAms@?’E 7@C86E E96 ?F>36CD] u@C >F49 @7 #@6E9=:D36C86C’D 42C66C[ E96 ?2CC2E:G6 H2D E92E H:??:?8 >256 FA 7@C E96 724E 96 5:5?’E 92G6 E96 72?4J DE2ED @E96C BF2CE6C324A=6E:@?D 2?5 E@F495@H?D]k^Am
kAm}@3@5J 925 >@C6 d__\J2C5 82>6D E92? 9:> — 2?5 :7 2?J 2E9=6E6 😕 E96D6 A2CED D:?46 E96 J62C a___ 925 2 >@C6 DA64E24F=2C EH@\82>6 DEC6E49 E92? q:8 q6? 5:5 😕 a_`c[ A=62D6 E6==] x? 82>6D 282:?DE E96 r@=ED 2?5 #2G6?D[ #@6E9=:D36C86C H6?E ed 7@C ge 7@C gea J2C5D[ `a E@F495@H?D WD:I 😕 6249 82>6X 2?5 K6C@ :?E6C46AE:@?D]k^Am
kAm#2?5@> >6>@CJi ~FE 😕 {2EC@36[ 2 J62C 27E6C E96 724E[ @776?D:G6 4@@C5:?2E@C qCF46 pC:2?D H2D C6>:?:D4:?8 @? E96 A=2J 96 5:2=65 FA E@ 362E E96 r2C5:?2=D 😕 E96 $FA6C q@H=] xE H2D 42==65 “ea $42E u=2D96C + {6G6=]” }:46 56D:8? — 3FE :E E@@< 2 C:5:4F=@FD E9C@H 2?5 42E49 W$2?E@?:@ w@=>6DX E@ >2<6 :E 92AA6?] !=2J6CD H:? 82>6D]k^Am
kAm“!C@323=J E96 36DE E9C@H x’G6 6G6C D66?[” pC:2?D D2:5]k^Am
kAm(92E 23@FE E96 42E49nk^Am
kAm“%96 42E49 H2D 8@@5] ‘%@?6’ <6AE 9:D E@6D 5@H?] qFE E@ 7:E E96 32== 😕 E92E A:86@?9@=6 H2D F?36=:6G23=6]”k^Am
kAm`]X $:5?6J rC@D3J W!6?8F:?D[ a__d\AC6D6?EXk^Am
kAm%9:D 92D E@ 36 E96 49@:46[ C:89En rC@D3J 6?E6C65 E96 }w{ H:E9 >@C6 9JA6 E92? 2?J AC@DA64E 😕 9:DE@CJ — >2J36 2=@?8 H:E9 ~G649<:?[ H9@ 6?E6C65 E96 =628F6 H:E9 9:> — 2?5 D@>69@H 6I466565 :E] x>>65:2E6=J] w6 3642>6 E96 J@F?86DE A=2J6C E@ C6249 `__ A@:?ED W:? 9:D C@@<:6 J62CX 2?5 E96 J@F?86DE 42AE2:? @7 2 rFA\H:??:?8 E62>]k^Am
kAmrC@D3J 2=D@ D2G65 E96 !6?8F:?D 7C@> C6=@42E:@?[ 9:D AC6D6?46 A2G:?8 E96 H2J 7@C 2 ?6H 2C6?2] w6 92D 366? 8C62E 7@C a_ J62CD[ @G6C4@>:?8 2 4@?4FDD:@? 4C:D:D 62C=J 😕 9:D 42C66C] w6 😀 3@E9 2 DA64E24F=2C D9@H>2? 2?5 2? 6=:E6 8C:?56C] w6’D 2 E9C66\E:>6 $E2?=6J rFA 492>A:@?[ DE:== 8@:?8 DEC@?8 2D 96 ?62CD bg[ DE:== G@E65 3J 9:D A66CD 2D E96 36DE 2==\2C@F?5 A=2J6C 😕 E96 =628F6]k^Am
kAm%96 8C62E6DE E6DE2>6?E E@ rC@D3J’D >6EC@?@>:4 4@?D:DE6?4J 😀 96 9@=5D E96 }w{ C64@C5 @7 a_ DEC2:89E J62CD 2G6C28:?8 2E =62DE 2 A@:?E A6C 82>6] *@F AC@323=J @H 96 C2?6 😕 A@:?ED 2?5 2DD:DED] *@F >:89E ?@E @H 96 EH:46 =65 E96 =628F6 😕 8@2=D 2?5 92D 2 8@@5 492?46 E@ 7:?:D9 😕 E96 E@A `_ 😕 E92E 42E68@CJ[ E@@]k^Am
kAmw6 92D 366? 36EE6C =@?86C[ :7 E92E >2<6D D6?D6[ E92? 2?J 2E9=6E6 😕 !:EED3FC89 D:?46 E96 EFC? @7 46?EFCJ]k^Am
kAm#2?5@> >6>@CJi x 42==65 |:<6 {2?86 😕 |2J a_a_[ 5FC:?8 E96 96:89E @7 E96 A2?56>:4[ 2?5 2D<65 9:> E@ C6=2J 9:D 7:G6 36DE !6?8F:?D >6>@C:6D] w6 5:5 — BF:E6 A2DD:@?2E6=J[ x >:89E 255] qFE 96 42==65 >6 `_ >:?FE6D =2E6C 2?5 D2:5[ “x 92G6 E@ 255 @?6]”k^Am
kAm“x 92G6 E@ E2=< 23@FE $:5?6J 3642FD6 x’G6 ;FDE ?6G6C D66? 2?J3@5J 92?5=6 6G6CJE9:?8 2D H6== 2D 96 5@6D[” {2?86 D2:5] “xE’D :?4C65:3=6] x’G6 E@=5 E9:D DE@CJ[ 3FE x’== E6== J@F 282:?i xE H2D 27E6C E96 rFA H:? 😕 $2? y@D6[ 2?5 x’> =2E6[ H2:E:?8 7@C E96 3FD[ 2?5 x D66 E9C66 A=2J6CD 4@>6 @FE] #:89E 369:?5 E96>[ E96 =2DE 8FJ @FE 😀 $:5[ 2?5 96’D 8@E E96 rFA] $@ H6’C6 H2:E:?8[ 2?5 FA @? E96 C2>A 23@G6 FD[ E96C6 >FDE 36 b__ 72?D 8@:?8[ ‘{6E’D v@ !6?DP’ 2D =@F5 2D E96J 4@F=5] (6==[ $:5 8@6D 2C@F?5 E96 3FD 27E6C :E 2CC:G6D[ H2=A 2?5 =6ED 6G6CJ3@5J E@F49 E96 rFA]k^Am
kAm“x H2D ;FDE >@G65 3J :E] %96J H6C6 D@ 2AAC64:2E:G6] x D2:5 E@ >JD6=7[ ‘w6 86ED :E] w6 23D@=FE6=J 86ED :E]’ p?5 J@F @H H92En (96? H6 8@E E@ E96 9@E6=[ E96C6 H6C6 2 3F?49 >@C6 A6@A=6 4966C:?8[ 2?5 $:5 H2D =2DE @77 E96 3FD[ 2?5 96 5:5 E96 6I24E D2>6 E9:?8]”k^Am