College Football: The Mount Rushmore for the 30 best programs of all time
By Brad Weiss
Pittsburgh Panthers: Dan Marino, Tony Dorsett, Larry Fitzgerald, Hugh Green
There have been a lot of programs in college football history that have won a ton of games, but Pittsburgh has been able to not only win over 700 games but also take home a ton of championships. Pittsburgh is the owner of nine national titles, producing 51 All-Americans and one Heisman Trophy winner.
Dan Marino
One of the best pure passers in the history of the sport of football, Dan Marino was a local kid who went to Pittsburgh and became the best quarterback in the history of the school. Marino led the Panthers to a 33-3 record during his time on campus, playing his way into first round status while becoming an All-American in 1981. In total, Marino threw for nearly 8,000 yards and 74 touchdowns. The school retired his No. 13.
Tony Dorsett
In the history of college football, as well as pro football, there are very few players who could tote the rock quite like Pittsburgh’s Tony Dorsett. Helping the Panthers to the 1976 national title, Dorsett won the Heisman Trophy that season, capping a college career that saw him named an All-American three times. The first freshman in nearly 30 years to be named an All-American, Dorsett is one of the greatest players in college football history.
Larry Fitzgerald
Once Larry Fitzgerald stepped on campus at Pittsburgh, he became an instant star, becoming an absolute playmaker from day one for the Panthers. The winner of the 2003 Fred Biletnikoff Award, Fitzgerald was the Big East Offensive Player of the Year and would end up being named an All-American. The school retired his No. 1, and rightfully so, as he racked up over 2,600 receiving yards during his career.
Hugh Green
A monster along the defensive line for Pittsburgh in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Hugh Green was a three-time All-American, helping the team to a 39-8-1 record during his time at the school. Green was named All-East four times. Over the course of his career, he racked up 460 tackles and 53 sacks. In 1980, he won the Walter Camp, Maxwell, and Lombardi Trophies. His No. 99 has been retired by the school.