Blood in the water: How ‘Sharks’ became the symbol of Pitt Football

One of the biggest factors in Pitt football’s early success in 2024 is the outstanding play of its linebacker corps. Led by redshirt sophomore Kyle Louis, true sophomores Rasheem Biles and Braylan Lovelace and sixth-year Brandon George, the unit has proven itself to be one of the most dominant groups in the country. 

In addition to its amazing play, the group is perhaps more known for its moniker, “The Sharks,” symbolized by one of the members holding their hand up to their helmet in a fin-like pattern after they make a big play. The gesture has become a rallying cry for the team, not just the linebackers. 

The Pitt fanbase has caught on too. Signs, shark toys and even an inflatable shark costume are now common sights at Pitt home games, especially in the “Panther Pitt” student section. The theme song from the movie “Jaws” is also heard whenever the defense takes the field. 

To outsiders of the Pitt fanbase, and even to some casual fans, the sudden appearance of sharks may seem confusing and disjointed from Pitt’s identity. Many branching paths have resulted in the Panthers’ “Shark-mania.” Some are directly tied to the team and its athletes and others are from areas far from Pittsburgh. 

The “Fins up” gesture is largely associated with the University of Mississippi’s football program and linebacker Tony Fein. Fein served four years in the Iraq War out of high school before ending up on Ole Miss’ roster in 2007. Fein worked his way up to a starting role and began using the “Fins up” gesture whenever he made a big play, initially out of frustration from his lack of playing time. The gesture spread eventually throughout the defense and to this day it is still a common celebration amongst Ole Miss defenders. 

Fein tragically passed away from an overdose in October of 2009, just a few months after signing as an undrafted free agent to the Seattle Seahawks. His legacy would live on in Oxford, not just as a symbol for the football team, but Ole Miss’ athletics department. The Rebel’s current mascot, Tony the Landshark, is based on Fein’s likeness and even wears a No. 47 jersey in his honor. 

For Pitt, “The Landshark” begins with Louis. Louis went to East Orange High School in New Jersey, where he led his team to an undefeated North Jersey regional championship in 2021. In that same season, Louis and his teammates began using the “Fins up” celebration and referring to themselves as “The Sharks.”

“The whole state was referring to us as sharks,” Louis said. “We just kept going undefeated … we all making plays.” 

This past offseason, Louis’ reputation from East Orange carried over, and linebackers coach Ryan Manalac began referring to the entire unit as “The Sharks” because of their tenacity and relentless play. The moniker has stuck and has gradually become more visible, especially since the defense has greatly improved over their last few games. 

The defense has prided itself on its play and has used the sudden popularity of the shark nickname to fuel its drive and continue its dominant performances. 

“This ‘shark’ stuff is a movement,” Biles said. “It’s really deep for us … It just shows how much work we put in, how good we are.”

“We pride ourselves on being called ‘The Sharks,’”  Louis said. “If you come in here, you better learn how to swim.”

In that same Syracuse game, the “Sharks” made life for senior Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord miserable and practically single-handedly won the game for Pitt. The group recorded three pick-sixes in the first half alone, and Brandon George added another pick. By the time the final whistle blew, the group tallied 41 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks in addition to their five interceptions.  

Safe to say, the dominant performance combined with a national audience created the perfect storm for the country to take note of the “sharks” and what they bring to the table. The nation also got a good look at how the Pitt community as a whole has rallied around its defense, with many fans and students joining in on the moniker and having fun doing it.