Coach Dave Wannstedt has made it known how fortunate he believes he is to have had the… Coach Dave Wannstedt has made it known how fortunate he believes he is to have had the opportunity to play football at the University of Pittsburgh.

“As a high school senior growing up in Baldwin, I was provided with the life-changing opportunity to receive an outstanding education and play major-college football due to a scholarship,” Wannstedt said.

The second-year head coach is now giving back to today’s players. Wannstedt and his wife, Jan, gave the initial gift of $250,000 to jump start the University’s newest fundraising event, the Pitt Football Endowed Position and Scholarship Program.

The new initiative aims to endow the 85 scholarships allotted to the football team. Donors will have the unique opportunity to fund the scholarships while attaching their names to one of the 24 starting positions (11 offense, 11 defense, two special teams).

“To fund the 85 football scholarships permitted by NCAA rules, it will cost $2.1 million annually,” Pitt athletic director Jeff Long said. “While that may seem like an ambitious goal, the time to secure the promise of a bright future for our football program is now by focusing on building the Pitt football endowment.”

Wannstedt began building his football career at nearby Baldwin High School before attending Pitt from 1970-73. While playing left tackle for the Panthers, the former team captain earned his bachelor’s degree in 1974 and shortly followed with his master’s degree in 1976, the year Pitt won the national championship while Wannstedt was a graduate assistant with the team.

So, it’s only natural that Wannstedt attach his name to his former position — left tackle. However, he has made it clear that his gift is not about him.

“Scholarship funding is incredibly important in the world of collegiate athletics and we want to be able to help provide those same opportunities for both current and future generations of student-athletes,” Wannstedt said.

“The Wannstedt’s generous gift is symbolic of their pride in the Pitt football program’s rich tradition and their commitment to its future,” Long said. “It is not surprising that they would take the lead in launching the Pitt Football Endowed Position and Scholarship Program in this exciting fashion.”

The new initiative is launched under the larger fundraising umbrella of “Quest for Excellence—The Campaign for Pitt Athletics.” The Quest for Excellence looks to raise around $45 million for scholarship, improvement and project funding.