Pelusi family making its mark at Pitt

There are certain names that have become synonymous with their college’s athletics: The… There are certain names that have become synonymous with their college’s athletics: The Harringtons and Oregon, the Mannings and Ole’ Miss and the Vicks and Virginia Tech.

Now, there could possibly be another family name joining such ranks.

Twenty-nine years ago, center John Pelusi snapped the ball to quarterback and current Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh to run the clock out on Georgia as the blue-and-mustard-yellow Panthers rolled 27-3 to their last national football championship.

This season, there is another Pelusi suiting up and taking the line for the Panthers. Freshman tight end John Pelusi, the great center’s son, has already seen playing time this year in a few of Pitt’s three tight-end formations.

But the Pelusi family’s athletic excellence extends further than the football field. Senior Jamie Pelusi, daughter and sister to John and John Jr., tends the goal for the Pitt women’s soccer team.

Despite his reputation, John does not want his status at the University as former player and current member on the Board of Trustees to affect his children’s performances on, or off, the field.

“I just want them to be happy with who they are and what they’re doing,” the elder Pelusi said. “I want them to be their own people.”

Both of the Pelusis are having little trouble making names for themselves. John was a star athlete at Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School, helping the Vikings win a Class AAAA State Championship last year with the help of current Panther teammate Shane Murray. He also garnered an Associated Press Pennsylvania Class AAAA All-State honor as a senior, along with being ranked the 18th best prospect in Pennsylvania, according to www.Rivals.com.

Jamie, in her three years as goalie for the Panthers, has established herself on a national level as well. As a freshman, she led the Big East in saves per game, and since then has set or broken numerous goalkeeping records at Pitt. In 2004, she was named Big East Goaltender of the Year, becoming only the third Panther ever to do so.

Despite their successes, Pelusi wants his kids to take something more meaningful away from athletics.

“Athletics teaches you a lot about life, that collectively as a group you can accomplish a lot,” he said. And although the goings are a little bit tough for Pitt football and women’s soccer right now, there is still a lesson to be learned.

“At the end of the day, it’s not the end of the world,” Pelusi said of the teams’ struggles. “It’s what you do when things are tough that lays the groundwork for later on.”

That lesson hasn’t escaped Jamie, who thinks the least important part of playing her sport is the glory.

“I love being part of a team,” said Pelusi. “We support each other on and off the field in everything we do.”

Her family ties to the University don’t seem to bother her, either.

“I don’t really think about it,” commented Jamie on her father’s status with Pitt. “He lets us do our own thing.”

Jamie planned to do her own thing by “going against the grain” of her family and going to school far away. But things didn’t work out with some of the other schools she was interested in, so she chose Pitt.

“It ended up being the best choice for me,” said Jamie. “I’m really happy.”

John chose to attend and play for Pitt, despite having scholarship offers from Boston College and Stanford, among others.

“I felt real comfortable with the coaching staff and I love to play,” said John, who wasn’t pressured at all by his family in his decision. “They were real open about it.”

The football team, which got off to a rough 1-4 start, is beginning to improve, as evidenced by two straight victories.

“Through the last couple weeks of practice we’re really starting to gel,” John said. “We’ll be alright.”

John and Jamie’s respective decisions to attend Pitt came without parental influence, according to their father.

“I would never want to influence them. We’ve always attempted to raise our children to make their own decisions,” said Pelusi. “It was 100 percent their decisions.”

Although independence was important for the Pelusis, family still matters.

“[My parents] made me who I am,” said Jamie. “I was raised to be respectful, and to still have the reputation of a good person.”

“I’m here to represent my family and my team,” said John.

No matter how they got here, John and Jamie are making news for themselves as Panthers. And it’s not just because of their name.