Athlete of the Year Larry Fitzgerald

It’s not often that you see the number of awards won by a player outnumber the number of… It’s not often that you see the number of awards won by a player outnumber the number of games that player has started in.

But then again, Larry Fitzgerald is not like other players.

In just two years as a Panther, Fitzgerald eclipsed almost all marks set by previous Pitt wide receivers, and will likely go down in history as the best receiver to ever wear a Pitt uniform. That’s why he has been chosen as the Male Athlete of the Year by The Pitt News sports staff.

This season was very special for Fitzgerald, as well as all others affiliated with Pitt.

After setting an NCAA record by catching a touchdown in 18 consecutive games, Fitzgerald became a unanimous All-American choice, and also won the Biletnikoff award, which is given annually to the nation’s top wide receiver.

As if that weren’t enough, Fitzgerald also became the first sophomore ever to win the Walter Camp Player of the Year award, and nearly stole the Heisman Trophy away from Oklahoma quarterback Jason White — losing by the slim margin of 128 votes.

Anticipated as a top-five draft pick, Fitzgerald has been a busy man as of late. His schedule included a stop in San Diego on April 7, to spend the day and have dinner with members of the Chargers’ front office.

Fitzgerald was truly a phenom in every sense of the word, but it was more than just his gravity-defying catches that made him the person he is.

On the landscape of college football, there are almost no players who would go to the trouble of handing the ball to an official after scoring a touchdown.

You would be even more hard-pressed to find a player of Fitzgerald’s caliber featured on the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Web site.

Fitzgerald’s image is a throwback to a time when sportsmanship was commonplace and end zone celebrations were unheard of. He is a perfect example of the potential athletes can reach when they focus all of their attention on making the right choices both on and off the field.

Fitzgerald is a true role model, the kind of player that can be counted on in the clutch and would never think of running his mouth on the field.

“I don’t talk on the field at all,” Fitzgerald said. “I have a job to do. Talking doesn’t help me out at all. Catch the ball and keep quiet.”

Fitzgerald’s opponents are usually left quiet, awestruck with their jaws dropped, amazed by the catch that was just made.

Pitt fans will never forget the incredible plays Fitzgerald made on the field, but he will also be remembered for the way he conducted himself off the field.

“The University of Pittsburgh has been a special place to me and I will be forever indebted to the many people who helped me as both a person and a player,” Fitzgerald said at his press conference announcing his intentions to enter the NFL draft. “It has been an honor and a privilege to be a Panther. I will always work to represent this school as best I can in whatever I do in life.”