Fitzgerald’s stay full of excitement and respect

One of the best wide receivers in college football history sat in front a crowd of reporters… One of the best wide receivers in college football history sat in front a crowd of reporters on the South Side Monday and told them that he will, without a doubt, return to school to get his degree, just not this year. He made a promise to his late mother and plans on keeping it, no matter how long it takes. What is it about Larry Fitzgerald that makes me believe him? After weeks of speculation, Fitzgerald officially announced that he will forego his final two years of college and enter the National Football League draft in April. Now, while everyone, including myself, should be happy that Pitt had him for those two, no one can help but wish Pitt had just one more. On the field, he will be missed. Off the field, he may be missed even more. Fitzgerald brought more positive attention to this University than anyone since Dan Marino and Tony Dorsett, and those two were on teams that seriously contended for the national title. Fitzgerald played on a team that many believe cost him the Heisman Trophy. Individual awards or not, Fitzgerald stood as a figure that kids – or adults – could look up to. Watching grown men swoon while waiting in line behind a group of five-year-olds for his autograph at a Pitt basketball game was priceless, but how can I make fun of them? I got his autograph as well. A friend of mine grabbed his John Hancock during a fire drill. Fitzgerald made a splash in the national media by handing the ball to the referee after scoring touchdowns instead of pulling out a Sharpie, cell phone, two-way pager or anything else people can find. He was nearly perfect during a time that featured Kobe Bryant being accused of rape, St. John’s players allegedly sneaking out of the hotel to go to a strip club before ending the night with group sex, and Miami’s top football recruit violating his probation. The recruit had been arrested 10 times between 1999-2002. NFL analysts have compared Fitzgerald to Jerry Rice, widely acclaimed as the best wide receiver to ever put on a helmet and shoulder pads. Fitzgerald is too modest to accept such a comparison, but he also isn’t too shy to make sure everyone understands he has confidence. He made it clear to the media on Monday that he believes he can play at the next level and be successful. Again, what is it about Fitzgerald makes me believe him? During the press conference Monday, his beaming father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr., stood off to the side silently supporting his son as he made a life-altering decision. His father was instrumental in keeping Larry Jr., focused this season after his year started out worse than imaginable. Before the football season even started, Larry had lost his mother, and friend and teammate Billy Gaines. Undoubtedly, it was a tough time for Larry, but he maintained his goals and vowed to accomplish them. Mission accomplished. Pitt fans will always remember his elegant, jaw-dropping catches, like the one in traffic against Texas A’M or the one against West Virginia where he got spun around and interfered with but managed to catch the ball and, of course, hand it to the referee. Numerous students will forever tell stories of their “run in” with “Fitz,” whether he was in their psychology class or lived in their apartment building. Fitzgerald said Monday that Pitt has done a lot for him, but the truth is, he did way more for Pitt than possibly any Panther in history. Fitzgerald could have proclaimed that he lived by the creed, “Ask not what your school can do for you but what you can do for your school.” I would have believed him.

Matt Sortino is a staff writer for The Pitt News, and will forever remember being at Pitt while Fitzgerald was here. He wishes him all the luck and thanks Larry for being who he was. E-mail him at mbs3@pitt.edu.