Fitzgerald named to Division I Advisory Group

Pitt sophomore Larry Fitzgerald has been chosen as a member of the Division I Elite Football… Pitt sophomore Larry Fitzgerald has been chosen as a member of the Division I Elite Football Student-Athlete Advisory Group.

Fitzgerald, the nation’s leading wide receiver in yards per game, was nominated by the Big East Conference, and Pitt and was chosen to be a representative by the NCAA. The group’s main goal is to give insight and feedback on many different issues related specifically to elite Division I football student-athletes.

Fitzgerald, a Minnesota native, is excited to have the opportunity to make important things happen off the field.

“I’m highly honored to be selected as a member of the Division I Elite Football Student-Athlete Advisory Group,” Fitzgerald said. “I appreciate the tremendous opportunity I have to make a difference for student-athletes in the present as well as the future. I’m very grateful that the University of Pittsburgh and the Big East Conference considered me worthy of a nomination for such an important position.”

Pitt head coach Walt Harris felt that the selection of Fitzgerald for the group was a fitting choice.

“Being selected to serve on this advisory group is yet another well-deserved honor for Larry,” Harris said. “Not only is he a gifted player on the field, but also an insightful, intelligent young man off it. I know he will be a tremendous asset for the group, and we, as a football program, are honored to have one of our players serve in this very important capacity.”

Players were nominated based on qualities that included good character, intelligence, recruitment by several Division I-A football schools and being a viable candidate for the National Football League Draft.

“It’s not surprising that Larry has been selected to represent his peers in this highly prestigious group,” Pitt Athletics Director Jeff Long said. “He is an exceptional student-athlete and an even more exceptional person. We are very proud of him and know that he will work hard to serve the very best interests of our nation’s football student-athletes.”

Hatlestad earns Player of the Week honors

Wendy Hatlestad is getting used to being named the Big East Conference co-Player of the Week. After leading the Panthers volleyball team to two conference victories this past weekend, Hatlestad received the honor for the second time in three weeks.

In the first match of the weekend against Villanova, Hatlestad, a Roseville, Minn., native, had a season-best 25 kills in the Panthers 3-2 win over the Wildcats. Against Georgetown, Hatlestad contributed a season- and match-high 15 digs in the Panthers win.

Hatlestad, a senior, also earned the honor on Sept. 22 after being named Most Valuable Player of the Pittsburgh Classic. This week’s honor marks the fourth time in her career she has been named Player of the Week.

“Panther Pride Towels” to Make Season Debut on Saturday

Despite the fact that Notre Dame is off to a rocky start with a 1-3 record, the Panthers game against the Irish is sold out and will be broadcast nationally. It is a great opportunity for the Panthers to beat the Irish for the first time since the last game at Pitt stadium, but it also marks a chance for the Panther faithful to show their Pitt pride to the entire country.

The athletics department is encouraging all fans to be in their seats 30 minutes before the game and for everyone to wear gold as the Panthers look to win their third straight game at home. Also, some 10,000 complimentary “Panther Pride Towels” will be handed out to the student body and will be available for purchase inside the stadium.