For the first time in 19 years, Pitt’s football team will open the season with a number next… For the first time in 19 years, Pitt’s football team will open the season with a number next to its name.

The Panthers are ranked No. 11 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll, Pitt’s highest preseason ranking since it opened the season ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press poll in 1984. Pitt ended that year with a 3-7-1 record.

Pitt also made its way onto Sports Illustrated’s preseason top 25, earning a No. 12 ranking from the magazine.

Along with a short feature on receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Sports Illustrated also stated that the foursome of Fitzgerald, quarterback Rod Rutherford, tailback Brandon Miree and tight end Kris Wilson “could become the nation’s most productive offensive quartet.”

Pitt was also picked, in the Big East media poll, to finish second, earning one first-place vote. Miami was picked to finish first.

Harriott, Rutherford earn preseason honors

Claude Harriott added to his list of preseason accolades after being named to the watch list for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award.

This marks the third preseason watch list that Harriott has been placed on, having already been named to the watch lists for the Lombardi Award, which is given to the top down lineman or linebacker, and the Nagurski Award, given to the top overall defensive player.

Rutherford also earned preseason recognition, having been named to the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List, which is given to the nation’s top quarterback.

Covert to be honored

After his recent election to the College Football Hall of Fame, Jimbo Covert will be honored during Pitt’s game against Notre Dame on Oct. 11.

Covert, who was an All-American offensive lineman at Pitt in 1981 and 1982, is the 22nd Panther player or coach to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame, and he is the sixth in the past nine years.

Covert started his collegiate career as a defensive lineman before switching to offense as a sophomore in 1980. During his final three seasons, Pitt went 31-5, as Covert allowed just three sacks during that time, including none as a senior.

In 1983, Covert was selected by the Chicago Bears with the sixth overall pick in the draft and earned All-Rookie honors following the 1983 season. After having won a Super Bowl with the Bears in 1985, Covert was selected as the NFL’s Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1986.

Page named preseason All-America candidate

On Aug. 6, the John R. Wooden Award committee selected Pitt guard Julius Page as one of 50 preseason All-America candidates.

Page looks to become the second Panther to make the end-of-season, 10-player All-America Team in as many years. Brandin Knight was named to the team last season.

A consensus All-Big East selection last year, Page led the Panthers in scoring, averaging 12.2 points per game, while helping Pitt to a 28-5 record and the school’s first Big East Tournament title.

The Wooden All-America Team will be announced on March 30, 2004, and one member will receive the Wooden Award Trophy, given to the most outstanding collegiate basketball player of the year, awarded on April 10, 2004.

Volleyball expected to finish third

A poll of the 13 head coaches for women’s volleyball in the Big East predicted that Pitt, coming off a 20-win season in 2002, would place third in the Big East in 2003.

The Panthers, who tied for fourth last year with a 9-4 conference record, earned 117 points in the poll. Notre Dame, who has won the league title in seven of the past eight seasons, was selected to finish first.

Also earning recognition was junior middle hitter Megan Miller, who was selected as a member of the preseason All-Big East Team. Miller was selected to the All-Big East second team last season and hit a school-record .400, which ranked ninth among NCAA Division I players.

Pitt opens the season on Aug. 29 at the Duke Invitational.