Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2024
- Class:
- 1977
A member of Johnny Majors' first Pitt recruiting class in 1973, Romano helped build the foundation that produced one of the most dramatic turnarounds in college football history. Over his four seasons, the Panthers rose from Eastern doormat to undefeated national champions. A nose tackle who played figuratively and literally at the heart of Pitt's defense, Romano was a consensus All-American and Outland Trophy finalist in 1976. He was responsible for the biggest defensive play of the 1976 title season when he halted a Syracuse ball carrier deep in Pitt territory on fourth-and-short, protecting a seven-point lead in an eventual 23-13 win. Romano was named the Most Valuable Lineman in the 1975 Sun Bowl, a 33-19 win over Kansas that served as the launching pad to Pitt's national championship campaign.
