2020 Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Class Revealed
5/12/2020 8:02:00 PM | Baseball, Football, General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Women's Gymnastics, Volleyball, Wrestling, Track & Field
PITTSBURGH—University of Pittsburgh Director of Athletics Heather Lyke unveiled the 13-member Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame 2020 induction class during tonight's "Panthers at Home" virtual gathering on Facebook Live.
The honorees, listed in alphabetical order, are:
Nominations for the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame were solicited from the general public. Candidates had to be five years removed from their final year of collegiate competition and not currently be playing professional sports.
A 17-member selection committee then evaluated the candidate pool and provided a recommendation on the class to the director of athletics.
The 2020 class will receive induction at the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Dinner on Friday, Oct. 16, at Heinz Field. On Saturday, Oct. 17, the inductees will be introduced at Heinz Field when the Panthers take on Notre Dame. For Hall of Fame Dinner ticket information, visit www.pittsburghpanthers.com/halloffame, email events@athletics.pitt.edu or call (412) 648-0345.
2020 Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Class Biographies
Jennifer Bruce (Women's Basketball)
Starring for the Panthers from 1981-85, Bruce remains one of the most productive and decorated players in Pitt basketball history. More than three decades following the conclusion of her collegiate career, she remains the second all-time leading scorer in Pitt basketball history—men's or women's—with 2,295 points. She averaged 20.5 points and 8.9 rebounds over her four seasons. Bruce's scoring average is tied for the highest in program history (with the late Lorri Johnson). An exceptional all-around player, she still ranks in the top 10 of nearly every major statistical category for Pitt women's basketball, including blocks (third, 203), rebounds (fifth, 998) and steals (seventh, 203). A three-time first-team All-Big East honoree, Bruce was named the 1984 Big East Co-Player of the Year after she averaged 23.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. She was named to the Big East Silver Anniversary Squad, recognizing the league's greatest players over its initial 25 years.
Donna DeMarino Sanft (Gymnastics Student-Athlete and Coach)
Sanft made an indelible impact at Pitt, first as a gymnastics student-athlete, then as the program's head coach, and later as a longtime athletics administrator. As a Pitt gymnast (1970-74), Sanft was a three-time Most Valuable Performer and three-time captain. She was selected Pitt's 1974 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year (now the Blue-Gold Award), a year prior to women's recipients joining their male counterparts in having their names inscribed on the famed Varsity Walk. In 1974, women's gymnastics was launched as an intercollegiate sport at Pitt under the direction of the athletic department. Reflective of her impact as a student-athlete, Sanft was hired as the first women's varsity gymnastics coach in Pitt history at the age of 22. Leading that program for the next 12 years (1974-86), Sanft posted an 86-57-1 record and was twice selected as Eastern Collegiate Coach of the Year. She directed the Panthers to a Top 10 national ranking in 1979 and Top 20 rankings in 1981, 1982, 1984 and 1986. Sanft also coached Pitt's only NCAA champion in women's gymnastics, Lisa Shirk (1982). Sanft then went on to a highly impactful and wide-ranging career as an administrator for Pitt Athletics from 1986-2014.
Chantee Earl (Women's Track and Field)
Earl stands as one of the most accomplished performers in the sterling history of Pitt women's track and field. As a senior, she captured the 800-meter title at the 2000 NCAA Indoor Championships. Her championship-winning time of 2:02.19 set a Pitt record and was a mere 0.42 seconds from the NCAA Indoor meet standard. Earl was the 800-meter national runner-up at the 2000 Outdoor Championships—the lone collegiate meet of her senior season that she didn't claim first place. In addition to her NCAA title, Earl finished her career (1996-2000) as a six-time All-American, earning three indoor citations and three in outdoor competitions. She also claimed seven Big East championships—four individual and three as a relay member—solidifying her status as one of the Panthers' greatest middle-distance runners ever.
Craig "Ironhead" Heyward (Football; Posthumous)
A bruising ball carrier for the Panthers from 1984-87, Heyward ranks among the greatest—and most colorful—players in Pitt football history. Although he played only three active college seasons, Heyward is still Pitt's fifth all-time leading rusher with 3,086 yards. His dazzling 1987 season saw him emerge as a national star as he rushed for 1,791 yards to earn consensus All-America honors and finish fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting. Heyward rushed for 100 yards in all 12 games during that campaign. He and Tony Dorsett are the only Pitt backs to rush for at least 100 yards 12 times in a single season. In the 1988 NFL Draft, Heyward was selected in the first round by the New Orleans Saints with the 24th overall pick. He went on to play 11 seasons in the NFL, including five with New Orleans (1988-92) and also had stints with Chicago (1993), Atlanta (1994-96), St. Louis (1997) and Indianapolis (1998). His best season as a professional was in 1995 when he was selected for the Pro Bowl after rushing for 1,083 yards.
Brandin Knight (Men's Basketball)
A Pitt point guard from 1999-2003, Knight's leadership was the catalyst for the Panthers' basketball revival. Over his four years, Knight led Pitt to two consecutive Big East regular-season titles (2001-02 and 2002-03), two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances (2002 and 2003), the program's first Big East Tournament title (2003) and an 89-40 (.690) four-year record. His orchestration of Pitt's offense earned him national praise and accolades. Knight was a two-time All-American (2002 and 2003). He was honored as the Big East's Co-Most Valuable Player as well as the league's Most Improved Player following his junior season. Knight still holds Pitt records for career assists (785), career assist average (6.2 apg.), career steals (298), season 3-point field goal attempts (261), season minutes played (1,284 in 2001-02) and consecutive games played with at least one assist (91 from 2000-03). Knight's No. 20 jersey was retired in 2009. From 2006-16, he served on the Pitt's men's basketball staff, including his final eight years as an assistant coach. In total, Knight was part of 12 NCAA Tournament appearances as a player and staff member.
Ann Marie Lucanie (Volleyball)
Lucanie set impeccable standards for Pitt volleyball that still resonate today. She earned a lengthy list of individual accolades from 1990-93, including All-America honors as a senior from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Upon the conclusion of her career, she owned the Pitt record for career kills (1,815), a standard that stood for 14 years and ranks second today. Her name is etched throughout the Panthers' record book, ranking fourth in career attempts (4,085), seventh in hitting percentage (.308), fourth in aces (148) and sixth in digs (1,480). She also set the school single-match record for kills with 37. Lucanie was a three-time Big East Player of the Year (1991-93) and four-time Big East Tournament MVP (1990-93). Her high-impact freshman debut earned her the 1990 Big East Rookie of the Year award. Lucanie led the Panthers to a 101-39 overall record (.721) and 26-2 Big East mark (.929) during her career. Pitt claimed four Big East regular-season championships and four Big East Tournament titles during that span, advancing to the NCAA Tournament each season.
Ken Macha (Baseball)
Joining Pitt's baseball team as a freshman walk-on in 1968, Macha went on to become one of the program's most accomplished players. In 1971, he ranked among the nation's leaders in batting average, RBI and slugging percentage. As a senior captain in 1972, Macha continued to produce at a national level and was a Sporting News Honorable Mention All-American. Selected in the sixth round of the 1972 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, he played six Major League seasons. Macha spent three campaigns with the Pirates (1974, 1977-78), two with the Montreal Expos (1979-80) and one with the Toronto Blue Jays (1981). He batted .256 for his MLB career. From 1982-85, he played professionally in Japan, batting .304 with 82 home runs. Macha then transitioned to coaching, serving on the staff of the Expos (1986-91) and California Angels (1992-94) before joining the Oakland A's in 1998. Macha ascended to manager of the A's from 2003-06 and later skippered the Milwaukee Brewers (2009-10). He compiled a 525-447 regular-season record and led the A's to division titles in 2003 and 2006.
Curtis Martin (Football)
Martin rushed for 2,643 career yards from 1991-94 at Pitt despite playing in only two contests during his final campaign due to injury. One of the highlights of his collegiate career came in the '94 opener when Martin dashed for 251 yards against the Texas Longhorns, setting a Big East single-game rushing record. Martin was a first-team All-Big East running back in 1993 after rushing for 1,075 yards. A third-round draft selection of New England in 1995, Martin spent three years with the Patriots (1995-97) before joining the New York Jets (1998-2006). At the time of his retirement, he ranked fourth all-time among NFL rushers with an astonishing 14,101 yards. Martin became only the second player in NFL history to begin his career with 10 consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. In 2004, he was the NFL rushing champion with 1,697 yards. Martin was named a Pro Bowler five times and All-Pro three times. A 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Martin's enshrinement speech is widely considered one of the most memorable ever delivered in Canton.
Bob Peck (Football; Posthumous)
Pitt football's rich history of All-America players began with Peck, who became the first Panther to receive national individual recognition for his excellence on the gridiron. A "roving center," Peck was named a first team All-American three consecutive seasons (1914-16). Smart and aggressive, he also was a spiritual leader for Pitt's juggernaut outfits of that early era. "When Peck fights, the team fights!" served as a Panthers' rallying cry. Pitt went a combined 24-1 over his final three seasons. During Peck's junior and senior seasons—played under the iconic Glenn "Pop" Warner—the Panthers won all 16 of their games and claimed the 1915 and 1916 national titles. Peck is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Pat Santoro (Wrestling)
Santoro is one of the Panthers' most accomplished individual athletes ever, regardless of sport. He finished his career (1986-89) as a four-time All-American, the only wrestler in Pitt history to accomplish that feat. Competing at 142 pounds, Santoro claimed two consecutive NCAA titles (1988 and 1989). He compiled 20 total NCAA Tournament victories, still a Pitt standard more than three decades later. Santoro is the winningest wrestler in Pitt history with a 167-13 record. As a junior, he went an astonishing 48-0 en route to his first NCAA championship. Santoro also won three Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) championships while at Pitt. Internationally, he was a four-time member of the U.S. National Team. Santoro was an alternate for the 1996 Olympic Team and 1999 World Team. He placed fourth at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials, third at the 1992 Olympic Trials and was runner-up at the 1992 U.S. Open Freestyle Championships.
Jackie Sherrill (Football Coach)
As the Panthers' head coach from 1977-81, Sherrill cemented Pitt's stature as a national football powerhouse. A former top lieutenant to John Majors, Sherrill took the reins of a Pitt program fresh off the 1976 national championship. He would build upon that success by fashioning a 50-9-1 mark from 1977-81, including a 4-1 bowl record and four Top 10 finishes. Sherrill's .842 winning percentage as Pitt's head coach is the highest in the football program's history. Over his final three seasons (1979-81), Pitt went a combined 33-3, finished among the nation's top 6 each year and went a combined 5-1 against rivals West Virginia and Penn State. Under Sherrill, the Panthers claimed victories in the 1977 Gator Bowl, 1979 Fiesta Bowl, 1980 Gator Bowl and 1982 Sugar Bowl. His 1980 squad, deemed by some to be Pitt's best ever, went 11-1, finished second in both polls and was selected the nation's No. 1 team by The New York Times. Sherrill's last Pitt team in 1981 went 11-1, including a dramatic Sugar Bowl 24-20 victory over Georgia, and ranked as high as No. 2 in the final polls.
Arnie Sowell (Men's Track and Field)
Described by former Pitt track and field coach Carl Rees as "one of the greatest runners who ever lived," Sowell distinguished himself both at Pitt (1953-57) and on the international stage. An accomplished middle-distance runner who claimed four NCAA titles, he was exceptionally versatile and owned range "from a quarter to five miles." Sowell also scored in the jumps and anchored all the key relay teams for the Panthers. Internationally, he claimed the gold medal in the 800 meters at the 1955 Pan American Games in Mexico City. He was a 1956 Olympian and placed fourth in the 800 meters at the Summer Games in Melbourne. Sowell set the world indoor 880-yard run record in 1957. He tied the world's 1,000-yard run mark in 1955.
Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner (Football Coach; Posthumous)
Warner coached at Pitt from 1915-23, and under his command the Panthers evolved into a national power. Few coaches in the history of college football have influenced their players and peers as significantly as Warner. His Pitt teams were 60-12-4 and were recognized as national champions in 1915, 1916 (unanimously) and 1918 (unanimously). Warner won his first 29 games as head coach of the Panthers. His unbeaten 1916 squad was one of the greatest in college football history. In fact, the sporting press of the day called it "The Greatest Eleven in the World." Warner's teams operated from both the single wing and the double wing, inventions which sprang from his imagination. His other creations included the practice of numbering plays, teaching the spiral punt (Warner was also one of the first to advocate the spiral pass), huddling before plays and the use of an unbalanced line for more blocking strength. A national network of football leagues for junior players—Pop Warner Football—was named for him.
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The honorees, listed in alphabetical order, are:
- Jennifer Bruce (Women's Basketball)
- Donna DeMarino Sanft (Gymnastics Student-Athlete and Coach)
- Chantee Earl (Women's Track and Field)
- Craig "Ironhead" Heyward (Football; Posthumous)
- Brandin Knight (Men's Basketball)
- Ann Marie Lucanie (Volleyball)
- Ken Macha (Baseball)
- Curtis Martin (Football)
- Bob Peck (Football; Posthumous)
- Pat Santoro (Wrestling)
- Jackie Sherrill (Football Coach)
- Arnie Sowell (Men's Track and Field)
- Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner (Football Coach; Posthumous)
Nominations for the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame were solicited from the general public. Candidates had to be five years removed from their final year of collegiate competition and not currently be playing professional sports.
A 17-member selection committee then evaluated the candidate pool and provided a recommendation on the class to the director of athletics.
The 2020 class will receive induction at the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Dinner on Friday, Oct. 16, at Heinz Field. On Saturday, Oct. 17, the inductees will be introduced at Heinz Field when the Panthers take on Notre Dame. For Hall of Fame Dinner ticket information, visit www.pittsburghpanthers.com/halloffame, email events@athletics.pitt.edu or call (412) 648-0345.
2020 Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Class Biographies
Jennifer Bruce (Women's Basketball)
Starring for the Panthers from 1981-85, Bruce remains one of the most productive and decorated players in Pitt basketball history. More than three decades following the conclusion of her collegiate career, she remains the second all-time leading scorer in Pitt basketball history—men's or women's—with 2,295 points. She averaged 20.5 points and 8.9 rebounds over her four seasons. Bruce's scoring average is tied for the highest in program history (with the late Lorri Johnson). An exceptional all-around player, she still ranks in the top 10 of nearly every major statistical category for Pitt women's basketball, including blocks (third, 203), rebounds (fifth, 998) and steals (seventh, 203). A three-time first-team All-Big East honoree, Bruce was named the 1984 Big East Co-Player of the Year after she averaged 23.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. She was named to the Big East Silver Anniversary Squad, recognizing the league's greatest players over its initial 25 years.
Donna DeMarino Sanft (Gymnastics Student-Athlete and Coach)
Sanft made an indelible impact at Pitt, first as a gymnastics student-athlete, then as the program's head coach, and later as a longtime athletics administrator. As a Pitt gymnast (1970-74), Sanft was a three-time Most Valuable Performer and three-time captain. She was selected Pitt's 1974 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year (now the Blue-Gold Award), a year prior to women's recipients joining their male counterparts in having their names inscribed on the famed Varsity Walk. In 1974, women's gymnastics was launched as an intercollegiate sport at Pitt under the direction of the athletic department. Reflective of her impact as a student-athlete, Sanft was hired as the first women's varsity gymnastics coach in Pitt history at the age of 22. Leading that program for the next 12 years (1974-86), Sanft posted an 86-57-1 record and was twice selected as Eastern Collegiate Coach of the Year. She directed the Panthers to a Top 10 national ranking in 1979 and Top 20 rankings in 1981, 1982, 1984 and 1986. Sanft also coached Pitt's only NCAA champion in women's gymnastics, Lisa Shirk (1982). Sanft then went on to a highly impactful and wide-ranging career as an administrator for Pitt Athletics from 1986-2014.
Chantee Earl (Women's Track and Field)
Earl stands as one of the most accomplished performers in the sterling history of Pitt women's track and field. As a senior, she captured the 800-meter title at the 2000 NCAA Indoor Championships. Her championship-winning time of 2:02.19 set a Pitt record and was a mere 0.42 seconds from the NCAA Indoor meet standard. Earl was the 800-meter national runner-up at the 2000 Outdoor Championships—the lone collegiate meet of her senior season that she didn't claim first place. In addition to her NCAA title, Earl finished her career (1996-2000) as a six-time All-American, earning three indoor citations and three in outdoor competitions. She also claimed seven Big East championships—four individual and three as a relay member—solidifying her status as one of the Panthers' greatest middle-distance runners ever.
Craig "Ironhead" Heyward (Football; Posthumous)
A bruising ball carrier for the Panthers from 1984-87, Heyward ranks among the greatest—and most colorful—players in Pitt football history. Although he played only three active college seasons, Heyward is still Pitt's fifth all-time leading rusher with 3,086 yards. His dazzling 1987 season saw him emerge as a national star as he rushed for 1,791 yards to earn consensus All-America honors and finish fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting. Heyward rushed for 100 yards in all 12 games during that campaign. He and Tony Dorsett are the only Pitt backs to rush for at least 100 yards 12 times in a single season. In the 1988 NFL Draft, Heyward was selected in the first round by the New Orleans Saints with the 24th overall pick. He went on to play 11 seasons in the NFL, including five with New Orleans (1988-92) and also had stints with Chicago (1993), Atlanta (1994-96), St. Louis (1997) and Indianapolis (1998). His best season as a professional was in 1995 when he was selected for the Pro Bowl after rushing for 1,083 yards.
Brandin Knight (Men's Basketball)
A Pitt point guard from 1999-2003, Knight's leadership was the catalyst for the Panthers' basketball revival. Over his four years, Knight led Pitt to two consecutive Big East regular-season titles (2001-02 and 2002-03), two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances (2002 and 2003), the program's first Big East Tournament title (2003) and an 89-40 (.690) four-year record. His orchestration of Pitt's offense earned him national praise and accolades. Knight was a two-time All-American (2002 and 2003). He was honored as the Big East's Co-Most Valuable Player as well as the league's Most Improved Player following his junior season. Knight still holds Pitt records for career assists (785), career assist average (6.2 apg.), career steals (298), season 3-point field goal attempts (261), season minutes played (1,284 in 2001-02) and consecutive games played with at least one assist (91 from 2000-03). Knight's No. 20 jersey was retired in 2009. From 2006-16, he served on the Pitt's men's basketball staff, including his final eight years as an assistant coach. In total, Knight was part of 12 NCAA Tournament appearances as a player and staff member.
Ann Marie Lucanie (Volleyball)
Lucanie set impeccable standards for Pitt volleyball that still resonate today. She earned a lengthy list of individual accolades from 1990-93, including All-America honors as a senior from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Upon the conclusion of her career, she owned the Pitt record for career kills (1,815), a standard that stood for 14 years and ranks second today. Her name is etched throughout the Panthers' record book, ranking fourth in career attempts (4,085), seventh in hitting percentage (.308), fourth in aces (148) and sixth in digs (1,480). She also set the school single-match record for kills with 37. Lucanie was a three-time Big East Player of the Year (1991-93) and four-time Big East Tournament MVP (1990-93). Her high-impact freshman debut earned her the 1990 Big East Rookie of the Year award. Lucanie led the Panthers to a 101-39 overall record (.721) and 26-2 Big East mark (.929) during her career. Pitt claimed four Big East regular-season championships and four Big East Tournament titles during that span, advancing to the NCAA Tournament each season.
Ken Macha (Baseball)
Joining Pitt's baseball team as a freshman walk-on in 1968, Macha went on to become one of the program's most accomplished players. In 1971, he ranked among the nation's leaders in batting average, RBI and slugging percentage. As a senior captain in 1972, Macha continued to produce at a national level and was a Sporting News Honorable Mention All-American. Selected in the sixth round of the 1972 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, he played six Major League seasons. Macha spent three campaigns with the Pirates (1974, 1977-78), two with the Montreal Expos (1979-80) and one with the Toronto Blue Jays (1981). He batted .256 for his MLB career. From 1982-85, he played professionally in Japan, batting .304 with 82 home runs. Macha then transitioned to coaching, serving on the staff of the Expos (1986-91) and California Angels (1992-94) before joining the Oakland A's in 1998. Macha ascended to manager of the A's from 2003-06 and later skippered the Milwaukee Brewers (2009-10). He compiled a 525-447 regular-season record and led the A's to division titles in 2003 and 2006.
Curtis Martin (Football)
Martin rushed for 2,643 career yards from 1991-94 at Pitt despite playing in only two contests during his final campaign due to injury. One of the highlights of his collegiate career came in the '94 opener when Martin dashed for 251 yards against the Texas Longhorns, setting a Big East single-game rushing record. Martin was a first-team All-Big East running back in 1993 after rushing for 1,075 yards. A third-round draft selection of New England in 1995, Martin spent three years with the Patriots (1995-97) before joining the New York Jets (1998-2006). At the time of his retirement, he ranked fourth all-time among NFL rushers with an astonishing 14,101 yards. Martin became only the second player in NFL history to begin his career with 10 consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. In 2004, he was the NFL rushing champion with 1,697 yards. Martin was named a Pro Bowler five times and All-Pro three times. A 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Martin's enshrinement speech is widely considered one of the most memorable ever delivered in Canton.
Bob Peck (Football; Posthumous)
Pitt football's rich history of All-America players began with Peck, who became the first Panther to receive national individual recognition for his excellence on the gridiron. A "roving center," Peck was named a first team All-American three consecutive seasons (1914-16). Smart and aggressive, he also was a spiritual leader for Pitt's juggernaut outfits of that early era. "When Peck fights, the team fights!" served as a Panthers' rallying cry. Pitt went a combined 24-1 over his final three seasons. During Peck's junior and senior seasons—played under the iconic Glenn "Pop" Warner—the Panthers won all 16 of their games and claimed the 1915 and 1916 national titles. Peck is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Pat Santoro (Wrestling)
Santoro is one of the Panthers' most accomplished individual athletes ever, regardless of sport. He finished his career (1986-89) as a four-time All-American, the only wrestler in Pitt history to accomplish that feat. Competing at 142 pounds, Santoro claimed two consecutive NCAA titles (1988 and 1989). He compiled 20 total NCAA Tournament victories, still a Pitt standard more than three decades later. Santoro is the winningest wrestler in Pitt history with a 167-13 record. As a junior, he went an astonishing 48-0 en route to his first NCAA championship. Santoro also won three Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) championships while at Pitt. Internationally, he was a four-time member of the U.S. National Team. Santoro was an alternate for the 1996 Olympic Team and 1999 World Team. He placed fourth at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials, third at the 1992 Olympic Trials and was runner-up at the 1992 U.S. Open Freestyle Championships.
Jackie Sherrill (Football Coach)
As the Panthers' head coach from 1977-81, Sherrill cemented Pitt's stature as a national football powerhouse. A former top lieutenant to John Majors, Sherrill took the reins of a Pitt program fresh off the 1976 national championship. He would build upon that success by fashioning a 50-9-1 mark from 1977-81, including a 4-1 bowl record and four Top 10 finishes. Sherrill's .842 winning percentage as Pitt's head coach is the highest in the football program's history. Over his final three seasons (1979-81), Pitt went a combined 33-3, finished among the nation's top 6 each year and went a combined 5-1 against rivals West Virginia and Penn State. Under Sherrill, the Panthers claimed victories in the 1977 Gator Bowl, 1979 Fiesta Bowl, 1980 Gator Bowl and 1982 Sugar Bowl. His 1980 squad, deemed by some to be Pitt's best ever, went 11-1, finished second in both polls and was selected the nation's No. 1 team by The New York Times. Sherrill's last Pitt team in 1981 went 11-1, including a dramatic Sugar Bowl 24-20 victory over Georgia, and ranked as high as No. 2 in the final polls.
Arnie Sowell (Men's Track and Field)
Described by former Pitt track and field coach Carl Rees as "one of the greatest runners who ever lived," Sowell distinguished himself both at Pitt (1953-57) and on the international stage. An accomplished middle-distance runner who claimed four NCAA titles, he was exceptionally versatile and owned range "from a quarter to five miles." Sowell also scored in the jumps and anchored all the key relay teams for the Panthers. Internationally, he claimed the gold medal in the 800 meters at the 1955 Pan American Games in Mexico City. He was a 1956 Olympian and placed fourth in the 800 meters at the Summer Games in Melbourne. Sowell set the world indoor 880-yard run record in 1957. He tied the world's 1,000-yard run mark in 1955.
Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner (Football Coach; Posthumous)
Warner coached at Pitt from 1915-23, and under his command the Panthers evolved into a national power. Few coaches in the history of college football have influenced their players and peers as significantly as Warner. His Pitt teams were 60-12-4 and were recognized as national champions in 1915, 1916 (unanimously) and 1918 (unanimously). Warner won his first 29 games as head coach of the Panthers. His unbeaten 1916 squad was one of the greatest in college football history. In fact, the sporting press of the day called it "The Greatest Eleven in the World." Warner's teams operated from both the single wing and the double wing, inventions which sprang from his imagination. His other creations included the practice of numbering plays, teaching the spiral punt (Warner was also one of the first to advocate the spiral pass), huddling before plays and the use of an unbalanced line for more blocking strength. A national network of football leagues for junior players—Pop Warner Football—was named for him.
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