Even more Penn State-Larry-Fitzgerald-pre-Super-Bowl-malarkey

by NewJackCity on Jan 28, 2009 1:49 PM EST Comment 10 comments

I know, I know, by now we've all heard that Larry Fitzgerald would have been a Nittany Lion if not for Penn State's blindness and the unending genious of Pitt football recruiters.

RUTS already went over some of the shenanigans being written this week here, about how terrible Penn State was to Larry. Today the Arizona Republic published this little gem, buried in a Cardinals Notes section:

Fitzgerald ended up at Pittsburgh by chance.

He was on his way to an informal visit to Penn State when a storm forced a stop in Pittsburgh.

"My high school coach told me that Tony Dorsett and Dan Marino and Mike Ditka went there," Fitzgerald said. "So we went over to their facility, and their coaches didn't know we were coming.

"I met the coaches, and we gave them my tape. That was how the relationship started."

This doesn't really mean that Penn State would have landed him or even pursued him if he'd made that storm-delayed unofficial visit, but in Fitzgerald's own words, the recruiting process with Pitt started by chance.

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learn something new everyday

I was not aware Ditka went to Pitt. Just goes to show no matter how much awesomeness is in one person, it’s not enough to outweigh the suckiness of an entire program.

"I'm driven by greatness" - Derrick Williams

by HookMania on Jan 28, 2009 2:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That storm's name?

Tropical Depression Ditka. We never stood a chance.

John Madden told me 90% of the game was half-mental...

by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Jan 28, 2009 5:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That sounds a little "far out"

that Larry Fitzgerald ended at Pitt because he got “grounded” in the Burgh. Weather is about the only thing that would ground the Fitz. He is special. It would have been good to have him as a Lion. However, he would have had to be part of a team and probably would not have received all the individual hype and stats that he got as a Panther. Maybe it’s because of the big city papers, TV and radio, but they really hype the individual players at Pitt. Really makes you sick. They were getting a real PR push ready for “LeSean McCoy for Heisman” next year. I mean, com’on, McCoy is a nice player but I think he has a ways to go to be in the Reggie Bush, Bo Jackson, Herschel Walker league. Also, who the heck else has a chance with Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford and the big guy from the Ohio State University playing next year?

by PaJoe on Jan 28, 2009 9:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

No way. . .

Fitz deserved the hype that he got at Pitt, and he’s proving it now. Not to mention, calling Pittsburgh a media hub on the college football landscape with big city papers, TV and radio is really stretching it. Can’t say Fitz wasn’t the real deal in college, and comparing him to McCoy is way off the mark.

by The IC Lion on Jan 29, 2009 2:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Think about it....

how pathetic is Pitt?

Larry Fitzgerald is awesome, saw him at Pitt, gets drafted by Arizona. But unless you are from around this area, or follow the Arizona Cardinals, the guy works in relative obscurity. Finally gets on national television in the playoffs, breaks out huge, 3/4 of the country is saying who the hell is this guy?

After people find out he went to Pitt, the first question everybody asks is why the hell didn’t he go to Penn State. It’s hysterical that the story isn’t that Pitt worked hard and found a good player, it’s that Joe Paterno screwed up and didn’t take a chance on one. Same deal with LeSean McCoy. No wonder Pitt fans have a complex.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jan 29, 2009 8:16 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

?

Im pretty sure anybody who watches any football knows that Fitz is one hell of a receiver. I dont think this really surprised that many people.

"I've gotto go with PSU. Ill make that pick every year till I die, and eventually it's gonna happen. Hear me now."- LL Cool J

by psuaar on Jan 29, 2009 11:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

First question everybody asks is why Fitz didn't go to Penn State?

A no-name blogger from PennLive doesn’t constitute everybody. . . hell the guy didn’t even get Fitz’s QB at Pitt right. Fitz’s story is not about Penn State at all, and I’ll give Pitt this one.

Also, Fitz is not a relative obscurity at all. His only fault in that matter is that he’s not as much of a jackass as Owens,Smith,Housh,Moss, etc.

by The IC Lion on Jan 29, 2009 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs