Bill Hillgrove sees history made at both ends of nearly a half-century of Pitt football
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Legendary broadcaster Bill Hillgrove’s weekend was busy just like they all are during football season.
Pitt on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium for the play-by-play call of the Virginia Tech game, and a car trip to Buffalo on Sunday for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills.
Of course, it was nothing like his career that started in 1970 and now includes calling the two biggest rushing performances in Pitt history — 47 years apart.
Hillgrove was at Pitt Stadium on Nov. 15, 1975, to see Tony Dorsett rush for a Pitt record 303 yards in a 34-20 victory.
Hillgrove was behind the microphone Saturday when Izzy Abanikanda shattered Dorsett’s school record, rushing for 320 yards and six touchdowns in Pitt’s 45-29 victory. It was the fourth-highest rushing total in ACC history.
Hillgrove said the games were played under significantly different circumstances, but both were historic.
“That (the ‘75 game) was Pitt emerging from the Carl DePasqua years into something that you knew was building,” Hillgrove said. “It was a lot more pivotal than (Saturday’s) performance.”
The next season, Pitt won the national championship and Dorsett won the Heisman Trophy.
“And I don’t mean to take anything away from Izzy because if he doesn’t get trip-tackled on that one play near midfield (in the second quarter), he probably has another long (touchdown) run.”
On that play along the sideline, Abanikanda had nothing but green in front of him when Virginia Tech safety Nasir Peoples caught him by the foot at the end of a 28-yard gain.
Six plays later, Abanikanda finished that drive with a 17-yard touchdown.
“It was historic, no question about it,” Hillgrove said. “Unexpected because of his first couple of carries. They were minus (3 and 1 yard). You never think I’m looking at a guy who’s going to make history. You would never think that.”
Abanikanda — and his blockers — saved the best for the fourth quarter when he ran 80 yards for his final touchdown. Hillgrove’s call captures the moment.
"Izzy! Izzy! Is he? He is GONE! WOW!"
Bill Hillgrove was on the call in 1975 when Tony Dorsett set a Pitt record with 303 rushing yards against Notre Dame.
47 years later, Hillgrove voiced Pitt history yet again – this time by Israel Abanikanda.#H2P » @937theFan pic.twitter.com/YgVHRDD5Xn
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) October 9, 2022
“Is he? Is he? Is he? He is gone for the touchdown run of 80 yards. Wow! He’s over three bills.”
What’s most impressive about that run is that Virginia Tech had nine defenders within 4 yards of the line of scrimmage, and none of them touched him. Solid seal blocks by Marcus Minor, Ryan Jacoby, Karter Johnson and Daniel Carter opened up a huge hole.
The 1975 game was the first Pitt victory against the Irish since 1963, an 11-year streak that included six margins of defeat of 40 or more points.
Hillgrove likes to tell the story of how proud Pitt fans were that day.
One of those was Soupy Campbell, an Irishman who lived in Oakland and worked in the Pitt Stadium press box.
“He said, ‘For the first time in my life, I came out of Pitt Stadium and I walked down that hill and I kept my head high knowing that the Panthers had defeated Notre Dame.’
“Just the way he said it, he meant it: ‘Here’s to all you Subway Alums. Today’s my day.’ ”