Pitt great Sam Clancy remains glad he stayed home, choosing Panthers
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As a 6-foot-7 forward coming out of high school, Sam Clancy recalled hundreds of collegiate programs vying for his commitment.
Ultimately, for Clancy, who won a state championship at Fifth Avenue High School in 1976 before graduating from Brashear in ’77, it came down to three suitors: his hometown Pitt Panthers, Ohio State and NC State.
Half a century later, Clancy still spoke highly of NC State, whereas the Buckeyes’ pursuit of him grew stale when football coach Woody Hayes tried to recruit him as a football player first, basketball player second.
But in the fall of 1976, Clancy made up his mind of where to go thanks in part to an interaction with a Pitt student-athlete who had already achieved larger-than-life status in Oakland.
“Tony Dorsett sealed Pitt for me even though I was leaning towards Pitt,” Clancy said. “He came off the field, I’m on the sideline, I think we were playing Penn State or West Virginia, and he said, ‘Hey, stay home. Pitt would love you forever.’ He told me that. He said ‘Stay home, do it for your family.’ It was a done deal then.”
Clancy went on to make his own special mark on Pitt athletics, anchoring the men’s basketball program from 1977-81.
He remains its only player to eclipse 1,000 career points and 1,000 rebounds.
During halftime of Pitt’s Saturday afternoon overtime loss to Clemson, Clancy’s No. 15 jersey was raised to the Petersen Events Center rafters.
He follows Don Hennon (1956-59), Billy Knight (1971-74), Charles Smith (1984-88) and Brandin Knight (1999-2003) as the only numbers Pitt has seen fit to retire.
“I dreamed about being up there,” Clancy said. “Never knew if I would make it.”
Clancy averaged a double-double in each of his Panthers campaigns, completing his collegiate career with an average of 14.4 points and 11.6 rebounds.
His 1,342 rebounds, 66 double-doubles and 78 double-figure rebounding games are Pitt records, and Clancy’s 1,671 points rank 12th all-time.
During the recruiting process, a close bond with Pitt coach Tim Grgurich, who took over the program in 1976-77, a year before Clancy’s freshman season, also proved key to him staying home.
“Tim Grgurich probably at my house 50 times — this is before (NCAA) compliance and all that stuff — but literally, 50 times or more,” Clancy said. “The whole staff knew every one of my aunts’ names, every one of my uncles’ names, every one of my cousins’ names.”
While at Pitt, Clancy helped usher in a new period of respectability for the Panthers, who never had a losing season with him on roster.
As a senior in 1980-81, Clancy led Pitt to the NCAA Tournament.
Looking back on his impact at Pitt, Clancy refused to take full credit for helping the program turn a corner on the eve of joining the Big East.
“I know Bill Hillgrove always says, (I’m) ‘solely responsible for putting the Pitt program back on the map,’ but I’m not sure that’s it,” Clancy said. “I had some great teammates that I played with that pushed me.”
While still in college, Clancy competed in the 1979 Pan American Games, helping the United States to a gold medal under coach Bobby Knight.
Despite never playing college football, he was selected in the 1982 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks and went on to enjoy an 11-year career, which includes tenures with the Cleveland Browns (1985-88) and Indianapolis Colts (1989-1993).
Clancy also played for the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL in 1984 and was a 1981 draft pick by the NBA’s Phoenix Suns.
Later in life, Clancy returned to Pitt, where he continues to serve as director of the Varsity Letter Club, helping oversee athletics alumni relations while connecting with current Panthers student-athletes.
“Sam has certainly meant a lot to me and our program in my seven years here,” said Pitt coach Jeff Capel. “He has an unbelievable personality, he has unbelievable pride in the University of Pittsburgh and he’s a great role model to these guys or just being a really good man.”
Clancy’s No. 15 is now raised and secure in its place of honor at Petersen Events Center.
However, his jersey lives on in Pitt sophomore point guard Jaland Lowe, who also sports No. 15.
For the remainder of his Pitt days, Lowe has Clancy’s blessing to continue wearing the number.
“I love Jaland Lowe,” Clancy said. “I am honored that he is the last guy to wear that jersey, and I think he represents what Pitt is all about the way he plays and carries himself off the court.”