Tony Dorsett Returns To Pitt

Pitt tailback LeSean McCoy was compared to Panthers legend Tony Dorsett long before he ever played a down in college, after just a few games the similarities were amazing.

The superstar tailbacks from past and present will be side-by-side Tuesday when Tony Dorsett returns to Pittsburgh to make a presentation to LeSean McCoy to commemorate his special freshman season.

The event will take place at noon, prior to Pitt's fifth spring practice session at the UPMC Sports Complex. The event could be the beginning of some Heisman hype for McCoy. Dorsett was the 1976 recipient as the nation's top college player.

"I met him once before, when he came back for a game last year,'' McCoy said. "He's a great, great running back.''

Last year, McCoy set Pitt freshman records for points (90)and rushing touchdowns (14), breaking two longstanding marks established by Dorsett (78 points and 13 rushing TDs) in 1973. After watching McCoy play last year, Dorsett quipped, "He reminded me of me.''

McCoy finished with a Big East freshman-record 1,328 rushing yards and led all freshmen nationally with an average of 110.67 yards per game. He was a unanimous Freshman All-American, the Big East Rookie of the Year and first-team All-Big East Conference.

Dorsett starred for the Panthers from 1973-76, leading Pitt to a 12-0 record and the national championship his senior season. He finished his Pitt career as college football’s all-time leading rusher with 6,082 yards.

A first-round NFL Draft selection by the Dallas Cowboys in 1977, Dorsett played 11 seasons for them (1977-87) and his final year with the Denver Broncos (1988). He retired as the second all-time leading rusher in NFL history with 12,739 yards.

Dorsett was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.