Where are they now?
JOHN MAJORS, Head coach
Many people think of Majors only as the longtime college coach who guided Pitt to the 1976 national championship. But did you know he was an All-American running back at Tennessee, where he also coached for many years and finished as runner-up to Paul Hornung of Notre Dame for the 1956 Heisman Trophy?
Majors is fondly remembered at Pitt for his iconic stature, even though his eight-year record at the school stands at 45-45-1. In turn, he fondly recalls his time with the Panthers, which included two stretches (1973-76, 1993-96). In between, he experienced a very successful 16-year run at Tennessee that produced three Southeastern Conference championships before a heart attack in 1992 forced his departure.
Majors lives not far from the Pitt campus in Oakland and serves as a special assistant to Chancellor Mark Nordenberg and athletic director Jeff Long.
TOM BRZOZA, Offensive guard
Brzoza made the move from guard to center and became an All-American in 1977. He became a starter in the fourth game of his freshman year and held the position for the rest of his career at Pitt.
He has stayed out of the spotlight since his playing days -- he says he prefers it that way -- living alone in a remote area of central Pennsylvania, 45 miles east of State College. The New Castle native works as a sales representative for an Allentown-based outdoor sports equipment company.
MATT CAVANAUGH, Quarterback
First, it was the national championship at Pitt, where Cavanaugh, currently the Panthers' offensive coordinator, was named MVP after quarterbacking Pitt to a 27-3 Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia. Then, there were the three Super Bowl rings -- one each as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants and one as an assistant with the Baltimore Ravens.
Though Cavanaugh, a Youngstown, Ohio, native, struggled with injuries in 1976 and 1977, he is remembered for helping to vault Pitt to a No. 1 ranking at the end of his junior year.
JIM CRAMER, Linebacker
Known simply as "Jimbo," perhaps Cramer should have been referred to by something a bit more ferocious. The Jefferson native, who works in medical sales for Bausch & Lomb, was a rugged player who endured two seasons under legendary strong-armed coach Woody Hayes at Ohio State before returning home to play for Pitt. He took pride in not being pushed around, and his speed, strength and quickness earned him a reputation as a no-nonsense defender.
TONY DORSETT, Running back
Perhaps the best-known Pitt football player of all-time was Dorsett, the electric runner from Hopewell who won the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Award following the Panthers' 1976 championship season. He finished his college career with a then-record 6,082 career rushing yards but figures he should have had at least one more had he not been ejected in the final minute of a 24-16 victory over backyard rival West Virginia.
Dorsett, who is married and lives in Frisco, Texas, has four children, including former NFL defensive back Anthony. He keeps busy as owner of Tony Dorsett Food Products and as a motivational speaker for Roger Staubach's sports-celebrity marketing company.
GORDON JONES, Wide receiver
Rather than take credit for his contributions, Jones points to the Pitt coaching staff for assembling what he refers to as "the ultimate team." Everything, he said, was synchronized.
Jones, a physical therapist in the Tampa Bay area, is regarded as Pitt's first great receiver of the modern era. He earned All-America honors as a senior in 1978 and finished his college career as the Panthers' all-time receiving yardage leader with 2,230 yards. His nickname, "Too Much," resulted from his ability to escape swarms of defenders and the manner in which he made seemingly impossible catches.
BOB JURY, Defensive back
An All-American in 1977 and the unquestioned leader of the Pitt secondary, Jury, a South Park native who is a food distribution salesman and assistant high school coach at Hempfield, holds school records for career interceptions (21), including two in a 34-3 victory over Clemson in the 1977 Gator Bowl; interceptions in a season (10); and career interception return yards (266). He played in the Hula and Japan bowls before an NFL stint with the San Francisco 49ers.
CARSON LONG, Kicker
When Long, who had just set a Pennsylvania high school record for the longest field goal in the state, visited Pitt for the first time, he found a warm, considerate man in coach John Majors. Four years later, the Panthers were on top of the college football world.
Long, a former high school coach at Cardinal Brennan and Mt. Carmel, currently works with the mentally retarded.
JOHN PELUSI, Center
Pelusi, a member of the Pitt Board of Trustees, was one of three brothers to play for the Panthers. His son, John Jr., is a sophomore tight end. John Sr., a Youngstown, Ohio, native who lives in Allison Park and is owner of a commercial real estate firm, recalls that Pitt "was so bad we snuck up on people," referring to the turnaround that occurred during coach John Major's first stint with the school.
AL ROMANO, Middle guard
In 1976, not only was Romano an All-American, he was widely regarded as the best nose guard in the country. He was strong, quick and blessed with tremendous instincts. Romano, a three-year starter, was picked as the most outstanding lineman in the Panthers' 33-19 victory over Kansas in the 1975 Sun Bowl.
Romano is the owner of a modular housing firm, in Syracuse, N.Y., where he was raised.
TOM YEWCIC, Quarterback
With Robert Haygood and Matt Cavanaugh sidelined with injuries during the season, the Panthers found themselves in a precarious situation at quarterback. But Yewcic, a Johnstown native, rescued them, stepping into the fire during the Panthers' 27-6 victory over Louisville that ran their record to 5-0.
He is a Democratic state representative from Cambria County.
- By Dave Mackall
