Kevin Gorman's Take 5: Five memories of covering Darrelle Revis
When Darrelle Revis announced his retirement Wednesday from the NFL following an 11-year career, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise.
But part of me couldn’t help feeling like it was just yesterday I was covering Revis star at Aliquippa and Pitt and preparing for the NFL Draft.
With so many memories of Revis, I felt like sharing five of my favorites:
1. The five-TD finale
Northern Lehigh had allowed 47 points all season before it met Aliquippa in the PIAA Class AA final in Hershey, a championship game postponed a day by a blizzard.
Revis put on a performance that became legendary: He accounted for 30 points on five touchdowns, including the winner on a 64-yard run with 4:23 remaining, to lead the Quips to a 32-27 victory.
Revis rushed for 91 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries and also scored on an 89-yard kickoff return and a 69-yard return of a blocked field-goal attempt. He also had a 39-yard completion, a 6-yard catch, a 33-yard interception return (and had another pick negated by penalty) and made five tackles.
Despite averaging 15.4 yards per touch as a senior, Revis wasn’t the focal point of Aliquippa’s offense until the PIAA playoffs, when he rushed for 255 yards and five touchdowns on 24 carries in three games. His state-title game showing clinched Tribune-Review Player of the Year honors for Revis.
His best sport at the time was basketball. Two days after the PIAA football final, Revis scored 35 points in an 86-82 overtime victory over archrival Beaver Falls in a section game.
2. ‘It’s Cincinnati’
One of my favorite moments from covering Revis at Pitt came during the 2006 season, when the Panthers were preparing to play a Big East game at Cincinnati.
Revis had a 79-yard punt return against Cincinnati the previous season and wasn’t the least bit worried about whether Pitt would win. Revis was asked if the Panthers were concerned about being tested by the Bearcats, who were coming off a 31-0 victory over Eastern Kentucky — its first shutout in 11 years.
Revis knew the Bearcats were 0-5 all-time against Pitt.
“It’s Cincinnati,” Revis replied.
Pitt jumped to a 23-0 lead, but the Bearcats rallied in the fourth quarter to cut it to 11. With four seconds left, Revis picked off a Dustin Grutza pass and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown to clinch the 33-15 victory.
Revis didn’t just talk the talk. He backed it up.
3. The ‘Brawl’ punt return
The most memorable moment of Revis’ career at Pitt, of course, came against West Virginia in the 99th edition of the Backyard Brawl at Heinz Field.
Revis fielded a Pat McAfee punt at the 27, ran right and was sprung by the crack-back block of receiver Derek Kinder, who took out Ridwan Malik and Brad Palmer in one blow.
Revis tiptoed along the sideline, slipping past Charles Pugh before slowing for his blockers. He eluded McAfee and Larry Williams, then spun off Franchot Allen at the 5-yard line for a touchdown to give the Panthers a 24-17 lead.
The 73-yard punt return wasn’t just a play for the ages. It won an ESPY as the top play in college football.
4. Time to get paid
The spin move Revis used to score on that punt return proved profitable at pro day before NFL scouts.
Revis knew his 40-yard dash time would make or break his first-round status, and he had been projected to run in the 4.5-second range. But Revis ran on Aliquippa’s WPIAL Class AA champion 400-meter relay team and knew he was faster.
Back then, Pitt Pro Day was closed to the media, but it didn’t take long for word to spread that Revis had run the 40 in the 4.4 range .
But the story that emerged from pro day was how Revis wowed scouts not with his 40, but another drill. The three-cone drill is designed to test lateral quickness. Revis blew everyone away when he elected to pivot and spin instead of rounding the cones, showcasing flexible hips and explosiveness.
I remember texting a WPIAL football coach who was in attendance, asking him how Revis had fared.
The coach sent a symbolic reply: $$$$$$$$$.
5. Payday
I developed a good relationship with Revis and was among the local media members invited to the Aliquippa home of his grandmother, Aileen Gilbert, for the 2007 NFL Draft.
The first thing I did was fill a bottle with water, testing former Quips coach Mike Zmijanac’s theory that there was something in the water that helped Aliquippa produce elite football players.
I think it’s the genes.
But I’ll never forget watching a disappointed Revis, who disappeared into a back bedroom after the Miami Dolphins selected Ted Ginn Jr. with the No. 9 pick.
The Texans took Amobi Okoye 10th, followed by Patrick Willis going to the 49ers, Marshawn Lynch to the Bills and Adam Carriker to the Rams. It looked like Revis could slip to the Steelers at No. 15 before the Jets traded up for Carolina’s pick at 14 .
(By the way, the Jets gave up the Nos. 25, 59 and 164 picks, which resulted in the Panthers taking two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jon Beason, five-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil and linebacker Tim Shaw).
I’ll never forget how emotional Revis got when he received the call from the Jets, seeing his dreams realized, or the roar of his family and friends when his name was announced by Roger Goodell.
It was the start of an NFL career that saw Revis become the league’s top shutdown corner, a seven-time Pro Bowl pick and four-time All-Pro whose last stop should be in Canton.
Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Kevin at kgorman@tribweb.com or via Twitter @KGorman_Trib.
