Tony Dorsett

**^{As the college football season begins we felt it apt to ask:}**
**^{Who’s this fella holding the hardware?}**

Tony Dorsett entered the college ranks just in time for freshmen eligibility. The NCAA began allowing freshmen to compete in 1972. Dorsett arrived on campus at the University of Pittsburgh in the Fall of 1973 and immediately rushed for 1,586 yards and 11 touchdowns, becoming the first freshman to earn All-America status since Army’s Doc Blanchard in 1944.

It was the first of four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons and four straight All-American selections for the Beaver County, PA, native. During his senior season he eclipsed Ohio State Archie Griffin‘s all-time college rushing mark (5,217 yards) and finished his career with 6,082 yards, still good for fifth best all-time.

It all culminated his senior season when he rushed for 1,948 yards and 21 touchdowns, all while leading the Panthers to their first National Championship in 40 seasons when they beat the University of Georgia, 27-3, in the Sugar Bowl to complete a 12-0 season.

For his efforts, Dorsett was named the Walter Camp Award and Maxwell Award recipient in addition to winning the prestigious Heisman Trophy. Dorsett is still the only Panthers’ winner of the Heisman.

The Dallas Cowboys traded four draft picks to acquire the No. 2 pick in the 1977 NFL Draft from the Seattle Seahawks to select Dorsett. His $1.1 million contract made him the first million dollar Cowboy. The Cowboys went on to defeat the Denver Broncos, 27-10, in Super Bowl XII that season, making Dorsett the first player in football history to win a National Championship and Super Bowl in consecutive years.

Dorsett retired following the 1988 season with the second most rushing yards (12,306) in NFL history (Walter Payton with 12,739). He’s a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

Tony Dorsett with his Heisman Trophy — **^{The University of Pittsburgh’s Tony Dorsett poses with his 1976 Heisman Trophy. Dorsett is still the only Pitt Panther to win the award. (Photo from the Associated Press)}**

^{Some highlights from Dorsett’s final regular-season game as a Panther against rival Penn State.}

Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.

Just to review, The Fan Teaser comes courtesy of longtime buddy, Pat Schutte. The cropped photo below and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you by the early kickoff on Sunday.

**^{The only thing bigger than his collar was his smile. Went on to have a successful}**
**^{NFL career. Once teamed with another Heisman winner in the same backfield.}**
**^{Name ’em both for an extra helping of Primanti Bros. fries.}**

I have one keen recollection of Tony Dorsett‘s Heisman Trophy-winning 1976 season. It was January 1, 1977 and Dorsett’s Pittsburgh Panthers played in the Sugar Bowl against the Georgia Bulldogs. To be clear, I remember nothing about Dorsett’s 202-yard performance in that game or the fact that Pitt won, 24-7, to complete an 11-0 season and earn the consensus national championship. Nope, what I remember most is that the rest of my family went to bed before me (then a 9-year-old) and I stayed up to watch the game. Not sure I made it to the end, but I distinctly remember being responsible for turning the TV off and the lights out before going to bed. It was the first time I ever recall staying up after my parents for a sporting event.

In the event you want to enjoy a journey in the way-back machine, here’s the ABC telecast of the Sugar Bowl, featuring Keith Jackson and Ara Parseghian on the call.

Dorsett went on to the second pick in the 1977 NFL Draft (Ricky Bell went No. 1 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and over 12 seasons had a Hall of Fame career (the only 1977 draftee enshrined in Canton). In Dallas, Dorsett joined fellow Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach in the backfield and helped the Cowboys win the Super Bowl, 27-10, over the Denver Broncos. Dorsett also was in the same backfield as another Heisman Trophy winner, Herschel Walker, during the 1986 and 1987 seasons.

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