Humble May savors latest tie to Pitt
Former lineman honored by call from alma mater
Last year, Dan Marino was inducted into the inaugural class of the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame. On Friday night, a couple of guys who kept his jersey clean in the Panthers memorable 1980 season will join him.
Pitt offensive linemen Mark May and Jimbo Covert, along with former head football coach Johnny Majors, women’s basketball star Lorri Johnson and more, will be inducted Friday night at Petersen Events Center. Members of the 2019 class then will be recognized at Pitt’s game Saturday against Central Florida.
Ahead of the weekend, we caught up with May — an imposing offensive tackle who won the Outland Trophy (nation’s top interior lineman) in 1980. May didn’t allow sack as a junior or senior, paving the way for the Panthers as they recorded back-toback 11-1 seasons in 1979-80.
The two-time Super Bowl champion turned college football analyst now lives in Arizona, but he keeps close tabs on Pat Narduzzi and the Pitt program. May also remembers what got him to this point.
(This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.)
Q: So, you already have your jersey retired here. What does it mean to be inducted into Pitt’s Hall of Fame?
A: It’s an honor and a pleasure. It’s one of those things where, I got the call from [athletic director] Heather [Lyke], and I was shocked. I was at an event out of town, I get the call from her, and she tells me, ‘You’re going in the Hall of Fame.’ I’m like, ‘What?’ It was one of those things that took me back a little bit. But it means a lot. It’s one of those important honors that you can achieve at your university and represent your school and represent the team that I was on and the players that I played with and those coaches that coached me. It’s just an honor. We all had a part in it. And without them, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be going in the Hall of Fame.
Q: You mentioned some of the players. You think it’s fitting to
be inducted in with Jimbo Covert? You two were stalwarts on that 1980 offensive line.
A: Russ Grimm and I were the ones who convinced Jimbo to go from defense to offense, because he didn’t want to go. He was a great defensive player from Western Pennsylvania, and now look at him. He’s in the Hall of Fame, and he’s got all these accolades. It’s great to go in with Jimbo. He’s been a heck of a player and a heck of a friend over the years. It’s a great opportunity to see him. I only get to go back to Pittsburgh about two or three times a year. It’s a great time to see some of the guys and Coach Majors and everyone else who will be inducted. Playing with Jimbo, it was a lot of fun. We had some great times. Obviously went 11-1 that year and just missed the national championship. We had a close-knit group on that offensive line.
Q: How did you and Russ persuade Jimbo to come over to the offensive line?
A: Couple of pizzas and a quarter-keg of beer [laughs]. We dragged him into our dorm room [in the spring of 1979] and held him hostage for a weekend. But you know, it was worth it for Jimbo and it was worth it for us because we knew how good we could be. We could tell the first day that they moved him to the offensive line, it was a natural fit.
Q: When you think back on that 1980 season, what comes to mind?
A: I think it was the closeness of the team. What happened was, two years before when [former defensive coordinator] Jimmy Johnson left and went to Oklahoma State [in 1979], we were sophomores at the time. Coach [Jackie] Sherrill brought us into his suite and said, ‘This team is your team, guys. You’re not the seniors. You’re the younger guys. You’re the core of this team. It’s your team. Take advantage of it. Run it like you should, and we’re going to have some success.’ We went 22-2 from that point on. And if we had a system like we have today or the BCS [Bowl Championship Series] system, I’m sure we would’ve played for the national championship.
Q: With Pitt-Penn State last week, a lot of people looked back on the rivalry and that 14-9 win over Penn State in 1980. Looking back on it now, was there a play, was there a block, was there something that really sticks out to you?
A: Yeah, Randy McMillan running the ball down their throat. They couldn’t stop it, which was good for the offensive line. It was a national game. All the sideline banter between coach [Joe] Paterno and Coach Sherrill. They did not like each other one bit. Coach Sherrill wasn’t afraid to tell us and let us know that it was a rivalry. It was there before we got there, obviously. It was a big game. I just remember it being one of those games where we physically dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
Q: That 100th meeting last week, it might be the final one for a long time.
A: Not really happy about that. They should find a way. You’ve got your non-conference games. There’s always going to be an opening. You can buy somebody out. You can buy one of those MAC [Mid-American Conference] teams out that Pitt plays or Penn State plays and replace it with a game against each other. I think it can be done. I think it should be done. Even though West Virginia went to the Big 12, Pitt’s in the ACC and Penn State’s in the Big Ten, you can’t tell me that those three teams shouldn’t be playing each other every year. One, it’s good football. Two, it’s going to be sold-out football, which is important because Pitt needs sellouts. So does West Virginia. Penn State’s usually going to sell out anyway. But I think it’s one of those marquee games that, if you get a chance to play for a playoff, it’s going to be a marquee game on your schedule. It’s not going to be an FCS [Football Championship Subdivision] school or, unfortunately, a MAC school or something like that. It’s going to count for more. It’s going to help you down the long run to get into the playoff, in my opinion.
Q: What do you make of Pitt right now? The Panthers went to the ACC championship last year, and now they’re in Year 5 under Pat Narduzzi. How would you assess how things are going and where they’re headed?
A: I think we’re on the uphill climb. I think Pat getting to the ACC championship game last year was definitely a big plus. It’s going to help him in recruiting in the long haul. And I think over the course of time, it’s going to get better. I think Pat’s the right guy at the right time at Pitt. As long as you support him, he’s going to do a heck of a job.