Celebrating Hillgrove

Disclaimer: This PBRTV correspondent works for Pitt. Opinions expressed here are his alone, and are not those of the university or its affiliates.

OK, we’re a little late on this. (Sometimes the packet boat to PBRTV‘s Mon Valley Bureau is slow.)

But with the Pitt Panthers playing in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament today, it seems like an appropriate time to mention that the last issue of the University of Pittsburgh’s alumni magazine had a nice profile of Bill Hillgrove.

Hillgrove has called Pitt men’s basketball games alongside college basketball hall-of-famer and former Pirates shortstop Dick Groat for 29 seasons. “Bix” also will soon mark 40 years as the “Voice of the Panthers” football broadcasts.

In addition, writer Justin Hopper notes that Hillgrove is about to celebrate 14 years doing play-by-play on Steelers broadcasts.

Hillgrove tells Hopper his favorite Pitt Panthers’ football play was the 1976 touchdown run by Tony Dorsett that broke the all-time college football rushing record.