Bill Hillgove’s Pitt association began in 1969, when he was hired as the Panthers’ basketball’s play-by-play announcer. A year later, Pitt named Hillgrove color analyst for football, teaming him with the late Ed Conway.
Hillgrove took over the play-by-play seat for football in 1974 when Conway passed away. It was then that a broadcasting combination that many of today’s Pitt fans grew up with – Hillgrove and longtime color analyst Johnny Sauer – came to be.
The pair worked the better part of two decades together, describing the exploits of such Pitt greats as Dorsett, Dan Marino, Hugh Green, Mark May and Bill Fralic among many others. May succeeded Sauer in the broadcast booth during the mid-1990s, while Fralic has worked alongside Hillgrove since 2004.
In 1994, Hillgrove was handpicked by Pittsburgh Steelers’ owner Dan Rooney to replace the retiring Jack Fleming as the team’s new play-by-play announcer. Fleming, incidentally, was the 1999 recipient of the Schenkel Award for his work with West Virginia.
In his 37 years with Pitt football, Hillgrove incredibly has missed broadcasting just a single contest. A conflict with the Steelers caused him to miss the Panthers’ 1999 season opener with Bowling Green.
During Hillgrove’s long career he has also served as sports director for WTAE-TV and continues as the channel’s “Steelers Insider.” He has received numerous awards during his prolific career and is also an honorary University of Pittsburgh letterman.
Here are his thoughts on the current Pitt Panthers:
1. Ray Graham has had a remarkable season far. Going up against a Connecticut team that has had much success against the run, is getting Graham going the biggest key of the game?
Graham is Pitt’s key. If he can run effectively, it will loosen up the Panthers’ passing game. The revamped O-line needs to rise to the occasion.
2. How would you grade Todd Graham in his first season?
Much to Todd’s credit, he won’t use the phrase “transition period” as an excuse for a 3-4 record. Pitt played the 2nd toughest non-conference schedule in the nation. Even though they lost a couple they might have won, the experience should bode well for the Big East games left. Gotta give the coach a “C” since the team is 3-4. But the foundation he is building will, in my opinion, help take this program back into national prominence.
3. Offensively the MVP for Pitt has been Ray Graham. Talk about where the defense is and how they have fared.
The strength of the Panthers is the defensive line where their is quality and depth. Brandon Lindsey and Aaron Donald lead the pass rush, while Miles Caragein and Chaz Alexchi hold the LOS vs. the run. The LB’s have improved vastly over last season and the secondary has been consistently effective.
4. Personally, how difficult is it today, to call Panthers games and then Steelers game?
I have a made-to-order travel schedule this year, including Pitt at the Bearcats on Sat. Nov. 12th and the Steelers at the Bengals on Sunday. However, next year might be a nightmare, depending on many factors, including the fact that very few flights leave Pittsburgh after 6 p.m. on Saturday evenings.
5. Dorsett’s 32-yard touchdown run where he became the all-time leading rusher in college football may be your most famous call. Is there another moment that sticks out in your legendary career?
Two. Santonio Holmes TD to propell the Steelers to their sixth Super Bowl title….and the near TD vs. the Colts in the AFC Title game when Jim Harbaugh heaved the Hail Mary pass. I was able to refrain from blurting out “Touchdown” until Merril Hoge saw the official in the end zone point to the ground, indicating an incompletion. I was told both the Colts announcer and the TV network play-by-play man both said “Touchdown!” only to have to correct their calls.
Bonus Question: How do you feel about Pittsburgh heading to the ACC?
A huge step for Pitt football. A lateral move for hoops. FB drives the big time athletic bus. It’s musical chairs: when the music stops, you had better find a place to sit down.
