Pitt and NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald gave a motivating speech to a group of college football players but it wasn’t in front of the Panthers.
The 11-time Pro Bowler spoke to Notre Dame this week
“I would give anything to be in your guys’ seat,” Fitzgerald said to the team. “All the things I’ve done in pro football and things like that, I lived my dream. But, man, this is the very best time in your guys’ lives. It’s here. It’s right now.
You guys have the opportunity to go out tomorrow and practice and do something that thousands, millions, of people would love to do.”
The Fighting Irish’s Twitter account posted a clip of Fitzgerald giving the speech.
He also said something that may get under the skin of a few Pitt fans.
“To be able to come out of that tunnel at Notre Dame Stadium playing for something that’s much bigger than yourselves, playing for a tradition that is unmatched and unquestionably the best in college football history, that is so very special,” said Fitzgerald.
While the Panthers do have their own traditions, it’s hard to argue that Notre Dame has one of, if not the best in college football.
Fitzgerald does have a connection to Notre Dame. His former teammate in Arizona, Chansi Stuckey is the Fighting Irish’s wide receivers coach.
Fitzgerald also recently spoke to Alabama’s team about accountability.
Fitzgerald’s speaking fee ranges from $50,000 to $100,000 according to Athletespeakers.com. No word on if Fitzgerald volunteered his time to talk to the programs.
Fitzgerald won the Biletnifoff Award in 2003 for the most outstanding receiver in college football and was taken third overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2004 draft.