PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It's an interesting message coming from three, star players who left the area to advance their football careers. Returning to Pitt this year at various points of their careers, these same men are telling local players to become Panthers.
"I love Pittsburgh," said QB Phil Jurkovec who turned Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi down twice. "I love the City. It has everything you would like. It has everything to offer to recruits. I think the WPIAL kids should all stay home, all come to Pitt. That's something that hasn't happened in a while.
It's something we've love to see happen."
Jurkovec was a four-star quarterback at Pine-Richland HS, he committed to Notre Dame as a high school sophomore. He would later transfer to Boston College.
Derrick Davis-a four-star running back/safety from Gateway HS went to LSU.
Donovon McMillon-a four-star safety from Peters Township HS went to Florida.
"We are all coming in to work," McMillon said. "Working hard every day. We just want to win. We want to put Pitt up there where it used to be and be great, for real."
McMillon and Davis played each other twice in high school and college. This past October after the Tigers won their second straight against the Gators, the two WPIAL alums talked about a plan.
They exchanged gloves and wondered what it would be like to instead of playing against each other, they wore the same uniform.
"We said we wanted to team up and make some noise happen at home," McMillon said. "He was interested in that. We talked slightly. We stayed focused at our schools and did what we were supposed to do. It was always in the back of our head if that was going to be the opportunity to happen. We both hit each other, it's time to slide, and we made it happen."
"I love the Pittsburgh people, they are hard working," Jurkovec said. "There is a ton of pride in this city for football and the culture of Pittsburgh. I've always loved that."
"Pitt is on the uprise," McMillon said. "They keep inching up and I think we have the opportunity to go win and do really big things and win an ACC Championship for sure."
"The WPIAL guys, anybody who wants to come to Pitt," Jurkovec said. "Come make it into a consistent winning program."
New nickname
It was during the only game McMillon and Jurkovec played against each other. It was October of 2017, as McMillon remembered it they stopped the record-setting Pine-Richland offense on the first drive. McMillon said Peters Township was hyped. He says in hindsight, maybe they poked the wrong bear.
Jurkovec and Pine-Richland won the game 56-7. What McMillon also remembered was what his father said afterwards.
He said Jurkovec ran through his team, calling him 'The Galloping Giraffe'.
Asked if that nickname will catch on, Jurkovec chuckled and said 'maybe'.
Just as long as they are on the same field again, this time as teammates, you sense McMillon's dad can call Jurkovec whatever he wants.
