Lott Profiles, 2008
Oct. 15, 2008
PITT STAR MORE THAN ANOTHER TOUGH GUY
When it comes to football, Pittsburgh and toughness go together like the Packers and Lombardi, like Doug Flutie and The Hail Mary.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Steel Curtain Defense conjurs up images of eyes-bulging, maniacal, meat-chewing behemoths charging in to smash quarterbacks.
Mike Ditka, the NFL symbol for toughness, is from Pittsburgh. Guys who played for Pitt were named Jumbo Jim Covert or Ironhead Heyward.
Enter Scott McKillop, middle linebacker, University of Pittsburgh. Two hundred and forty-pound tackling machine. Tough? On the field, you bet. Off the field, he’s much more than that.
After all, do tough guys don a clown costume as a Pittsburgh Pirate summer intern and perform in between-innings races? Does a tough guy read to students at elementary schools in the area or become an inspirational leader in Pittsburgh’s Walk Now for Autism?
Scott McKillop does.
McKillop, who has already earned one degree from Pitt and is working on another, was the leading tackler in the nation (with 151) last season and is having an even better season than he did a year ago when he was named to several All-American teams.
In his first five games of 2008, McKillop has been named the Big East Player of the Week three times and the Lott Trophy IMPACT® Player of the Week after a 12-solo tackle game against nationally-ranked South Florida. Former Arkansas Coach Frank Broyles, a member of the Legends Coaches who vote on the Lott Award, said: “McKillop is a five-star athlete whose play disrupted South Florida ‘s offense.”
Pitt is off to a 4-1 start and ranked No. 24 nationally by The Legends Football Coaches.
“He embodies the traditional lunch-pail, blue collar mindset that is synonymous with the Panthers defense,” wrote Brendan Prunty, who covers the Big East for the Newark Star-Ledger.
For all the right reasons, McKillop is on the Watch List for the 2008 Lott Trophy, awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT® Player of the Year. Now in its fifth year, The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.
Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation® in Newport Beach, Ca., the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
David Pollack of Georgia won the initial Lott Trophy in 2004. DeMeco Ryans of Alabama won the award in 2005 Daymeion Hughes of Cal was the recipient in 2006 and Glenn Dorsey of LSU in 2007. Georgia, Alabama, Cal and LSU each received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds. In four years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation® has donated more than $450,000 to various charities, including the four universities.
Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation®, The IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisors comprised of many retired NFL players and the Legends Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.
From tough-town Pittsburgh, USA, comes the accolades for this unique football star:
“There is no student-athlete more deserving of this honor (the Lott Trophy) than Mr. McKillop,” said Victoria Berdnik of Lamar Advertising, part of the Walk Now For Autism walk.
From Christine Sekroch of the Pirates, where he did his internship last summer: “I have never seen a student come in and make such an impact. His work ethic, integrity and infectious personality will not be easily replaced. He has set a standard on the field for future players and he has set a standard in our eyes for future intern candidates and employees.”
“On and off the field, Scott McKillop is the type of player and person you want on your football team,” says Pitt Coach Dave Wannstedt. “He is a leader in everything he does, whether it be in the classroom, the huddle or community. Scott has been an All-America caliber player for us all year long and we are appreciative that The Lott Trophy and Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation® are considering him for such a prestigious honor.”
Says Assistant Athletic Director and Media Relations Director E.J. Borghetti: “Campus-wide, Scott is held in the highest regard and not just within the athletic department. He is a community hero in his hometown of Export (Pa.) and is regularly sought out for various functions because of his personal character in addition to his athletic prowess.”
But it is his toughness, intensity and preparation that makes him the leader of the Pitt defense. Relentless in the weight room and the film room as he is on the practice field, McKillop sets a standard for a Panther team that is clearly on the rise.
TheLottTrophy.com
Pete Donovan, Media Contact
The Lott Trophy