The Scoop
TD & Shady

Tony Dorsett was back in town and ran into a youngster who reminded him of someone…

"He reminded me of me," the Pitt and NFL great said after watching Panthers freshman running back LeSean McCoy for the first time last fall.

Dorsett stopped by the Panthers' practice facility last month to present McCoy with a commemorative football in honor of McCoy's impressive achievements this past season. McCoy set Pitt freshman records for points (90) and rushing touchdowns (14), breaking two longstanding marks established by Dorsett (78 points and 13 rushing TDs) in 1973. The kid they call Shady finished with a Big East freshman-record 1,328 rushing yards and led all freshmen nationally with an average of 110.67 yards per game. He was a unanimous Freshman All-American, the Big East Rookie of the Year and first team All-Big East Conference.

"I had a chance to watch LeSean play last year," Dorsett said. "I said to myself, 'that looked a lot like number 33 (Dorsett's college and pro jersey number) out there.' Records are made to be broken and I am incredibly happy and proud of LeSean. I'm really looking forward to watching him and his teammates this year because I think they can achieve a lot."

The usually gregarious McCoy was a bit taken aback at the Hall of Famer's tribute.

"It is truly an honor to be even mentioned in the same sentence with Mr. Dorsett," McCoy said. "He is one of the greatest running backs to ever play the game. Walking past his retired jersey every day, my teammates and I know the high standards he set at Pitt and it motivates us to be the very best we can be, both as individuals and as a team."