PITT FOOTBALL Fitzgerald downplays Heisman talk

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The University of Pittsburgh isn't mounting an elaborate campaign to improve wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald's Heisman Trophy chances.
No billboard towering above Times Square. No weekly postcards signed by Fitzgerald and mailed to the media. No free T-shirts or glow-in-the-dark ties emblazoned with the image of Fitzgerald leaping above three defenders to make a circus catch.
Pitt decided to low-key its Heisman push because: a) The school felt the product more than speaks for itself and b) Fitzgerald wouldn't stand for it.
After all, here's a player enjoying one of the best seasons at his position by any player in history. Yet, given numerous opportunities to promote his own candidacy, refuses to do so.
Deflects attention
One week, he's pushing Pitt senior quarterback Rod Rutherford for the award, the next week he can't stop saying glowing things about his chief rival, Oklahoma quarterback Jason White. It's not as if Fitzgerald doesn't want the Heisman -- deep down, of course, any player truly does -- but Fitzgerald simply has no interest in any chest-thumping, finger-pointing-to-the-sky self-promotion that demeans an opponent or promotes the "me" in football rather than the "we."
"My goal coming into the season wasn't to win the Heisman Trophy, it was to be undefeated and have a chance at the national championship," Fitzgerald said. "Unfortunately, we lost a couple of games we felt we should have won. But we still have a lot to play for. It [the Big East championship] is ours to lose."
Whether the Heisman is his to win might depend on how well he plays in No. 16 Pitt's remaining two televised games, Saturday at West Virginia and Nov. 29 against Miami. Last year as a freshman, he had 18 catches for 233 yards and three touchdowns against the two teams, including 11 receptions for 159 yards and two scores against West Virginia.
And while White is viewed by some as the favorite because he has been so good on an Oklahoma team that is flirting with the national championship, rarely has a player played his position at such a dominating level over such an extended period as Fitzgerald.
The sophomore has set two NCAA records this season, for consecutive games with a touchdown catch (15, dating to last season) and most touchdown catches as a freshman and sophomore (29). An acrobatic talent with soft hands and the leaping ability of a high jumper, Fitzgerald leads the nation in receiving yards per game (142.4), total yards receiving (1,282), touchdown catches (17) and scoring (11.3).
Comparisons
Pitt coach Walt Harris has coached at a number of top colleges (Ohio State, Tennessee, Michigan State) as well as the NFL, yet says only a couple of players he's been around rival Fitzgerald.
"The one that's probably the closest to him was Reggie White at Tennessee," Harris said. "I was at Ohio State when Eddie George was a senior and won the Heisman. Larry Fitzgerald is that dominant, that valuable."
Fitzgerald's numbers overwhelm those of the last three receivers to win the Heisman, Desmond Howard of Michigan (1991), Tim Brown of Notre Dame (1987) and Johnny Rodgers of Nebraska (1972). All three were multipurpose threats as kick returners and playmakers; Fitzgerald is a pure receiver who is arguably a better player at his position than anyone in college football.
"I don't think that I'm at a disadvantage," Fitzgerald said, even though only five players designated as a receiver or end have won since the Heisman's inception in 1935. "I think people have seen what I can do, they know I'm talented and just to have my name up there is an honor. I think a lot of the attention right now toward Jason White is definitely deserved."