Bill NealIn a historic celebration, the University of Pittsburgh has retired Sam Clancy’s #15 jersey, honoring a true legend. Sam Clancy’s now immortalized jersey is to be hung in the rafters of the Petersen Events Center forevermore. The long overdue event was held on January 18 of this year, at halftime of the Panthers’ men’s basketball contest against Clemson.
Clancy joins Don Hennon, Billy Knight, Charles Smith, Brandon Knight, Jennifer Bruce, and Lorri Johnson to have their shirts retired. The standing ovation was deafening as Clancy, the Hill District native, walked onto the court in a blue Pitt sweatshirt. Spectators remained standing as the longtime ”Voice of the Panthers” Bill Hillgrove announced Clancy’s career achievements at Pitt, where he played from 1977 until 1981.
Hillgrove reminded those in the crowd that Clancy had been drafted by two different professional sports teams—the NBA’s Phoenix Suns in 1981 and the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks in 1982. Clancy went on to play in the NFL for the Seahawks, then the Cleveland Browns, and finally the Indianapolis Colts. Hillgrove also posed a question to the enthusiastic crowd: ”What 12-year pro football veteran had more career rebounds (in college) than Patrick Ewing (during his time at Georgetown)? It’s Sam Clancy!” In fact, for all of the accolades dished out to Ewing in the early 80s, Clancy amassed 1,362 rebounds at Pitt, to Ewing’s 1,316 during his four years at Georgetown. Clancy is widely recognized as the most physically dominant player in Pitt history, while also possessing the speed and athleticism to outrun the guards on the team in conditioning drills.
During a press conference with Clancy following his jersey retirement, he was asked by a reporter how he ended up at the University of Pittsburgh, since he was recruited by many schools following his outstanding career at Fifth Avenue and Brashear High Schools. Clancy revealed that in his mind back then, it was down to three schools: Ohio State, North Carolina State, and Pitt. Clancy said he ”really liked” Ohio State, even having a conversation with the historic Buckeyes football coach Woody Hayes.
Clancy said Hayes told him that if he came to Ohio State, he would be able to play football and basketball. While it sounded enticing, Clancy said he came away feeling as though Hayes pretty much ran Ohio State athletics, and that it was more so about football first, then basketball. Clancy said he liked N.C. State as well, but in the end, Pitt won out. ”I thought I would fit better because of the relationship I had with Head Coach Tim Grgurich and assistants Cleve Edwards and Fran Webster, as well as the entire basketball staff,” Clancy said. ”Tim Grgurich probably came to my house 50 times or more. The entire staff knew every one of my aunts’, uncles’ and cousins’ names. And any time I played in the Ozanam Summer Basketball League, they would ride by just to say hello.”
Clancy was ready to don the Pitt colors, but what really cemented his decision was an interaction he had with Pitt football icon Tony Dorsett. ”It was during a home football game that I attended. He came up to me and said, ’Stay home, Sam. I’m telling you. Pitt will love you forever. And do it for your family. They will love you forever.’ It was a done deal then.”
Clancy also discussed how he believed Western Pennsylvania high school basketball was among the best in the country in the 70s and 80s. ”You hear about New York, Chicago, Detroit, Texas, California. . . when we went around and played in these tournaments, we represented well and usually dominated. This goes back to Maurice Lucas, who was my hero.” Lucas, also from the Hill District and Schenley High School, played at Marquette University and went on to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to the 1977 NBA Championship. (It should be noted that Lucas is the only High School City League graduate to win an NBA title).
Clancy is the only player in Pitt basketball history to score over 1,000 points (1,671) and over 1,000 rebounds (1,362), a double double of points and rebounds for every game of his career, a four year starter, along with being a Pan American Classic gold medal winner under coach Bobby Knight.
After seeing the world, Clancy returned home to his beloved University of Pittsburgh where he currently holds the title of Director of the Varsity Letter Club, overseeing athletic and alumni relations. He also earned a bachelor’s degree from Pitt since his return. Clancy, during the January press conference after halftime called the moment of seeing his retired jersey in the rafters as ”unbelievable. I dreamed about it being up there, never knowing if I would make it.”
Sam Clancy, you made it. HAIL TO PITT!
