The Pittsburgh Panthers aren’t just a college football team, they come with a legacy. They have an overall record of 768 wins, 566 losses, and 42 ties, with their .573 win percentage. They had been playing as an independent for over a century until the Big East and, most recently, the ACC’s Coastal Division. Sure, their bowl record sits at 15–23, but one thing’s always been consistent. That is the pride and panther spirit.
And no one represents that spirit better than the one and only ROC.
What Is the Pittsburgh Panthers’ Mascot?
ROC is the official mascot of the University of Pittsburgh’s athletic teams. The ROC is always on the sidelines hyping up the crowd at football games, doing wild stunts at basketball matches, or just popping up anywhere Pitt pride needs a little boost. ROC over the years has become a true Pitt legend.
In 2010, he was even given the honor of “Most Collegiate Mascot” at the NCA’s Collegiate Mascot Camp. The same enthusiasm got the ROC a spot in the Capital One Mascot Competition in 2011, where he strutted his stuff nationally and even landed some TV time. So, where did the name come from?
It comes from Steve Petro, a Pitt football icon from the 1930s. Petro was known as “The Rock” for his durability. He was the kind of player who left it all on the field. He helped Pitt take down Washington in the 1937 Rose Bowl, played pro ball, served in WWII, and came back to coach and serve the athletics department until the ‘90s.
Naming the Panther after Petro was a no-brainer. They both were tough, loyal, and impossible to ignore. And while ROC’s been evolving into one of the most recognizable mascots in college sports, the idea of a Panther prowling around Pitt’s campus isn’t new. In fact, it dates all the way back to 1909.
Why Was the Pittsburgh Panthers Mascot the ROC?
In 1909, George M. P. Baird pitched the Panther for many reasons. First, actual panthers once roamed the Pittsburgh area, making them a pretty fitting local legend. Second, the Panther had that old-school noble rep.
Add the alliteration points and a coat that matches Pitt’s old gold color scheme, and it all just made sense.
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Plus, at the time, no other college had the Panther as their mascot. Pitt was ahead of the curve. They wanted something that was fierce and noble. But also symbolic of the Pitt culture. And the Panther, with its quiet power and sleek pride, ticked every box.
So, the next time the world spots an ROC on the sidelines, just know that he is history, legacy, and one very cool cat.
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