Pitt's Howanitz Faces Bucknell, Where His Father Once Starred
The short version
- Pitt (3-0) hosts Bucknell (1-3) Saturday at noon at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
- Adam Howanitz is the son of former Bucknell defensive back and 1996 senior co-captain George Howanitz.
- Adam, a senior walk-on tight end, recovered from two ACL tears and has played in two games for the Panthers.
- At Valley View, Adam threw for 2,241 yards and 24 TDs and rushed for 1,226 yards and 24 TDs in 36 varsity games.
- George Howanitz will attend Saturday's game wearing a Pitt No. 44 jersey.
Adam Howanitz and unbeaten Pitt welcome his father George's alma mater Bucknell to Acrisure Stadium on Saturday.
Saturday's nonconference matchup at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh carries a family connection. Pitt, still unbeaten at 3-0, meets Bucknell, which enters at 1-3, with kickoff set for noon.
Panthers tight end Adam Howanitz grew up hearing stories about his father George's playing days at Bucknell. The Bison even pursued Adam out of Valley View High School, where he made multiple visits to the Lewisburg campus as a recruit. Bucknell was one of three scholarship offers he held before ultimately choosing Pitt.
"That's where the original dream of playing Division I football came from, by idolizing my father and what he accomplished at Bucknell," Adam said. "Him playing Division I was what really drove me to work hard to play football in college."
George Howanitz, now the head coach at Honesdale, built his own resume as an all-state quarterback and defensive back at Valley View. In 1992 he guided the Cougars to Big 11, Eastern Conference Class II, and PIAA Class 2A championships. He went on to Bucknell, where he became a starting defensive back and a senior co-captain in 1996, the year the Bison claimed the Patriot League title.
Despite those roots, George's allegiance this weekend sits with the Panthers. "I have a lot of my teammates calling me that they are going to the game," he said. "I will be there with my Pitt No. 44 jersey on. It's going to be neat."
Adam arrived in Pittsburgh as a walk-on and is now a senior with plans to attend law school. During his high school career, a four-year run playing for his father at Valley View, the dual-threat quarterback threw for 2,241 yards and 24 touchdowns while adding 1,226 rushing yards and 24 scores across 36 varsity games. His junior season was cut short by a torn ACL, but he returned to lead the Cougars to a 10-3 record and the District 2 Class 4A final as a senior. Valley View went 36-9 over his four seasons.
His college path included another setback: a second ACL tear before Pitt's Game Above Sports Bowl appearance against Toledo in Detroit. After more than a year of rehabilitation, he contributed by signaling in the offense, drawing on his command of the system. That work preceded his first appearances in a Pitt uniform, including a win over UCF.
"It's been pretty good," Adam said. "I have played in two games, which for me is a big deal. Coming off the second surgery, I had some doubts." He credited tight ends coach Brent Davis for his support throughout the recovery and said he hopes to see more game action as he keeps developing.
George said his son has no regrets about how the journey has unfolded, noting his appreciation for Pitt, head coach Pat Narduzzi, and his teammates. He and Adam's mother, Eileen, take pride in watching him run out of the tunnel each week. For local fans, the area's next scheduled contest is Monday at 6:00 PM EDT, when Valley View High School visits Mid Valley Secondary Center.
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