Majors, Pitt Football Will Do an Encore

It worked so well once, why not try it again 20 years later? So went the thinking of University of Pittsburgh officials Friday when they hired Johnny Majors to resuscitate their football program.

Majors, recently forced out at the University of Tennessee, signed a coaching contract exactly one week before the 20-year anniversary of his initial hiring by the Panthers, on Dec. 18, 1972.

Majors, 57, coached Pitt to a 33-13-1 record and a national championship in 1976 before leaving for 16 seasons and a 116-62-8 record at his alma mater, Tennessee. The Panthers were 3-9 last season.

“I don’t have a magic wand. I’m no miracle worker,” said Majors, whose contract extends at least four years. “The schedule here is intense. . . . The challenge here may be as great as any in college football.”