What’s in a name? Pitt fans are hoping absolutely nothing. The Panthers recently received a commitment from a class of 2013 kicker that goes by the name Chris Blewitt. For obvious reasons, Blewitt has been the talk of the internet over the past several days and was even mentioned on ESPN because of his unfortunate last name. To his credit, Blewitt said he is used to hearing about his name and knows it means he has to perform well.
“With a name like that, I guess I have to be good,” Blewitt told TribLIVE while mentioning how he has gotten grief mostly from teammates and not opponents. “I just embrace it. I’ve been living with it all my life. I knew this day would happen eventually. It’s nothing new. I think it’s kind of funny that it’s happening.
“It’s probably a little bit trying to show people that it’s just a name. People don’t know all the hard work that I’ve put in, what I’m capable of doing now. All the hard work, I’ll just let that show. And that’ll shut them up.”
If Blewitt enjoys pressure, he’ll thrive on the college scene. Division-I kickers are under enough pressure as it is to make big kicks with the entire student body breathing down their necks, let alone ones who have insults built in to their last names. Because of his name, Pitt may have landed a kicker that will be slightly more focused than his counterparts across the country.
