Louis Riddick narrates virtual tour of facilities at Pitt

With the COVID-19 pandemic halting in-person recruiting efforts for the time being, virtual tours of schools and their cities have become all the rage. And on Friday, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi unveiled a sweeping tour of Pitt and its facilities, which was narrated by ESPN analyst and Pitt alum Lance Riddick.

Riddick’s tour of Pittsburgh begins in the heart of Pittsburgh at the Point and works its way down the Monongahela River to the South Side, which is the home of the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex where Pitt and the Pittsburgh Steelers conduct offseason activities and practices.

During the South Side stop, Riddick outlined the Pitt football program’s top achievements, including its nine national championships, 25 first-round draft picks and nine Pro Football Hall of Famers. He also toured the recently christened Aaron Donald Football Performance Center as well as the Pitt Iron Works and gave an overview of the school’s culinary offerings and healthcare facilities.

The next stop on Riddick’s tour was Oakland, and there, he introduced newcomers to the Cathedral of Learning and illustrated its importance to Pitt’s identity. The tour of the building included stops in the Nationality Rooms and the Commons Room before showing off the Varsity Walk, where Riddick’s own name is engraved alongside those of other Pitt greats. And it concluded with a shot of the Victory Lights blazing after a win.

The next stop in Oakland was the Petersen Events Center, which included an introduction to the ACC Network Studio and the Willis Academic Center, “where all Pitt student-athletes gain a competitive edge in the classroom.” Riddick also took newcomers through the basketball arena, introducing them to the Oakland Zoo and pointing out recent VIPs who sat courtside, such as Jay-Z.

The last stop in Oakland was the Bridge on Forbes, a dormitory facility for student-athletes that opened in 2019 after two years of construction. And after going over the student apartments and their offerings, Riddick moved onto PPG Paints Arena, PNC Park and Heinz Field, “the home of our Panthers,” where he brought the tour to a close.