Really, anytime a special event is announced for April 1, I have to wonder if this is some gag. The Pitt Athletic Department is probably not going to this much trouble for a joke, but you never know.

The University of Pittsburgh will host a special media and photo opportunity on Tuesday, April 1, featuring legendary Pitt running back Tony Dorsett and current Panther LeSean McCoy. The session will be held at noon at Pitt’s football practice facility within the UPMC Sports Performance Complex.

Dorsett, the 1976 Heisman Trophy winner, will make a special presentation to commemorate McCoy’s remarkable freshman season.

Pitt is letting the non-media (i.e., everyone else) watch  the event for free via Pitt’s website at noon.

Before the Xavier-UCLA game, the NY Times ran an article on Pitt Basketball Trainer John Tony Salesi’s close relationship with both Sean Miller and Ben Howland.

Salesi called being in Miller’s wedding party one of his greatest honors. He is also proud of the work that Miller put in on his recovery. He had a photograph in his office of Miller making a hard cut, something that he did not know he would be able to do after his surgery. The affection is mutual.

“He’s one of those people in college athletics that the outside world does not appreciate,” Miller said of Salesi. “If you’re a coach or player and been a part of Pitt basketball, you know how much he means.”

Among players, coaches and administrators, Salesi is considered a fixture. “Tony is always just kind of the constant,” Pittsburgh Coach Jamie Dixon said. “He’s been here for so long.”

22 years as the trainer for Pitt basketball. 4 coaches and I’m not even sure how many ADs. That’s something.

Remember that wishful thinking from TCU to hire Jamie Dixon? Well, Dixon did get a phone call from TCU’s AD.

I say this despite wanting Morrison to call TCU favorite son and Pitt coach Jamie Dixon and beg him to return. He qualifies as a sexy hire. And, to his credit, Morrison actually called and talked to Dixon.

“He has a great love and passion for this place, and we talked about the kind of coach who would be successful,” Danny said. “He’s been a valuable resource throughout the whole process.”

Danny would not say as much, but I have to imagine he was smart enough to begin the conversation with “this may sound crazy, but… ” and at least give Dixon a chance to say what everybody figured he might.

Give Danny credit, though, he appears to have nailed this hire.

Jim Christian, the former Kent St. head coach, was also an assistant at Pitt under Ralph Willard.