Member Of Pitt National Championship Football Team Dies

PITTSBURGH, PA — Charles Bonasorte, a member of the last University of Pittsburgh football team to win a national championship, died Friday. He was 69.

Known as the Kamakazie Kid, Bonasorte played linebacker on Pitt's undefeated 1976 team that captured the national title. Coached by the late John Majors, the Panthers 12-0 record included a 27-3 win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

After his collegiate career ended, Bonasorte became the operator of the Pittsburgh Stop - an outdoor Pitt souvenir stand located on campus at the intersection of Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard.

Harry Psaros of Pittsburgh Sports Now called Bonasorte's death "a profound loss for the Pitt community."

"Hailing from Hazelwood, Bonasorte was raised just a stone’s throw from the Cathedral of Learning, fostering a deep admiration for Panther football," Psaros said. "He frequently attended games with his uncle, just a short five-block stroll from home, and it was only natural for him to dream of donning the Panthers’ jersey one day.”

Funeral arrangements were unavailable Monday.