Pitt's defense was miserable for most of the season, which makes the spectacular season -- and postseason -- Panthers senior middle linebacker H.B. Blades has had so amazing.

Yesterday, Blades was one of 26 players named to the Football Writers' Association All-America first team. He also was named to Sports Illustrated's All-America team, along with several other smaller publications. Tuesday he was named the Big East defensive player of the year and became the Panthers' first three-time All-Big East player.

Blades, who is Pitt's first defensive All-American since Marc Spindler in 1989, flew Friday to Orlando, Fla., to tape the awards show, which had Regis Philbin as host, and spent most of that night hanging out with fellow All-Americans such as Michigan's LaMarr Woodley and Rutgers' Eric Foster.

It was exciting for Blades, but not for reasons one might think.

"Actually, to me the coolest part of it was getting to meet Regis," he said in a telephone interview. "He's a real, live superstar, though, I thought I was short, but he's really short, a lot shorter than I expected. The whole event was special. Just being here, being considered one of the best players in the country, this is a great way to end my career."

Blades said the individual accolades were nice, but being around the other players was a little painful because most of them were flying home early to return to practice for their bowl games.

Pitt finished 6-6 but did not get invited to a bowl game, so Blades' next stop is the Senior Bowl in Mobile at the end of January.

"I think the thing that makes me most proud is the three-time all-Big East selection, because it means I was consistent throughout my career," said Blades, who recorded 147 tackles this season and finished third in school history with 433 career tackles. "And people probably forget, but the first year, I was an outside linebacker so that's kind of cool. But all these guys down here, they are still playing and my career is over, so that's kind of rough."

Blades is the second All-American in his family. His father, Bennie, was an All-American at Miami in 1987. He said that fact makes him most proud because it was a goal he set for himself when he began playing football.

His uncles, Al and Brian, also were standouts at Miami and, like Blades' father, played in the NFL, which is another goal he hopes to achieve.

First, he must fulfill a promise he made to his grandmother and become the first in his family to earn a college degree. He will take four classes in the spring and finish his degree in administration of justice.

"My grandmother essentially raised me, and my dad and uncles grew up in that house as well," Blades said. "I think the fact that they were all successful in their careers and I'm on my way says that they must have been doing something right. I'll be proud on draft day, but my grandmother will be prouder when I get my degree."

Although this has been a great week for Blades, it hasn't all been good news. Tuesday, his position coach at Pitt, Curtis Bray, was fired.

"This is a business and coaching is a tough profession," Blades said. "Things like that happen and guys seem to rebound and move on. I'm sad for him and sad to see him go, I had a great four years with him and I owe him a lot. In many ways he helped raise me, helped me become a man, so it is tough, but sometimes that's the way things go."