A Hero Can Be Anyone

Dusk begins to settle over the city of Pittsburgh. A chill falls over the night, the air growing colder with gusts of wind coming from every direction. A city in distress cries out for a hero. From the shadows of a dimly lit Skyvue apartment, a dark knight rises. Upon first glance, most would recognize him as Batman. Around here, though, he just goes by Jimmy.

Rewind a few months to a sweltering summer day, August 22, 2018. For the past 21 days, the guys on the Pitt football team had been taking steps to separate the boys from the men. Competing against each other and themselves tirelessly day after day, their bodies had been battered and bruised. However, the fire in their souls could not be extinguished. Like every day, the team, beads of sweat cascading down their bodies from the morning’s already rigorous activities, exited the training facility turf and retired their deeply-worn cleats to break for a team meeting.

The boys piled into a small, classroom-like room, filling the rows of seats at the front. Deep voices and hearty laughs echoed throughout the room, a moment of relief to relax before returning to the football field again. The lights slowly began to dim and all eyes affixed on the projection screen at the front of the room. Another day, another inspirational video to reignite the fire of competition to sustain the team through the rest of the day’s bootcamp. No one suspected anything special or out of the ordinary to happen on this day. The video rounded out with a clip from The Dark Knight. Batman rides off into the night on his batcycle. Because sometimes the truth isn't good enough. Sometimes, people deserve more. Sometimes, people deserve to have their faith rewarded. The lights flicker back on. Silence.

At this point, Medure figures that’s all the meeting had in store. Suddenly, to everyone’s surprise, Pitt football graduate assistant coach, Mike Caprara, burst through the door. Where is he? Where is he? Pointing at Jimmy in the crowd and holding a crisp white envelope, Caprara orders him to get up to the front of the room. The whole room breaks into applause, already aware of what’s about to happen. Caprara then hands the envelope to head coach, Pat Narduzzi. Narduzzi reads out loud, “Holy bat-heroes! Jimmy Medure is on scholarship!” Thunderous cheers and applause erupt in the room, the team leaping from their seats to embrace their hard-working brother receiving the award that he deserves.

“It was an experience unlike any other. I can’t really put how special it was into words. It’s just a day I’ll never forget,” Medure says of that day he worked so hard for.

A junior pre-med student and most recent recipient of a Pitt football scholarship, Jimmy Medure goes full-time student athlete at the University of Pittsburgh by day, regular Fortnite-playing college boy by night, and Batman-enthusiast around the clock. Known for his custom-made, “movie quality” Bat-suit, Medure claims the suit isn’t just a costume—it’s a lifestyle. He carries his teammates through thick and thin. He protects the ones he loves with a ferocity that’s unrivaled. His face, chiseled in just the way you’d expect a hero’s to be.

Medure hails from Newcastle, PA, about an hour north of Pittsburgh. Citing his long-time infatuation with Pitt growing up, he chose the University of Pittsburgh to further his academic and athletic careers and hasn’t looked back since.

“It’s my home… essentially a dream come true. I guess it’s a weird Disneyland of sorts,” he claims.

Jimmy has two brothers, Anthony and Josh, and one sister, Nina. The oldest of the four Medure kids, Jimmy has been assuming the role of a protector for his entire life. Of the many roles he plays, this is his favorite. They say to look at what a person photographs to really understand what truly means something to them. Judging from Jimmy’s collection of photos and videos he scrolls through on his phone, Jimmy’s family means a great deal to him. His phone rings, a call coming through from his little sister. He answers, a squeaky “Jim!” echoing through the speaker. She speaks fast and loud, clearly excited to share something important with her big brother.

“That’s awesome, Neen. I love you, too, Neen,” he ends the call. Jimmy cites this support system found in his family and friends back home and at school as the only thing that really helps him deal with all of the pressures that come along with being a student athlete.

Wake up. Practice. Eat. Class. Homework. Sleep—if you’re lucky. Repeat. In-season and off-season, the student athlete lifestyle never takes a day off. A normal week for Jimmy in particular consists of practice every day from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Those practices typically include meetings, two meals (breakfast and lunch), a lift, and a practice. From here, the pressures of his day only magnify. Once back on campus, Jimmy can be found either in class or studying for class. Mondays and Tuesdays, his days officially end at 10 p.m—Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. If he’s lucky, he makes it into bed around 10:30 or 11 p.m. to build enough stamina to get the ball rolling the next day.

“Honestly just thinking about my schedule and saying it out loud makes me wanna vomit,” he chuckles. “But hey—welcome to the good life, baby.”

For someone worked so hard to the bone, his energy is contagious. He exudes optimism and humor, firing off witty banter and speaking warmly, genuinely. He’s proud to be in the position he is and vows to never stop working hard to achieve his goals, encouraging others to do the same. At the end of the day, being a student athlete at the University of Pittsburgh affords him the opportunity to keep doing what he loves, compete, try new experiences, and push himself physically, mentally, and emotionally every single day. That’s what makes everything worth it.

On a brisk Wednesday night in October, Jimmy invites me to Stack’d on Forbes Avenue for karaoke night, a night that particularly lights his fire. He tells me that he and his friends have been attending almost religiously for the past three years.

When we walk through the doors, the entire room erupts at Jimmy’s presence. A light in an otherwise dim room full of people, Jimmy stands out from the crowd, his wide smile and towering stance garnering attention—warranted only by his warmth and charming demeanor. Making his way through the restaurant, Jimmy extends his arms out to his friends, shaking hands and pulling them in for warm embraces. We sit down to eat, and he orders a buffalo chicken quesadilla. Don’t forget the ranch. Extra ranch. Taking a cue from the man himself, I order the same thing. Even as music blares through room, a new voice taking the stage every few minutes or so, Jimmy’s voice cuts through the chaotic air with an earnest confidence. His head bops back and forth along with the music, and every once in a while, the rest of his body follows suit—a casual yet seemingly well-rehearsed air guitar here, a Jersey Shore worthy fist pump there, and always a hearty laugh to round out the sequence.

“I love this place. If there are three things I love, they’re my friends, singing at the top of my lungs, and eating food. Wednesday nights at Stack’d give me all three,” he says.

One by one, some of his friends grab a mic to perform a classic 2000s pop hit or the latest banger from today’s “Billboard 100.” Little did I know, though, that I would be in for a show from the man, the myth, the legend himself. “Ocean Avenue” by Yellowcard. A timeless classic very much like Medure himself. Blocked out from the chaos of his day-to-day, he moves and sings with ease and the joy of that of a child. He’s free here and loves celebrating that with others. The final note of the song rings out, and the room erupts in applause. Woo! Yeah baby! Jim, you killed it. A rock star fresh off the stage from a gig in Pittsburgh, PA, he returns to our table as we get ready to leave. I reach for my purse, but he refuses to let me pay for my food. From one night alone, three things become clear: he loves people, loves them hard, and makes sure that they know it without asking for things in return. That’s the Jimmy Medure that most don’t get to see when he’s on the football field.

Sure, Medure is a scholarship athlete at the University of Pittsburgh. Impressive feat. However, he refuses to be bound by these parameters alone. Jimmy dons a navy blue backpack embroidered with the words in script reading “Pitt” followed by his number, 81. From this, he assumes many students pre-conceive notions about him without even having the slightest glimpse into his true character.

“Not to generalize, but kids see a student athlete, and they see a jock-mold of person. ‘Oh, he plays football. He must mess around with a ton of people and do whatever he wants.’ Nothing wrong with that, but that’s not me,” he says.

To drive his point home, Jimmy reflects on his infatuation with Batman and his custom suit that defines such a big part of his identity.

“As a kid I liked Batman for the reason you would like Batman as a kid—he was cool. As I grew up, as I became interested in the deeper things and more adult material, you see his morals and struggles and the things he embodies in terms of themes, ideas, and principles. The fact that he is just a man, but he’s so driven for a cause. He sacrifices everything about himself. That’s what inspires me,” he affirms.

For Jimmy, the lifestyle and phenomenon Batman created is greater than life itself. A very powerful message to come from any superhero or character, it all comes down to Batman’s conviction, will power, and determination. Jimmy’s “cause” reflects just the same. Whatever he does, there’s something about it that inspires him in a unique way. He’s passionate about good music, the beauty in film and artistry, and the power of a good message. People who do kind things for no reason inspire him the most. He wishes to cultivate the same energy and encourage others to find the distinct beauty in all things and all people.

“At the end of the day, I just want to be the very best I can be in every aspect of life: on the football field, in the classroom, as a friend, eventually as a doctor. I want to be someone that’s not common,” he declares.