PITTSBURGH —The University of Pittsburgh’s football promotional days have been unveiled for the 2015 season. New this season for any Youth Football team that reserves a group of 15 or more to any one of Pitt’s six home games is a FREE script Pitt football hat for all attendees. Youth Football website.
Sept. 5, Youngstown State, “Hail to Heroes” – Pitt will pay tribute to our heroes in the armed services as all active, reserve and retired military personnel and first responders are invited to attend. Hail to Heroes website
Oct. 10, Virginia, “Homecoming” – Always one of the most festive weekends on the Pitt calendar, details for Homecoming 2015 can be found at the Pitt Alumni Association’s official Homecoming website.
Oct. 29 (Thurs.), North Carolina, “Breast Cancer Awareness” – The Panthers are proud to support the fight against breast cancer by promoting the importance of early detection. Pitt and North Carolina will clash before a primetime national television audience.
Nov. 7, Notre Dame — This will be the seventh meeting in the past eight years between Pitt and Notre Dame. Each of the last six contests have been decided by a touchdown or less, and two of those games have gone to overtime (Four OT in 2008, three OT in 2012). Pitt and Notre Dame are tied at 3-3 in the last six games and the last time the two teams met was on Nov. 9, 2013 at Heinz Field with Panthers coming away with a 28-21 victory.
Nov. 21, Louisville, “Band & Cheer Day/ Scout Day“ — Big East rivals from 2005-2012, this will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools as members of the ACC. High school band and cheerleading squads add to the day’s pageantry as they participate in Pitt’s pregame concert, March to Victory, Halftime and other in-game performances.
Nov. 27, Miami, “Senior Day” — In a series that dates back to 1950, this will be the third straight year the Panthers have ended the regular season with the Hurricanes. Pitt is 1-1 against Miami in the ACC.
Under first year head coach Pat Narduzzi, the Panthers return eight starters on offense and seven on defense. Reigning ACC Player of the Year James Conner and star wide receiver Tyler Boyd both return for their junior campaigns.
Ticket packages for the 2015 Pitt football season can now be purchased online or by calling (800) 643-PITT (7488). Fans can choose from a wide array of options to accommodate as many different ticket preferences and requests as possible. Options include season-ticket packages for as low as $100, three-game mini-packages as well as single-game tickets.
Here is an update on the Akron game time:
PITT’S ROAD GAME AT AKRON TO KICK OFF AT 6 P.M.
The Panthers visit the Zips on Sept. 12.
PITTSBURGH—Pitt’s Sept. 12 game at Akron will kick off at 6 p.m., it was announced today. The game, played at the Zips’ InfoCision Stadium, marks the Panthers’ first road contest of the season and will be shown on ESPN3.
Season tickets and mini-plans for the 2015 Pitt football season are now on sale. The Panthers will be led by new head coach Pat Narduzzi, who joined Pitt in December after an accomplished tenure as defensive coordinator at Michigan State.
Narduzzi will have at his disposal 17 returning starters, including a pair of All-America talents in wide receiver Tyler Boyd and running back James Conner, the 2014 ACC Player of the Year.
Here is video of PITT’s HC “On the Prowl” carnival roadshow in other cities… next he’ll wrap it up in Pittsburgh and I urge anyone who can to attend – they have been well attended so you should probably act fast on the RSVP. (BTW – you don’t have to actually be an alumni to attend, just tell them you’ll bring a blank check with you and, if you are under 75 years of age, PITT will assign you greeters who will meet you at the door. This is why PITT needs more money. Do you think Alabama would have those greeters?)
Just for fun – here is what a real college football fan does.
MEET HEAD COACH PAT NARDUZZI
This is free a event, hosted by the Pitt Alumni Association. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ADMITTANCE.
PITTSBURGH (NORTH HILLS)
Tuesday, June 16 – (7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.)
The Chadwick
10545 Perry Highway, Wexford, PA 15090
DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS JUNE 15
PITTSBURGH (SOUTH HILLS)
Wednesday, June 17 – (7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.)
Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Southpointe
1000 Corporate Drive, Canonsburg, PA
DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS JUNE 16
These meet and greets continue in an attempt to get PITT fans to both donate money and to overlook the fact that recruits aren’t chomping at the bit to play football at PITT under the new staff. As of this writing PITT has a total of one (1!) committed recruit (EDIT: info taken from Rivals site linked below). It kind of looks like both 38 year old Tony Butler and Thomas Macvitte have opened up conversations again.
Actually I’m not all that worried for two reasons; one because PITT is historically late in garnering recruits and two because I think this 2016 class of Narduzzi’s is going to be a typical PITT recruiting class if not just a bit lower in quality. Next year should be the start of things. Say what you will but HS players don’t get all that excited about programs who have a new HC especially when that school seems to contract the HC position out on a part-time basis.
Historically our HCs have wanted to see most of these kids in person either on an official visit or at a football camp where they can actually evaluate skills in person, in action, vice via vide0. Chryst wanted to meet with both the recruits and their parents then send a staffer to visit the kid’s school if possible. he was pretty strict about his standards there. I hope Narduzzi follows suit but that he also looks at some defensive recruits which Chryst seemed to forget about.
Note: My NYC trip over the last three days with my daughter was a blast. The place we were invited to stay, the Brooklyn brownstone home of an old friend who I hadn’t visited in about ten years is nice… even though my friend has turned into a hoarder. But he was nice enough to clear a space for a mattress on the floor for us. Alas, he’s a true artist so can be forgiven. Don’t worry about my daughter though, on the train home she parlayed that experience into a fall cruise to New England and Canada… I should have stayed home.
I actually lost 10 pounds in three days walking around Brooklyn and Manhattan – my wallet with my trip moola in it weighed three pounds and the rest was sweat water weight loss from jungle-like humidity.
Seriously though – if you have never been to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens built in 1910. please make a point to do so either in the spring or fall. I have travelled extensively and was wow’ed by just how big and beautiful it was, and kids stuff is there also. It is literally right next to the Brooklyn Museum of Art so you can kill two birds with one visit. Note: use a car service rather than a taxi if you can. it is cheaper sometimes and comes right to you.
Last note – no other city in the US has more beautiful girls, from ages 20 to 60, than NYC. It is just amazing.
And of course our current QB is the only one of the current roster that would be considered a …..dual threat QB. One Chad Voytik.
In the words of Artie Johnson…..
If anyone has not seen the Homecoming fireworks it is definitely worth the trip to campus on Friday night. It’s a combination fireworks and laser show with music from every era. Fireworks launched from various points on the Cathedral is impressive and the lasers projecting onto the facade is something to see. Very well done. The crowd is a welcoming mix of students and old-fart alums like me.
HTP
You’ll notice that he does not list Macvitte as “committed” any longer. A HS player doesn’t back off like that and sit on his hands. If Peak says a players is at a certain status I tend to believe that. He may be wrong but until that changes…
I use to coach an 11 and 12 yr old football team in Dormont (wow, now 40 yrs ago – yikes!) Anyway, kids still love wearing hats and getting them to a Pitt game at that age will really make an impression. Hat’s off to our PR people! :>)
Go Pitt.
Now I want it back….
Tony Butler keeps saying Pitt is it, but continues to flirt with other schools.
I know these kids have every right to visit as many schools as they want and find the place that they feel is best for them. I wish some of these kids that know they are going to shop around would not commit so early. Again it is absolutely their right, but why not wait? If a school really wants you there will be a scholarship for you regardless of when you commit.
Chris Peak wrote two good articles on Pitt recruiting on Panther’s Prey. One for offense, the other for prospective defensive recruits. He seems to think Duzz’s 2016 class will be a very good one…
I’m in the process of drafting a recruiting article now.
Voytik ‘trudged along’ for barely 500 rushing yards on almost-all called QB runs. Even Tom Savage had a sick 10 yard rushing TD against VT back when he actually got a called-run, and the O-line blocked it!!
A mediocre runner and very poor passer does not = “Dual Threat” to me, except a “Dual Threat” to be both an ineffective QB and a Major Bore to both Pitt fans any Goodness-forbid National Audiences.
I like you “Emel” …… but you’re crazy dude!!
Haha when Chad Voytik rescued you from the frozen lake, after you fell-under the ice — did you swear to him you would always defend him to the death on Message Boards!!??
You should’ve know you’d have your hands-full when we lost to Iowa + Akron + Virginia (in one of the worst starting D-1 QB performances for any team I have ever seen). haha
Then, with his intense leadership abilities and Universal Charisma that reaches all Earthly-Creatures, a young man came to your rescue, commanding a group of loyal Dolphins to assist you to shore…..Coughing up sea-water and kissing the Sand, you look up to this Handsome, Dashing, “Dual-Threat” “Hero” as he walks away into the sunset, and you asked, “Wait, wait….who are you??? Where are you going???”
—-And he gentlemanly said, his Stout, Powerful Figure silhouetted by the sun behind him….”My name is Chad, and I’m going to Pitt to play Quarterback”.
What a Prince, huh!!!
Hahaha “Did you ever know that you’re my Heroooooo” haha —- He needs some “wind behind” those passes!!
Even Chryst at Wisconsin has 6
Nebraska – 7
Oregon St – 8
Florida – 15
We need a “Pat signal”
I certainly hope things go positively, but am somewhat concerned with the slow start and the wavering of now two of the three. Narduzzi so far is not living up to the high expectations he has created. There is still plenty of time, but we need a Pat signal.
Actually one of my favorite bartenders in Charlotte is the spitting image of Chad.
He’s a Dual Threat Bartender. Pours strong drinks with either hand.
I wouldn’t be surprised but still haven’t seen anything about Macvittie wavering.
If we are still stuck on 3 as the calendar turns to July that is certainly not ideal. I thought for sure Duzz’s camps would yield some commits.
Also I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think Tony Butler ever ends up here and if Macvittie has the big year at Moeller everyone expects, he will be hard to keep also.
Oh yeah we need a Pat Signal!
It still lists one but it maybe that it isn’t updated.
Notrocket – guess you mean the commenters because I clearly stated I wasn’t worried at all. As a matter of fact I’ll be putting up an article soon that shows we really don’t have to be too concerned at this point.
He’s a Dual Threat Bartender. Pours strong drinks with either hand.”
Hahaha 🙂 — Then now I totally understand your appreciation of “The Incumbent”, and now that I know your reasoning I can’t help but approve a little-bit :).
P.S. I like the “knick-name” “Pitt of…”, you frankly deserve to coin that!
—Comparing classes here: We can’t compare this very-first transition class to any other classes besides Wanny / Graham / Chryst’s very first, “overhauled-program” classes (well, one could if they wanted—but here me out lol)
I’m fairly-sure this was Wanny’s first recruiting class and although there are some gems—there are many ‘blind dart-throw’ recruits in there too. ‘Scout.com’ rated it 42 overall, and most of Wannstedt’s classes in his last 4 years (including the unfinished-one his final year) were all right around ‘top 25 overall’ in all recruiting services.
Lol Todd Graham’s lone class and Paul Chryst’s first class were “messes” at first glance and rated extremely ‘Low’ by the services (know one knew in that first class that 4 star “Safety” and 2 Star, Unranked ‘DE’ James Conner were pretty decent lol)
—- Keep in mind as well 2 things, one key from Pitt’s viewpoint then the next from the recruits’ which are holding this class ‘back’ early.
1) Pitt only has what, 17 available scholarships (especially after Narduzzi’s new, albeit exciting additions) — so the Staff may not be going all Willy-Nilly offering too many guys. They may not be afraid of ‘late-offers’ on ‘diamonds-in-the-rough’ who haven’t found homes late, and getting less ‘hyped’ guys for this first class too as they get started. (Even though that is not exciting for the Supporters of course, ‘Growing-Pains’!)
2) The recruits have ZERO idea what Pitt Football will even be this year!!! The words sound great, of course—-but what if JIm Chaney’s new offense is 11-man, Cal-Stanford Backward-lateral offense? (That would be siiiiick though) — what if Conklin’s defense is every-down Punt Block, because, aggressive!! Lol if Pitt can be ferocious and exciting, and the players play like unleashed-Beasts in Pitt’s games — players will get oh-so-excited.
—–Even when the recruits can start seeing live-actions stuff in Fall Camp, they’ll start to truly get a feel for the new Staff’s True “Mojo” and their True Game-Time Style and Abilities.
— Unfortunately, before Fall Camp when it gets “Real” — it’s all Growing-Pains 🙁
He might have been a Heisman Candidate level Beast at Pitt — okay too much but he would have bee a great player who had a great career at Pitt barring injury…..transferred to FCS Liberty in Virginia
Every program worth it’s ‘salt’ in D-1 football though has those “What If” transfer players. Just how it works-out lol
Get a CLUE.
Looking forward to your post on recruiting. I was not referring to you as negative…not this time 🙂
I think not.
AnonymousJune 11, 2015 at 8:24 PM
Blather is reporting macvittie is not firmly committed. Like Butler he is reported to be looking around. Any truth to this?
Reply
Chris DokishJune 11, 2015 at 8:52 PM
No
It just seems that things have come to a grinding halt after a decent start. Like McKee Stocker and Brightwell, it seems that there should have been some guys that Chryst and Co. were working on that were Pitt leans, that Narduzzi has not closed yet.
Maybe Narduzzi is holding out for the four star guys, but it feels like he has lost momentum. Especially since no one has verballed after the first two camps.
I think not.”
….Lol, honestly, Does It Matter? I try to help support the program and spread passion for it…are you saying my writing doesn’t seem like I’m College-Educated? lol
I even have a ‘Diploma’ that Chancellor Nordenberg himself signed! …. Or it might have just been his Secretary Chugging-em’-out, I don’t really mind either way. The experiences are all that matter. Not that anyone should need to rationalize their opinions and Pitt-support…but I actually was ‘Tower B’ Day one, and ‘Bates St.’ on Graduation Day — Too many all-nighters in random Classrooms on floors 1-3 in our ‘Cathedral’ (open 24 hours!)
….P.S. anyone who truly loves ‘Pitt’ is family to me. If you’re in Uganda / Sweden / Mexico / wherever and never even came to the U.S., who cares — “Hail to Pitt!” 🙂
And all that matters about my experiences—and all the detail I need to go into—is that I paid $25 bucks for Student Section Season Tickets, and I saw a mediocre Miami Team and a Mediocre (Pat White Senior Season) WVU team SMACK us at Home and on National TV — and yeah, imagine seeing that UCONN team take us to the woodshed in-person (again on Thursday National TV) to Win the Big East and get to play in the BCS Game….That UCONN team as a whole was slow, and far too-untalented to compete with Pitt — but when the player know your coach will let you get-away with anything off-the-field and not hold you the slightest bit accountable for horrific play……Wannstedt would never, ever, ever own-up and for that and in my-view his Firing was 150% justified…just admit you’re underachieving what’s so hard about that?
P.S. as an Alum / Booster (yeah, not Big-Time but trying to contribute lol) —- shame on anyone who puts-down any Pitt Supporter if they did not ‘attend’ the fine University —- All are Welcome, and Pitt family doesn’t have to mean “I went to the Oakland Campus 4 years and graduated” / I went to Pitt Grad School etc. —- All Pittsburgh-‘ers’ (Immigrants / New-Arrivals, etc.) / People from outside-the-area who became fans for one reason or another —- Welcome to the Family, we need more on the ‘Band-Wagon’!! 🙂
