I said in my preview column that “Pitt’s offense will have to have their best game of the season OR the defense will have to hold UNC to their worst since their first game” and that UNC has only scored under 26 once. Well, lo and behold UNC scored 26. The defense stepped up in the second half but after spotting the Tarheels a 20-3 lead, the offense didn’t have enough firepower to finish the comeback. I’m sad that I was correct that assessment.

There are two key things I want to make clear. (more…)

Thursday night. ESPN. 7pm.

What? You really want to watch the Browns-Bengals tonight?

Didn’t think so.

The only thing Pitt fans have a higher angst level over the actual game is the attendance. Hopefully the crowd matches the excitement around this game and this team.

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No pressure, but this is the most important game any player on this roster has ever been in. It’s unquestionably the biggest game since for Pitt the 2010 Backyard Brawl. It may be even bigger than that. If Pitt wins, Narduzzi and company are in the driver’s seat for the ACC Coastal. Lose and Pitt will need a lot of help. If the goal is to be a nationally relevant program, these are the games you have to win.

UNC comes to town with similar pressure. Both teams were 6-6 last year and thanks to some coaching changes (UNC added DC Gene Chizik) have taken an obvious step forward. Like Pitt, a win for the Tarheels will put them in the driver’s seat for the ACC Coastal.

How $%&@ing awesome is it to have a nationally televised game with huge implications on the line in late October? Let’s take a look at what UNC brings to the table. (more…)

October 26, 2015

Pat Narduzzi Press Conference 

North Carolina Week

 PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO: Narduzzi UNC Preview

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Did not see this coming. Rumors had percolated that the winner of this Thursday’s UNC-Pitt game would be in line to host College Gameday on November 7. There seemed to be some logic to it. Gameday tries not to go back to the same location more than once a season when possible — which would rule out going to FSU-Clemson.

Whichever team won would be in the driver seat for the ACC Coastal. Kind of a big game that ESPN has the rights to.

Then it was announced that this weekend College Gameday would be in Philly for ND-Temple. That ended the Gameday dream, but I couldn’t get too bothered. I’m glad Temple gets some love for once. If for no other reason than the joy they brought me on the opening weekend of this season.

Besides, a ND-Pitt game at worse would be a 3:30 start. ESPN/ABC would want the ratings.

What’s that?

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 (This is one of a weekly series of articles entitled “Monday Morning Quarterback”.   I will try to post them two days after the football games are played so as to have our wilder emotions under control by then. It will be my take on the positives and the negatives we saw happen and a chance for commenters to agree or disagree and to add their own thoughts.) 

One thing I dislike is that I write these MMQB articles immediately after the game and then hold it off until Monday morning to post it for work-time reading. So – if it sounds like these MMQB articles parrot the media coverage after the game that doesn’t happen. I never read anything but stats and watch videos as I write these… unless I see something Monday morning I want to quote before posting.

Anyway, Yea Us!!! again this week.

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Tight. Much tighter than I wanted. Still, it was a win. Another on the road as Pitt is a surprising 6-1 and 4-1 on the road. Bowl eligible before Halloween.

Some of the favorite tweets I saw during the win over ARCHRIVAL ORANGE.

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Noon. ESPNU.

I hope that before the game, Head Coach Pat Narduzzi walks up to Syracuse coach Scott Shafer to greet him. Then tosses him a kiwi. Let’s face it, Narduzzi trying to kill Shafer with a kiwi story is the first thing to bring life to a Pitt-Syracuse football game in ages.

At this point, it seems that Shafer is coaching for his job, so there could be an edge of desperation from Syracuse in this game.

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It’s that time of year everyone. It’s time for Pitt’s annual beat down of the ARCHRIVAL ORANGE. If this game doesn’t fire you up then I suggest you look at the cold metal walls around you because you’re IN THE MORGUE. IT’S ARCHRIVAL ORANGE WEEK AND WE’RE GONNA PELT THEM WITH KIWIS UNTIL THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEW YORK RUNS OUT OF BENADRYL!!!!! THE STREETS OF SYRACUSE WILL FLOOD WITH PULP!! FLORIDA’S ECONOMY WILL TAKE A HIT SO SEVERE THAT MARCO RUBIO RESIGNS IN SHAME!!! AL CAPONE WILL RISE FROM HIS GRAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXCESSIVE ORANGES IN THE STREETS TO MAKE MANY OLD FASHIONEDS. Dan Akroyd and Eddie Murphy’s investment will be safe though.

Let’s take a look at the many ways Pat Narduzzi will send Scott Shafer to the ER. (more…)

In the euphoria over the season to this point, I’ve probably been as guilty as anyone in dismissing former head coach Paul Chryst as nothing more than a placeholder for Pitt. Maybe even holding Pitt back. It’s not really true. Especially when it comes to laying things out for recruiting.

The sins of Chryst are known and used frequently. I was never a big fan of the way he put together his staff — at least on the defensive side. He hardly distinguished himself, even by his 3d year, as a great tactician. His recruiting was passive. He was dry and boring as 3-day old toast with the media and public. There was little that seemed to inspire the players to play with belief in their ability to win in close games.

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James Conner has missed most of the season. Chad Voytik isn’t starting. The offense is 113^th in the country in yards per game. Tyler Boyd is…ok, still doing Boyd things. But, if I told you those first three things would be where Pitt stands after six games back in August, what would you expect Pitt’s record to be? If you said 5-1 you’re lying to yourself. The likely answer would be that Pitt is a two or three win team hoping to win six and get another bowl. (more…)

For IMMEDIATE Release

October 21, 2015

 PITT’S NARDUZZI NAMED CANDIDATE FOR
PAUL “BEAR” BRYANT COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD

    PITTSBURGH—First-year head coach Pat Narduzzi, who has Pitt back in the nation’s Top 25 for the first time in six seasons, has been named a candidate for the 2015 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award.

Narduzzi is one of 22 head coaches revealed today as candidates for the prestigious recognition. The Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award honors excellence in college football coaching while raising funds to fight heart disease and stroke through its partnership with the American Heart Association.

It is the only college coaching honor determined after all bowl games are concluded and is voted on by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. This year’s winner will be honored on January 13 at the 30th Annual American Heart Association Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards presented by Marathon Oil Corporation in Houston, Texas.

Under Narduzzi, the Panthers are ranked No. 25 in this week’s Associated Press poll, their first in-season Top 25 appearance since 2009. Pitt owns a 5-1 overall record—its best start since the ’09 campaign—and is 3-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference for the first time. The Panthers have sole possession of first place in the ACC’s Coastal Division.

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A little confusing and hectic evening. Kaezon Pugh had stated weeks prior that he would be committing on October 19 — choosing between Pitt, West Virginia and Maryland. Given the firing of Randy Edsall at Maryland, it seemed a given that the choice was down to Pitt or Hoopies.

Pugh’s cousin is Dravon Henry, and plenty of rumors suggested that he really wanted to play alongside him on defense. For the longest time he was considered a WVU lean and an important player for that program as they try to cut a bit more into recruiting the best players from Western PA.

Pugh was slated to appear on KDKA news, in their sports segment to make his decision public. But on Tuesday, there was nothing going on. KDKA was not teasing the exclusive on social media. Pugh wasn’t talking. It got weirdly quiet to the point that everyone was unsure whether Pugh had decided not to make a decision.

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Here are somethings for your viewing and reading pleasure when you should be working on a Tuesday morning.

First off here is Pat Narduzzi’s Monday morning press conference: Notice he’s send a serious mixed message with the logos in the video!

We’ll follow that up with Nate Peterman’s presser. 

Then we’ll look at Pitt’s Cumulative Season Statistics to date.

Team Statistics

Individual Statistics

Defensive Statistics

Combined Statistics

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Winning definitely helps make it possible. When you are losing or just .500 you get the people who grumble about needing to do better before you can have a sense of humor or be a little goofy.

Right now, Pitt football is fun. And Head Coach Pat Narduzzi is having fun as well. While we should be getting ready for the Battle for the Kiwi, Narduzzi chose to blow-up Pitt and Penn State twitter.

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