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.
Pitt’s ascendance under Narduzzi is particularly evident on the defensive side of the ball. The Panthers boast the nation’s No. 17 defense, yielding just 300.8 yards per game, nearly 60 yards fewer than last year. Pitt already has 22 sacks, three more than it compiled in all of last season.
Remarkably, Pitt has achieved its strong start playing four of its first six contests on the road. The Panthers will play their fifth road game in seven weeks when they visit Syracuse (3-3, 1-1 ACC) this Saturday for an ESPNU noon national telecast.
The 2015 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award candidates:
Art Briles, Baylor
Matt Campbell, Toledo
David Cutcliffe, Duke
Mark Dantonio, Michigan State
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Jimbo Fisher, Florida State
Justin Fuente, Memphis
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
Tom Herman, Houston
Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
Jim McElwain, Florida
Urban Meyer, Ohio State
Les Miles, LSU
Gary Patterson, TCU
Matt Rhule, Temple
Nick Saban, Alabama
David Shaw, Stanford
Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M
Dabo Swinney, Clemson
Kyle Whittingham, Utah
Congrats Coach Duzz… Don’t lose focus on Cuse!!
link to blogs.post-gazette.com
About 1/3 of the way through the Hill video, he provides a glimpse into the innerworkings of how the staff operates and interacts with each other and the players.
Combined with that SI article in the previous post, it really shows that Narduzzi was prepared to be a head coach WAY before he got the Pitt job.
It’s truly a stunning reversal of fortune for us.
Imagine for a second you reported to Steve Pederson? How Fraud lasted as long as he did is amazing and Chryst with zero pulse as well.
Narduzzi has done a great job especially considering the lack of any admin support and the culture that was a F-
At least one of those guys are going to have a remarkable, even historic year.
ALso Rhule at Temple in Top25 for for first time in forever and also a win over PSU for first time in forever as well.
Narduzzi would probably need to win ACC championship game to get this.
I’m not inferring Pitt is going to gag on this game, even though this is a typical game that SOP would find a way to lose. I’m thinking SOP is dead, beating Syracuse pretty much would confirm that death and write the obituary. I’m confident in this one. In fact, I’m still waiting for that “breakout” game where Pitt dominates an opponent. At this point in the season, if Syracuse isn’t that one, then there ain’t going to be one.
The three games after Syracuse are true HUGE games. I’d trade a beat down loss against the Domers for two squeak by wins over both UNC & Duke right now.
Things have all been going right for the Panthers after the major downer of losing Conner in the opener. So much so, that is old time Pitt fans just kind of expect something bad to happen. After all that is the Pitt way, right? WRONG!
This is the new Narduzzi era, if his coaching and motivation is going to turn that ride then Pitt wins this one to go 6-1 carrying even more momentum into our Thursday night showdown with UNC. I will say this, if that be the case, if Pittsburgh doesn’t show up in force for that game at Heinz Field then shame on yinz!
If you want to really appreciate the turnaround this would be, REMEMBER HOUSTON!!!
