Dec. 6, 2015
PITTSBURGH–For the eighth consecutive season and 32nd time overall, the Pitt football team is headed to a bowl game.
The Panthers received their official invite this afternoon from the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman and will play Navy of the American Athletic Conference in Annapolis, Md. The ESPN nationally televised game, which benefits the USO, will be played in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Monday, Dec. 28, and kick off at 2:30 p.m. (ET).
“The Military Bowl is a tremendous opportunity for our team to end the season against a nationally ranked opponent,” Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said. “Navy is a Top 25 team with a Heisman-caliber quarterback in Keenan Reynolds. They will present us with a formidable challenge.
“Given our close proximity to Annapolis, we are looking for a great contingent of Pitt fans to make the short trek and see us play one more time this year.”
In Narduzzi’s debut season, the Panthers have compiled an 8-4 record, their winningest regular season in six years. Pitt went 6-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, finishing as the runner-up in the Coastal Division.
Navy is 9-2 and ranked as high as No. 21 nationally. The Midshipmen conclude their regular season this Saturday against Army.
This will be the 40th meeting between Pitt and Navy–and first bowl matchup–in a series that dates back to 1912. The Panthers lead the series, 22-14-3.
Tickets and official travel packages are now available. For more details and pricing visit www.pittsburghpanthers.com/bowltickets.
Here is a nice story on some terrible news.
I was at sea for the last week and when I finally got a connection to The Blather re-established, and read about young Mr. Conners, I was floored… but sadly not surprised . I had also just received word that a dear friend of mine was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer just a few days prior to Conner’s press conference. I have a much easier time dealing with old men being sick, not with bright and shiny young men facing an illness.
This is nothing that can get any better for Conner unless he does the work himself. Yes, he’ll have a slew of doctors, nurses, family and well-wishers surrounding him, caring and working hard for him and that will give him comfort. That is well and good. But I will bet anyone a dollar that the very first person Conner turned to on Thanksgiving morning was his surrogate father, Mike Gallagher , who knows all about battling long odds and winning. He’s been through very tough times on his own.
We Pitt fans all think we know what James Conner is all about, his strengths are so damn obvious, so far be it from me to disagree… but I will remind my friends on here of two things.
One is that as tough and hardened we think James Conner is, he’s still pretty much a kid and, bluster and toughness aside, he is going to have some very fearful days and nights ahead, especially if things don’t go exactly as planned. As much as I hate to even think that it is a possibility, he may well have some steps backward on his forward journey.
Secondly, James Conner deserves not only our best wishes and prayers of all faiths and good will from all others, he also needs and deserves his privacy. If I see him somewhere in my travels here is what I plan to do. I’ll ask him how he’s feeling then quickly change the subject. He may appreciate something like that more than we know. I’ll let him keep his troubles to himself.
Even as we know that 85-95% odds are fantastic, and I do believe he’ll beat this, I don’t believe it will happen because he’s a tough guy or a star football player. It will happen because he has perhaps the biggest heart of any young man I’ve ever met. His life revolves around others when it could so easily revolve around himself as so many “stars” or pseudo-stars seem to ensure happens. “Look at me!” isn’t in James Conner’s vocabulary.
I’m a firm and strong believer in Karma and have been ever since I was Conners age. I feel that there is a 110% return on good deeds done and not just the normal ones like being a good son or daughter or being a good parent… but good deeds that are extraordinary and hard things to start and finish. Conners doesn’t shy away from other’s pain and suffering as so many of us do – that is what he faces head on with all of his strength and force of will.
To put it simply he does the hard work so that others may find comfort. There is no more greater and gracious act than that.
Karma sits on his strong and broad shoulders and is on his side. His life of good works as they are many and legion, along with his doctors, family, well wishers, prayers and of course his own willpower, is what will push him in this fight.
I have been so impressed with this young man since I first met and talked with him and Mike Gallagher early on in the 2013 fall camp. I will pray and root and will for him to win this battle…. but in my heart I know it is his life to live… and I’ll let him get on with it without any more words on the matter from me.
Oh… and at this point I really don’t give a damn if he plays another down for the Panthers. Life is so much more than that. If he feels he needs to do it then fine, but I’ll easily trade my wanting to see him in a Pitt uniform again for one nausea and pain-free day for him in a Coast Guard second (and that’s quick!).
Anyhow, you can all stay at my house! See you on the 28th!
I don’t get what Pitt fans are complaining about here.
Yes, Narduzzi’s first season was a feel-good eight win year but the facts are that it was an eight win year. Not a great track record for a bigger bowl. Hate to say it but outside of WPA no one really cares much about Pat Narduzzi and Pitt… we are a team like 100+ others who aren’t the big football factories. Teams get new coaches all the time and as well as Narduzzi has done this year – I’m happy as hell about it – it wasn’t earthshaking.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with playing a nine win 21st ranked team on their home turf.
It is a fantastic road trip for fans, a valuable win, if we can pull it out, against a very good Service Academy – where the kids make up for a lack of great talent with killer determination.
Listen, If I can drag my ass up to PGH to watch pretty crappy football over the last ten years then Pitt fans can make the 4.5 hour drive down to Maryland to see a good Pitt team against a good Navy team.
Add a day or two onto the football visit. The game is on a Monday so come down over the weekend and visit the Naval Academy, especially the museum and the famous Chapel, and enjoy the trip in every way. But under no circumstances miss the Cadets March from the Academy to the stadium, then into formation on the field before the game. It is pomp and circumstance at its finest and should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Speaking of rankings look at this CBS poll – Pitt is nowhere to be found…literally
If we wanted a better bowl we shouldn’t have come out and sleep walked through the first half of the games we lost. Hope this a lesson.
I’m planning to attend this game, take a day off of work, and cheer my Panthers to victory. Hope to see many of my Blather Brothers there as well. Hail to Pitt!
What I will bitch about is our joke of a junior high looking home field. Watching the Steeler game the end zone is spectacular with NFL logo, yardlines brightly painted, hell they have even painted the grass. Over 200 K of public money went into the stadium, the Steelers contribution came from seat licenses and TV money. How did it develop it was their stadium. AD Barnes please address this and quit being a Eunuch on the field conditions.
In the 1960s my cousin was a small college All American DB at U of SW Oklahoma. He was diagnosed with lymphoma at Conner’s age when the treatment was brutal and success not as likely. He recently passed at the age of 68. We only cared of his survival. I too would downplay asking him of his health if I met him, it is a tougher road than you think. Good luck and you are in my thoughts and prayers Mr.Conner.
HAIL TO PITT
H2P
SATELLITE PARKING
Satellite parking is available at the Harry S Truman Park and Ride, located on Harry S Truman Parkway just off Riva Road.
Shuttle service begins five (5) hours prior to the start of the game. Service continues throughout all games, ending approximately two (2) hours after each game’s completion. The shuttle runs approximately every 20 minutes, and drops off and picks up at the Navy Ticket Office at the Class of 1953 Pavilion.
Designated handicap accessible shuttles are available.
Shuttle service is provided by Annapolis Bus Company, Inc.
Directions to Satellite Parking: Exit US 50 at Aris T. Allen Blvd. [MD 665] (exit #22) and bear to the right (Riva Rd. exit). Right turn on Riva Rd. Right turn on Harry S. Truman Pkwy. Park & Ride is located on the right just before the MVA.
This is where I park every time – it is free and only a ten minute bus ride (also free) to the stadium. Getting to and from that parking lot is very easy also.
I would suggest that you get there early though and that’s fine because then you can get to the stadium and walk around all the tailgates and just absorb a great gameday atmosphere.
Here is the Google Map with directions from Pittsburgh... 4 hrs drive approx.
Rather than whining about what we didn’t get, let’s objectively embrace who we. An eight win team with a fan base that doesn’t travel that well. I’m excited about the opportunity to go to Annapolis again and hope to see a good turnout from Pitt fans. What a wonderful setting for a football game and a great opponent to hoot. I hope to meet some of you there!
#ConnerStrong!
Just pissed that the Pedophiles get the Gator Bowl.
May I suggest that people get hotel rooms in Columbia, MD (where I live) and then drive to the game in the morning. It is only 30-45 minutes away from the stadium and a nice place on its own. Last Pitt-Navy game a group came down and did that and enjoyed it.
Pitt fans cannot travel to downtown Pittsburgh for a game, then a higher percentage that can, cannot stay past the 3rd quarter.
Why are people whining? Because they love to bitch and moan as it is less expensive than buying a ticket to watch Pitt play.
The only way to stop this “Miami game giving” thing is to beat the #21st ranked Navy Midshippmen on their home turf.
Let go do this…
Duzz and Conk have three weeks to prepare. 2-1/2 weeks if you count Christmas and travel. Our offense should have their way with the Navy D if we focus on a smash mouth, run the ball down their throat game plan (BIG IF).
For many Pitt fans who work, this could be a tough game to get to – the Monday after the Christmas weekend has been taken at our office since the summer. But, this could be the last Pitt game for our superstar WR, T.Boyd. Come if you can and support a young man who has represented our university well. I know he hasn’t been perfect, but who is?
Besides the top one or two ACC bowl games, there really isn’t much to get excited about. Look at the B1G and PAC10 bowl games – the pedos (at 7-5) are going to the Gator Bowl against Georgia. The ACC has a very weak bowl selection, so to remedy that we need to win the Coastal and the conference championship game next year.
But first we need to beat the mighty Midshippmen.
HTP!
Also, an 8 and 4 record is fine compared to our recent past but not sure why people think we are a Top 25 team. We just beat the teams we were supposed to, which was a step forward, and that’s it.
I am most thrilled by what the future holds than anything else.
The logic here outside the ranking possibility is Pitt fans don’t travel well so let’s piss them off and send them to a bowl close to Pittsburgh…I’m thinking there’s a little flaw in that….
I’m in for my first bowl game! Hope playing GA Tech earlier in the year helps us for the option attack.
Conference splits the aggrgate bowl money. Quality opponent.
Historic city. Chance for ninth win. Whats not to like?
Just get the W!!
So, it is what it is, let’s stop bitching and buy some tickets, get some friends to buy some tickets and “show up” for this game. That’s how we play our part in the rebuilding.
I asked this in two earlier posts and may have missed the answer. Do you know if there is a fund set up to help the Conner’s family with the costs associated with his care?
H2P
One thing to remember is that Conner is on a full ride scholarship for up to five years (and I can’t see Pitt asking him to ‘move on after next season) and the players are all covered 100% by medical insurance set up by Pitt also.
Not to sound harsh but his situation is pretty well covered both educationally and financially but again, I’ll ask EJ what the status is.
H2P
Washington State in the Sun Bowl… No thanks
Indiana in NYC.. maybe if it was PSU or WVU
Tusla in Shreveport.. pass
And Pitt will never play in the Belk… ever
And the Orange/Peach/Russel weren’t in play.
So I’m all for the Middies in Naptown. It’s going to be a lot of fun.
SHE WANTS TO GO!
Imagine that. Thanks Coach Duzz…
Now on to our bowl game fortunes. I am just so fed up with whining fans. Yeah we got kinda got screwed but the facts are that we are pitted against a good Navy team in a location that is real easy to travel to. So quit whining , take a day off from work and go visit Annapolis. Geez.