Jerry DiPaola stories, Page 13
Pat Narduzzi, Geoff Collins again will share same turf when Pitt visits North Carolina
Pitt’s promising 2024 season resumes Saturday at North Carolina, with a subplot that could turn out to be significant: Pat Narduzzi vs. Tar Heels defensive coordinator Geoff Collins. You might recall the way Collins, then head coach at Georgia Tech, all but ignored Narduzzi at their postgame handshake in the...
Pitt freshman guard Amsal Delalic injures right hand in practice, may miss opener Nov. 4
Pitt basketball experienced its first dose of adversity when wing guard Amsal Delalić, a freshman who arrived on campus as a top-30 European prospect, suffered a right hand injury during practice Wednesday afternoon. He is expected to miss six weeks and, potentially, the first game of the season Nov. 4...
Ex-Pitt AD Heather Lyke named acting president, CEO of FBS Athletics Directors Association
Relieved of her duties as Pitt’s athletic director only 16 days ago, Heather Lyke is back in the game. On Wednesday, Lyke was named acting president and chief executive officer of the FBS Athletics Directors Association, which represents athletics directors of the FBS’ 134 member schools. The advocacy group was...
Legendary pitcher, oldest living Pirate Bobby Shantz turns 99, recalls pivotal 1960 World Series moment
In the eighth inning of the seventh game of the 1960 World Series, Casey Stengel replaced relief pitcher Bobby Shantz with Jim Coates. The New York Yankees manager believed he had no choice. The mighty Yankees were six outs from another World Series championship, but the upstart Pittsburgh Pirates were...
Pitt men’s basketball’s 20-game ACC schedule includes a game New Year’s Day, no trips to West Coast
After a difficult stretch on the road early in the season, Pitt men’s basketball will start the new calendar year with three games against ACC opponents at Petersen Events Center during the first 11 days of 2025, commencing New Year’s Day. The ACC released its 20-game schedule for each team...
Duquesne will visit the Cayman Islands, Akron as part of 2024-25 men’s basketball season
Trips to the Cayman Islands and Akron, Ohio, will be part of Duquesne’s 109th season of men’s basketball before the Atlantic 10 season begins New Year’s Eve. Duquesne released its 2024-25 schedule Tuesday. Duquesne will play three games in three days in the Cayman Islands Classic, beginning at 1:30 p.m....
Pitt men’s soccer rises to No. 1 in nation
When Pitt’s men’s soccer team travels to Blacksburg, Va., on Friday to meet Virginia Tech, it will carry a designation as the No. 1 team in the nation. In the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 released Tuesday, the Panthers (7-1, 3-0 ACC) were No. 1 after being unranked in the...
It’s no Big Ten or SEC, but Pitt faces challenging gauntlet of 8 foes when it’s time to resume season
Let’s be clear about what awaits Pitt when the Panthers resume their season next month. The eight remaining games — four home, four away, with a noon kickoff next up at North Carolina on Oct. 5 — do not represent an insurmountable gauntlet. The ACC is not the SEC or...
Duquesne men’s basketball secures verbal commitment from Ohio guard Arness Lawson
Duquesne men’s basketball coach Dru Joyce received his first verbal commitment from the class of 2025 when three-star guard Arness Lawson said he plans to enroll next year. 100% committed… thanks to the whole coaching staff @ Duquesne for giving me the opportunity and believing in me❤️ #GODUKES pic.twitter.com/Cl5Edw4DdB— Arness...
If Pitt QB Eli Holstein can’t achieve his desired perfect game, his best efforts still look good
Many thoughts raced through Eli Holstein’s head after he led Pitt to its fourth consecutive victory, a 73-17 humiliation of Youngstown State. He was proud to be part of Pitt’s undefeated nonconference season and the program’s first 4-0 start in 24 years. Pitt has played in a conference since 1993...
Pitt wins one for coach Pat Narduzzi in a big way, 73-17 vs. Youngstown State
Pitt’s 73-17 victory against Youngstown State on Saturday — more like a suffocation — was the product of superior athletes beating on inferior ones. Also, you should not minimize the aggressive nature of the Pitt offense that scored nine touchdowns — the defense added a 10th — and amassed 644...
Pitt Take 5: Youngstown State game matters to Pat Narduzzi on team, personal levels
If you’re unaware of the historical significance of Pitt’s game against Youngstown State on Saturday, here is what’s at stake: This game between a Power 4 school and one from the FCS matters because Pitt can nail down its first undefeated, multi-game, nonconference season and start 4-0 for the first...
Pitt uses transfer portal to build more than 1/3 of its 2-deep depth chart
Pat Narduzzi isn’t thinking past Youngstown State, the opponent that will visit Acrisure Stadium on Saturday to challenge his undefeated team (3-0). But if you ask him what might be necessary to succeed beyond 2024 and into the future, he might answer reluctantly even while he already knows the answer:...
When Eli Holstein plays quarterback for Pitt, he said he’s representing pride, work ethic of 2 families
In the final tense moments of the Backyard Brawl, ESPN TV cameras focused on Eli Holstein, capturing the sweat on his brow, the passion and even anger in his eyes and — when the comeback against West Virginia was complete — the pride and joy on his face. You might...
Pat Narduzzi wants more than just wins, seeks flawless execution from Panthers
Pitt senior safety P.J. O’Brien had a request for Pat Narduzzi the day after the thrilling comeback victory against West Virginia. After the weekly team meeting Sunday night when Pitt’s coach had much on his mind, O’Brien said, “Coach, smile. We won the game.” “That’s the first time in 10...
Pitt finds antidote for losing players in portal: Developing new ones who can make plays, too
Word from college coaches, especially those in football and basketball, is that the transfer portal is one of their biggest headaches. Players come and go, and even those who remain on the team need to be recruited all over again to keep another school from poaching them. Two of Pitt’s...
ACC reprimands, fines Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi $5,000 for remarks about officiating after Backyard Brawl victory
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi was fined $5,000 by the ACC and handed a public reprimand for comments he made to ESPN about the officiating crew after the Panthers’ 38-34 victory against West Virginia. ACC officials said in a news release Sunday night that Narduzzi violated the ACC Sportsmanship Policy. Pitt...
Analysis: Pitt has issues, but ability to survive adversity is overriding theme so far
Pitt has many problems that need to be corrected, and Pat Narduzzi started seeking solutions as soon as he clicked on the video machine Sunday morning after church services. He wasn’t especially pleased with everything that happened in Pitt’s 38-34 victory Saturday against West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl. He’ll...
‘It means everything’: Backyard Brawl brings best out of Pitt, West Virginia
More than 66,000 fans jammed into Acrisure Stadium on Saturday to watch the 107th edition of the Backyard Brawl. And while Pitt defeated West Virginia, 38-34, the spectacle of the event itself at times overshadowed the outcome. Fans wearing blue and yellow stood shoulder to shoulder in the stadium and...
Pitt rallies again, survives Backyard Brawl vs. West Virginia
Pitt’s second improbable rally in eight days leading to its 38-34 victory in the 107th Backyard Brawl morphed into reality Saturday night for many reasons. • Of course, there was the freshman quarterback, Eli Holstein, looking like a senior, shedding his thoughts of what had been a decidedly unremarkable day...
As Pat McAfee knows, some Backyard Brawl memories are impossible to flush
Pat McAfee and Pat Bostick had moved on from their college days long ago and were well into their life’s work when they walked into the men’s restroom in the Heinz Field press box and stepped up to side-by-side urinals. The occasion was a prime-time Thursday night game between Pitt...
Pitt Take 5: Panthers seek 2nd 3-0 start in Pat Narduzzi’s 10 seasons
Pat Narduzzi surely hasn’t given this any thought, but if Pitt defeats West Virginia on Saturday at sold-out Acrisure Stadium in the 107th Backyard Brawl, the Panthers will be 3-0 for only the second time in 10 years and the third in the 14-season post-Dave Wannstedt era. Pitt was 3-0...
Aaron Donald, Jeff Capel named to Pitt AD advisory committee
Pitt chancellor Joan Gabel offered a brief snapshot Thursday of what she and her advisory committee are seeking in their quest to name a new athletic director to replace Heather Lyke, who was fired Monday. “We are seeking a transformational leader to partner with university leadership in efforts to further...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi says memories from ’23 Brawl in Morgantown remain fresh in his mind
Pat Narduzzi raised his hand like he was taking an oath in a courtroom when he was asked Thursday if there will be extra hunger on the Pitt sideline in this year’s Backyard Brawl. Pat Narduzzi says he hasn’t forgotten what happened in Morgantown last year … pic.twitter.com/hcoC8oUsdT— Jerry DiPaola...
Pitt basketball lands verbal commitment from 6-foot-4 guard Omari Witherspoon
Pitt coach Jeff Capel began the process of restocking his backcourt when he received a verbal commitment Wednesday from 6-foot-4 guard Omari Witherspoon. He is Pitt’s first verbal commitment from the class of 2025. Pittsburgh gets their guy as ‘25 @SJCBoysHoops/@DC_Premier_ Omari Witherspoon. HC Jeff Capel & staff have one...
