Jerry DiPaola stories, Page 138

Pat Narduzzi isn’t petitioning the NCAA to eliminate kickoffs from college football, but if it happens, he wouldn’t protest. “Nowadays, it seems like you get less and less of those opportunities to return,” Pitt’s coach said Monday during his weekly news conference. “There seems to be more and more touchbacks....

While Pitt rested weary and, in many cases, injured muscles, the ACC Coastal turned into a free-for-all. After Miami defeated Virginia on Friday night, every team in the division has at least one loss. The bad news: By Sunday afternoon, the Coastal might not have a team ranked in the...

After finishing 14-19 with only three ACC victories in coach Jeff Capel’s first year, Pitt has been picked to finish 10th in the 15-team conference this season, according to preseason media rankings released Thursday. Four starters return for Pitt, including Xavier Johnson (15.5 points per game), Trey McGowens (11.6), Au’Diese...

Tre Tipton leans on crutches, his left knee locked in a brace, while others around him run, jump and play. A senior wide receiver at Pitt, his season is over, ruptured (his word) by an injury for the fourth time in his five seasons at Pitt. Others feel bad for...

Norm Nixon’s retired No. 10 jersey, which hung in the rafters of Duquesne’s Palumbo Center for nearly 19 years, is returning to action. Duquesne sophomore point guard Sincere Carry will wear the number this season — with Nixon’s blessings — to honor his friend, Khalil “Champ” Hopson, who died in...

Jeff Capel knows there’s nothing easy about competing in the ACC. Who would know better than someone entering his 13th season as either a player or a coach in the conference? Capel didn’t have to lose 15 of 18 ACC games last year in his first season as Pitt’s coach...

The question was one Micah Parsons didn’t expect. But Penn State’s sophomore linebacker thought quickly on his feet and gave a good answer, anyway. The storyline this week for the No. 10 Nittany Lions is how they will react to their second road game of the season Saturday night when...

If the question ever comes up, this is how Jason Kendall played the game of baseball: He once shattered an ankle trying to break up a no-hitter in the fifth inning with a bunt single for a Pittsburgh Pirates team going nowhere. On that fateful Fourth of July 20 years...

Penn State’s annual game with Michigan, which could feature two Top 20 teams on national television, will be contested in prime time Oct. 19 at Beaver Stadium. It will be televised by ABC. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. It is also Penn State’s annual White Out game. Penn State...

Former Pitt basketball player Ronald Ramon, who finished his career as one of the school’s top 3-point shooters, has rejoined the program as assistant director of operations. Ramon will assist coach Jeff Capel’s staff with recruiting logistics, alumni engagement and community service. “I feels amazing,” he said of returning to...

Never in the history of off weeks (they are not byes, by the way) has a team needed rest more than Pitt does at the moment. With three successful fourth-quarter comebacks in a row and injuries to key personnel at running back, linebacker and cornerback, Pitt (4-2, 1-1) needs to...

While picking their way through the trash spilled over six months and 162 games, the Pittsburgh Pirates needed to scratch out only three more singles to do something no National League playoff team did this season. Collect 1,500 hits. Yes, it’s true. The Pirates compiled a team batting average of...

When Pitt tangles with Duke on Saturday night at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C., an important key to the outcome will be how much Pitt’s offense has grown through the first five games. Pitt’s rebuilt offensive line and running back groups are no longer inexperienced after confronting three ranked...

In his weekly Thursday chats with reporters — after “the hay is in the barn” as he occasionally points out — Pat Narduzzi almost always praises his team for a good week of work. He took it a step further this week when he said Pitt had “three really passionate...

Pitt sophomore defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman, who changed his number to 97 to match the jersey worn by Aaron Donald, was named Outland Trophy National Defensive Player of the Month for September. He was selected by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). Twyman recorded six sacks and 61/2 tackles...

Pittsburgh Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage and bench coach Tom Prince have been informed by management they are not candidates to return to the team’s major league staff next season. All other major league coaches will be candidates to keep their jobs after a manager to replace Clint Hurdle is...

For the second time this week, Pat Narduzzi was asked about the hottest off-the-field topic in college football. And for the second time, Pitt’s coach wasn’t eager to talk about the California legislation that will allow college athletes to profit off their likenesses. Two Pennsylvania lawmakers said they are planning...

Kenny Pickett may replace those headphones he wore last week with something more familiar when Pitt visits Duke on Saturday — a football helmet. There is no definitive word yet from coach Pat Narduzzi on Pickett’s status, but the junior quarterback was working at the start of practice Tuesday and...