Jerry DiPaola stories, Page 145
Son of ex-NFL QB, Pitt’s Jeff George Jr. embraces backup role, wants more
Jeff George Jr.’s football team was a hit in Carmel, Ind. Fans flocked to the games. He was the talk of the town. “When you throw the ball 40, 50 times a game, it’s a sight,” said his coach at the time and father, Jeff George Sr. (yeah, that one)....
What if Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi could redshirt every freshman?Video
In August, optimism rules the day at football training camps. Everywhere, not just at Pitt. Everyone is a candidate to start; everyone is having a good camp; coaches aren’t sure what to do with all these good players. With depth at most positions looking good after nearly a week of...
Pat Narduzzi offers honest appraisal of Pitt’s passing game
Pat Narduzzi looked at his watch to mark the moment. Apparently, he had something important to say before he blew the whistle Wednesday for the fifth day of Pitt’s training camp. The question posed to Pitt’s coach during his daily media briefing concerned the wide receiver group, perhaps the one...
Pitt gets serious with full pads, live hitting on Day 5Video
The fifth day of Pitt training camp Wednesday meant the team entered into a new phase of practice: They put on full pads. “We have to teach them how to put their thigh boards in, their knee pads, butt pads, hip pads,” coach Pat Narduzzi said. “It’s always a challenge....
Steven Brault’s solid start not enough in Pirates’ 4-3 loss to Brewers
On most occasions, Clint Hurdle doesn’t say much when he walks to the mound to pull his pitcher from the game. But he had words for Steven Brault on Tuesday night while the Pittsburgh Pirates were losing 4-3 to the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. Good words. “Light-hearted,” Brault said....
Pirates notebook: No ‘touchdown’ dances for Bryan Reynolds
Bryan Reynolds allowed himself a slight smile — and nothing more — when he reached over the left field wall Monday night and robbed the Brewers’ Mike Moustakas of a home run. “I’m not going to throw my glove off and start dancing just because I made a catch,” he...
Clint Hurdle’s ‘instincts’ tell him Pirates’ Josh Bell needs to sit downVideo
There are more computers in PNC Park than hot dogs, but sometimes manager Clint Hurdle turns away from the analytics and makes a decision the old-school way. He feels it. That’s what happened Tuesday when Hurdle announced slumping slugger Josh Bell would not play Tuesday or Wednesday against the Milwaukee...
Pitt football hopes to get boost from NCAA graduate transfers
Pat Narduzzi has stepped into the portal, not with trepidation, but with a need and a plan. Peering inside the portal — specifically, the NCAA transfer portal — he knew he needed help at linebacker, offensive line and tight end for this season. When he ventured inside and came out...
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi says tackling below par on 1st day in padsVideo
The fourth morning of Pitt football practice dawned sunny and hot Monday, which is the way it’s supposed to be in August, right? With temperatures in the mid 80s, it’s a day seemingly ordered by football coaches trying to get their players in shape. For Pitt, Monday was the second...
Pitt senior Aaron Mathews hopes to increase role in passing game
Pitt senior Aaron Mathews possesses skills none of his teammates can match. He is good with the spatula when his buddies come over for a barbecue. “I tell them, ‘Buy it, I’ll put it on the grill,’ ” he said. And, on the rare occasion someone tries to challenge him...
Pirates’ Joe Musgrove hit hard again in blowout loss to Mets
Perhaps what happened to Joe Musgrove on Sunday at PNC Park was nothing more than a bad night’s sleep leading to a stiff back. Maybe Josh Bell is right, and he’s not trying too hard, and a good session or two in the batting cage will fix what ails him....
Pirates notebook: Steven Brault returns to rotation Tuesday
Steven Brault was starting to gain traction in the Pirates rotation when he went on the injured list four weeks ago with a shoulder strain. He hasn’t pitched since July 5, but he’s listed as the starter for the second game of the Milwaukee Brewers series Tuesday at PNC Park....
Francisco Cervelli vows to enjoy his ‘last two months’ with Pirates
Francisco Cervelli was in a good mood Sunday morning, which is his normal demeanor no matter the situation. But the Pittsburgh Pirates’ oldest and most experienced catcher has missed 61 games since May 26 while recovering from another concussion — at least the sixth of his career — and he’s...
Pitt offensive line coach Dave Borbely builds culture of trust, pride, grit
Dave Borbely had been Pitt’s offensive line coach for only a few months in the spring of 2018 when he walked out of the indoor facility one day after a practice. He was joined by Bob Junko, Pitt’s director of player development who has served the football program in various...
Pitt’s running back plans call for on-the-job training
Running backs coach Andre Powell has perhaps the toughest but most important job on Pitt’s staff. He must replace 1,000-yard rushers Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall. The price to pay for such production a year later is a young group of running backs with little or no experience. “I went...
Enthusiastic senior class ‘taking ownership’ for Pitt
One day while Pat Narduzzi was in his office preparing for the start of training camp, his phone buzzed. It was Pitt senior defensive tackle Amir Watts. He needed help. “He’s Facetiming me, and he’s only 40 yards away,” Pitt’s coach said Friday. Narduzzi gets dozens of calls every day...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi welcomes 110 players to the start of training camp
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi welcomed 110 players to the first day of training camp Friday on the Beano Cook practice fields on the South Side. It’s a new season, but the first day didn’t look much different than any of the previous four first days under Narduzzi, who has been...
Pitt basketball team hungry to bond during preseason trip to Italy
When Jeff Capel’s Pitt basketball team begins its nine-day, five-city tour of Italy on Monday, he wants to learn about that nation’s people, their culture and ancient architecture. There also will be time for hoops, with his team playing three games against European players who are beyond college age and...
6 players, both managers suspended for Pirates-Reds brawl
The fallout from the Pittsburgh Pirates’ brawl with the Cincinnati Reds will hit players and managers of both teams where it hurts the most: on the roster and in the wallet. Six players plus managers Clint Hurdle and David Bell were suspended and given undisclosed fines for their part in...
5 questions surrounding Pitt football as training camp opens
Believe it or not, even Clemson and Alabama have questions at the outset of training camp. No team is immune. So, imagine what’s going through Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi’s head as he looks through the big window in his office at the football fields next to the South Side railroad...
Pirates trade Corey Dickerson to Phillies
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ trade of Corey Dickerson to the Philadelphia Phillies scratched a .300 hitter and a Gold Glove left fielder off the roster, an odd result for a team that has lost 16 of 19 games and needs further tinkering to contend in 2020. But Dickerson, 30, is due...
Pirates’ Clint Hurdle plans to speak to Keone Kela about pitch to Derek Dietrich
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said during his pregame talk with reporters Wednesday at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati he will speak to relief pitcher Keone Kela, who admitted he intentionally threw “up and in” at the Reds’ Derek Dietrich. The pitch in the seventh inning was the trigger...
Pirates suspend bullpen coach Euclides Rojas for 2 games
The Pittsburgh Pirates suspended bullpen coach Euclides Rojas for two games for violating his contract, the team announced Tuesday night before its game in Cincinnati. Rojas, 51, has been with manager Clint Hurdle since his first season with the Pirates in 2011. Overall, Rojas has been with the Pirates for...
Pirates swap pitchers with Triple-A Indianapolis
The Pittsburgh Pirates continued trying to find the right combination in the bullpen Tuesday when right-handed pitchers Geoff Hartlieb and Yefry Ramirez were recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. Right-handers Alex McRae and Montana DuRapau, who combined to allow 11 hits and every run in the 11-6 loss to the Cincinnati Reds...
Pitt basketball announces dates for first 12 games of 2019-2020 season
Pitt announced the first 12 games of its men’s basketball schedule Tuesday, including the opener Nov. 6 against ACC opponent Florida State at the Petersen Events Center. It’s the first time Pitt will start the season with a conference game. All but three of the 12 will be played at...
