Jerry DiPaola stories, Page 58

Finally, Pitt coach Jeff Capel can put down his phone and start doing what he loves and does best: coach basketball. Capel opened basketball practice Monday at Petersen Events Center with seven players who weren’t on the team last season, and he’s eager to see the tangible results of a...

After Dave Wannstedt was fired in 2010 and in the four years before Pat Narduzzi arrived on the day after Christmas, 2014, Pitt football players called six men coach: Three interims with one-game tenures, Michael Haywood, whose two weeks ended badly, and two others — Todd Graham and Paul Chryst...

Three hours after its victory against Rhode Island, Pitt received more good news Saturday night when wide receiver Daidren Zipperer made a verbal commitment to the Panthers. 100% Commited ???????? #h2p pic.twitter.com/Y886xSjVLM— Daidren Zipperer ???? (@daidrenz) September 25, 2022 Zipperer (6-foot, 165 pounds) is the 19th prospect from the class...

M.J. Devonshire had returned many punts prior to his 82-yard touchdown in the first three minutes of Pitt’s 45-24 victory against Rhode Island on Saturday. But most of those occurred at Aliquippa High School’s Pit. So, when Pitt’s coaches told him Friday night that the job was his, he admitted...

Izzy Abanikanda hears the names of Pitt’s all-time great running backs and figuratively bows in due respect. Yet he is not in awe. Perhaps that’s because he aspires to one day be among them. Pitt’s junior running back still has a long way to go — Tony Dorsett and Curtis...

Pitt’s game against Rhode Island will unfold Saturday at Acrisure Stadium and on the ACC Network just like any other. It’s Power 5 vs. FCS — not as appealing as the first two home games this season — but it still matters. Nonetheless, Pitt’s coaching staff might not manage it...

Reporters never know what they might hear on a typical Thursday afternoon when a relaxed Pat Narduzzi is confident that “the hay’s in the barn” and his team is almost ready to play. This? “(Kedon) Slovis is ready to roll. Nate Yarnell is ready to roll. Nick Patti is ready...

An important part of good coaching is knowing what buttons to push and when to push them, and recognizing how much adversity is the right amount to throw at players. The idea is to ensure they won’t be surprised on gameday. Pitt linebackers coach Ryan Manalac likes when his players...

You would never guess what burns inside Nate Yarnell by watching the video of Pitt’s quarterback calmly sitting at the piano, playing Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.” There’s another side of the 6-foot-6, 20-year-old Texan that, if triggered, could serve him well — as a football player, not a concert pianist. Great...

Pat Narduzzi doesn’t experiment when he designs gameplans and lineups. His personnel choices are made based on what he and his assistants believe gives Pitt the best chance to win. Nonetheless, some part of him felt especially gratified Saturday night when he was able to keep starting quarterback Kedon Slovis...

Every summer, Pat Narduzzi and his family return to his wife Donna’s roots and vacation in Rhode Island. An annual part of the trip is a fishing excursion with Narduzzi’s college teammate, roommate and close friend to this day, Vinny Turco, who knows better than most what makes the Pitt...

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Pat Narduzzi should have been happy with all that happened at Waldo Stadium on Saturday night. He was not. Make no mistake, Pitt’s coach was pleased with the 34-13 victory against Western Michigan that marked a couple of achievements: • The eighth time in 10 games, dating...

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Nothing Nate Yarnell did Saturday night surprised Pat Narduzzi. But he couldn’t say the same for something he saw from his redshirt freshman quarterback earlier in the day. In his first start since his junior year at Lake Travis (Texas) High School three years ago, Yarnell stepped...

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Redshirt freshman Nate Yarnell stepped under center to start Pitt’s game Saturday night against Western Michigan. The game represented his first snaps as a collegian. Regular starting quarterback Kedon Slovis was in uniform and warming up before the game. But he apparently wasn’t recovered sufficiently after getting...

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — On an asphalt sidewalk adjacent to the Western Michigan track, a gang of several students was walking away from Waldo Stadium. They didn’t have to ask, “Where’s Waldo?” They already knew, but they had other pursuits in mind. “Isn’t there a game tonight? Where are you going?”...

When a quarterback goes down with an injury, it will cause angst inside and outside any team’s locker room. At Pitt, however, it seems the players on defense have more pressing concerns. When senior safety Erick Hallett was asked if injuries to Kedon Slovis and Nick Patti might cause the...

Pat Narduzzi addressed Pitt’s unsettled quarterback situation Thursday afternoon, leaving open the possibility Kedon Slovis might play Saturday night at Western Michigan. “Game-time decision,” he said. When he was asked if Slovis is part of that decision, Narduzzi gave a quick and definitive, “Yes.” Slovis was hurt late in the...

Other than offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr.’s group, no Pitt players can impact the score of a game more than those who answer to assistant coach Andre Powell. Running game not working? Look to Powell, who coaches that unit. Kicker misses two field goals in an overtime loss? Powell is...

Growing up in Irwin, setting passing records at Norwin and living only 30 minutes from Pitt’s campus, Jack Salopek was pleased when coach Pat Narduzzi offered him a scholarship. “Pitt was my first scholarship offer,” he said, proudly. He was 17, not far beyond his sophomore year of high school,...

Pitt will open its 2022-23 ACC basketball schedule before the start of the new year, meeting three conference foes in December, including NCAA Tournament finalist North Carolina at Petersen Events Center. The Panthers’ first conference game will be Dec. 2 at N.C. State, followed by three nonconference games (at Vanderbilt...

Pitt will open basketball practice Sept. 26 with William Jeffress on the sideline. Jeffress, a junior forward, has a left foot injury and is expected to miss six weeks during the preseason. “Will suffered a foot injury last week, and evaluations by our medical staff determined the need to shut...

No one expected the metamorphosis of Pitt’s passing game to be clean and efficient through only two games. After all, coach Pat Narduzzi replaced his top quarterback, wide receiver and playcaller — all in one offseason. Throw in injuries last Saturday to quarterbacks Kedon Slovis and Nick Patti, and perhaps...

There were only 21 seconds left in the first half Saturday when Kedon Slovis dropped back to pass from his 37, but it was enough time for a flood of events to occur that could impact Pitt beyond the loss to Tennessee. Sack, fumble, injury to Slovis, Tennessee recovery, field...

The best teams find a way to overcome adversity. They also take advantage of opportunities. Pitt might yet produce a team that equals or surpasses what the 2021 Panthers did (the schedule isn’t especially demanding). But that’s a story for another day — 10 other days, actually, as the regular-season...

On a day full of emotions of many colors — sad, frustrating, even hopeful — Pitt defensive end Habakkuk Baldonado offered among the wisest of words after the 34-27 overtime loss to Tennessee on Saturday. “Everybody says, sometimes you win. Sometimes you learn,” the senior from Rome, Italy, said, philosophizing...