Pitt category
Pitt’s Olivia Babcock named finalist for AAU Sullivan Award
Pitt right-side hitter Olivia Babcock has already established her dominance in college volleyball, judging by back-to-back AVCA Player of the Year awards and a host of other accomplishments. By being named an AAU Sullivan Award finalist Tuesday, Babcock earned further respect as one of the premier amateur athletes in the...
Pitt departs for Stanford, seeking back-to-back ACC wins for 1st time this season
One victory hardly removes the bad taste in the mouths of Pitt coach Jeff Capel, his players and Panthers fans as a highly disappointing campaign continues. Still, Capel will take what he can get at this stage of the season, with the Panthers (10-17, 3-11 ACC) fighting to stay alive...
Pitt hangs on against Notre Dame to snap 5-game losing streak
With a handful of opportunities remaining to start a late-season push and force a way into the ACC Tournament, Pitt will take wins however they come. Despite blowing an 11-point second-half lead against Notre Dame on Saturday and allowing the Fighting Irish to inch within a basket multiple times in...
Pitt to face Notre Dame as Panthers cling to hopes for ACC Tournament berth
With five regular-season games remaining, what does Pitt still have to play for? Players may well be wondering that, while coach Jeff Capel contemplates how to motivate them. “I don’t know what I’ll use,” Capel said. “I haven’t thought about that as much. We’ve tried different things this year. They...
New Pitt linebackers coach Joe Bowen looks to develop new stars, maintain high standard vs. the run
Frequent movement is often a prerequisite for college coaches looking to ascend to the best positions and highest levels. But switching roles or programs isn’t done without consideration. Joe Bowen, Pitt’s new linebackers coach and run game coordinator, felt the conditions were just right to join Pat Narduzzi’s staff. “When...
Wideout transfer Malik Wright aims to be downfield threat for Pitt this fallVideo
Heading into 2026, Pitt will be looking for new playmakers at wide receiver. With the majority of last year’s performers graduating, including leading receiver Poppi Williams and Deuce Spann, plus Kenny Johnson transferring to Texas Tech, it remains to be seen who develops into a regular target for quarterback Mason...
Pitt leading scorer Brandin Cummings ruled out for season following ankle surgery
Pitt sophomore guard Brandin Cummings will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing ankle surgery, the Panthers announced Thursday. The team’s leading scorer at 12.5 points per game won’t be available for the Panthers’ five remaining contests and the ACC Tournament, should Pitt qualify. Through 19 games, Cummings shot...
Beyond the Bylines: Joe Starkey, Tim Benz on Sidney Crosby’s injury, NHL in the Olympics, Steelers PodcastgateVideo
This week’s “Beyond the Bylines” streamed on Thursday instead of Friday because Joe Starkey already needs a vacation, and he’s only been back at TribLive for about a month. So he is going to Florida to play golf on Friday. We did not discuss Joe’s golf game. We did, however,...
New special teams coach Mike Priefer brings 2 decades’ worth of NFL experience to Pitt
In terms of personnel and oversight, Pitt enters a new era on special teams in 2026. That’s the result of former coach Jacob Bronowski departing Pitt for a job at Auburn in early December, coupled with the Panthers losing their starting kicker to the transfer portal and long snapper, punter...
Pitt Athletics to host block party complementing NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft isn’t just for fans of the pro game anymore — Pitt Athletics has announced that a three-day block party will take place during the April festivities in Pittsburgh. “We’re excited to partner with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to create a one-of-a-kind experience for our fans during...
Pitt coach Jeff Capel praises Cam Corhen’s attitude, effort amid ankle injury
Cam Corhen has had ample reason to dial things back over the last week. Pitt’s senior forward injured his ankle Feb. 10 against No. 4 Duke, a lingering pain that coach Jeff Capel said caused Corhen to miss practice Monday. Corhen also was forced to miss several practices last week...
Short-handed Panthers routed by North Carolina, also missing starters
The hits keep coming for the Pitt basketball team. North Carolina was next in line to take a shot at the undermanned Panthers, and the 11th-ranked Tar Heels — shorthanded themselves — registered another knockout punch. Seth Trimble and Jarin Stevenson scored 19 points apiece to lead four double-digit scorers...
Pitt transfer Holden Geriner embraces mentorship role with young quarterbacks
Holden Geriner isn’t blind to the situation he willingly walked into at Pitt. The Panthers have an established quarterback in Mason Heintschel and also brought in a pair of freshmen at the position: Corey Dailey and Angelo Renda. Geriner transferred to Pitt from Texas State, where he had one pass...
Pitt transfer RB La’Vell Wright looks to carve out role in backfield
The 2026 campaign is far into the distance, but Pitt already has a good idea who will begin the year atop the depth chart at running back. That would be Ja’Kyrian “Boosie” Turner, who, along with Mason Heintschel, emerged as one of the Panthers’ top performers last fall during an...
Pitt freshmen QBs Angelo Renda, Corey Dailey adjust to college life
This winter, with a storm dumping more than a foot of snow in late January, coupled with sub-freezing daily temperatures for two weeks straight, has tested even the most mentally tough Pittsburghers. Of course, Steel City natives are better equipped to deal with such conditions, even if Pittsburgh navigates what...
Pitt, Penn State players invited to 2026 NFL combine
Nine football players from Penn State and two from Pitt received invitations to participate in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. They will be among 319 prospects in attendance Feb. 23-March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the NFL announced Wednesday. Players will perform medical exams, interviews and on-field drills...
Mark Madden: Remember when Pittsburgh was a basketball town?
Pittsburgh used to be a basketball town, kind of. Hard to believe. I know. I was there. Even harder to believe. Amazon Prime is premiering a new documentary called, “Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association.” The iconic “Dr. J,” Julius Erving, appeared on satellite radio to mark...
Pitt starts hot, hangs tough with No. 4 Duke, but Blue Devils pull away for rout
A few minutes into Tuesday’s game between Pitt and No. 4 Duke, the Panthers were reacquainted with an advantage unseen for quite some time at Petersen Events Center: energetic cheering from a large crowd. The 10,804-strong sea of fans, the largest by far Pitt has attracted for a home men’s...
Pitt women’s basketball coach sued by former players alleging hostile environment
Six women who previously played basketball at Pitt are suing coach Tory Verdi and the school, alleging he created a hostile environment, abused players psychologically and retaliated against them after they complained. The individual lawsuits were filed Friday in federal court in Pittsburgh. They include claims for violations of Title...
‘Loaded for bear’: Jeff Capel expects tough task from Duke, freshman phenom Cameron Boozer
Over the weekend, when Jeff Capel sat down to begin preparing for Duke’s Tuesday evening visit to Petersen Events Center, it marked the first time he had watched the Blue Devils at length this season. As a Duke alumni himself and a coach in the ACC, Capel was doubtless aware...
Short-handed Pitt can’t hang with SMU in 2nd half, drops to 2-9 in ACC
Trailing Southern Methodist by two at halftime was hardly a bad spot to be in for Pitt on Saturday afternoon. But when play resumed in the second half, the Panthers’ competitiveness all but evaporated. From the first possession, Pitt had few defensive answers for an SMU squad that hit 70%...
WPIAL alums Lincoln Hoke, Reston Lehman begin work on Pitt’s defensive line
Pitt bringing in WPIAL talent is nothing new. Last December, football coach Pat Narduzzi didn’t hesitate to advertise Pitt’s bona fides when it comes to recruiting and developing homegrown talent. “I don’t think anybody takes more players and develops more players from the WPIAL than the University of Pittsburgh,” Narduzzi...
Jeff Capel continues to utilize Pitt freshmen Macari Moore, Kieran Mullen in short bursts
Within Pitt’s Jan. 31 loss to No. 22 Clemson was a prime example of the ongoing development of freshman center Kieran Mullen. The 7-footer from North Vancouver, British Columbia, scored four points on a pair of first-half layups. It was a modest total, to be sure, but still one shy...
Larry Fitzgerald to become 11th Pitt player enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame
Larry Fitzgerald once wore a gold helmet, but now he’s getting a gold jacket. The former record-setting receiver at Pitt will be enshrined this summer in the Pro Football Hall of Fame following a legendary 17-year NFL career that left no doubt he’d someday reach Canton. Ultimately, he got there...
Defensive linemen Eliyt Nairne, Jeremiah Warren bring different kinds of experience to Pitt
The two interior defensive linemen Pitt brought in through the transfer portal in January had formative experiences at their previous colleges. For Eliyt Nairne, who spent 2025 at Tulane, that was competing in the College Football Playoff. Jeremiah Warren, who played three years at Illinois before joining Pitt, was mentored...
