Herb Douglas remembered as an athlete, executive and inspirationVideo
Those who knew Herb Douglas, those who entrusted their futures with him and those who credit him for helping them succeed in life filled almost all of the pews inside Heinz Chapel on Wednesday afternoon. They were not there to mourn Douglas, an Olympic bronze medalist, a Pitt man (football...
Pat Narduzzi teams with ex-Steelers OC Chan Gailey to win Peach Bowl charity golf event
Pat Narduzzi and Chan Gailey, football coaches with strong ties to Pittsburgh and the ACC, teamed up to win the Southern Company Peach Bowl Challenge and $32,500 each for their respective charities Tuesday. The team of Narduzzi and Gailey recorded an eagle and six birdies, including three on holes 16-18,...
First Call: Ex-Pitt, Duquesne players earn shot with Steelers; any truth to Patriots-Jets subplot before Broderick Jones pick?
Tuesday’s “First Call” gives us players from Pitt and Duquesne who will have rookie minicamp tryouts with the Pittsburgh Steelers. We get a little intel on that Steelers-Patriots trade in Round 1 of last week’s draft. A former Steeler decides to revisit the coaching path. And a high grade for...
Pitt punter Sam Vander Haar enters NCAA transfer portal
Punter Sam Vander Haar, who spent one season at Pitt, has announced his intention to transfer, according to FarrellSports’ Mike Farrell. Vander Haar, who turns 26 on Thursday, is a native of Melbourne, Australia, where he played Australian rules football and attended the well-known Prokick Australia program that has produced...
With an eye toward the 2024 draft, NFL scouts will continue monitoring how Pitt players develop
The target number is 11. That’s the record for the most Pitt players chosen within the first seven rounds of the NFL Draft. In 1981, after the 1980 team finished 11-1 and mauled South Carolina, 37-9, in the Gator Bowl, 11 Pitt players were drafted in the first five rounds....
Brandon Hill chosen by Texans, 8th Pitt defensive back drafted in past 6 years
The list of Pitt defensive backs recruited and developed under coach Pat Narduzzi and eventually drafted by an NFL team grew by two to eight Saturday when the Houston Texans selected strong safety Brandon Hill in the seventh round (No. 249 overall). Hill’s partner at safety, Erick Hallett II, was...
Jaguars pick Pitt safety Erick Hallett II in 6th round
If there’s one trait the NFL values over almost every other, it’s reliability. And former Pitt free safety Erick Hallett II certainly showed that by finishing his college career by making 31 consecutive starts. The Jacksonville Jaguars were paying attention, and they made Hallett a sixth-round draft choice Saturday (the...
Pitt LB SirVocea Dennis drafted by Buccaneers in 5th round, 1 of 6 Panthers selected
Unless your last name is Manning, college players can’t manipulate the NFL Draft to land in a desired spot. Former Pitt linebacker SirVocea Dennis’ professional fate rested with the 32 NFL teams, but ending up in Tampa, Fla., with the Buccaneers on Saturday surely looked like a predestined event. Dennis,...
Jets pluck Pitt running back Izzy Abanikanda in 5th round
After Izzy Abanikanda worked out for pro scouts inside Pitt’s indoor practice facility last month, he was asked what he wanted the NFL to know about him. “I want them to know I’m a dedicated, disciplined, humble man, on and off the field,” he said. But he added, without shame,...
Jets select Pitt offensive tackle Carter Warren in 4th round
Carter Warren’s loyalty, sadly, was not rewarded after he decided — with his teammates on Pitt’s offensive line — to return for a sixth season in 2022. After eschewing an invitation to the 2023 Senior Bowl, Warren played and started in only the first four games before suffering a season-ending...
Casey Jo MacPherson brings assertive nature to Pitt gymnastics
Casey Jo MacPherson’s competitive mindset first surfaced on her preschool playground in Eugene, Ore. Pitt’s new gymnastics coach was so young at the time, her parents had to relate the story to her. “When I was really little, my parents told me about (how) I was at preschool, and I...
Another 1st rounder for Pitt: Calijah Kancey goes to Buccaneers 19th overall
When Calijah Kancey was chosen 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night, Pitt could boast of first-round choices in consecutive drafts for the first time in 15 years. Kancey joins quarterback Kenny Pickett who went 20th overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022. Defensive back Darrelle Revis...
Pitt AD Heather Lyke hopes Victory Heights project leads to further success
At the moment, the space that will house Pitt’s $240 million Victory Heights Arena and Sports Performance Complex is occupied by a tall crane and several construction vehicles moving tons of dirt. But athletic director Heather Lyke sees the facility that will rise from that dirt setting Pitt up for...
Before becoming friends with Dick Groat, Pitt’s Jeff Capel studied, marveled at his life, career
When Jeff Capel was an assistant coach at Duke in 2014, he accompanied the team to the Petersen Events Center for a game against Pitt. He walked onto the floor to carry out his duties, but that was only part of what he wanted to accomplish that night. He also...
Bill Hillgrove was witness to Dick Groat’s toughness
Dick Groat, who died Thursday of complications from a stroke at the age of 92, played baseball and basketball with equal flair. • Baseball MVP, two-time World Series champion and 14-year MLB pro with the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. • Star basketball player at Duke, college Hall of...
First Call: Joey Porter Jr. on prospect of falling to Steelers — or beyond; 40 years since Steelers passed on Dan Marino
Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. seems to have the Pittsburgh Steelers in mind as a potential end to his NFL Draft wait Thursday night. Wednesday marked the 40th anniversary of an infamous Steelers draft memory. The Pirates look to take a third straight series from the Los Angeles Dodgers. And...
ACC spring wrap: 14 players ready to break out in 2023
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A look at football players in the Atlantic Coast Conference this spring who are poised to have standout seasons this fall in the now division-less league: BOSTON COLLEGE: OL Christian Mahogany was a second-team all-ACC selection in 2021 who missed all last year with a knee injury....
Even at 6-foot-1, Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey will cost a premium pick in NFL Draft
From Hank Poteat in 2000 to Damarri Mathis last year, the names of 57 Pitt players were called in 21 of the past 23 NFL drafts. The exceptions: 2012 and 2013 when Pitt’s recruiting and player development were set back by the loss of two head coaches – Dave Wannstedt...
Oldest living U.S. Olympic medalist, Pitt great Herb Douglas dies at 101
Roger Kingdom spoke to Herb Douglas only a week ago. Thinking about their final chat, Kingdom was saddened like so many others when he heard Herbert P. Douglas Jr., the oldest living U.S. Olympic medalist, died Saturday at the age of 101. Pitt Icon Herb Douglas, the oldest living US...
First Call: Antonio Brown avoids arrest on child support charge; former Pitt AD Scott Barnes hospitalized
Monday’s “First Call” recaps an eventful week for former Steelers receiver Antonio Brown. Former Pitt Athletic Director Scott Barnes is recovering from a medical event in California. The Pirates were the beneficiaries of a huge inning from a Red Sox rookie. And an ex-Penguin is still showing some scoring touch...
Southern Cal tight end Malcolm Epps transferring to Pitt
Former USC and Texas tight end Malcolm Epps, who appeared last year on the John Mackey Award watch list, decided to transfer to Pitt, according to a post on his Instagram account. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Malcolm Epps (@_itsepps) Epps (6-foot-6, 250 pounds) has 37...
Casey Jo MacPherson ‘the perfect fit’ as Pitt’s next gymnastics coach
Casey Jo MacPherson, who has served since 2011 as an assistant coach at Missouri, Western Michigan and Arkansas, has been named the fourth head coach in Pitt gymnastics history. She replaces Samantha Snider, who was relieved of her duties April 3. Athletic director Heather Lyke said in a statement that...
Forward Zack Austin signs with Pitt, makes transfer official
Zack Austin became the second of two transfers to sign with Pitt this offseason, leaving coach Jeff Capel with two scholarships available for the 2023-24 season. Capel announced the signing Friday after Austin had revealed his decision to transfer to Pitt on April 11. Austin, a 6-foot-7 wing forward with...
Pitt’s Blake Hinson will test his NBA Draft option while retaining collegiate eligibility
Pitt is faced with the possibility of losing junior forward Blake Hinson, who has decided to test the 2023 NBA Draft process while retaining his collegiate eligibility. Pitt officials made the announcement Friday morning. Hinson could remove his name from draft consideration and return to Pitt. The deadline to decide...
NFL Network analyst gives scouting forecast for Pitt players in advance of draft
We’ve speculated for months on who the Steelers should select in the NFL Draft. But what’s the evaluation of some of the draft eligible Pitt Panthers? During a conference call Thursday, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah was asked specifically about Pitt as a program and about some Panthers products...
