Pitt, West Virginia set date for renewal of the basketball Backyard Brawl
Pitt will try to end West Virginia’s six-game winning streak in the basketball version of the Backyard Brawl when the Panthers travel to Morgantown, W.Va., on Dec. 6 for the 190th meeting between the two rival schools. The game will mark the first time since 2012 that Pitt and West...
Former Rhode Island guard Ishmael Leggett will join rebuilt backcourt at Pitt
Pitt coach Jeff Capel made his biggest move of the offseason official Thursday morning when he said former Rhode Island combo guard Ishmael Leggett has signed and submitted the paperwork necessary to enroll this year. Leggett announced Monday on his Twitter account that he had verbally committed to the Panthers....
Former Pitt center John Hugley verbally commits to Oklahoma
Center John Hugley, who was Pitt’s leading scorer and rebounder during the 2021-22 season, will transfer to Oklahoma, on3.com reported. NEWS: Pitt transfer John Hugley has committed to Oklahoma, he tells @On3sports. Story w/ quotes: pic.twitter.com/7DfSv7sZ3F— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 20, 2023 “I chose Oklahoma because it just felt...
Pitt baseball: West Virginia rallies at PNC Park to win first installment of Backyard Brawl, 9-4
West Virginia came to PNC Park on Wednesday night missing its most dynamic player, Mars alum J.J. Wetherholt. The sophomore infielder, who ranks among the Big 12 leaders in a multitude of statistical categories, including batting average (.451, first, sixth nationally), hits (64, tied-first), doubles (16, second) and stolen bases...
Former Pitt players Penny Semaia, Shawn Robinson help prepare athletes for their life’s work
When they wore shoulder pads and helmets, Penny Semaia and Shawn Robinson helped former Pitt coach Walt Harris resurrect the program. Semaia toiled in the trenches as an offensive and defensive lineman; Robinson was a cornerback who intercepted six passes as a sophomore in 2000. Nearly a quarter-century later, they...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi designates potential golf tournament winnings for UPMC Children’s Hospital
With spring football concluded and nearly four months until training camp, Pat Narduzzi can catch his breath and relax — at least as much as any college football coach can relax these days. Narduzzi’s first bit of offseason relaxation will occur April 30-May 2 at the 16th annual Southern Company...
Pitt sophomore WR Myles Alston enters transfer portal
Myles Alston, who was among a group of young Pitt wide receivers competing for playing time behind three atop the depth chart, announced on his Twitter account Tuesday that he has placed his name in the NCAA transfer portal. A rising redshirt sophomore, Alston (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) is the second...
First Call: Steelers may covet Jalen Carter with rumored trade in NFL Draft; ex-Pitt Panther sparkles in NBA playoffs
On Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers interviewed two big-name draft prospects and may be angling to trade up for another. A former WPIAL athlete is shining in the NBA playoffs, while another is looking for an NFL home. And Robert Morris’ basketball team is making noise in the transfer portal. All...
Pitt goes into transfer portal, lands former Rhode Island guard Ishmael Leggett
Jeff Capel likes good players, but he likes good, experienced players even more. He may have landed one of the latter type Monday when former Rhode Island guard Ishmael Leggett announced on his Twitter account that he will transfer to Pitt. LETS GET TO IT!???? #A4D pic.twitter.com/UHyD4JzSYa— Ishmael Leggett (@great8ish)...
With experienced hands, Phil Jurkovec holds the keys to Pitt’s offense
Phil Jurkovec turns 24 on Nov. 3, the day before Pitt plays Florida State, which (if all goes as well as some of the spring forecasts are insisting) could be a monumental game between two of the ACC’s best teams. You are reminded of Jurkovec’s birthday not to flood him...
Pitt notebook: Pat Narduzzi likes the ‘juice’ safety P.J. O’Brien brings to the defense
Pitt free safety P.J. O’Brien stood behind the podium, talking in staccato bursts, repeatedly clapping his hands for emphasis. If he plays football with the same enthusiasm, Pitt’s tradition of strong safety play — from Jordan Whitehead to Damar Hamlin to Erick Hallett to Brandon Hill — will continue. Pitt’s...
Everybody wins when brother competes against brother in Pitt’s spring game
Maybe Pat Narduzzi was kidding when he said the spring game winners eat steak and lobster whereas the losers will be served tofu for dinner. Actually, there were only winners Saturday during Pitt’s Blue-Gold game at Acrisure Stadium where the defense defeated the offense, 33-32, according to Narduzzi’s three-layered scoring...
Johnsons win the spring, Karter and Nahki named most improved players at Pitt drills
In advance of the Blue-Gold Game on Saturday afternoon, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi named two Johnsons — tight end Karter and defensive end Nahki — winners of the Ed Conway Award, emblematic of the most improved players during spring drills. Johnson, who transferred last year from Butler (Kan.) Community College,...
Pitt Take 5: Pat Narduzzi will keep eyes open, whistle at the ready during Blue-Gold Game
Pitt shuts down spring drills Saturday with the Blue-Gold Game, and the one sight coach Pat Narduzzi wants to see over all others is everyone walking out of Acrisure Stadium without the aid of crutches, walking boots or slings used to stabilize injured arms or shoulders. Spring ball is necessary...
Pitt’s Dayon Hayes living up to high standards set by defensive line coach Charlie Partridge
Charlie Partridge has been a guiding light for football players at Pitt, Wisconsin and five other schools since four years before the turn of the century. In that time, he has coached All-American defensive linemen who became pros such as J.J. Watt, Patrick Jones, Rashad Weaver, Jalen Twyman and (soon...
AP source: ACC reaches 3-year extension deal with commissioner Jim Phillips
The Atlantic Coast Conference has reached a three-year extension agreement with commissioner Jim Phillips, a person with knowledge of the situation said Tuesday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the league hasn’t publicly announced the agreement. The extension, first reported by ESPN, would keep...
First Call: Antonio Brown faces $1.1M lawsuit from celeb jeweler; Jordan Addison to visit 2 Steelers rivalsVideo
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” wide receivers are in the news as we examine the NFL Draft for the Pittsburgh Steelers and some of their hated AFC rivals. Meanwhile, a former Steelers receiver is facing a big lawsuit. Take a wild guess which one. Also, the Tampa Bay Rays are keeping...
Cornerback Marquis Williams accepts challenge of maintaining Pitt defense’s high standards
Marquis Williams’ job as a Pitt cornerback is to watch the guy in the different color jersey who is trying to catch the football. Shadow him, follow him from sideline to sideline, all but crawl inside his jersey. That’s a big part of his job, but since 2020, Williams has...
Pitt dips into transfer portal, gets verbal commitment from ex-High Point forward Zack AustinVideo
Jeff Capel reaped the first reward of his offseason roster construction when Zack Austin, a 6-foot-7 rising junior forward who played at High Point (N.C.) University the past two seasons, announced his plans to transfer to Pitt. It’s time???????? #h2p???????? #ripmom???????? pic.twitter.com/aQwrzsdVwX— Zack???????? (@ZackAust11) April 11, 2023 Austin is the...
Pitt’s spring player draft canceled as Pat Narduzzi seeks better matchups for Blue-Gold game
Pat Narduzzi likes the camaraderie and bonding created when his seniors draft players onto teams for Pitt’s annual Blue-Gold Spring Game. But for the first time in nine seasons, Narduzzi has canceled the draft in the name of better matchups. “I love the draft. It’s fun to get them in...
‘I know that we can win here’: New Pitt women’s basketball coach Tory Verdi ready to compete in ACC
Tory Verdi officially was introduced as Pitt’s 10th women’s basketball coach Friday afternoon at the Petersen Events Center, and he celebrated his arrival surrounded by family, friends, Panthers players, Pitt’s athletic administration, and other university athletics dignitaries. Verdi said he is ready to hit the ground running and is optimistic...
UMass’ Tory Verdi will be Pitt’s new women’s basketball coach
The University of Pittsburgh will hire UMass’ Tory Verdi as its next women’s basketball coach. The school made the announcement Friday morning. Verdi will bring to Pitt a wealth of experience as a head coach and assistant on the high school, collegiate and WNBA levels. The Minutewomen improved steadily under...
Pat Narduzzi’s day packed tight, even in the spring
Clocks on the South Side barely crossed midday Thursday when Pat Narduzzi walked off the practice field, muttering, “Long day.” Pitt had just completed its 12th of 15 spring practice sessions, and now it was time for Pitt’s ninth-year head coach to speak to several inquiring media members. (No injury...
With Pat Narduzzi pushing him, Pitt LB Bangally Kamara seeks perfection
If Bangally Kamara has discovered anything about spring football — and playing for Pat Narduzzi — it’s that he can always do better than what he shows in practice. With time and patience, Kamara might finally reach a point by the start of the 2023 season that satisfies him and...
Pitt forward Nate Santos enters transfer portal
Pitt sophomore forward Nate Santos, whose playing time diminished toward the end of the basketball season, has entered the NCAA transfer portal. He is the second member of the 2022-23 team to announce plans to transfer. Center John Hugley, who missed all but eight games with a knee injury and...
