U mad, bro?: Football fans attack overtime changes, ‘MNF’ booth; defend Steelers QB strategy; Kenny Pickett’s hands
We have quite the cornucopia of Pittsburgh sports fan complaints this week in “U mad, bro?” Folks are angry about NFL overtime and the new “Monday Night Football” booth. Pitt fans are getting defensive about Kenny Pickett. Steelers fans want to defend the wall when it comes to second guessing...
Without a doubt, former OLSH, Moon star Puff Johnson ready to confront Duke, Final Four
When he was a freshman at Our Lady of Sacred Heart, Puff Johnson made 11 consecutive 3-point shots. A year later, he was named second-team all-state six months before his 18th birthday. Then, as a junior, he averaged 22.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while leading Moon to a...
Back to work with a new contract, Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi demands consistent effort
The ink was barely dry on Pat Narduzzi’s new nine-year contract Tuesday when he decided to blame himself for his players’ subpar effort at Pitt’s 10th practice of the spring. “I wasn’t as excited about it, compared to what we did Saturday (in a scrimmage, won by the defense),” he...
Pitt adds former FCS linebacker Tylar Wiltz from transfer portal
Pat Narduzzi understood the significance of losing three productive linebackers, so he went to the NCAA transfer portal that is becoming a handy tool for Pitt’s coach and added some depth. New Look, Same Mission????‼️‼️???????????????? #H2P #Committed pic.twitter.com/RvQJqixc7z— DeddyKane???????? (@tylarwiltz) March 28, 2022 Missouri State linebacker Tylar Wiltz announced Monday...
Pitt’s 9-year commitment to Pat Narduzzi offers him the opportunity to leave historic legacy
If we’ve read Pat Narduzzi correctly over the past seven years, three months and two days, he is not looking beyond Monday’s coaches meetings in advance of Tuesday’s practice. But all of a sudden, the year 2030 has become a talking point around Pitt football. That’s because Pitt on Monday...
Pitt signs Pat Narduzzi to new contract through 2030
Rewarding him for the stability, success and respect he has brought to the football program, Pitt gave Pat Narduzzi the ultimate vote of confidence Monday, finalizing a new contract for its ACC championship-winning coach that is scheduled to run through the 2030 season. Financial details were not available, but USA...
First Call: Pitt transfer shines in Arkansas’ upset of Gonzaga; high praise for Mitch Trubisky; Deshaun Watson update
Friday’s “First Call” features a Pitt transfer shining in the NCAA Tournament. Deshaun Watson will not face another criminal charge. High praise for new Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky. And the Carolina Hurricanes extend their lead on the Penguins in the Metropolitan Division. Hog wild Pitt transfer Au’Diese Toney put his...
Dayon Hayes carves out prime spot on Pitt defensive line
At various times in the recent past, Pitt defensive end Dayon Hayes decided he no longer wanted to be a vegan. Perhaps he made the choice to resume life as a meat eater for healthy, nutritional reasons. “I wasn’t getting enough protein,” he said. Or maybe there was something else...
Pitt backup quarterback Davis Beville decides to transfer
Davis Beville, who stepped under center in an emergency situation as Pitt’s third-string quarterback during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, has placed his name in the NCAA transfer portal. After eight spring practice sessions, Beville was approaching his redshirt junior season. He said he will be a graduate transfer with three...
After troubled season, Ithiel Horton decides to transfer from Pitt
Pitt basketball lost a starting guard and its most reliable 3-point shooter Wednesday when Ithiel Horton entered the NCAA transfer portal. Horton is the fifth Pitt player to announce plans to leave the program since the end of the season but the first starter. His departure is more striking than...
How Pitt, Penn State, WVU played a role in the Fox-ESPN trade for Joe Buck
We just spent the better part of two weeks debating Steelers free agent signings and Penguins trades. So why not kick around another big deal that went down recently: sports broadcaster Joe Buck getting traded from Fox to ESPN in exchange for one college football game. Oh, and, yes, Pitt,...
Pitt’s new-look linebacker group tackles big challenge
There’s nothing simple about playing defense at Pitt. Cornerbacks must learn to cover wide receivers without safety help. A safety better watch for running plays while making sure the quarterback doesn’t throw the ball over his head. Defensive linemen need to perfect the details preached by line coach Charlie Partridge....
Pitt AD Heather Lyke explains what’s behind her confidence in Jeff Capel
While Pitt basketball stacks losing seasons at a historic rate and fans continue to slowly wander from Petersen Events Center, athletic director Heather Lyke remains confident and comfortable that coach Jeff Capel can resurrect the once-proud program. After declaring Pitt’s commitment to Capel for the 2022-2023 season earlier this month,...
Forward Dan Oladapo will become 4th player to transfer from Pitt
Cross off another name from the Pitt basketball roster. Reserve forward Dan Oladapo, who played only one season at Pitt and didn’t get into a game past Feb. 5, has entered the NCAA transfer portal. He joins Noah Collier, Chris Payton and Onyebuchi Ezeakudo as players who hope to build...
Pitt’s Pro Day brings Kenny Pickett, Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule together again
Kenny Pickett and Matt Rhule were reunited Monday at Pitt’s Pro Day, but this time they weren’t talking about a scholarship, academics or the Temple football program. Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said it best while addressing his team in the morning: “This was business out there.” Before he committed to...
Cal Adomitis ready to perform for NFL scouts at Pitt’s Pro Day
The long hair is long gone, replaced by a full beard that Cal Adomitis said might one day be prime for shearing. For a good cause, of course. Adomitis was one of the stars of Pitt’s run to an ACC championship last year, on and off the field. He concluded...
Big East ‘statesman’ Jay Wright says transfer portal, NIL, covid lead to better basketball
Jay Wright has been Villanova’s basketball coach for 21 years, winning two national championships and averaging more than 29 victories per season since 2014. Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann called Wright the “statesman” of the Big East. His voice carries more weight than most coaches. When Wright was asked about...
Scheduled to graduate in May, ex-Pitt walk-on Onyebuchi Ezeakudo leaves program to explore transfer, job opportunities
Pitt basketball lost another player Friday, but this one was not unexpected. Guard Onyebuchi Ezeakudo, who is on schedule to graduate in May with a degree in bioengineering, has decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal in an attempt to continue his playing career. Ezeakudo, who is also evaluating job...
Pitt notebook: Defensive line coach Charlie Partridge preaches accountability
Charlie Partridge leads a group of 20 Pitt defensive linemen, the largest position group on the team. But it’s not the quantity that most intrigues Partridge, who is in his sixth season on Pat Narduzzi’s staff after five years earlier this century under Walt Harris and Dave Wannstedt. It’s the...
Ben Howland out as Mississippi State coach after 7 seasons
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Ben Howland is out after seven seasons with the program. A release on Thursday did not provide details about Howland’s departure, and a message left with a basketball spokesman was not immediately returned. Athletic director John Cohen thanked Howland for his devotion...
Pitt loses backup forward Chris Payton to transfer portal
Pitt basketball lost another player Thursday when sophomore forward Chris Payton, who spent only one season on the team, entered the NCAA transfer portal. Payton joins former Pitt teammate Noah Collier, who entered the portal earlier this week. Pitt coach Jeff Capel is beginning to reconstruct his roster after a...
Pitt hopes to build foundation this spring for improved run game
Kenny Pickett showed up Tuesday for Pitt’s fourth practice of the spring. Likewise, Damarri Mathis and Lucas Krull were there, scoping out what they left behind while taking a break from preparations for Pitt’s Pro Day next Monday. All three played major roles last season in helping Pitt capture its...
Pitt backup forward Noah Collier enters NCAA transfer portal
The first move of Pitt basketball’s offseason occurred Tuesday when backup forward Noah Collier entered the NCAA transfer portal. Collier, a sophomore, entered games when center John Hugley was in foul trouble or needed a break. He made only two starts in two seasons, averaging 9.4 minutes, 1.3 points and...
Pitt, Duquesne, RMU among local basketball teams stuck in a rut
At a watering hole in Pittsburgh’s Greenfield section over the weekend, Guy Fieri’s “Tournament of Champions” was showing on two TVs. At the head of the room on a main screen, The Players Championship PGA Tour event was in plain view until someone changed the channel to ION, which was...
Plum’s Kaley Simqu commits to play soccer at Pitt
Kaley Simqu helps form the defensive nucleus for the Plum girls soccer team and has been a part of a strong run of success the past three seasons. The junior said she is looking forward to her final season with the Mustangs as they hope to make another run to...
