Pitt category, Page 108

Before being pushed into “retirement” after the 2011 season, Bruce Arians enjoyed an eight-year run with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including the final five as offensive coordinator. Although Arians’ departure was turbulent, he didn’t forget the connections and friendships he made during his time with the organization. That is apparent by...

Pitt’s football staff lost a valuable member Friday when wide receivers coach Chris Beatty accepted the same job with the Los Angeles Chargers. Thank you, Coach Beatty. pic.twitter.com/cNadOfO34T— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) January 29, 2021 Hired in 2019, Beatty has been one of coach Pat Narduzzi’s most productive recruiters, especially in...

The covid-19 pandemic has created quirks in every college basketball team’s schedule, and Pitt is no exception. The Panthers played only one game from Dec. 23 through Jan. 15. Four games were postponed and two have been rescheduled, including the Panthers’ meeting Saturday with Notre Dame (5-9, 2-6 ACC) at...

Predicting the outcome of football games is difficult enough in August when the roster is finalized and there’s been time to accept or reject the coach’s optimism. Attempting the same exercise in January — two months before spring ball — can be a waste of time. It also can be...

Jeff Capel has played and worked at the pinnacle of college basketball for most of the 27 years since his freshman year at Duke. Blessed with that background, his talks with players can be as instructive as they are entertaining. Pitt is preparing to play Notre Dame on Saturday at...

A former University of Pittsburgh wrestling coach who lost his racial discrimination lawsuit against the school is now being sued by the university, which is seeking to recoup attorneys’ fees and other damages allegedly caused by the “frivolous” claims. Jason Peters served as the university’s head wrestling coach from 2013-17....

Pitt will play six-time College Football Playoff semifinalist and two-time champion Clemson in consecutive seasons, the second coming at Heinz Field on Oct. 23, according to the ACC schedule released Thursday morning. It will be a rematch of Pitt’s 52-17 loss at Death Valley last season. This season’s ACC schedule...

Pitt’s Justin Champagnie believes he has the cure for what has been ailing his team, losers of two games in a row after an encouraging 4-1 start to the ACC season. “We have to get in the gym,” he said. Which is what Champagnie has done throughout his basketball-playing life,...

Short of setting up ladders in the paint, there didn’t seem to be much Pitt could do Tuesday night to combat North Carolina’s superior size. Too many times to suit Pitt coach Jeff Capel, the Tar Heels missed a shot and either Armando Bacot, Garrison Brooks or Day’Ron Sharpe –...

Pat Narduzzi turned to a familiar face — and someone who played the position — when he named Ryan Manalac as Pitt’s linebackers coach Tuesday. Manalac, who was the defensive coordinator at Bucknell the past two seasons, worked with Narduzzi at Cincinnati and Michigan State. Manalac replaces Rob Harley, who...

New Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins is getting some support from a former teammate as he leaves Washington. And it comes from a guy who helped keep him on the bench. We also flashback to a great moment in Pittsburgh sports. A Duquesne player gets a mid-season honor. And an update...

Only if the pain is too great, Puff Johnson’s sprained toe will keep him off the floor Tuesday night when he returns to Petersen Events Center with his North Carolina teammates. But coach Roy Williams has high hopes for Puff — born Donovan Christopher Johnson — as he progresses through...

The problems that plagued Pitt in its loss to Wake Forest — lack of focus, poor defense and questionable shot selection — presumably were addressed Monday at practice. But is there enough time for Pitt (8-3, 4-2 ACC) to deal with the new set of issues North Carolina will present...

College basketball coaches are transitioning from wearing the traditional suit-and-tie and dress shoes on the sideline to more a casual look. Pitt’s Jeff Capel has been wearing pullovers in recent games. “I don’t mind the suits,” Capel said. Truth be told, however, he said he doesn’t miss the more formal...

Perhaps it is an unfortunate commentary on the current state of sports that great players aren’t allowed to slip — even a little — off pedestals fans and media build for them. Which would explain the question tossed at Justin Champagnie after Pitt’s 76-75 loss to Wake Forest on Saturday...

Two days before Pitt’s 76-75 loss to Wake Forest, Jeff Capel stopped just short of throwing his team out of practice. Yes, things were that bad. “First day (Thursday) back from (beating Duke), we were very lackadaisical,” sophomore forward Justin Champagnie said. “Going through the motions. He almost kicked us...

It’s a good guess — a guarantee, actually — that coach Jeff Capel didn’t spend much time celebrating Pitt’s victory against Duke. Perhaps a brief text exchange with coach Mike Krzyzewski and then off to his office or home to watch Boston College video (the team Capel thought was next...

Former Pitt soccer player Edward Kizza, who set school goal-scoring records over his 53-game, three-year career, was drafted Thursday by the New England Revolution with the 24th selection in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft. The New England Revolution have selected former Panther Edward Kizza with the 24th pick...

When Pitt reported to practice Thursday afternoon after a day off and the big victory against Duke, the session didn’t go especially well. “Practice, it was terrible. I ain’t going to lie to you,” said junior guard Xavier Johnson, one of the team’s most experienced players. “It was kind of...

At home Tuesday night in Manhattan, Ed Gonzalez clicked on his TV to watch Pitt play Duke. Flashing across Gonzalez’s TV screen was former Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School basketball star Justin Champagnie, warming up inside Petersen Events Center. The game mattered to Gonzalez because he’s been the coach at...

Pitt fans are already sending out text messages to friends that say things such as, “Great win. Might get to the tournament.” It’s fine to be encouraged by the Panthers’ three-game winning streak that includes victories against ACC blue bloods Duke and Syracuse (twice). Just don’t get coach Jeff Capel...

Wake Forest has replaced Boston College as Pitt’s opponent Saturday after a positive test and subsequent quarantining and contract tracing within the BC program. The game, moved from its original date of Feb. 7, will be played in Winston-Salem, N.C., with the same start time (6 p.m.) and telecast venue...

For Justin Champagnie, Pitt’s 79-73 victory against Duke on Tuesday night was all about gaining respect – for his team and himself. Playing in a nearly empty Petersen Events Center that would have been rocking under normal circumstances, Pitt survived a Duke rally that three times trimmed a 15-point lead...

If anyone thinks beating Duke has lost some of its prestige, let Jeff Capel tell you about the 1994-1995 Blue Devils. “I was on the last (Duke) team that didn’t make the (NCAA) Tournament,” he said. “And even though we were 2-14 — we stunk — people still stormed the...

Monday’s “First Call” starts with Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and his “virtual” flirtation with free agency. Cleveland suffered a bad break during the Browns playoff loss in Kansas City. Los Angeles’ Aaron Donald had an emotional reaction to his Rams losing in Green Bay Saturday. And the “Killer B’s”...