Leaving high school early gives Pitt freshmen head start on college
Gavin Bartholomew graduated early from high school to jump-start his career as a Pitt tight end. He is excited about the opportunity — even the 6:30 a.m. workouts — but he understands reality is staring him in the face. “Your parents aren’t here to help you,” he said. Jake Renda,...
First Call: Bruce Arians describes dismissal from Pittsburgh; Steelers linked to Bengals free agent
Wednesday’s “First Call” features an interesting free agency theory for the Steelers. Also, Bill Cowher’s goodbye to Marty Schottenheimer. And admission from Bruce Arians about his dismissal from the Steelers. And a new job for Antwaan Randle El. Plus, a former Pitt star earns a Super Bowl ring. And a...
Pitt graduate Marty Schottenheimer, coach of 4 NFL teams and winner of 200 games, dies at 77
Marty Schottenheimer, who won 200 regular-season games with four NFL teams thanks to his “Martyball” brand of smash-mouth football but regularly fell short in the playoffs, died. He was 77. Schottenheimer, a Fort Cherry and Pitt graduate, died Monday night in Charlotte, N.C., his family said through former Kansas City...
Pitt’s Jeff Capel said ‘joy’ is tough to find in disjointed basketball season
Jeff Capel has been deeply embedded in the game he loves from the day his hands were big enough to hold a basketball. He’s chased the sport from Fayetteville, N.C., where he was the state high school player of the year in 1993 to Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C.,...
Pitt’s game at Louisville, scheduled for Wednesday, postponed
Pitt’s men’s basketball game at Louisville, scheduled for Wednesday night at the KFC Yum! Center, has been postponed after coach Chris Mack was among those within the Cardinals’ program who tested positive for covid-19, the ACC and Louisville announced Sunday night. The Panthers (9-6, 5-5 ACC) have had seven games...
Questions surround Pitt midway through ACC schedule
Pitt has reached the halfway point of its ACC season, and it’s difficult to tell if the Panthers are good, mediocre or headed for another slump. All three are reasonable assessments of where the season is headed. A 5-5 record can create so many questions. Here are three: 1. Why...
Virginia turns close game into 73-66 victory against Pitt
Whether the coach is embarrassed or proud — and Jeff Capel has been both in the past week — every loss looks the same in the standings. It’s one more rung you get pushed down the ladder you’re trying to climb. But during the 73-66 loss to No. 14 Virginia...
Up-and-down Pitt gets first-place Virginia next
If coach Jeff Capel was inclined to list all the significant ups and downs that have occurred to his team, it might sound like Pitt (9-5, 5-4 ACC) had played a full season. Of course, he has no time for such nonsense, so here’s a quick look: • An almost...
After taking it ‘on the chin,’ Pitt showed resilience by beating Virginia Tech
Jeff Capel said his Pitt team was “out of character.” Xavier Johnson remarked, “We know we were a good team at first, and we just let it go.” But Au’Diese Toney put Pitt’s recent troubles in terms everyone can understand: “(Opponents) just busted (us) in our mouth,” said Toney, who...
Pitt knocks off No. 16 Virginia Tech, stops 3-game losing streak
Two years later, Au’Diese Toney still feels the pain. Worse, he sensed more coming after Pitt lost three games in row. So, with the memory of the 13-game losing streak of 2019 too real and still on his mind, the junior forward called together teammates and friends Justin Champagnie and...
Powerhouse Clemson leads way again in ACC recruiting rankingsVideo
Clemson’s most recent berth in the College Football Playoff arguably was its least successful, but a 49-28 semifinal loss to Ohio State didn’t appear to damage the Tigers’ appeal to recruits. Six consecutive appearances in the game’s final four, with national championships in 2016 and ‘18, are difficult to overlook....
Pitt will travel to No. 14 Virginia as replacement for postponed game with Florida State
Pitt no longer has an open date Saturday after the ACC announced several schedule changes Wednesday afternoon. The Panthers will play at No. 14 Virginia for a 4 p.m. tip-off, a replacement for the Florida State game that was postponed because of covid-19 complications. The game will be televised on...
With top 25 class locked up, Pitt introduces transfers on 2nd official signing day
The first Wednesday in February used to be a big day at Pitt and everywhere else across college football. The fax machine whirled, spitting out national letters of intent. Coaches from Walt Harris to Todd Graham to Pat Narduzzi stalked the halls outside their office, seemingly attached to their phones...
Pitt hopes to end 3-game losing streak, but No. 16 Virginia Tech stands in the way
Pitt is reeling from a three-game losing streak, hoping to prevent it from growing to the lengths it did the past two seasons. From the start of February through the remainder of the regular season, Pitt was 1-9 in 2019, 2-8 in 2020. The Panthers’ first game of the last...
On short notice, Pitt’s Jimmy Morrissey shows off love for football at the Senior Bowl
Jimmy Morrissey had just finished his morning workout in Pensacola Beach, Fla., when his phone rang. Morrissey’s agent, Jason Bernstein, was calling with some good news. Bernstein patched Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy into the call, and, all of a sudden, Morrissey’s weekend plans changed. He was going to...
Pitt’s game Saturday vs. Florida State postponed again
Pitt’s game with Florida State, scheduled for Saturday at Petersen Events Center, has been postponed for a second time because of a positive covid-19 test within the Seminoles’ program. The game originally was to be played Jan. 10. The postponement is the sixth of a Pitt game this season. Games...
Rebounding, defense among chief concerns for Pitt’s Jeff Capel
On the list of matters that concern Jeff Capel, perhaps, the loneliness of Petersen Events Center might be the least worrisome (even though on game days it seems more like a big, empty barn than an ACC basketball arena). Still, he did comment Monday about what has happened to home-court...
After losing 3 in a row, Jeff Capel hopes Pitt can regain ‘mojo’
Even in the pre-covid days (and especially now), Pitt basketball practice is closed to outsiders. For strategic and privacy purposes, coach Jeff Capel understandably insists on conducting business behind closed doors. Too bad, though. Pitt’s practice Monday — the first after the 26-point loss to a sub-.500 Notre Dame team...
Hot-shooting Notre Dame sends Pitt to 3rd straight loss
Jeff Capel had plenty to say after Notre Dame did anything it wanted Saturday night in an 84-58 demolition of Pitt at Petersen Events Center. There were so many negative remarks that it was hard to pick out the one that told the true story of what has happened to...
Buccaneers, Chiefs head into Super Bowl littered with connections to Steelers, region
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...
Wide receivers coach Chris Beatty leaving Pitt to join Chargers staff
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...
Pitt venturing into tough portion of ACC basketball schedule
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...
Closer look at Pitt’s 2021 football schedule
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...
Pitt’s Jeff Capel hopes lessons from Duke career stand the test of time
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...
Pitt sues former wrestling coach, claims he manufactured discrimination lawsuit
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....
