Former Pitt basketball player Ronald Ramon joins coach Jeff Capel’s staff
Former Pitt basketball player Ronald Ramon, who finished his career as one of the school’s top 3-point shooters, has rejoined the program as assistant director of operations. Ramon will assist coach Jeff Capel’s staff with recruiting logistics, alumni engagement and community service. “I feels amazing,” he said of returning to...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden break down Steelers’ loss to Ravens, Penguins’ start, Pitt’s big win
We have so much on the plate in this week’s “Madden Monday.” Most of it has to do the Pittsburgh Steelers’ latest loss, this time to the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore won at Heinz Field Sunday by a final score of 26-23 in overtime, thanks to a game-winning field goal by...
At the halfway marker, Pitt needs to take a breather
Never in the history of off weeks (they are not byes, by the way) has a team needed rest more than Pitt does at the moment. With three successful fourth-quarter comebacks in a row and injuries to key personnel at running back, linebacker and cornerback, Pitt (4-2, 1-1) needs to...
John Steigerwald: Scholarships, education should be payment enough
Two down, 48 to go. California’s state government decided on Monday that it would be a good idea to stick its nose into a mutual agreement between college athletes and the NCAA. You know, the one in which people between the ages of 18 and 22, in many cases with...
Pitt rallies past Duke after blowing 23-point lead
DURHAM, N.C. — Kenny Pickett and Pitt built a big lead by taking the ball from Duke, only to have that lead disappear when the Panthers started giving it right back. Given enough time for one shot at a comeback, he wasn’t going to throw it to the Blue Devils...
Panthers must find a way to solve Duke’s ‘grand’ defense
When Pitt tangles with Duke on Saturday night at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C., an important key to the outcome will be how much Pitt’s offense has grown through the first five games. Pitt’s rebuilt offensive line and running back groups are no longer inexperienced after confronting three ranked...
Points to ponder while waiting to watch Pitt play at Duke
In his weekly Thursday chats with reporters — after “the hay is in the barn” as he occasionally points out — Pat Narduzzi almost always praises his team for a good week of work. He took it a step further this week when he said Pitt had “three really passionate...
Pitt basketball team practices at Pitt-Greensburg
Pitt-Greensburg had some special guests in for a visit Friday. No, they weren’t recruits; these basketball players’ recruiting days have long since passed — and they were courted at a much higher level. But the group has plenty of game and put it on display for spectators inside Chambers Hall....
Pitt’s Jaylen Twyman named Outland Defensive Player of the Month
Pitt sophomore defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman, who changed his number to 97 to match the jersey worn by Aaron Donald, was named Outland Trophy National Defensive Player of the Month for September. He was selected by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). Twyman recorded six sacks and 61/2 tackles...
Pitt’s Tre Tipton has knee surgery, will miss remainder of seasonVideo
Senior wide receiver Tre Tipton, an Apollo-Ridge graduate, will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery Wednesday, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. I love these type of moments it’s like shedding new skin to be a better me.— Tre Tipton (@Tipton_05) October 3, 2019 This is the...
Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett will play against DukeVideo
After a week resting a sore shoulder and wearing a headset instead of a helmet in Pitt’s game against Delaware, Kenny Pickett will start at quarterback Saturday at Duke. Coach Pat Narduzzi said Pickett practiced all week without restrictions after sitting out most of last week. He was injured in...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi concerned ‘Pay to Play’ could get out of hand
For the second time this week, Pat Narduzzi was asked about the hottest off-the-field topic in college football. And for the second time, Pitt’s coach wasn’t eager to talk about the California legislation that will allow college athletes to profit off their likenesses. Two Pennsylvania lawmakers said they are planning...
Pitt set to follow Jimmy Morrissey, Damar Hamlin into the meat of scheduleVideo
Jimmy Morrissey was torn between telling the truth and trying not to disrespect a defeated opponent. He managed to succeed on both fronts, but the bottom line going forward for Pitt’s junior center and co-captain is this: Pitt’s offense needs to get better. “We put up 17 points last week...
Pitt’s Kenny Pickett recovering from shoulder injury
Kenny Pickett may replace those headphones he wore last week with something more familiar when Pitt visits Duke on Saturday — a football helmet. There is no definitive word yet from coach Pat Narduzzi on Pickett’s status, but the junior quarterback was working at the start of practice Tuesday and...
Pitt coaches hope to cook up more turnovers, but defense isn’t sufferingVideo
Anybody wondering how much emphasis Pitt’s defensive coaches place on gaining turnovers should watch practice. Most of the time spent there is not for public eyes, but safeties coach Cory Sanders offered a glimpse Tuesday. When the football is in the air and a defender so much as lets it...
Injuries create cloud of uncertainty as Pitt prepares for Duke
Pat Narduzzi appeared irritated Monday during his weekly news conference, and that was to be expected. Not that Pitt’s coach usually shows up in a bad mood for his weekly give-and-take with reporters, but there are circumstances that surround his team that might have him on edge. The Panthers (3-2,...
Duke’s ability to protect QB could slow down Pitt’s pass rush
While preparing for Saturday’s game at Duke, nothing should concern Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi more than his opponent’s reputation for protecting the quarterback. The Blue Devils (3-1, 1-0 ACC) are one of three teams (Air Force and Georgia are the others) that have allowed only one quarterback sack this season....
Pitt has questions as it prepares for matchup at Duke
A week ago, Pitt looked like a team with something to prove and an accomodating schedule in which to prove it. Then, reality infringed on Pat Narduzzi’s season. Pitt’s next opponent — Duke in Durham, N.C., on Saturday night — beat Virginia Tech, 45-10, in the Hokies’ biggest defeat in...
First Call: Rutgers may be interested in Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi as new coach
Monday’s “First Call” features a potential new job for Pat Narduzzi. Feuding Ravens. And maybe the MLB play of the year. Narduzzi in New Jersey? Here’s an interesting one. Pitt Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi’s name has come up as a candidate for the Rutgers coaching job. The Scarlet Knights fired...
Pitt’s Todd Sibley makes most of playing time vs. Delaware
With his black-rimmed spectacles, Todd Sibley looked like he just left the library. Until you saw the sweat on his face. And the stats next to his name in the box score of Pitt’s 17-14 victory Saturday against Delaware. With A.J. Davis and Vincent Davis sidelined with injuries, Sibley joined...
Kevin Gorman: Pitt’s Taysir Mack the perfect playmaker in Nick Patti’s first startVideo
Nick Patti had a hunch all week he could be playing quarterback for Pitt on Saturday, but it wasn’t until 45 minutes before kickoff that he learned he would make his starting debut. With Kenny Pickett sidelined by a right shoulder injury that didn’t cooperate during warm-ups, the Panthers didn’t...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pitt requires 4th-quarter comeback to beat Delaware
The big question with Pitt football is always about how the Panthers will respond to a signature victory. Apparently, it’s by resting starters. Following its thrilling victory over No. 15 UCF with a game against Delaware gave Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi a chance to keep Kenny Pickett and several others...
Behind backup QB Nick Patti, Pitt hobbles to victory against DelawareVideo
Pat Narduzzi growled the words like a parent whose kids just let him down. “Critical errors all over the place, 13 penalties, ridiculous,” Pitt’s coach said. “I don’t think we came out with the emotion. We came out flat. “Blame me for that because we have to come out revved...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi ready for anything vs. old foe Bill Cubit
Former Big Ten foes Pat Narduzzi and Bill Cubit get together for the first time in six years Saturday when Pitt meets Delaware at Heinz Field. And Narduzzi has been worrying about the reunion all week. Cubit was offensive coordinator at Illinois in 2013 when the Illini met Narduzzi’s Michigan...
Delaware latest FCS force to test Pitt, Pat Narduzzi
Let’s be clear about something before Pitt fans worry about Delaware authoring an upset Saturday at Heinz Field. Pat Narduzzi never has lost to an FCS team (4-0), although victories against Youngstown State were one-score games — 45-37 (2015) and 28-21 (‘17) in overtime. Paul Chryst, Pitt’s coach before Narduzzi,...
