Pitt’s front four getting pass-rush job doneVideo
Pat Narduzzi did not want to give away any secrets, so he was reluctant to talk about how frequently Pitt calls a blitz. But he is pleased with the pressure his four down linemen are putting on quarterbacks. The Panthers are fourth in the nation with an average of 41⁄2...
Pitt’s Kenny Pickett ‘brings that dog’ out of teammates
Kenny Pickett allowed himself a chuckle when he was asked Wednesday about his body’s level of soreness. It doesn’t hurt when he laughs, and doesn’t hurt enough to keep him out of the game Saturday against Delaware. “Pretty sore on Sunday,” the junior quarterback said. “Getting a lot better now....
Pitt basketball player Kyla Nelson has cancerous appendix tumor
Kyla Nelson, a junior guard on Pitt’s women’s basketball team, has a cancerous tumor on her appendix, the team announced Wednesday. She is set for surgery at the beginning of next month and expects to play this season. Nelson was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor when she was scheduled for...
Pitt defense looking for turnovers, dunks
Pitt defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman still lis ooking for his first turnover this season. But if he continues to hit the quarterback the way he has done it the first four games, his wait won’t last much longer. So he better polish up those basketball skills. Huh? Pitt’s defense wanted...
Pitt tight ends coach Tim Salem brings energy, speaks his mindVideo
Don’t get Tim Salem started. On second thought, why not ask Pitt’s tight ends coach what he thinks about, you know, anything? You’re sure to get the truth, with as much passion as his sleep-deprived brain can manage. Mention, for example, the fact his tight ends are targeted more often...
Pitt gets first basketball commit from 2020 class
Pitt coach Jeff Capel secured the first verbal commitment from the class of 2020 on Monday when three-star power forward Noah Collier announced on Instagram his plans to enroll next year. Westtown's Noah Collier commits. Pittsburgh gets a versatile forward with high bball IQ, motor, and an evolving productive skill...
Deeper roster helps Pitt withstand injuries
The last thing Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi wants to discuss is the number of important players struck down by injuries this season. Whether it’s trying not to sound like he’s making excuses or simply hoping to avoid giving the opponent a competitive advantage, he’s reluctant to get into specifics. But...
Delaware game is personal for Pitt coach Pat NarduzziVideo
Every game matters to Pat Narduzzi, but Saturday’s game against Delaware at Heinz Field will be special for many reasons. This one he wants to win for his dad. “I tell our kids all the time, ‘These games have got to be personal,’ ” Narduzzi said Monday at his weekly...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden rip Steelers, Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell
Mondays are hard enough as it is. They are even harder when you live in a city where your football team stinks. And make no mistake, the Pittsburgh Steelers stink right now. They have fallen to 0-3 after a 24-20 loss in San Francisco Sunday. Mark Madden and I analyze...
Pitt notebook: Pat Narduzzi retains trust in struggling kicker Alex Kessman
Win or lose, no team leaves a game totally pleased. There are too many plays and players. Plus, opponents are constantly trying to make your team look bad. Coaches always will have something to complain about during Sunday video study sessions. Such was the case after Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi...
Could Pitt be favored in its final eight games?
The lessons to be learned from college football are things aren’t always what they seem, favorites do lose (a lot) and trying to figure out what happens in Vegas is a foolish endeavor. Nonetheless, there is an argument to be made that Pitt (2-2) could be favored in its final...
Pitt gains motivation from slight by ESPN analyst Jesse PalmerVideo
Some Pitt players were motivated Saturday by ESPN college football analyst Jesse Palmer calling a Central Florida victory a virtual lock. “A virtual lock. (Friday) night, I watched that,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “Are you kidding me? But I appreciate Jesse Palmer juicing us up.” “What’s his name? Jesse...
Pitt rallies for improbable victory against No. 15 Central FloridaVideo
During the timeout before the play that led Pitt to its 35-34 victory against No. 15 Central Florida on Saturday, there was indecision on the sideline. It was fourth down in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter. Pitt trailed by six on the UCF 3 and had only one...
Pitt volleyball team sweeps No. 4 Penn State, 3-0
Pitt’s volleyball team recorded a series of firsts Friday night in its 3-0 sweep of No. 4 Penn State, 25-17, 25-21 and 25-23. With the sweep, the No. 6-ranked Panthers defeated Penn State for the first time since 1987, a span of 16 matches. Also, it was Pitt’s first victory...
Basketball player-turned football player Sam Clancy headlines Pitt Hall of Fame classVideo
Jackie Sherrill knew a good football player when he saw one, even if he was wearing basketball shorts and sneakers. “Come out and play for me,” Sam Clancy said, recalling the recruiting pitch from Pitt’s football coach. “I’ll make you an All-American.” But Clancy was a Pitt basketball player. To...
Pitt finished with ‘close,’ hopes to get over the top against No. 15 UCF
There was an argument to be made last week that Pitt could be excused for losing a close game at Penn State. Coaches and players wouldn’t agree, but it’s a fact Kenny Pickett stepped up, the defense was stout and the Panthers didn’t flinch in front of 108,661 people. OK,...
For Pitt’s Jaylen Twyman, it’s never too early for video work
When Pat Narduzzi walked into Charlie Partridge’s office one day at 6 a.m., he expected to see his defensive line coach already at work. What surprised him was the fact that Partridge had company. “I go in to see coach Partridge and I think it’s him behind the computer,” Narduzzi...
Perfection is nice for Pitt, but turnovers would be even betterVideo
If there’s one lesson Mark Whipple has learned in four decades of coaching football, it is this: You hang around long enough, you’ll see it all. That’s what happened to Pitt’s offensive coordinator over the past two games. He was a sideline witness to perfection. The only problem was the...
Face-to-face play-calling works for Pitt’s Mark Whipple, Kenny PickettVideo
Kenny Pickett’s day starts early and ends late. He’s the quarterback of a Pitt team that will confront its third Top 25 opponent this season when No. 15 Central Florida comes to Heinz Field on Saturday. There’s much work to do. Pickett’s day begins with an early wake-up call and...
U mad, bro? Readers enraged over Pat Narduzzi, shaky Steelers, Ray Searage
The Pittsburgh Steelers are 0-2. The starting quarterback is out for the year. The Pirates have become a civic humiliation. Pitt’s head coach pulled a legendarily stupid decision. So, you tell me. You think there might be some material for “U mad, bro?” this week? Let’s come in hot! This...
Pitt’s Randy Bates hopes faster ‘D’ can slow down Central FloridaVideo
Pitt defensive coordinator Randy Bates has enough problems this week, drilling his players on how and where to line up against the perpetual-motion Central Florida offense. But he does have one request of the officials assigned to Saturday’s game at Heinz Field. “You would hope sometimes the officials would keep...
Kenny Pickett nearly sets Pitt completions record in Penn State game
After the frustration and disappointment over Pitt’s close loss to Penn State subsided, coach Pat Narduzzi was able to look through the rubble and see a pleasant reality: Quarterback Kenny Pickett played the best game of his career. Pickett nearly set a Pitt record for completions in a game, successfully...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi confronts play-calling issue, maintains stance
Before anyone could ask the only question about Pitt football on anyone’s mind, Pat Narduzzi tried to get behind the steering wheel of the runaway bus and bring it to a stop. “I know it’ll probably come up,” he said, reading the room correctly, “so I figured I’d address it...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden rip Steelers, Pat Narduzzi, awful PiratesVideo
This week’s “Madden Monday” ain’t gonna be pretty. How could it be? You saw the Steelers game, right? There’s so much to tear apart . Mark Madden and Tim Benz analyze what went wrong against the Seahawks. And there was a lot. We start with Ben Roethlisberger’s elbow injury. Mason...
First Call: Can Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi fix fallout from Penn State loss?; Le’Veon Bell faces the Browns
In Monday’s “First Call,” we try to figure out how Pat Narduzzi will scrub Pitt’s defeat against Penn State. You’ll get a look at the next opponent for the Panthers. Phil Jurkovec makes his season debut at Notre Dame. And why Steelers fans will have an interest in “Monday Night...
