John Steigerwald: Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi could learn a lot from Pete Carroll
I wonder if Pat Narduzzi watched the Pittsburgh Steelers-Seattle Seahawks game. If he did, he saw a coach, the Seahawks’ Pete Carroll, play to win, which is exactly what Narduzzi didn’t do when his Pitt team had fourth-and-goal at the Penn State 1 on Saturday. Narduzzi’s Pitt team was down...
Pitt can’t run to Pat Narduzzi’s satisfactionVideo
Pat Narduzzi made many statements after Pitt’s 17-10 loss to Penn State, but two stand out for those people — including the coach himself — who believe good teams are built on a strong running game. The overriding talking point is Narduzzi’s baffling decision to kick a field goal, down...
History repeats itself in Penn State victory at Beaver Stadium, 37 years later
Pat Narduzzi isn’t the only Pitt coach to opt for a field goal in the fourth quarter of a close game when his team was on the 1-yard line. But he’s the only one to defend the decision. In 1982, No. 5 Pitt was trailing No. 2 Penn State, 16-7,...
Penn State’s defense makes up for lack of offense vs. Pitt
UNIVERSITY PARK — There wasn’t much offense in Penn State’s 17-10 victory over Pitt, and coach James Franklin noticed. “We had guys behind them, but a couple of plays we overthrew,” he said. “A couple of them we left inside, especially the vertical balls. “We want our receivers to leave...
Kevin Gorman: No defense for Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi’s costly call against Penn StateVideo
UNIVERSITY PARK — Pat Narduzzi dared to defend a decision that defied logic with an explanation that was inexplicable. The Pitt coach had his Panthers in perfect position to score an upset over No. 13 Penn State: Trailing by seven points, they had a fourth-and-goal at the 1 with 4...
Pitt opts for late FG try while down 7, loses to Penn StateVideo
UNIVERSITY PARK — If you left Beaver Stadium on Saturday wanting more from the 100th, and possibly final, game in the Pitt-Penn State series, you weren’t paying attention. Penn State’s 17-10 victory in front of a crowd of 108,661 had it all, including a lightning storm that delayed the start...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pat Narduzzi’s decision costs Pitt in final game against Penn State
Pitt and Penn State should play every year. Let’s start there. The 100th meeting between the schools, played after a 40-minute lightning delay and before a crowd of 108,661 at Beaver Stadium, showed the rivalry remains true. That it came down to the final seconds, a Hail Mary by Kenny...
Pitt-Penn State game kicks off 40 minutes late
STATE COLLEGE — The Pitt/Penn State game started at 12:40 p.m. — 40 minutes late — after the threat of lightning left the area. Prior to and during the delay, Penn State officials closed the gates, suspended entry into the stadium and cleared people who were already inside from uncovered...
What if Pitt loses to Penn State, but it’s a close game?
Here’s the thing — the most important thing — about the Pitt-Penn State game Saturday at Beaver Stadium: The outcome matters, of course, but how Pitt competes against the 13th-ranked team in the nation counts just as much. Unless the college football landscape changes dramatically over the next two months,...
Kevin Gorman: If Pitt wants to revive Penn State rivalry, the Panthers need to win
Pat Narduzzi and James Franklin spent the week talking about what makes Pitt-Penn State a great rivalry and all of the reasons why they can’t continue to play each other. That makes perfect sense, especially given the absurdity that Pitt and Penn State will play for the 100th time Saturday,...
Watch Pitt-Penn State on the big screen in Oakland
With Pitt and Penn State meeting on the gridiron for the 100th and possibly last time, a big screen is being set up outdoors in Oakland to watch the game. The big screen will be located at Forbes Digital Plaza at the corner of Forbes Avenue and South Bouquet Street...
ACC, Pitt announce 20-game men’s basketball schedule
Pitt’s 20-game ACC men’s basketball schedule – two more conference games than in previous seasons – will stretch from early November to early March and feature a game at the Petersen Events Center against defending national champion Virginia. The ACC announced its schedule Thursday night on the ACC Network. Pitt’s...
Pat Narduzzi challenges Pitt players to step up against Penn StateVideo
Pat Narduzzi appeared to be in a good mood Thursday afternoon, less than 48 hours before Pitt kicks off against Penn State on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. An interesting look for the Pitt coach, considering Penn State might be the toughest opponent on his schedule this season. “I’m kind of...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi said there’s no time to steal signals, even if he wanted to try
When Penn State coach James Franklin said he changed play signals as soon as safety John Petrishen transferred from Penn State to Pitt, Pat Narduzzi smiled. “I haven’t said anything about Eric Thatcher (Penn State’s assistant recruiting coordinator),” Pitt’s coach said Thursday. “He sat in (Pitt’s) defensive meeting rooms for...
Penn State-Pitt gameday parking sold out; lots to open early
Penn State’s parking lots around Beaver Stadium will open at 6:30 a.m. Saturday — 30 minutes earlier than usual — but fans who don’t already have parking permits will be out of luck for the Pitt game. According to the athletics department, the game-day parking permits for Saturday’s matchup against...
Pitt’s Tre Tipton honored for community leadership
Pitt wide receiver Tre Tipton received an honor Thursday that only five other Panthers have earned in the history of the program. Joining linebacker Mike Caprara (2016), running back James Conner (2015) and quarterbacks Tyler Palko (2006) and Alex Van Pelt (1992), the 2015 Apollo-Ridge grad was named to the...
Pat Narduzzi, James Franklin play nice in days leading up to Pitt/Penn State
Although it might be stylish for rivals to trade barbs on social media, Pat Narduzzi and James Franklin have done the opposite in the days leading up to the Pitt/Penn State game Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Each coach had good things to say about the other, and they didn’t even...
Without a turnover or two, Pitt’s upset hopes diminishVideo
Upsets are built on turnovers, and that’s the one aspect of its game Pitt has yet to master. Or, even experience. Despite repeated drill work in practice and coaches nagging their players to attack the football, Pitt hasn’t had a fumble recovery or interception since the final seconds of the...
James Franklin suggests neutral site for future Pitt/Penn State games
When Pitt visits Penn State on Saturday at Beaver Stadium, the game will be the 100th and last between the in-state rivals for the foreseeable future. But Penn State coach James Franklin said it could resume if the schools can “get creative” and, possibly, move the game to a neutral...
Pitt needs clean-up effort to reduce a wave of penalties
Pitt’s margin for error will be reduced significantly Saturday when it faces No. 13 Penn State at Beaver Stadium. The game will be the first of two consecutive games against ranked opponents. Pitt plays No. 17 Central Florida on Sept. 21 at Heinz Field (kickoff 3:30 p.m.). As the schedule...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi shields players from reporters before Penn State gameVideo
Pat Narduzzi is feeding the prevailing perception that the Pitt/Penn State game is different from all others. Just as he has done in the past (with one exception), the coach has shut off all contact between his players and the media in the week leading up to the Penn State...
Pitt’s ground game starts to find a groove against Ohio
Making a passing reference to Pitt’s running game, Ohio coach Frank Solich defined it as accurately as anyone has so far this season. “They were able to establish a little bit of a running game,” Solich said. A little bit. That’s certainly not what Pat Narduzzi wants or needs as...
Pitt notebook: Jimmy Morrissey gets Penn State talk started
Jimmy Morrissey is ready for Penn State. He’s a Pitt co-captain, so you have to believe his teammates feel the same. After Pitt put away Ohio with a 20-10 victory Saturday at Heinz Field, the talk turned to Penn State, the opponent next Saturday in State College. It could be...
Pitt defense sacks Ohio in 1st win of season
Victories in football generally are awarded to teams that block and tackle, catch and throw better than the opponent. Sometimes, however, the right words in the days leading up to the game play a role that shouldn’t be minimized. Such was the case for Pitt and sophomore defensive tackle Jaylen...
Ohio game will help answer some tough questions about Pitt
Every coach and even some reasonable fans will tell you that it’s lunacy to declare the second game of the season a must-win. Such is the case for the Pitt Panthers (0-1), who welcome Ohio into Heinz Field on Saturday. A loss would stir up a fan base that is...
