Pitt men’s soccer rises to No. 1 in nation
When Pitt’s men’s soccer team travels to Blacksburg, Va., on Friday to meet Virginia Tech, it will carry a designation as the No. 1 team in the nation. In the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 released Tuesday, the Panthers (7-1, 3-0 ACC) were No. 1 after being unranked in the...
It’s no Big Ten or SEC, but Pitt faces challenging gauntlet of 8 foes when it’s time to resume season
Let’s be clear about what awaits Pitt when the Panthers resume their season next month. The eight remaining games — four home, four away, with a noon kickoff next up at North Carolina on Oct. 5 — do not represent an insurmountable gauntlet. The ACC is not the SEC or...
Pitt women’s volleyball remains unbeaten, has yet to drop a set in 9 matchesVideo
The Pitt women’s volleyball team opened the week of Sept. 16 as the No. 1 team in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. It was the second week in a row the Panthers had been ranked No. 1. There is a good chance that will extend to a third week...
Gateway grad Derrick Davis finds key role in Pitt backfield
When Derrick Davis Jr. was in the huddle before what turned out to be Pitt’s game-winning touchdown in the 107th Backyard Brawl between Pitt and West Virginia on Sept. 14 at Acrisure Stadium, he had one simple thought in mind. “I had to score. I had to get in that...
If Pitt QB Eli Holstein can’t achieve his desired perfect game, his best efforts still look good
Many thoughts raced through Eli Holstein’s head after he led Pitt to its fourth consecutive victory, a 73-17 humiliation of Youngstown State. He was proud to be part of Pitt’s undefeated nonconference season and the program’s first 4-0 start in 24 years. Pitt has played in a conference since 1993...
Pitt wins one for coach Pat Narduzzi in a big way, 73-17 vs. Youngstown State
Pitt’s 73-17 victory against Youngstown State on Saturday — more like a suffocation — was the product of superior athletes beating on inferior ones. Also, you should not minimize the aggressive nature of the Pitt offense that scored nine touchdowns — the defense added a 10th — and amassed 644...
Pitt Take 5: Youngstown State game matters to Pat Narduzzi on team, personal levels
If you’re unaware of the historical significance of Pitt’s game against Youngstown State on Saturday, here is what’s at stake: This game between a Power 4 school and one from the FCS matters because Pitt can nail down its first undefeated, multi-game, nonconference season and start 4-0 for the first...
Pitt uses transfer portal to build more than 1/3 of its 2-deep depth chart
Pat Narduzzi isn’t thinking past Youngstown State, the opponent that will visit Acrisure Stadium on Saturday to challenge his undefeated team (3-0). But if you ask him what might be necessary to succeed beyond 2024 and into the future, he might answer reluctantly even while he already knows the answer:...
No. 1 Pitt routs No. 3 Penn State in women’s volleyball showdown
Pitt senior libero Emmy Klika has played in three straight national semifinals. She has been on some of volleyball’s biggest stages. But as she walked through the tunnel for warmups before the top-ranked Panthers’ matchup with in-state rival Penn State, she admitted she had chills. And why not? A volleyball-record...
When Eli Holstein plays quarterback for Pitt, he said he’s representing pride, work ethic of 2 families
In the final tense moments of the Backyard Brawl, ESPN TV cameras focused on Eli Holstein, capturing the sweat on his brow, the passion and even anger in his eyes and — when the comeback against West Virginia was complete — the pride and joy on his face. You might...
Pat Narduzzi wants more than just wins, seeks flawless execution from Panthers
Pitt senior safety P.J. O’Brien had a request for Pat Narduzzi the day after the thrilling comeback victory against West Virginia. After the weekly team meeting Sunday night when Pitt’s coach had much on his mind, O’Brien said, “Coach, smile. We won the game.” “That’s the first time in 10...
Pitt finds antidote for losing players in portal: Developing new ones who can make plays, too
Word from college coaches, especially those in football and basketball, is that the transfer portal is one of their biggest headaches. Players come and go, and even those who remain on the team need to be recruited all over again to keep another school from poaching them. Two of Pitt’s...
With both teams ranked among top 3, Pitt-Penn State volleyball matchup likely to move needle as never before
For a long time, a meeting between the women’s volleyball teams from Pitt and Penn State was a fairly ho-hum affair. Sure, there was the whole Pitt-Penn State geographic rivalry thing, but, beyond that, there wasn’t much buzz. Between 1987 and 2017, in fact, Penn State won all 16 matchups...
ACC reprimands, fines Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi $5,000 for remarks about officiating after Backyard Brawl victory
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi was fined $5,000 by the ACC and handed a public reprimand for comments he made to ESPN about the officiating crew after the Panthers’ 38-34 victory against West Virginia. ACC officials said in a news release Sunday night that Narduzzi violated the ACC Sportsmanship Policy. Pitt...
Analysis: Pitt has issues, but ability to survive adversity is overriding theme so far
Pitt has many problems that need to be corrected, and Pat Narduzzi started seeking solutions as soon as he clicked on the video machine Sunday morning after church services. He wasn’t especially pleased with everything that happened in Pitt’s 38-34 victory Saturday against West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl. He’ll...
‘It means everything’: Backyard Brawl brings best out of Pitt, West Virginia
More than 66,000 fans jammed into Acrisure Stadium on Saturday to watch the 107th edition of the Backyard Brawl. And while Pitt defeated West Virginia, 38-34, the spectacle of the event itself at times overshadowed the outcome. Fans wearing blue and yellow stood shoulder to shoulder in the stadium and...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi claims victory over WVU, officials, prompting response from Neal BrownVideo
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi, in his post-win on-field ESPN interview at Acrisure Stadium, wasted little time in declaring victory over the West Virginia Mountaineers as well as over a secondary party. “Some of the calls we got — late hit out of bounds, they catch a (touchdown) with hands in...
Pitt rallies again, survives Backyard Brawl vs. West Virginia
Pitt’s second improbable rally in eight days leading to its 38-34 victory in the 107th Backyard Brawl morphed into reality Saturday night for many reasons. • Of course, there was the freshman quarterback, Eli Holstein, looking like a senior, shedding his thoughts of what had been a decidedly unremarkable day...
Darrelle Revis reflects on Aliquippa roots, Pitt days as Panthers honor ’24 Athletics HOF ClassVideo
Mid-game during the Backyard Brawl was a fitting time for Pitt to honor former shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis, one of 10 inductees into the Panthers’ 2024 Athletics Hall of Fame Class. Revis played at Pitt from 2004-06, earning a pair of first-team All-Big East selections before going 14th overall to...
As Pat McAfee knows, some Backyard Brawl memories are impossible to flush
Pat McAfee and Pat Bostick had moved on from their college days long ago and were well into their life’s work when they walked into the men’s restroom in the Heinz Field press box and stepped up to side-by-side urinals. The occasion was a prime-time Thursday night game between Pitt...
Parking advisory set for Backyard Brawl and Pirates game
Motorists beware! Pittsburgh’s North Shore is hosting two big games Saturday afternoon that will be played around the same time. Officials have announced plans and advice to help fans avoid some gridlock. The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Kansas City Royals at 1:05 p.m. at PNC Park, followed by the Pitt...
Football Footnotes: AFC North looks to rebound; WVU’s Marc Bulger recalls Backyard Brawls; ACC transfer QBs making impact
This week’s Friday “Football Footnotes” post examines how AFC North teams besides the Pittsburgh Steelers will try to respond to a winless opening weekend. Kirk Cousins may have tipped-off lingering issues from his recovery during Atlanta’s loss to the Steelers last week. Central Catholic graduate Marc Bulger recalls his Backyard...
Pitt Take 5: Panthers seek 2nd 3-0 start in Pat Narduzzi’s 10 seasons
Pat Narduzzi surely hasn’t given this any thought, but if Pitt defeats West Virginia on Saturday at sold-out Acrisure Stadium in the 107th Backyard Brawl, the Panthers will be 3-0 for only the second time in 10 years and the third in the 14-season post-Dave Wannstedt era. Pitt was 3-0...
Aaron Donald, Jeff Capel named to Pitt AD advisory committee
Pitt chancellor Joan Gabel offered a brief snapshot Thursday of what she and her advisory committee are seeking in their quest to name a new athletic director to replace Heather Lyke, who was fired Monday. “We are seeking a transformational leader to partner with university leadership in efforts to further...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi says memories from ’23 Brawl in Morgantown remain fresh in his mind
Pat Narduzzi raised his hand like he was taking an oath in a courtroom when he was asked Thursday if there will be extra hunger on the Pitt sideline in this year’s Backyard Brawl. Pat Narduzzi says he hasn’t forgotten what happened in Morgantown last year … pic.twitter.com/hcoC8oUsdT— Jerry DiPaola...
