Jeff Capel’s message to Pitt’s Greg Elliott during his scoring slump: Keep shooting
Jeff Capel loves to see passion from his players. He wants them to care when problems arise and erase their frustrations by searching for answers. Just don’t let anyone see you sweat. That was the Pitt coach’s message to Greg Elliott, who fell into a shooting slump in the four...
Tim Benz: Kenny Pickett identifies significant rookie season challenge — and how he’s handling it
Troy Aikman returned to the same conversation with Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett multiple times throughout the broadcast. During the “Monday Night Football” game between the Steelers and Indianapolis Colts, the ESPN analyst frequently referenced how Pickett had a different take than what the usual rookie QB has to...
Pitt’s Jeff Capel preaches the value of talk to his players
The first question Jeff Capel asks himself when he’s recruiting players — from high school or the transfer portal — is this: Can he play? Can he run, jump, pass, shoot and defend well enough to keep pace with other athletically gifted players in the ACC? After he is satisfied...
Reserve defensive back Khalil Anderson says he plans to transfer from Pitt
Pitt defensive back Khalil Anderson, a redshirt freshman from Atlanta who appeared in only three games over the past two seasons, said Wednesday he plans to enter his name in the NCAA transfer portal. Practice Film: pic.twitter.com/MDs7HMqa8s— Khalil Anderson (@_KhalilAnderson) November 30, 2022 Anderson (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) was a...
Pitt’s Calijah Kancey keeps company with Aaron Donald, named ACC Defensive Player of the Year
Pitt’s Calijah Kancey, who didn’t let his comparatively short stature keep him out of opposing backfields this season, was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday. Kancey, a 6-foot, 280-pound junior defensive tackle from Miami, is the first Pitt player named ACC Defensive POY since Aaron Donald, who...
Bowl bid arrives Sunday, and Pitt looks to rewrite its postseason history
Since Walt Harris’ 1997 team broke a six-year bowl drought in a 41-7 loss to Southern Mississippi in the Liberty Bowl, those postseason, holiday-disrupting road trips have not turned out especially well for Pitt. Since then, seven Pitt coaches — including three interims and not including Todd Graham, who left...
12 Pitt players named All-ACC, including 4 first-teamers
Four Pitt players were named to the All-ACC first team Tuesday, leading a contingent of 12 Panthers recognized in voting by conference coaches and media personnel. Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, running back Izzy Abanikanda, linebacker SirVocea Dennis and left guard Marcus Minor were chosen to the first team. Abanikanda leads...
12 Pitt players named All-ACC, including 4 first-teamers
Four Pitt players were named to the all-ACC first team Tuesday, leading a contingent of 12 Panthers recognized in voting by conference coaches and media personnel. Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, running back Izzy Abanikanda, linebacker SirVocea Dennis and left guard Marcus Minor were chosen to the first team. Abanikanda leads...
Pitt finds its shooting touch in 87-58 victory over Northwestern
After Pitt’s 87-58 victory against Northwestern on Monday night, graduate transfer Greg Elliott and coach Jeff Capel were talking about the basketball like it was a living, breathing entity. That would be a story worth telling, of course. But over the past eight days, Pitt (5-3) has been making real...
Pitt wide receiver Jaylon Barden reveals plans to transfer
Pitt’s Jaylon Barden, who displayed promise in his first two seasons before disappearing from the wide receiver rotation in 2022, announced Monday his plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal. He joins safety Judson Tallandier II, a senior from Largo, Md., who also said Monday that he plans to transfer....
Pitt volleyball earns No. 2 seed, home match Friday to open NCAA Tournament
Pitt women’s volleyball earned a No. 2 seed as an at-large selection in the NCAA Tournament — its highest in program history — and will be the host for first- and second-round matches Friday and Saturday at Petersen Events Center. Pitt (27-3) will meet Patriot League champion Colgate (24-5) at...
Pitt men’s soccer team defeats No. 1 Kentucky to reach 3rd consecutive NCAA Elite 8
Pitt men’s soccer traveled a difficult road to its third consecutive NCAA Elite Eight berth, but the Panthers rallied from an early deficit and defeated previously undefeated and No. 1 Kentucky on Sunday night, 2-1. Pitt will be the host for an NCAA Tournament quarterfinal match against Portland on campus...
How Pitt’s players, coaches kept season from unraveling
For a good portion of Pat Narduzzi’s eighth season, most of the criticism thrown Pitt’s way was fair. As we later discovered through the current four-game winning streak and a 42-16 dismantling of old nemesis Miami on Saturday night, this was a team that had better talent than its 4-4...
Pitt defensive lineman Devin Danielson slams head with helmetVideo
In a clip posted online, Pitt defensive lineman Devin Danielson can be seen slamming his helmet against his head several times as teammates look on in astonishment and horror. But the incident wasn’t a first for Danielson, according to teammate SirVocea Dennis. “Everybody is passionate for the game. Things happen.”...
Pitt maintains late-season surge, beats Miami, 42-16, for 4th consecutive victory
With little at stake but personal pride and an eighth victory, Pitt rolled over Miami, 42-16, on Saturday night to end the regular season on a four-game winning streak. There will be no conference championship this season for the Panthers (8-4, 5-3 ACC), but their 19 victories in back-to-back seasons...
Pitt rallies in second half to defeat William & Mary, 80-64
Pitt hasn’t played enough games against premium competition to allow coach Jeff Capel to get an accurate read on his team. On Friday night, however, there was reason to be encouraged — at least for half a game. The Panthers rallied in the second half to defeat William & Mary,...
Pitt Take 5: Fortunes change for Panthers, Hurricanes
The wise guys, including one writing for this space, thought we were so smart in the preseason when we predicted the Pitt/Miami game at the end of the regular season was destined to decide the ACC Coastal championship. Check the standings. Pitt and Miami have combined for 10 losses, the...
Pitt’s Frank Cignetti Jr. always in search of the right call
Trailing Duke by a point with the first half clock winding down last Saturday at Acrisure Stadium, quarterback Kedon Slovis led the Pitt offense out of its huddle. The heat was on because it was third down, and Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi didn’t want to settle for a field goal....
Practice as usual for Pitt players on Thanksgiving, but players, coaches have dinner plans, too
Thanksgiving is a normal practice day for Pitt and all other college football teams around the nation without scheduled games. Thursdays are typically the last day for serious on-field drills, and Pitt players will report in the morning, go over the game plan for the Miami game Saturday and adjourn...
Pitt rolls over Fairleigh Dickinson on good shooting night
For 20 minutes of clock time, Pitt didn’t miss a 2-point shot in the second half of its 83-61 victory against Fairleigh Dickinson on Tuesday night at Petersen Events Center. The Panthers took 17 shots inside the 3-point arc. All 17 were good. OK, their shooting accuracy wasn’t actually perfect....
Farewell, Coastal, the ACC’s always unpredictable divisionVideo
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Farewell, ACC Coastal. And for prognosticators, good riddance. Every summer, every league in the country has some sort of preseason media gathering, the ACC included. Those events always go the same way: Coaches downplay expectations, quarterbacks praise their offensive line and receivers, and savvy reporters leave...
Pitt defense steps up during 3-game winning streak
Much of the discussion surrounding Pitt football this season has centered on the offense. Fans need to blame someone. Still, while there has been angst directed at the offense, the defense quietly has maintained its reputation and official standing among the top 20 units in the nation. Opponents are averaging...
Pitt football player pleads to reduced charge of harassment
Pitt junior defensive end Dayon Hayes pleaded guilty Tuesday to a summary harassment charge stemming from allegations that he assaulted the mother of his child. Hayes, a Westinghouse graduate, was sentenced to time served — a day at Allegheny County Jail — by Magisterial District Judge Nicholas Martini. “Dayon enjoys...
Pitt notebook: Narduzzi says Miami matters in final game of regular season
Pat Narduzzi sounded almost offended when it was suggested a team’s focus could be disrupted by such things as: • Last regular-season game. • No championship at stake. • Bowl eligibility secured. • Thanksgiving. All those things surround Pitt’s players and coaches this week while they prepare for a Saturday...
Pitt men’s soccer reaches NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for 3rd consecutive season
The Pitt men’s soccer team is starting to make a habit of Sweet 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament. For the third year in a row, Pitt (10-4-5, 3-2-3 ACC) earned its berth Sunday with a 3-0 victory at No. 16 Akron’s FirstEnergy Stadium. The victory was historic for another...
