Despite long days, nights of game-planning, Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi knows how to avoid burnout
When Saturday night football away from home doesn’t interfere — as it’s done three times this season — Pat Narduzzi likes to attend Mass on Sunday mornings. Perhaps it’s a calming respite from the stress of the previous day’s Pitt game and the long work days ahead preparing for the...
Pitt unveils plans for $240M athletic center in Oakland
The University of Pittsburgh has approved plans for a $240 million athletic center called Victory Heights that will include a 3,000-seat arena, as well as space for training and sports performance and sports medicine facilities for many of Pitt’s student-athletes. Pitt’s Property and Facilities Committee OK’d the project Thursday, according...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans pop off about Matt Canada, the Chase Claypool trade, criticism of Najee Harris
The Steelers took a week off for their bye. Steelers fans did not. My Twitter feed and inbox are proof of that. At 2-6, I didn’t expect that they would. Here’s this week’s “U mad, bro?” A guy named Tim did not appreciate us posting the comments ex-Bengals cornerback Adam...
Pitt represents clear example of changes gripping college basketball
If you need any more confirmation of how dramatically college basketball in general and Pitt’s program in particular have changed, you need look no further than the box score from the 2021 West Virginia game. Pitt coach Jeff Capel used nine players in the 74-59 loss to the Mountaineers on...
Pitt shows respect for struggling Virginia, quarterback Brennan Armstrong
For the past several days, Pitt coaches and players have been talking about Virginia’s offense as if it isn’t ranked next-to-last in the ACC in average points per game (18.1). For all the praise heaped upon Cavaliers quarterback Brennan Armstrong, not one person associated with Pitt mentioned that he leads...
ACC in danger of being excluded from 2nd straight playoff
ATLANTA — Clemson’s loss at Notre Dame was a severe blow to the ACC’s hopes of landing a team in the College Football Playoff. Last weekend’s 35-14 setback at three-loss Notre Dame dropped Clemson (8-1, 6-0) from the list of the nation’s unbeaten teams. The Tigers moved from No. 5...
Ben Sauls finds success as Pitt’s kicker after realizing ‘it’s you against you’
Anyone wondering what makes a kicker great — or what might put his head and toe slightly off center — should spend some time with Andre Powell. He has been instructing, counseling and offering his shoulder to kickers since 2004, when he was on the coaching staff at North Carolina....
Former Pitt guard Parker Stewart’s return to The Pete ends in ejection, defeat
Not only did Parker Stewart fail to reach 1,000 career points when he returned to Petersen Events Center on Monday night, but the former Pitt guard didn’t even finish the game. Less than halfway through the second half of Pitt’s season opening 80-58 win against Tennessee Martin, Stewart got tangled...
Pitt opens basketball season with easy victory against UT Martin
No one can guarantee how the rebuilt Pitt basketball team will look 30 games from now. But the 80-58 opening-night victory against Tennessee Martin on Monday at Petersen Events Center beats where the program was almost a year ago to the day: down and out after a 78-63 loss to...
Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia earn spots in NCAA women’s soccer tournament field
Pitt’s women’s soccer team earned an at-large bid Monday and will make its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament, hosting Buffalo on Saturday. The Panthers went 12-4-3 in the regular season, setting program records for wins (12) and goals (44) and making the ACC tournament. They are seeded fourth in...
Pitt continues quest to find its best performance of 2022
Perhaps the most encouraging sign for the final three games of Pitt’s season is that coach Pat Narduzzi — and, presumably, his players — are not especially encouraged after the victory against Syracuse. “In all three phases, we left some plays on the field,” Narduzzi said. In other words, Pitt...
Pitt defensive end Dayon Hayes arrested on assault charge
Pitt junior football player Dayon Hayes has been charged with one count of simple assault in connection with a domestic incident in Pittsburgh, according to criminal records. He was arrested Sunday night, arraigned and released on nonmonetary bail. Hayes is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 22...
After a long, hard road, Parker Stewart returns to Pitt — where it all began
Parker Stewart’s early college basketball career was marked by more off-court tragedy and on-court defeat than seems fair for any young man to endure. He was talented enough to play for Pitt and Indiana in two high-profile, power conferences, but when he was confronted with his final season of eligibility...
Pitt, Duquesne, Robert Morris women’s basketball teams set to open 2022-23 season
The Pitt, Duquesne and Robert Morris women’s basketball teams are all looking to improve after falling short of a .500 record a year ago. With a slew of returning starters, newcomers via the transfer portal and promising freshmen, each team has reason to be optimistic about the 2022-23 season. Here’s...
Pitt notebook: ‘Angry’ linemen lead defensive charge vs. Syracuse
Perhaps the men on Pitt’s defensive line were embarrassed. All that talk last week about defensive tackle Calijah Kancey’s ejection being the turning point of the loss to North Carolina might have triggered the kind of emotion that can lead to dominance. Pat Narduzzi’s favorite victory formula worked effectively Saturday...
Pitt defense stonewalls Syracuse in gritty ACC victory
Despite all the dark moments of October, Pitt’s dominance of Syracuse on Saturday in its 19-9 victory was not unexpected. After all, the 22nd-ranked Orange (6-3, 3-2 ACC) haven’t won in Pittsburgh since 2001, the year the stadium formerly known as Heinz Field opened. Pitt (5-4, 2-3) wins so often...
Pitt coach Jeff Capel seeks closure from the past, looks hopefully toward new season
Not many Pitt fans realize — or even care — that Jeff Capel won seven of his first eight games as the school’s basketball coach. That’s right. You can look it up. In November of 2018, Youngstown State, VMI, Troy, Central Arkansas, North Alabama, Saint Louis and Duquesne lost by...
Pitt Take 5: Believe it or not, a 2-game losing streak hasn’t ended the Panthers’ season
For frustrated Pitt fans who feel personally wounded by their team’s two-game losing streak, know what’s real: The season isn’t over. Indeed, the final four games matter. Going from 4-4 to 4-8 would be a disaster, of course. Tiny bumps to 5-7 and 6-6 would be almost equally bad. And...
Pitt defensive backs will seek redemption when Syracuse comes to town
There is no questioning the athleticism of Pitt’s defensive backs. The five who sweat and stress the most when the opposing quarterback puts the football in the air have enough experience, dating to the 2018 and ‘19 seasons, that nothing should surprise them. But speed, smarts and seasoning don’t always...
Pitt basketball rolls over Edinboro in final exhibition game
Pitt’s two exhibition games never were intended to offer a true look into the 2022-23 version of the Panthers basketball team. Pitt defeated Edinboro, 92-53, on Wednesday night at Petersen Events Center after its 103-51 victory Oct. 22 against Clarion. The Division II teams were picked to finish the season...
Pitt stars take up cause to save the season
From front to back on every level of the Pitt defense and splashing over to offense, five players have separated themselves from the pack. Middle linebacker SirVocea Dennis, defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and free safety Erick Hallett are semifinalists for the Butkus, Bednarik and Thorpe awards for the best players...
Pitt WRs coach Tiquan Underwood believes grounded aerial game will improve
Perhaps the blame for the dramatic regression in the Pitt passing game rests largely with Jordan Addison. After all, he left Pitt for USC, taking with him the Biletnikoff Trophy, 100 receptions in 14 games and the speed and precision route running that probably will thrust him into the first...
With a growing reputation for winning soccer, No. 24 Pitt prepares for ACC Tournament
The victories — 36 of them in the past three seasons, plus a berth in the 2020-21 College Cup — are the baubles Jay Vidovich and his Pitt men’s soccer players wear like badges of honor. But Vidovich’s goals for his team reach much deeper than what the scoreboard lights...
Pitt defense accepts share of blame for 18-point loss at North Carolina
When Pat Narduzzi was asked what most displeased him about Pitt’s 42-24 loss to a North Carolina team that climbed on the backs of the Panthers to No. 17 in the Associated Press poll, he said, “You know what, I’ll start with the defense.” Then, he thought about how the...
First Call: Bill Cowher questions Steelers’ use of Kenny Pickett; Najee Harris says, ‘I can’t make a hole. I can’t do everything’
Monday’s “First Call” takes a look at how Bill Cowher is evaluating the Pittsburgh Steelers’ usage of Kenny Pickett. Steelers running back Najee Harris is getting edgy. We also recap Malik Willis’ first start with the Titans, Ja’Marr Chase’s injury and that bizarre finish between the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta...
