In lieu of intrasquad spring game, Pitt's Pat Narduzzi would support playing nearby school

Pitt vs. Temple?

Pitt vs. Duquesne?

Do we dare? Pitt vs. Penn State?

Those are matchups you’re not soon to see in the fall, but Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi would have no problem with practice games against nearby schools in lieu of instrasquad games in the spring.

It’s a notion recently proposed by Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy.

“What happens is, when we get into the spring game, on most years we don’t have enough depth to have a real good spring game,” Gundy said in a story reported by footballscoop.com. “So the reason we haven’t had one in a while is because I think it’s not favorable for the fans because we don’t have enough depth and then you can’t function.

“If you were to play a game against Arkansas or Nebraska or (Texas) A&M or somebody, a practice game, you could get really quality work. So I would be for that in just short notice without thinking through it.”

Narduzzi isn’t actively lobbying the NCAA for a rule change, but he said it’s a “great idea.”

“I would love it. Call them up. Set it up,” he said.

“The thing that scares you about a spring game, you have 22 players out on the field at one time. More opportunities for guys to get hurt.

“(Playing another team) slims down the chances. I don’t care who it is: Temple, Duquesne.”

Narduzzi said Michigan State players used to schedule seven-on-seven games against Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich.

“Obviously, you don’t want to play somebody you’re playing during the year. But I think it would be a great opportunity. Maybe if the NCAA goes away and someone else takes it over, we’ll be able to do it. I don’t know.”

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