In college athletics’ new age of NIL and immediate eligibility for transfers, success can work both ways.
No one knows that better than Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi, whose team is 7-0 and a serious contender for its second ACC championship in four years.
Interviewed on CBS Sports Radio and Sirius XM Radio on Friday, Narduzzi was asked by host Zach Gelb about the possibility of losing quarterback Eli Holstein to the transfer portal and potential monetary offers from other schools. Narduzzi has retained several players under those circumstances — Kenny Pickett, Sir Vocea Dennis and Gavin Bartholomew among them — but wide receiver and Biletnikoff winner Jordan Addison left after the 2021 season.
“It’s always a concern,” Narduzzi told Gelb.
Loved this passionate response from Pat Narduzzi on people thinking that Eli Holstein will hit the transfer portal and leave @Pitt_FB after this season. @CoachDuzzPittFB @eli_holstein10 pic.twitter.com/zP2qvdqnl5
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) October 25, 2024
But he added, with conviction, “First of all, we’re going to take care of Eli. That’s the No. 1 thing.
“We got the new athletic director in Allen Greene. We’re excited about his opportunities here at Pitt to help us continue to get better in every avenue and NIL. What we do with the House settlement (in which schools could pay roughly $2.7 billion to past and current athletes) is going to be critical.”
But Narduzzi also said he doesn’t want money to be the decisive factor in retaining players.
“I’ve said this a million times. It’s not about the money,” he said. “I turned down a lot of jobs because I’m not worried about money. I try to educate our guys it’s not about the money.
“Sometimes, it is. You have to be taken care of, but happiness is important. I turned down a lot of money to stay (at Michigan State) because I was happy. I think Eli’s really happy here. I think that’s the first thing. We have a good culture. We have a good team.”
Narduzzi said the real money is in the NFL.
“Ultimately, in the end, you want to have a great, long career in the NFL,” he said. “That’s where you’re going to make generational money, generational wealth. That’s what it’s all about, to be a first-round pick like Kenny Pickett was and be set for life.
“Kenny came back for another year (in 2021), made a great decision, had opportunities to go to Notre Dame. He’s not even in the portal and they’re calling him. That’s what’s going on in college football nowadays.
“But Kenny, because of the culture, because of the people, because of the relationships he built at the University of Pittsburgh, that’s why people stay.
“To me, if you’re treating these kids like your son, like we do — it’s not lip service — our team is going to stick together.”
