Pat Narduzzi said there’s “a chance” a small number of spectators will be allowed inside Heinz Field on Saturday for Pitt’s game against N.C. State. The coach said he assumes players’ parents would be No. 1 on the priority list, but he added, “There’s a chance for anything. Who knows?”

Spectators have been banned from watching games in Heinz Field through September — three Pitt and two Pittsburgh Steelers games — as a way to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. The Steelers said last week they are “optimistic about hosting a limited amount of fans at Heinz Field beginning with our game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 11.”

Meanwhile, Narduzzi is concerned about parents coming into town, watching games on TV away from the stadium — possibly in a crowd — and meeting with the players afterward.

“They’re here. They just can’t go sit in the seats,” the coach said. “Where are they watching the game? They’re probably going to some bar for four hours.

“I would prefer they would not be in bar. I’d rather them be sitting in section 138 with nobody around them. I’d rather they be there than some bar next to who knows who.

“After the game, those parents are going to be with our kids. That, to me, is the scariest part. I still don’t understand it. The safest thing for everybody to do is to put those parents in those stands.”

Narduzzi said it’s too early in the week to know now if spectators will be allowed inside.

“I’ll say my prayers tonight. I don’t know when we’ll know, but I think there’s a chance, for sure.

“The Governor (Gov. Tom Wolf) is going to make that decision to make sure we’re all safe and we trust he’ll make the right decision. It’s not for me or (athletic director) Heather Lyke or the Chancellor (Patrick Gallagher).

“We all want our families to go. I want the band to go. I want the Panther Pit to go. I want everybody to go, but the Governor has to do what he feels is best for everybody involved and I’m sure he will.”

A week ago, Wolf vetoed legislation that would have allowed school districts to set their own attendance limits for sporting events.

For the first time this season, Pitt announced no covid-related absences among players Saturday. There were seven and three such absences the first two weeks.

“Our figures have been low from the beginning,” Narduzzi said. “Without getting into numbers, they’ve been really low. Really haven’t done anything different than just continued to have a constant reminder that it can happen to you.”

Narduzzi, whose players are tested three times a week, recently made a point of reminding his players to stay out of the campus bars.

“Hey, you’re not allowed to go to a bar. Bars are off limits. I don’t care if you know the bartender.

“I told them they shouldn’t hang out with a girl that’s been to a bar. I’d check and see if they’ve got a stamp on their hand. If they got a stamp on their hand, I wouldn’t let them in. I’d say, ‘See you after this season is over.’

“Just constantly staying on them and reminding them that we’re not out of the woods yet.”

Looking out at an expansive, 100% empty Heinz Field, I have a difficult time believing a 90% empty stadium , with proper social distancing, would pose a threat to public health. pic.twitter.com/YXdg13RXQ6

— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) September 26, 2020

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