Pitt notebook: Pat Narduzzi pays no mind to preseason polls

Pat Narduzzi has a vote in the USA Today Sports/AFCA Poll, but he wouldn’t mind if all preseason polls went away. And he’s not especially pleased with the existence of in-season polls.

“There shouldn’t be a preseason poll. To me, the preseason poll means absolutely nothing,” the Pitt coach said Wednesday morning before practice. “I want to know where we’re going to be late December, early January. That’s the one that matters. If our guys are looking at that, good luck to you.”

Pitt finished last season No. 13 in the coaches and Associated Press polls, and it was bumped down to No. 16 by the coaches entering 2022.

“That (preseason) ranking is based on the 2021 season,” Narduzzi said. “That’s what it is. Thank you, Kenny Pickett. Thanks, Damarri Mathis. All those guys who played for us last year, thank you for the preseason ranking. Now, we’re going to find out what these guys got.

“I want the recognition at the end. You like the recognition?” he asked rhetorically. “You haven’t done anything.”

Nonetheless, sophomore linebacker Solomon DeShields said the No. 16 ranking is “a little disrespectful, you know.”

“I feel like we are the top team in the nation, honestly.”

The AP poll, based on voting by a panel of media members, will be released Monday.

Day off, but not really

Players returned to practice Wednesday morning after a day off Tuesday that was highlighted by position coaches and Narduzzi taking players to dinner at some of the area’s top restaurants.

Before that, Narduzzi was encouraged by how many players took advantage of the time off to care for their bodies.

“Chris Hanks (the team’s trainer in his second season at Pitt) said it’s the most guys in recovery he’s seen since he’s been here,” Narduzzi said. “That’s a great thing. You teach and you teach and you teach our guys how to take care of your body.

Pat Narduzzi, pre-practice Wednesday morning. He seems to be in a good mood. pic.twitter.com/y5ld9siPJU

— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) August 10, 2022

“I hope that keeps up. If you don’t take care of your body, it will eventually run down on you.”

During recovery periods, Narduzzi said players sit in cold and hot tubs and get their bodies stretched out by trainers and the strength staff.

“You think it’s your day off, and you want to lay in your bed all day. That doesn’t help you,” he said. “Every year, it seems kids buy in more and more. The next day, they go out (to practice) and feel better.”

One final health note: Quarterback Kedon Slovis, who was limited in practice Monday by previous back spasms, practiced without any limitations Wednesday.

The man whose opinion matters most watches quarterbacks … pic.twitter.com/VSvBf4UQ5V

— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) August 10, 2022