Pitt Take 5: Pat Narduzzi speaks of War Daddys, running backs and freshmen

The phrase pre-dates Pat Narduzzi’s coaching career by about three decades, but you can bet the Pitt coach knows a War Daddy when he sees one.

War Daddy?

It doesn’t take much research to discover that the phrase first was used by coach Harold “War Daddy” White at Perkinston Junior College in Mississippi in the 1950s. It is clearly defined on a T-shirt ($19.95 on Amazon, free shipping) as a player (usually football) with “extraordinary ability and exceptional toughness. See also, Beast.”

Coaches, largely south of the Mason-Dixon Line, like to speak of War Daddys. It’s the type of player coaches identify when they say, “He’s a football player!” Emphasis on the last two words.

There have been several War Daddys through history. Most play defense, such as former Georgia Tech linebacker Ted Roof, who made 25 tackles in one game while blood poured from an open wound, according to his coach, Bill Curry. Wide receivers Keyshawn Johnson and Hines Ward have been described as War Daddys, too.

How do War Daddys relate to Pitt’s training camp, which reaches its 15th day with a scrimmage Sunday at Heinz Field? Read on.

1. Who is Pitt’s War Daddy running back?

When asked what separates Pitt’s top running backs Izzy Abanikanda and Vince Davis, Narduzzi said, “I’d like to say we got a War Daddy.”

Since 12 years old ???????? https://t.co/5an3UYupRT

— Izzy GetsBusy (@IAbanikanda) August 20, 2021

Abanikanda was headed in that direction, but Narduzzi added, “Vince is good, too. When Izzy took it over in the spring, it was like, ‘Wow.’ He’s big, and he’s fast. Vince is fast and not real big, but Vince has made a lot of plays the past few days, too.”

Forget War Daddy. Who’s the starter?

“It’s a battle,” the coach said. “It’s going to come down to the Sunday scrimmage. We have to give them a lot of carries and find out what they have.”

2. Is there a War Daddy kicker?

Pitt endured several key losses to the NFL, but no one talks about the departure of a player who scored 341 points and was a threat anytime the offense reached the opposing 40-yard line.

Narduzzi needs to replace long-range field goal kicker Alex Kessman, who is third on the school’s all-time scoring list and holds the record for the longest field goal at Heinz Field (58 yards), college or pro. Ben Sauls, a redshirt freshman who is on scholarship, and walk-on redshirt sophomore Sam Scarton are the contenders.

Narduzzi said it’s unclear who has the upper hand, although he said Sauls will kick off.

“He’s knocking it into the end zone,” Narduzzi said. “Scrimmage day, they were both outstanding. Neck-and-neck. It seems like they’re neck-and-neck really good or neck and neck not very good. It’s a work in progress right now.”

Sauls kicked an extra point last season in the Austin Peay game, plus a 55-yard field goal at Tippecanoe (Ohio) High School. Scarton, a Pennsylvania native, had 50- and 52-yard field goals at Hickory High School.

By the way, Kessman was released by the Los Angeles Chargers this week.

3. Worry about Clemson’s War Daddy later

Cornerback Marquis Williams already has told reporters he is eager to match up against Clemson’s Justyn Ross, considered the best wide receiver in the ACC (when healthy).

But Pitt doesn’t play Clemson until the seventh game of the season Oct. 23. Narduzzi wants to see Williams leave his mark on opposing wide receivers long before that.

“We can talk all you want to talk, but you have to back it up on game day,” the coach said, not specifically referring to the Ross comment. “ ‘Quis’ has been good. He plays with enthusiasm out on the field. He plays with a little attitude.

“We’ll find out on game day how much better he is than what he was last year. But he has to be better than he was last year. That ain’t good enough.”

Narduzzi emphasized he is impressed with cornerbacks Damarri Mathis and M.J. Devonshire, too. If he was forced to pick one who tops the depth chart, he said he would choose Mathis.

4. Are there freshman War Daddys?

With 44 juniors and seniors on the team, there might not be much room for freshmen. But some have opened Narduzzi’s eyes.

Running back Rodney Hammond (5-foot-9, 175 pounds) was so good early in camp that Narduzzi allowed him to speak to reporters.

“He caught an over-the-shoulder pass the other day, impressive. He’s made people miss,” Narduzzi said. “I always say a good back is his own blocker. BYOB. Be Your Own Blocker. He can get carries. I wouldn’t have put him with you guys if I didn’t think so.”

But that day (Wednesday), Hammond had just an average practice, and the coach said. “I hope he hasn’t hit a wall.”

Said Hammond: “I can do better, and I’m going to get better.”

He seems like a strong-willed 18-year-old. “I don’t get homesick,” said the native of Virginia Beach, Va. “I adjusted real well.”

Narduzzi also pointed out freshmen tight ends Gavin Bartholomew, Jake Renda and Cole Mitchell; cornerbacks Noah Biglow, Khalil Anderson and Tamarion Crumpley; linebacker Preston Lavant; defensive end Elliot Donald; and safeties Stephon Hall and P.J. O’Brien.

Of Donald, Narduzzi said, “He continues to get better every day. Very, very impressed with him. He’s going to earn more reps as he goes.”

Bartholomew, who had only one Power 5 offer (Pitt), was asked if he was eager to show other schools what they might have missed.

“That would be nice,” he said. “I’m just doing my thing, playing the game that I love. Whatever happens, happens.”

5. Can Mom be a War Daddy?

Then, there’s wide receiver Jaden Bradley, a freshman from Fayetteville, N.C.

“I want to kick him in the butt every once in a while. Comes out with a different towel than everybody else,” Narduzzi said. “But he’s a great kid, and he’s hard worker and he’s tough. He’s got a little swagger to him that I like. I love where he’s at right now.

“I want to get a little bit more ‘we’ in him than ‘me.’ Maybe his mom will hear that, and she’ll get after him, too. His locker wasn’t very clean, either, mom.”

Narduzzi likes to jab his players — and, occasionally, reporters — but always with a sly smile.