Pitt's Pat Narduzzi offers thoughts on Acrisure Stadium's grass, James Franklin's firing

Pat Narduzzi had a lot to get through Monday on the South Side in recapping Pitt’s weekend upset over Florida State while looking ahead to the Panthers’ next game on the road at Syracuse.

But in between a recap of Saturday’s action vs. the Seminoles, injury updates and thoughts on the Panthers in all three phases through the halfway point of the season, Narduzzi was asked to weigh in on two additional topics which have garnered significant local and national attention.

The first was Acrisure Stadium’s natural surface, the quality of which has come under scrutiny following the Steelers’ win over Cleveland, as well as Narduzzi’s thoughts on Penn State’s firing of James Franklin on Sunday.

Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers described the Acrisure Stadium grass as becoming “borderline unplayable” by game’s end Sunday, with coach Mike Tomlin calling it “poor” Monday.

“I didn’t see much of the (Steelers) game yesterday,” Narduzzi said. “I heard a little bit of the (complaints) but even before I heard the noise, coaches came into my office and said, ‘Did you see that field?’

“For whatever reason — I’m not a grounds guy — but I heard some of the noise yesterday. I thought (Pitt’s Oct. 4 home game vs. Boston College), it was not very good. I thought it was a little shaky when I walked out there. It just seemed dry.”

Steelers kicker Chris Boswell slipped on a 54-yard field goal attempt during the game, while specialist Miles Killebrew sustained a “significant” knee injury, possibly due in part to field conditions.

After the Steelers’ 23-9 win over the Browns, the Acrisure Stadium grounds crew immediately began replacing the field’s sod.

Pitt next plays at home Oct. 25 vs. NC State, followed by the Steelers the next day vs. Green Bay.

The relationship between Narduzzi and Franklin has appeared to be a complicated one over the years, featuring alternating doses of mutual respect and barbs directed at one another.

Pitt and Penn State playing one another annually from 2016-19, as well as the historic rivalry staying dormant since then, has sparked statements and counter-statements from both coaches as to each program’s seriousness about playing the game regularly, if not every year.

So what did Narduzzi think of Franklin’s dismissal after a 104-45 record in Happy Valley over parts of 12 campaigns?

“James Franklin’s a great coach,” Narduzzi said. “It’s the business we’re in. I say ‘business’ — it’s a business. Places got to do what they’ve got to do. I’m not concerned about that. We don’t play them and James will be OK. I’ve got a lot of respect for him and it’s a shame because he’s a great coach. We all know that. He was in the (College Football) Playoff a year ago.

“…But I’m more focused on Fran Brown and the Syracuse Orange and the challenge we have in going up there to the (JMA Wireless) Dome and playing in a nasty atmosphere.”

Narduzzi won the first Pitt-Penn State matchup, 42-39, on Sept. 10, 2016, which restarted a rivalry not played since 2000.

But over the next three years, Penn State won each time, including 51-6 on Sept. 8, 2018, at Heinz Field.