Sean McDonough on Pitt-Notre Dame, 'When Sid Slid,' Mike Emrick's retirement

In advance of the Pitt-Notre Dame game at Heinz Field on Saturday, ABC broadcaster Sean McDonough has just one request of viewers in Pittsburgh.

“Don’t kill the messenger.”

Over the last 35 years, McDonough has proven to be one of the most talented and versatile play-by-play announcers in the business. Along the way, he has called some pretty — what’s the word I’m looking for here — um, “memorable” games in Pittsburgh history.

Specifically from a Panthers football point of view, the 51-6 loss to Penn State in 2018 and the 45-44 loss to Cincinnati in 2009. Not to mention a certain Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game in Atlanta that you may remember.

“I always say to my friends in Pittsburgh, we just call the action. We can’t control it. Although there are people out there that believe in the announcer jinx,” McDonough said during our “Breakfast With Benz” podcast Friday.

On the surface, it may not look like jinxes or “luck of the Irish” would need to come into play Saturday for Notre Dame. Ranked No. 3 in the country, the Fighting Irish (4-0) are 10.5-point favorites at Heinz Field. And the Panthers are in the midst of a three-game losing streak.

But McDonough sees Pitt (3-3) as Notre Dame’s stiffest competition to date.

“It’s their toughest test so far this year,” McDonough said. “It’s their first away game. They’ve played Duke, South Florida, Florida State and Louisville. I think Pitt is the best team Notre Dame will have played so far.”

Two hurdles Pitt would have to overcome if they are to pull off the upset against the Irish are on offense. The first of which is cranking up a run game that has been nonexistent much of this year. Pitt’s rush attack is 13th in the 15-team ACC.

“They are going to have to run the ball better than they have. Or at least try to against Notre Dame,” McDonough said.

Second is the quarterback position. Unless injured starter Kenny Pickett plays, Joey Yellen is going to have to accelerate his development in a hurry.

Not that Yellen was bad in his first start as a Panther last week in the loss to Miami. He wasn’t. Yellen threw for 277 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.

But this Irish defense is only giving up 15.3 points per game thus far in 2020.

“Pickett is experienced. And a really talented player. It’s possible Yellen could be as good or better down the road. But right now, Pitt would have a better chance to win if Pickett played,” McDonough added.

McDonough grew up in Massachusetts and attended Syracuse University. So he’s had an appreciation of watching these former independent football schools such as Pitt, Notre Dame, Syracuse, and Boston College his entire life.

During our podcast, we reminisce about those days, the formation of the Big East, and the exodus of all those programs to the ACC. Not just from a football standpoint, but basketball, too. McDonough called many Big East Tournaments at Madison Square Garden during his career. And we relive the electricity that surrounded those events before Pitt, Notre Dame, Syracuse, and B.C. jumped to the ACC for hoops as well.

We also flashback to McDonough’s call of “When Sid Slid.” His appreciation of the recently retired hockey play-by-play legend Mike Emrick. And memories of watching his broadcast partner Todd Blackledge quarterback Penn State.

No, Pitt fans. McDonough didn’t have the call of Blackledge in the 48-14 game. You can’t blame him for that one, too.

LISTEN: Tim Benz and Sean McDonough discuss the Pitt-Notre Dame game ahead of the Saturday contest