Jerry DiPaola stories, Page 60

One by one, three Pitt football players in their early 20s — smiling, friendly young men — stood in front of a group of reporters Thursday afternoon and spoke of the Backyard Brawl. None has played in the game, of course. Defensive tackle David Green, a Central Catholic graduate, said...

Pitt players who will line up next Thursday against West Virginia were of middle-school age — or younger — in 2011 when the Panthers most recently played the Mountaineers. Pat Narduzzi, a Youngstown, Ohio, native, who was still at Michigan State at the time, promised to “educate” his players on...

There was no white puff of smoke wafting through a window of UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. No fireworks over the Mon or horns honking on South Water Street. Just two one-on-one meetings, quiet and private, between Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi and his top quarterbacks Kedon Slovis and Nick Patti. When...

With so much praise and optimism surrounding Pitt’s defense this summer, it was surprising to hear there were no turnovers among the 132 plays in the closed scrimmage last Saturday. It might have been interesting to hear what defensive coordinator Randy Bates said to his players behind closed doors. Bates...

Pitt coach Jeff Capel and his rebuilt roster will receive a serious test in the opening round of the 2022 Legends Classic on Nov. 16 when they meet Michigan at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ESPNU. The Wolverines finished 19-15 last season,...

Neal Brown is 14 years younger than Pat Narduzzi, and he has only half as much experience (four seasons) as a head coach in the Power 5. But keeping a secret is something common to both the West Virginia and Pitt coaches. Other than they played college football at New...

Pile another honor upon Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, who was named a second-team Associated Press preseason All-American on Monday. Kancey, a redshirt junior, also has been named to the preseason All-ACC first team, plus six watch lists for national awards. Kancey led Pitt with 13 tackles for loss and...

With Pitt coming off an ACC championship, Pat Narduzzi may not have as many problems as he did early in his eight-year tenure. But he confronted one Monday morning that he really can’t fix — the guy cutting the grass on the field where the Steelers were scheduled to practice...

Pat Narduzzi and his Pitt coaching staff analyze the roster daily, watching practice video, discussing potential role changes and thinking up new ways to confuse the opponent based on the talent available. Those meetings are closed, and what a journalistic coup that would be to get invited to a Narduzzi...

For M.J. Devonshire’s development as a Pitt cornerback, nothing was more impactful than the ride back to Aliquippa in his dad’s car. “I normally ride home with him from the games,” he said, the lure of a home-cooked meal and mom doing his laundry too strong to ignore. On the...

Pat Narduzzi will take his team over to Acrisure Stadium on Saturday for Pitt’s final scrimmage of the summer. Big surprise: Quarterbacks will be a major area of focus. Narduzzi reiterated Friday morning that he doesn’t know when he will make his decision public between Kedon Slovis and Nick Patti,...

Dating back to the first time it happened — Tony Dorsett, 1,686 yards as a freshman, 1973 — Pitt has claimed 15 running backs who have broken the 1,000-yard barrier in 23 of 49 seasons. The list is an impressive one, including: • Pro Football Hall of Famers Dorsett and...

Pat Narduzzi expects to be especially wary of play-stealers this season after he has changed the method of delivering calls to the quarterback. Throughout former offensive coordinator Mark Whipple’s three seasons at Pitt, the quarterback trotted almost to the sideline to get the play call. In the few seconds available,...

Athletic director Heather Lyke took a significant step toward further stablity in Pitt’s baseball progam, signing coach Mike Bell to a new contract that runs through the 2027 season. Bell has an 83-87 record in four seasons after replacing longtime coach Joe Jordano before the 2019 season. Nine of Bell’s...

With no fresh evidence to prove otherwise, streams of positivity flow when Pitt players discuss the upcoming season. For example: • Players often mention national championship as a goal. • Backup offensive lineman Ryan Baer spoke Wednesday of “great coaches, great players. Put those together. Who’s going to stop it?”...

While Pitt enters the final two weeks of training camp, the question on the lips of many fans remains: Who will be the starting quarterback for the opener against West Virginia and — in a perfect world — the rest of the season? My answer, only partially in jest: “What...

When Erick Hallett II finally decides he has taken this football thing as far as it can go — whether that’s five, 10 or 15 years from now — Pitt’s senior free safety said he hopes to go to law school in his native Texas. Already holding a bachelor’s degree...

Within his self-made parameters, Pat Narduzzi was as transparent as his coach’s mindset allowed Tuesday morning while reporting on how Pitt’s closed, 124-play scrimmage unfolded Saturday. Prominent among his mentions were the interceptions recorded by linebackers Bangally Kamara and Shayne Simon. “Two nice interceptions,” he said. “I thought, ‘Wow, that...

More national recognition rolled Pitt’s way Monday when the Panthers were placed No. 17 in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason college football poll. It’s the first time since 2010 Pitt is ranked in the preseason poll, but don’t bother telling Pat Narduzzi. He doesn’t care. Pitt’s coach made his...

Pitt’s linebackers are “improving … watching extra tape … hungry … eager.” Those were the words of position coach Ryan Manalac, who is directing the one area of the team that needs the most significant makeover after last season. Three linebackers who contributed 200 tackles (21½ for a loss) —...

One at a time, five large men walked into Dave Borbely’s office late last season, seeking his counsel and wisdom. Each player — Carter Warren, Marcus Minor, Owen Drexel, Jake Kradel and Gabe Houy — had the same question: “Should I come back?” Pitt’s offensive line coach, who at the...

Two weeks into training camp — and with two weeks remaining — Pitt’s players and coaches have reached a point where football matters most, but everyone can see there’s more to life than turnover drills and trying to throw a football into a little net. Pitt quarterbacks practice throwing footballs...

Pitt practice was lighter and a bit shorter Friday morning for good reason. The team will conduct a live scrimmage Saturday for the first time this summer. What does Pat Narduzzi want to see in the scrimmage? What every coach wants, of course: To have every player walk off the...

The scouting reports on Akron wide receiver Konata Mumpfield were glowing. His speed, hands and route-running ability had placed him among the best pass catchers in the Mid-American Conference and earned him Freshman All-American status. When his name appeared in the NCAA transfer portal after last season, he was recruited...

Pro Football Hall of Famers Rickey Jackson and Russ Grimm, seven All-Americans and three others who enjoyed celebrated careers at Pitt were named Thursday to the school’s athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022. Pitt’s fourth Hall of Fame class, representing nine sports, will be inducted Sept. 30 at a...